November 2023
Flower of the month: Chrysanthemum
November’s birth flower is the chrysanthemum—mum for short. This flower is rich with history and symbolism, and its roots grow all over the world. Youth, loyalty, and sorrow form some of the varied folklore behind the fall bloom.
Because the flowers are some of the last to bloom in the garden, they have taken on a meaning of longevity in many cultures. Mums flower in adversity, just like we would do well to thrive in the difficult times we face.
Reading
Intentional Influence by Beth Bingaman
Though at first glance this book may only seem relevant to mentors, there’s plenty of wisdom for Christian women at all stages in their spiritual walk. If you’re looking for a good read on the influence we have within our everyday spheres, I recommend this book.
The Crimson League: The Fight for Hope by Victoria Grefer
Another indie read I’ve picked up this year, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by this YA fantasy. If you enjoy the sword-and-sorcery genre and an uplifting story that heralds hope in dark times, check out this book.
Research
Fern and heather floriography and folklore
I’m always researching some plant or another, but these two in particular have a special significance to my current project.
The story of Queen Esther
Esther’s story of courageous sacrifice continues to inspire me, and themes from this Biblical account will make an appearance in my current project.
Updates
- Funding update: Lily’s Passage is 20% funded! Fundraising has been slow the last couple months, what with my personal life being exceptionally busy, but I’m looking forward to the chance to network at the craft fair in a couple weeks (keep reading for more info on that). Check out my new Support Page for all the ways you can continue to support my writing.
- New project: In case you missed last month’s newsletter, I’ve officially announced my next project—Holly’s Portent, book two in my YA fantasy trilogy. As of November 1st, I’m striving to draft the book’s first 50k words, which will be about a third of the final count. I’m not looking for perfection, but I am looking to kickstart the drafting with the expected 1,667 daily word count. I like NaNoWriMo because it helps me get back into a daily writing routine, and I certainly don’t seek to add garbage words for the sake of meeting the word count!
- Find me at the fair! If you’re in Tucson on November 11th, visit Immanuel Presbyterian Church’s craft bazaar and look for me. I’ll have all of my sewing projects from this year, as well as some exciting book-related things on display!
Lore
In my May Newsletter, I talked about how many of my daily tasks as a writer involve administrative work and planning my books. This month, seeing as it’s National Novel Writing Month, I wanted to dive deeper into the actual writing of a book. So fasten your seatbelts, because here comes a drive-by look into some aspects of my life this November.
Since I already covered some of my outlining process, I’ll start with what happens when I’m ready to pen the very first words. It all begins with an opening scene. Talk to anyone—editors, writers, readers—and they’ll agree that the first few pages will make or break a book. Most people flip open to the first chapter or prologue and read a little bit to see if the story grabs them. The sad truth is, if that opening scene isn’t grabby, back on the shelf the book is likely to go. I’m no expert in the matter, but what I do know is I want my readers to ask the right questions. Why is Farrah out in the woods grumbling about her mother? What does she find that causes her to run home without her basket? And so on. The question may be answered in the next paragraph, but it should be followed by another question, and the reader should also be left with the feeling that there’s a greater plot question at play.
Other important scenes in a novel include the First Plot Point, the Midpoint, and the Third Plot Point, around the 25%, 50%, and 75% marks, respectively. (If you’re interested in an in-depth look into story structure, I highly recommend K.M. Weiland’s book Structuring Your Novel.) The only one of these points I’ll talk about right now is the Midpoint, also known as the centerpiece. This is the scene that sticks in the reader’s mind. It’s not the climax, but boy is it exciting. The protagonist’s capture, the death of a character, an emotionally jarring revelation—all of these make good candidates for the Midpoint, depending on the story.
The Midpoint is my favorite part to craft. Usually, when I’m in the early stages of planning a book, the centerpiece is the first scene that comes to mind. Makes sense, considering it’s the moment the protagonists must change or be beaten, a turning point of sorts. The Midpoint of Lily’s Passage is one of those scenes that has remained since the earliest iterations of the story. The details may have changed a little bit, but the same heartbeat lingers.
At the end of the day, a novel is just scene after scene strung together to tell the same story. Like in a jigsaw puzzle, each moment is a piece that fits into the greater whole. Some pieces are straightforward when we try to place them. Others require more study to find their proper place. But when the last piece fits, we can see the big picture that was hidden behind the chaos all along.
As the wind blows,
Sydney Frusti
