//in which I make an executive decision and change my mind, as is my prerogative

Posted on by Mirriam

wonderlandcover

I spent the last week with my friend Elizabeth and her family, touring D.C. and attending a good friend’s wedding. I took several hundred pictures that I need to sort through and had more fun than should probably be legal, but it’s going to take a while to go get that particular blog post up, so I opted for discussing something else semi-relevant. When I decided to do JuNoWriMo, I dragged Elizabeth down the rabbit hole with me – literally and metaphorically, as over the last week we decided to write our Wonderland novels for JuNoWriMo.

But what about The Meaning of Always?

Lemme tell ya – I planned to do the novel. But the more I pondered and plotted, the bigger it became, and I realized on Saturday that if I wrote TMOA during June, it would be like last year when I tried to write Acceso for NaNo. In short, I wouldn’t be able to give it the time and devotion it deserved. So my plan (currently – we’ll see, as always) is to write This Curious Madness in June and start The Meaning of Always in July, since I still want to take advantage of the summer months.

What is This Curious Madness? Weren’t you doing a Wonderland rewrite last year?

This Curious Madness is a twisted Alice in Wonderland rewrite which I did begin last year, but never finished due to lack of plot. Fortunately, Elizabeth and I made like tornadoes and brainstormed directions for our respective novels, and I feel I can write 50,000 words in this one with only thirty-odd days.

The problem:

I like my books to mean something. I don’t do well when there isn’t a point or a moral to the story. This includes even a Wonderland-twist, which is famous for its nonsensical and whimsical qualities. It’s one of my favorite things and always has been, but if I’m going to attempt to twist it, I’m going to need it to have a point. I have a plot, but there needs to be an underlying foundation for it to rest on – the classic Wonderland was a fairly amoral place. I need morals, and I need something readers – and myself! – can take away from the story. This is something I have to come up with before June starts.

The best part?

It’s Wonderland. I can do whatever I want. I already have the classic characters twisted and changed, and they’re so delightfully creepy and eerily wonderful that I’m absolutely itching to start the book. Also, it’s JuNo – so, like NaNo, I’m open to more beta readers than I usually am. If anybody wants to see the result of this insanity during June, just let me know and I’ll add you to the list of readers! (Unless you seem creepy and threaten to steal the novel at gunpoint, in which case I won’t.)

What about you?

Are you doing JuNoWriMo? Did I convince you to join me in this frabjous foray yet, or did I scare you away from the mere thought of it?

32 thoughts on “//in which I make an executive decision and change my mind, as is my prerogative”

  1. *bounces* This is going to great. ;)

    And I don’t think I can do JuNoWriMo because I’m in a writing rut and ideas are trapped in a metaphorical dam. (Thanks for taking over my life, speech and debate.) But I’m super excited to read this and I know you’ll do super well with it! :D

    And D.C. is awesome. I’m glad you had fun. ^_^

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  2. I always thought that the moral of Alice in Wonderland is that if you don’t know who you are, you’ll be manipulated by everyone you you meet to become the version of you that they want you to be.

    xD

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  6. I’m smiling as I imagine all the trouble you and Elizabeth got into during your crazy adventures — it makes me happy!

    And you’re totally right — tMoA is so complex and dense and such an emotionally exhausting work that you /can’t/ do it in a month. It would be insane.

    But insanity is just so you that TCM is the PERFECT choice. I’ve been excited for this one forever and can’t wait!

    And I /would/ do JuNo, but it’s some of my last months as a kid with my family, so I’m taking advantage of that. ;D

    You go, girl!

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  7. I am very excited, I am happy you still plan on doing ‘The Meaning of Always’.
    Wonderland is one of my obsessions though, and I can’t wait to see your twist on things.
    :)

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  8. Mighty temped…but I think a more realistic goal (than writing a whole novel) is to have my outline finished by the end of June. Yes, that will be good. I must be content with that…

    As an aside, I wish I were half as good at titles as you are. I’ve had this idea for a novel in the back of my mind for years now and no title. Not even a working title.

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  10. June is crazy for me.. I love to join you on writing forays, but, not gonna work right now. I have LOTS of ideas but nothing quire ready to spill out on paper in that many words. Hahahaha… Exciting changes going on for you. Nice! (Hug)

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  11. MIRRIIIII!!!!!!!!
    MIRRI.
    MIRRI.
    MIRRI.

    MY HEART IS LITERALLY POUNDING AFTER READING THIS. I. LOVE. WONDERLAND. I wish there were proper words in the English language to express the kind of love I have for all things Alice in Wonderland, but there’s not. I love it so much that to hear one of my most favorite authors herself is writing a Wonderland retelling my breath got shorter and my heart faster. I’m not even lying. THAT’S how excited I am! I love Wonderland things so much it HURTS.

    I AM SO EXCITED I LITERALLY MIGHT EXPLODE. It feels like I’m exploding right now. I was really looking forward to The Meaning of Always but this, THIS. WONDERLAND RETELLING. ALLLL THE HAPPY FEELS. *FLAILS*

    If you haven’t guessed by now, I want to beta it! I NEEEEEED IIIITTTT. GIMME ALL THE WONDERLAND THINGS. *grabby hands* I CANNOT WAIT.

    And as for Camp NaNo, I’m deeply considering doing it but I can’t decide. I need to make a decision though since it starts in, ya know, a week. o.o Should I do it, Mirri? Help me decide! D:

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  12. I LOVE ALICE IN WONDERLAND. IT IS, LIKE, MY FAVOURITE THING OF EVER. Besides Peter Pan. I did a Peter Pan retelling which I sooo want to go back to at some point. BUT YUS. This sounds fun. I hope it’s crazy and awesome! ;-)

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      1. *shamefully shoves self into conversation*

        PETER PAN IS MY OTHER OBSESSION AS WELL. AS MUCH AS ALICE IN WONDERLAND. WRITE A NEVERLAND RETELLING ONE DAY, MIRRI. PLEASE BY ALL THAT IS GOOD AND CHILDISH IN THIS WORLD WRITE IT.

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  14. Mirriam, your picture-cover-thingy (I don’t know what those things are called) is gorgeous, but also completely indecipherable. I have no idea what it says. XD Actually, that’s not true. I figured it out after 7 minutes of intense staring, squinting, and head tilting. X) Just thought you might want to know. Or maybe that’s not important, idk. XD

    In other news, I love the sound of this story! I know you’ll do well, Mirri. You always do! :)

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      1. LOL yes, I had a mind-blown moment there when I figured that out. Also, “Below” took me a minute (it DOES say “Below,” right?) because the L is part of the W and the O looks like a C. XD But its beautiful and creative and I still love it even though it had me confused for a while. XD <3 hehe.

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  15. (Oh my goodness how did I even miss this post I think my brain is still dead from my Tennessee roadtrip what even.)

    EEP MIRRI IT SOUNDS AWESOME. I remember snippet bits from This Curious Madness before–IT SOUNDS AMAZING. Good luck, you will do awesome! (And I had BETTER be on the list, deary, or ELSE! ;))

    DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE!
    (And yes. Do a Peter Pan someday. You would be amazing at it. <3)

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