I Started a Cozy Fantasy Novel!

WIP Title: Little Ivywood

Today’s Word Count: 3,116 Words

Total words: 7,421 words

Fictional Accomplishments: Last night I worked on the beginning, but didn’t really post about it because I was exhausted by the end of it—but that’s okay, because all I did was get the first two chapters going. Today I worked on chapter 3, which ended up being longer than I anticipated when I started struggling somewhere around the middle. It’s from the perspective of my male protagonist and apparently he really likes to chat. My leading lady wasn’t nearly as open as he was, and honestly that kind of makes sense for her character though? I expected to struggle more with him because I have a hard time getting into the male headspace, but with this character not so much.

But anyway, yeah we just got started!

Having finished my thesis novel and while I wait for my editorial letter from my teacher / begin the querying process for that, it’s in my best interest to start a new project. I could’ve started book 2 of A Land of Shadow and Thorn ‘s series but honestly this one has been itching at the back of my mind since February and I felt like I finally knew how to start it. This book is both much faster and much slower going than A Land of Shadow and Thorn was, like it comes in fits and starts and there’s a lot that I have to look up to be able to make sure I’m describing certain things right and that slows it down pretty good. Also, you can pry the em dash ( — ) from my cold, dead hands because apparently I can’t stop using it in this project. Editing is going to be fun lol.

I’m a huge fan of cozy farming sim games like Fields of Mistria, Harvest Moon (now known as Story of Seasons), and Rune Factory and this story is kind of inspired by those. I’ve been a fan of farming sims like those since I was a little kid, so it seems only natural that I would grow up to write something inspired by the games that shaped so much of who I am and so much of what my temperament is. Maybe that’s why I’m having so much fun writing it?

Calcifer is here, ready to help me work!

I feel really good about this project. I’m having a lot of fun just putting fingers to keyboard and seeing where it takes me, and even though I feel a little anxious about not outlining this time, I feel like it’s the kind of project that really doesn’t need it. It feels good to just, like, do the thing. Earlier, I had a surge of inspiration because I was thinking about all the moving parts to this one and how beautifully everything intermingles together to create something that really says something. I feel like you guys are really going to like this one.

Or at the very least, I hope so!

Real Life Accomplishments: I didn’t do a whole lot today besides sit and write, and then sit and read. It’s unbearably hot today and so windy in fact that we were under a wind advisory for most of the day. It was exactly the kind of day that merits just sitting in my office all day playing in my new little fantasy world that I’m having fun playing in. Also, I started re-reading Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks and like, it totally holds up? I’m not usually a big fan of Nicholas Sparks (nothing wrong with him, just not my cup of tea tbh) but I remembered really loving this book when I got it back in 2013 so I picked it up for another read. I’ve read half the book in one sitting, and might go to read some more once I get done with this post lol.

I don’t know about you guys, but summer, to me, is kind of unbearable? Like, I don’t do well in the heat. Everyone else gets Seasonal Affective Disorder in the winter, but I get it in the summer. I prefer to stay inside where it’s cool with a good book, a good show, or a good game and keep the sunlight out by not opening any of the blinds or curtains.

Does anyone else feel that way about summer, or is it just me?

Also! Also! Also!

My mom went to my grandpa’s this weekend, and she got a tiny house a few years back to put on his property for her and I to stay in whenever the whole family got together for a visit. One of the things that she bought for that tiny house all those years ago was a space heater that looks like a full mantel fireplace! Today when she came back from visiting, she brought the fireplace back because she’s cleaning out the tiny house and gave it to me! I feel like this is exactly what my library needed, and it really makes the room 10000x cozier.

The idea when we started my library reno project was to turn up the volume on coziness. I wanted something that felt like a nest, somewhere I can burrow when the world starts to feel too much and my mental health starts to deteriorate. This fireplace definitely helps with that, and I can’t wait to fill the shelves above it with all the books that I’ve got just floating around the house. Once I get everything organized and settled, I don’t think you’ll be able to pry me out of my library for anything.

Anyway, so it was a largely uneventful weekend but one I was incredibly happy with. I’m glad I finally got this story started and am excited to keep plunking away at it as I start the querying process. Every writer needs something to keep them distracted while their books are out on submission to agents and this is mine. It’s better than what I have been doing, which is climbing the walls trying every single new hobby that I could think of. This one is much better for my psyche and my bank account lol

I hope you guys had a great weekend!

I’ll see you next time!

And don’t forget I’ve got short stories up for your perusal!