Introducing My WIP // Characters, Aesthetics, and Music

I recently started drafting my first novel.

That might be a surprising fact for those of you who have been following me for a while. I’ve written a handful of short stories, a novella, and have started several novels. But this is going to be the one I finish first.

There’s something incredibly healing and poetic about that. This is the novel that has always been closest to my heart. It was my very first story idea, and it’s the novel that made me realize I’m supposed to be an author. I’ve started at least two different drafts/versions of this story, but those never made it to a finished draft.

I now know that’s because I wasn’t supposed to write this story yet.

God needed me to sit on this story longer. I needed to live through grief and heartbreak and darkness in order to understand this book.

I don’t usually share things about my WIPs, but it feels right to introduce this book now. I hope you love it as much as I do and that you decide to stick around for the journey.

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The Basics

Working Title: The Last Time We Say Goodbye

Genre: Contemporary summer romance

Audience: Young Adult (YA)

Projected Length: 70-75k

Themes: Grief, love, friendship, worthiness, and healing

Tropes: Childhood-best-friends-to-lovers // “You came?” “You called” // brooding sad boy // “I’ve always loved you”

The Characters

Hope

Can we just stand still?
I will if you will
Find some time to kill
Can we just stand still?
Still // Dove Cameron

If I had my way
I’d pick out our best days
And live in them forever
Beautiful Remains // Beth Crowley

Never got the chance
To say a last goodbye
I gotta move on
But it hurts to try
Dancing With Your Ghost // Sasha Alex Sloan

Alex

If it all burned to the ground
Would you see me different?
Broke all the bridges I found
Could I come back innocent?
Forgive and Forget // Jake Cornell

Feels like we’re on the edge right now
I wish that I could say I’m proud
I’m sorry that I let you down
I let you down
Let You Down // NF

For your eyes only
I’ll show you my heart
For when you’re lonely
And forget who you are
If I Could Fly // One Direction

Nick

And I’m screaming at the top of my lungs
Pretending the echoes belong to someone
Someone I used to know
We Will Become Silhouettes // The Shins

We’re reeling through an endless fall
We are the ever-living ghost of what once was
No One’s Gonna Love You // Band of Horses

You’ll be loved
Like you never have known
And the memories of me will seem more like bad dreams
Just a series of blurs, like I never occurred
Someday You Will Be Loved // Death Cab For Cutie

Quinn

Don’t let this darkness fool you
All lights turned off can be turned on
I’ll drive, I’ll drive all night
I’ll call your mom
Call Your Mom // Noah Kahan

If you need me, I’ll be right there
When you’re happy and when you’re scared
I can still be your shoulder
I’ll be by your side, even if I’m not next to you
If You Need Me // Julia Michaels

And if you ever lose your sight along this road
You can’t see a single light and you’re alone
Don’t forget us, there’s nothing like us
You can keep me in your heart until you’re home
Until you’re home
Us // Jenna Raine

The Plot Aesthetic

i never got to say goodbye // look for the light // how could you leave me? // learning how to live again // just a screwup // you’re better off without me // i just want the pain to go away // i’m too young to feel this broken // one day things will be better // i’m doing it for him // we’re not the same kids we were back then // look at the stars and forget // i don’t want to live without him // you know this is crazy, right? // i just wanted you to be proud of me // don’t make me lose you, too // i don’t want to forget

The Vibes but it’s a Mixtape

1. The Night We Met // Lord Huron
2. Brother // Kodaline
3. Place We Were Made // Maisie Peters
4. Kids Again // Artist Vs Poet
5. Wait // M83
6. Paper Planes // Elina
7. Dancing With Our Hands Tied // Taylor Swift
8. Anchor // Novo Amor
9. History // One Direction
10. Good Times // All Time Low
11. Waste It On Me // Steve Aoki, ft. BTS
12. Mine (Taylor’s Version) // Taylor Swift
13. The Other Side // Ruelle
14. Love Like Ghosts // Lord Huron
15. Set Fire to the Rain // Adele
16. Eyelids // PVRIS

Let’s Talk!

What do you think? Which character stands out the most to you? Do you have a favorite from these four? Which song on the mixtape is your favorite? Right now mine is Waste It On Me by BTS. I’ve had it on repeat for days. Let’s talk all things my WIP in the comments below!