I got tagged!

This time the tag is about writing. And not just any writing, it’s about my current WIP. (For those who are unfamiliar with writer jargon, that’s short for Work In Progress. In other words, a story I’m currently working on.) This story has been in the works for several years now. (I started it back in 2019!) I’ve worked on it off and on since then. Sometimes I’d get a lot done and then another story would come along and interrupt it. But sometimes the story just paused on it’s own and I wasn’t sure where to go next. But now it’s coming.

THE RULES:

• Thank the person who tagged you & link to their blog. Thank you Courtenay! Go check out her post about this right HERE.
• Link back to the creator, Katja @ Little Blossoms for Jesus, & add the tag graphic. √
• List the rules. √
• Answer the questions. I’m coming to that, be patient.
• Feel free to add snippets! Okay, I’ll think about it.
• 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.” √

Are you ready for me to start?

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

Sure, the working title is Lawrence & Lenexa.

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?

No synopsis. Since the story isn’t finished, I haven’t sent it to Angie, and so don’t have a synopsis. But I can tell you something about it.

Lawrence and Lenexa Johnson are sick of living like the rest of the rich snobs at their school and want a change. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are busy with their social life and work, leaving their children to their own devices. The brother and sister come up with a plan that might just revolutionize their household, but it involves Christian ideas–something that has never been a part of their lives before. Will it work?

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

I have no idea what the cover is going to look like. I don’t design covers until the story is finished. And I don’t think I’ve ever created a “working cover” for my books. I guess you’ll just have to wait.

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

I was on an exploration drive with my grandpa several years ago. We were out looking for some new park or something and no, we don’t check maps first. 🙂 Part of the fun is just finding your way. Anyway, I made a comment about the county names Lawrence and Lenexa and that they sounded like twins from a snobbish family. Grandpa got into it and we starting talking about what they were like and their family situation. By the time we got home again, I wanted to write a story about this brother and sister.

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

It’s a novel. I’m guessing it will be at least 60k possibly longer. I don’t remember if I had thought this would be a novel or a shorter story when I started.

6. Who’s your favorite character so far?

Obviously Lawrence and Lenexa. 😀 Although Saundra, Mrs. Cook, and Ken are pretty good too.

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

Probably the fact that Grandpa helped me create the characters and the basic plot and seemed to think a story about them would be rather fun.

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

My grandpa. He helped me create the Johnson family and their personalities. But I already told you that.

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

Hmm, I’m not sure what my favorite scene is so far. There are quite a few that make me laugh, and some that are sweet.

10. Can you give us a snippet?

Sure. Enjoy!

Racing the rest of the way down the softly carpeted staircase, they were brought up sharply at the bottom by Mrs. Hamstead’s formidable figure. She stood in the hallway with her hands resting firmly on her hips, and her face wore such a sour, disapproving expression that Lawrence and Lenexa dropped their eyes to the floor.
“Lawrence and Lenexa Johnson! There will be no running in this house except in your appointed areas for play. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Mrs. Hamstead went on. “You are both too old for such foolishness as racing inside, or anywhere for that matter. Your mother may think you are grown up enough to go shopping without her,” she sniffed, “but your actions this evening say otherwise. Now, where are you going in such a childish manner?”
“We’re going to talk with Dad about something, Mrs. Hamstead,” Lenexa said, clasping her hands behind her back, thankful that her brother held the papers.
“Humph,” snorted the housekeeper. “Your father is much too busy to be bothered. You will see him at supper. Go back up to your rooms until supper is ready.”
“Excuse me, Mrs. Hamstead,” Lawrence said politely, “but Dad gave us permission to talk to him after our homework was finished. He’ll be expecting us.”
The housekeeper gave another sniff but said no more, though her frown told of her displeasure.
Safely in a distant hall, Lenexa let out a breath. “I thought for sure our chance was over before it had even begun,” she murmured.
Lawrence didn’t reply but stopped in front of their father’s office door. It was shut. He looked at his sister and crossed his fingers. “Here’s hoping,” he breathed. Then he knocked firmly.
“Come in.” Mr. Johnson was sitting in a soft easy chair with one foot on a stool. He looked up from a large book in his lap as his children entered. “Homework done?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good.” Shutting the book, he set it aside. “What do you need me for?” He steepled his fingers together and looked from one to the other.
Lawrence looked at Lenexa, and Lenexa looked at Lawrence. In their eagerness to get the consent forms signed they hadn’t thought about who would do the asking.
“One of you is going to have to talk, I’m afraid. Would it help if I promised not to say a word until you are through?”
“It’s not like that, Dad–” Lawrence began.
And Lenexa added, “We just want you to sign some consent forms, so we can go to summer camp.”

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

Well, it’s not exactly what I thought it would be, but then I didn’t really have anything planned, so I can’t say it’s much different.
I can tell you that last night I stopped writing and went, “Wow! That is NOT what I thought was going to happen!” I’m not sure it was a curve-ball, it might have just been a fast ball. 🙂

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

I wasn’t expecting this but 2 Corinthians 5:20 has stepped in and given a different look to the story.
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

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

When? As in what time of day or what year? I write most in the evenings, so that’s the when. And the where has been somewhere upstairs. Sometimes it’s been in my room, or our little prayer room, or in the back room.

14. Where do you get inspiration for this story?

Inspiration? County names in Kansas. Really. The names, Lawrence, Lenexa, and Johnson are all county names. That’s what started it, and as for inspiration now, I’m not sure. The characters, the people who have read the little bit I’ve shared on my Friday blog, and the Lord.

15. Are you a plotter or a pantser?

A pantser.

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

Well, I start out with 5 toe-touches, followed by 3 back bends and some shoulder rolling. Next I do 20 jumping-jacks. After this I get all my writing things out, NEO, my water, my notes and such. This is followed by a sort of wiggle-dance and shaking my hands for 10 seconds to get the blood flowing to them. Then I sit down in my chair, close my eyes and take 2 deep breaths and try to relax every muscle in my body. Then I begin to write . . .

At least that’s was I imagine I might do . . . if I had a before writing ritual. 😀

17. Are you thinking of publishing this story?

Yep. I’d really like to finish this story and publish it this year.

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

Don’t just keep writing boring everyday stuff if it’s not needed. Jump to the important things. And enjoy it!

---

Now I’m supposed to tag people. Hmm.

Let me see . . . If you are a writer and have a blog, you’re it! Consider yourself tagged. Just let me know when you do the post so I can come read about your WIP.

And if you are a writer and don’t have a blog, you are welcome to answer the questions in a comment or just email it to me.

THE CLEAN COPY:

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?

Did you enjoy that? Have you read any of the parts of Lawrence and Lenexa that I’ve shared on my Friday blog? What are you working on?