“What’s Your WIP” Tag (and a snippet!)

Hey everyone! Today I decided to do something a little different for this week’s post, a writing tag I discovered! It looks fun, so I’m going to do it off of one of my side WIPs (Work-In-Progress). So without further ado, let’s get into it!

Rules

• Thank the person who tagged you & link to their blog. (I wasn’t tagged, but the girl who I found this from left an open tag, so I will thank her! Thank you, Saraina!)
• Link back to the creator, Katja @ Little Blossoms for Jesus, & add the tag graphic.
• List the rules.

• Answer the questions.
• Feel free to add snippets!
• Tag as many or as few people as you wish & let them know they’re tagged.
• Add a clean copy of the questions at the end of your post for the tagged.

The Questions

1. Has your WIP a working title? If so, tell us! If not, have you any idea of what it might be?

For awhile, my story did not have a working title. Titles are really hard for me, so usually they’re just known by their MC’s name in the working stages. So for awhile, this story was known as “Brenton’s Story”. Now it’s working title is Faith Steadfast, but I’m still not 100% happy with it.

2. Have you a synopsis for your WIP? If so, give it to us! If not, can you give us a blurb on what your WIP is about?

Yup, I have a synopsis! Here it is!

“They say sorrow breaks a man, but I refuse to be broken. I choose to be strong.”

Thrust from luxury, family, and everything he’s known in one traumatic night, Brenton Rochefort, 6th Duke of Kithage, finds himself hunted with only his father’s seal and the treacherous Herbert Langton’s wrath for identity. Forced to lower himself to the position of a common esquire and an assumed name, he struggles with adjusting to the inferior treatment while dealing with his personal grief and fighting to stay hidden… and alive.

When bandits attack his group of knights and esquires outside of his new refuge, he realizes Langton has discovered his whereabouts. It is only thanks to the inadvertent protection of Count de Morin and Sir Arden of Leflon Castle which keeps him relatively safe.  But as Langton’s attacks grow more frequent and bloody and those in Leflon Castle get closer to discovering the truth of his identity, Brenton knows he must be strong for the trials ahead, as the fates of those in the past and present will be determined by his response.

3. Have you a working/mock cover for your WIP? If so, show us! If not, have you an idea in mind?

No, I don’t, in part because I hope to be traditionally published, and traditional publishers decide the cover details. However, I do think it would be cool if a castle or flames were somehow a part of it!

4. How did you get the idea for this story?

Well, I read a book by a fellow homeschooler, Alicia Willis, called Rising to the Challenge, and it had one of my favorite tropes (a noble kid has to go undercover as someone lesser than his rank and get used to being treated that way in order to preserve his life while also trying to win back his kingdom/land/etc). So after I read that book, it made me really want to write my own. So I used the trope as the basis of the story, and it’s grown from there!

5. How long do you think it will be? Is it longer or shorter than you thought it would be?

I don’t know for certain, since I never know how long my stories will end up. Usually they’re on the longer end though because of the world building aspect, and I sometimes get carried away with a lot of characters, haha! I do believe it will be longer than I thought it would be, as there are a few new characters I really want to add to leave room for a possible sequel, if I ever want to write one!

6. Who’s your favourite character so far?

Honestly, my main character, Brenton. He’s so snarky and spoiled, but he has a good heart and just needs someone to help him mature and lead him to Christ.

7. What’s your favourite memory related to this WIP?

I honestly haven’t written enough of it to really say I have a favorite memory related to it yet. I will say I enjoy listening to the music that inspires new scenes and helps me develop the story though, if I have to pick something.

8. Any special person(s) who helped create it?

Well, the Lord, haha! And kudos to Alicia Willis for inspiring the idea. Otherwise at this point, no, though I’m sure when I get the rough draft done and let my family and friends read it, they’ll all help me by giving me advice which may help shape the story!

9. What’s your favourite scene so far (if you can tell about it without spoilers!)?

Well, as I said above, I haven’t written TOO much of it yet. However, I do have a favorite scene between Brenton and his knight, Sir Arden, on his first day. Brenton, as the son and heir of a duke, has always been given the best of the best and treated with respect, but Sir Arden doesn’t know who he really is, and no one else does either. They just think he’s an esquire, and consequently, they treat him like one. Anyway, my favorite scene has to do with him arguing over the rough clothes he is given by Sir Arden as an esquire and his inner monologue.

10. Can you give us a snippet? 

Yes. Here is a snippet of the above mentioned favorite scene:

Unlike Kithage with its close townhouses, narrow and dark streets, and hundreds of shops and stores, Leflon was clearly more rural and less populated. Pigs and chickens ran freely down the dusty streets, single-story farm houses with thatched roofs lined the streets with little gardens out front, and finally there were a cluster of businesses in the center of the town. A tavern, armory, blacksmith, tailor, bakery, and cathedral made up the non-farming businesses, and Brenton frowned, unimpressed. In Kithage, he had a wide variety of stores and shops to choose from, and he had always gotten his pick. Well, hopefully this store would have something good in it. 

It had very few of the cloths and colors he was accustomed to wearing, but Sir Arden seemed satisfied with the collections. Brenton rolled his eyes as the knight conversed with the tailor over his new clothes and he turned his gaze to the brightly colored cloth on the wall beside him. It wasn’t the softest cloth, but nor was it as scratchy as this rough linen either. As he ran his finger across it, he decided it would have to do. “I’ll take a suit in this green and one in the blue too,” he said with a nod, turning to Sir Arden.

The tailor blinked as Sir Arden raised his brows. The hint of a smile formed on his face as he shook his head. “No, Brenton. Such material is much too fine for a simple esquire. The linen I have picked out will do well.” 

How dare this knight contradict him? He bit down a saucy response, reminding himself once more that he currently was Brenton Thurnbeck, not the duke of Kithage. “But I like this cloth better.” 

“No, Brenton.” Sir Arden’s tone was firm, but he was about to discover just how persistent and stubborn a Rochefort was. 

“I don’t see why I can’t have it. I’ve worn practical rags the last few weeks; I ought to have something I want.” 

“What do you think you are? The son of a duke who gets what he wants all the time?” 

Brenton stared at him, his jaw setting. Actually yes, you self-righteous prig. He itched to tell him, but clamped his mouth together. Good Lord, had he ever practiced more control over his tongue than he had today? He was going to lose it soon, he was sure of it. And this was only the first day — the first morning — of this new life! Would things get easier as time passed? Oh he hoped so — he hoped Percival would come for him soon.

“I didn’t think so. So content yourself with what I provide for you, unless you have enough money to buy such a ridiculous suit for yourself.” 

He glared at him. I have enough money to buy this whole lame county if I wanted to… I just have to get it from Herbert first. And then I won’t need you or your scratchy colorless linen. I’ll be Duke Kithage, and then I’ll make you sorry. He smirked as he imagined the shock on Sir Arden’s face when he discovered his true identity.

His smirk faded as the tailor measured him, returning to his sullen mood. The man gave him a pre-made suit of clothes, which he changed into and stood before Sir Arden and the tailor, feeling very much like a puppet on display. 

11. Is the story still what you thought it would be or has it thrown you a couple curveballs?

For the short time I’ve been writing it, it hasn’t really had time to throw me some curveballs (yet). The only curveball I can think of so far is just trying to determine how and where I want Brenton’s reveal scene to happen, as sometime he has to tell everyone who he is.

12. Is there a Bible verse, poem, hymn, picture, or quote that helped shape this story?

Not one in particular, but I feel like the theme in this story is Faith, having faith in God despite what the circumstances around you seem like. So in that case, Hebrews 11:1 would be my Bible verse for this WIP.

13. When and where have you done most of the writing so far?

I almost always do all of my writing in the red chair in my living room. When I have done it is… a different story, but I’m predominantly a night writer, though I will write whenever I can.

14. Where do you get inspiration for this story?

Ultimately the Lord. But as for sources He uses… I mentioned before in question number 4 where I got the idea, so if I need inspiration, I can always reread a few scenes in that book. I also get inspiration by listening to music. The Chronicles of Narnia soundtrack is one soundtrack which helps me, and the composer Thomas Bergersen writes some awesome instrumental music! I also will listen to Audiomachine and HDSounDI’s instrumental music.

15. Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I’m predominantly a pantser, but I do need a plot sometime in the writing process. I usually get the idea, start writing it, and if it sticks, then I gather all my ideas together and write a very vague outline. I actually wrote a blog post on my process here, if you’d like to read it!

16. Do you have a little ritual before you start writing?

No, but I want to remember to pray before I start. I do always pray every day for my writing though, that I will only write what the Lord wants me to!

17. Are you thinking of publishing this story?

I would like to sometime in the future, but I have my main WIP which I am focusing on getting publishing worthy at the moment.

18. What things have you learned while writing this story?

I haven’t written enough of it to really say I’ve “learned” anything major. One thing I will say though is that it’s been kinda fun “stealing” a trope and making it yours. I’ve never really done that before, so I guess that is one thing I have learned.

The Questions

1. Has your WIP a working title? If so, tell us! If not, have you any idea of what it might be?
2. Have you a synopsis for your WIP? If so, give it to us! If not, can you give us a blurb on what your WIP is about?
3. Have you a working/mock cover for your WIP? If so, show us! If not, have you an idea in mind?
4. How did you get the idea for this story?
5. How long do you think it will be? Is it longer or shorter than you thought it would be?
6. Who’s your favourite character so far?
7. What’s your favourite memory related to this WIP?
8. Any special person(s) who helped create it?
9. What’s your favourite scene so far (if you can tell about it without spoilers!)?
10. Can you give us a snippet? 
11. Is the story still what you thought it would be or has it thrown you a couple curveballs?
12. Is there a Bible verse, poem, hymn, picture, or quote that helped shape this story?
13. When and where have you done most of the writing so far?
14. Where do you get inspiration for this story?
15. Are you a plotter or a pantser?
16. Do you have a little ritual before you start writing?
17. Are you thinking of publishing this story?
18. What things have you learned while writing this story?

Well, that was a fun writing tag! I’m going to follow Saraina’s example and leave an open tag, because this one is a really enjoyable one! So have at it!

Are you a writer or just a reader? What are your favorite “tropes” to write and/or read about? Would you like me to do this tag for my main WIP? Are you going to do this tag? Let me know in the comments below! Thanks for reading, and God bless! ~ Kay Leigh