All This Time,

Introducing All This Time

4:16 PM Sky Destrian 0 Comments

Sky here! Ashley and I started writing again in July, and since then it's been a whirlwind of words. We are taking a break from One Step Closer because... well... we kind of fell in love with a new set of characters. Their names are Ty Mellaney and Poppy Spencer. Shortly after creating them, we decided we had to write their story ASAP. So we began their story on August 24th, and as of yesterday, one week later, we've written 29,000. (And today, we've hit 31k and are still going...)

How. Is. That. Possible.

It's especially impressive considering we're writing in third person, something we never ever do. But sure enough, the words just keep coming. We're aiming to get to 100,000 words if we have enough plot. Because that would be amazing.

Honestly, Ashley and I are so in love with Ty and Poppy. We did not expect to fall in love with them as much as we have.

Hi all! Ashley here! Sky and I have this thing where we just decide to create characters. They might not even have a story, but we create them and some of them fizzle out into nothingness, and some of them become something amazing.

When we started working with Ty and Poppy, I thought they'd be another fizzle. Instead, as I got to know them, I decided they weren't that but instead, a wonderful set of people that I wish were real so that I could be their friend. 

Ty & Poppy have known each other since 3rd grade. 

Their story is basically about their friendship with each other, their three-person group with a guy named Dan, and the way they're navigating certain obstacles in their lives, such as Ty going off to war and Poppy taking care of her sick aunt. 

This story has taken a hold of my heartstrings and won't let me go. We've planned out our characters' entire lives together (well, almost, anyway) and we have plans to write a whole series. So far, it's going really well, if the first book is any indication.

When this book is done, we have plans of getting a proof copy so we can see it in book form, and we want to edit it and continue to write about these characters for a long time to come. We'll keep you posted on how it goes!

How's your writing going?

Ashley,

Beautiful People: Will and Elle (#1)

2:20 PM Sky Destrian 0 Comments

 Sky here! Ashley and I are back in business, and we're working on rewriting one of our oldest novels, about two best friends named Will and Elle. We just hit 50,000 words on it today, and we love writing about these characters. We decided to answer some Beautiful People questions about them.  

Ashley's answers will look like this.
Sky's answers will look like this.

So, without further ado, meet Will and Elle... our heroes for our novel One Step Closer!

Will Farris and Elle Moser have been best friends since they were tiny. Nothing has been able to separate them... until now. As they both go off to different colleges, both Will and Elle realize just how much they need each other, but will it be too late?  

1. How long have they known each other, and how close are they?

Will and Elle met when they were 4 years old; Will moved in next door to Elle, and came right up to Elle and introduced himself as “William Dray Farris.” The rest is history. Now 18, they’re closer than most friends and spend all their time together. 

2. What’s their earliest memory of being best friends? 

After they first met, they swang on the swingset in Elle’s backyard and talked about themselves--favorite color, favorite food, favorite animal. That was the first time they realized they should be best friends.

3. Do they fight? How long do they typically fight for? 

Will and Elle banter. They make fun of each other. They are sarcastic toward each other. Very rarely do they ever fight about something that’s not just silly or totally random. They’ve never had a really big fight - not yet, at least. 

4. Are their personalities similar or do they compliment each other? 

Will and Elle are similar in some ways and different in others. Will is an introvert and Elle is an extrovert. Will loves math and Elle loves writing. Will is the type to wear plain socks, but Elle is the type to wear fun socks. Will loves classic rock and Elle loves country. But they’re also similar--they both share the same sense of humor and the same way of looking at life. 

5. Who is the leader of their friendship (if anyone)? 

The thing about Will & Elle is...they’d both say they were the leaders. For different reasons. Will is the leader when Elle needs him to kill a spider or bug; Elle is the leader of everything else.

6. Do have any secrets from each other?

If they do, we as the authors have no idea. Will and Elle tell each other pretty much everything. 

7. How well do they know each other’s quirks and habits? 

If you read the answer to the last question, you can almost just assume that they know each other better than they know themselves. So, we’d have to say that they know each other’s quirks and habits pretty darn well. 

8. What kind of things do they like to do together? 

Anything and everything. They enjoy watching movies, going to the mall, and mini-golfing--but really, they just like being together. It’s rare to find them not doing SOMETHING together. 

9. Describe each character’s fashion style (use pictures if you’d like!) How are their styles different/similar?

Will cares a little more about style than most guys and enjoys wearing polos, plaid, and t-shirts. His style isn’t formal, but he always looks well put-together. His favorite thing to wear is a pair of white pants he got from Aeropostale. Elle hates them, so sometimes he wears them just to spite her. 

Elle likes to be in style; usually wears name-brand clothes, but buys them or sale or at thrift shops. Jeans and sweaters are her favorite, but occasionally she feels the need to put on a skirt or a dress. Despite her need to be looking nice, Elle never wears heels - even though she’s only 5 feet tall - because she’s really clumsy and hates falling. She did that at graduation, and it was not glamorous.

10. How would their lives be different without each other? 

Will would be a lot more boring and never take any risks, and he also would probably have no friends. He’s such an introvert that it’s hard to break into the shell he has around himself… but Elle did. Elle, on the other hand, wouldn’t have anyone to ground her or listen to all her off-the-wall ideas. She brings Will out of his comfort zone, and Will helps Elle stay rational. Without each other, they’d be lonely, and probably not the same people at all. Their friendship has made them into who they are today. 

 

Beautiful People,

Beautiful People: Cara Kingsley (#1)

10:01 PM Sky Destrian 0 Comments

Sky here! Ashley and I have some new characters, Axl and Cara. I decided to sit down and learn more about my character, Cara Kingsley. She's 26 and is a musician who's been on the music scene for a while (keyboard and background vocals, as well as some guitar). She's been touring since she was 19. At home, she has three brothers who mean everything to her. She loves to make new friends and she's extremely outgoing. On the Myers-Briggs scale, she's probably an ESFP.

So without further ado, let's ask some questions about Cara!

1. What’s their favourite ice cream flavour?

Neopolitan!

2. Your character is getting ready for a night out. Where are they going? What are they wearing? Who will they be with?

She'd be with her band at the time, probably, or any acquaintances she has.

3. Look at your character’s feet. Describe what you see there. Do they wear dress shoes, gym shoes, or none at all? Are they in socks that are ratty and full of holes? What do they consider comfortable and what do they consider agony?

She has about 10 pairs of used Converse, which is the only thing she'll ever wear.

4. Do they have any birthmark or scars? Where are they and how did they get them?

Cara has a scar on her knee from an unfortunate skateboarding incident. She was skateboarding with her brother Corey and his friends, and fell off.

5. What kind of music do they listen to? Does it change depending on their mood or is it always consistent? (Feel free to share samples!)

Cara really loves alternative rock, classic rock, EDM, and pop punk, but she'll listen to anything.

6. Do they have any musical talent? Play an instrument? How’s their singing voice?

Cara can sing and play piano, but she also knows some guitar. (Her older brother Corey taught her.)

7. What kind of book would you catch them reading?

Probably a self-help book. Cara is always searching for the answer to life.

Life is confusing.

8. How would they spend their summers (or their holidays)?

Either visiting her brothers and mom, or sightseeing on the coast.

9. It’s Saturday at noon. What is your character doing? Give details. Ex. If they’re eating breakfast, what’s on the menu? Are they hiking, shopping, lazing around?

Cara lives all over, since she's a touring musician. When she's not on the road, she goes home to live with her mom in Florida. So if she's on tour, she'll probably be checking out whatever city they're in at the time, and preparing to do soundcheck or any interviews. If she's at home, she's probably making lunch for her siblings--peanut butter and jelly.

10. Is there anything your character wants to be free of?

Cara definitely has some ghosts haunting her, particularly the death of her older brother Corey, who meant everything to her.

Thanks for reading! What's your character's favorite ice cream flavor?