Know the Novel – Part One: Introduction // A Writer’s Linkup

Happy, happy October! We have officially reached NaNoWriMo prepping month which means it is time to bring back the annual writer’s linkup: Know the Novel!

Um. Okay. But. How is National Novel Writing Month ONE MONTH AWAY??? PURE INSANITY. Not gonna lie though, I’ve sort of been counting down the days since the end of last NaNo. (Yes, I am that crazy.) NaNo 2020 may have been my favorite NaNo of all time and I truly cannot wait to dive into yet another year of late nights, too much coffee, and, most importantly, mad writing!

I know so many of you are also about to delve into fresh stories or make progress on current ones. Whether you do NaNo or not, fall seems to be the Official Season of Writers. There’s just something about that crisp air, hot drinks, and cozy Autumnal glow that makes us want to put pen to paper and allow our imaginations to run free.

But writing does not have to be a lone venture. There is nothing quite like the cheers and support of our fellow story lovers to fuel our bloodstreams with a burst of motivation.

And that is why I created the Know the Novel linkup.

For three years now I’ve put together this linkup as an easy way for us all to share our NaNo projects OR current or upcoming WIPs and cheer each other on as we get these ideas from head to paper. And I am ecstatic to bring it back for the fourth year in a row!

If you’re new or just need a refresher on how this works, read on, dear Questor! It’s all super simple and I’d be thrilled for you to join along.

Introducing…

KNOW THE NOVEL

What is Know the Novel?

Know the Novel is a 3-part linkup series for writers, one for each of these last three months of the year. Each part will feature ten questions you can answer on your own blog (or anywhere else on social media, if you’d like!). The questions will be focusing on different parts of your novel and how the writing is going.

The linkups go as followed:

OCTOBER

  • Part One: Introduction – This month’s questions are all about your novel! How did the first inkling of this novel form? What’s it about? Who are the characters? Share your brilliance with the world so we may all bask in it!

NOVEMBER

  • Part Two: Within the WIP – These questions focus on how the writing itself is going. Has your novel thrown you some surprises? Any problem areas? What does a normal day of writing look like for you? Did you use up your month’s supply of coffee in the first week? Ah yes, the true life of a writer is revealed!

DECEMBER

  • Part Three: Words Written – With December comes the glorious realization that YOU WROTE WORDS. Actual words! And for this linkup you get to share with the world how those words came to be. The victories, the hardships, and what comes next!

In Summary…

For three months I’ll throw ten novel/writing-related questions your way, you can take the questions and answer them on your own blog, and then share your link in the linkup I’ll attach below so others can read about your delicious novel-y goodness. Easy and fun for all!

QUICK NOTE: I am doing this during National Novel Writing Month season since a lot of us are joining in. BUT. You DO NOT have to be participating in NaNoWriMo to join the linkup! You can answer these questions for any WIP you have. It’s all just for fun and to help us share and encourage one another in all our writerly endeavors. I adore seeing what all my fellow writers are cooking up, so whether you’re doing NaNo or not, please do take the questions if you want and answer them for any WIP you have!

KNOW THE NOVEL
PART ONE: INTRODUCTION

I’d be honored if you used this graphic for your posts, but it’s certainly not required!

THE QUESTIONS

1. What first sparked the idea for this novel?

2. Share a blurb (or just an overall summary)!

3. Where does the story take place? What are some of your favorite aspects about the setting?

4. Tell us about your protagonist(s).

5. Who (or what) is the antagonist?

6. What excites you the most about this novel?

7. Is this going to be a series? standalone? something else?

8. Are you plotting? pantsing? plansting?

9. Name a few unique elements about this story.

10. Share some fun “extras” of the story (a song or full playlist, some aesthetics, a collage, a Pinterest board, a map you’ve made, a special theme you’re going to incorporate, ANYTHING you want to share!).

SHARE YOUR LINK

Now the important bit: SHARING YOUR LINK!

Once your post is published, share the URL in the linkup widget below so we can all read about your epic upcoming WIP!

Part 1 of the linkup ends at midnight on October 31st. Part 2 will go live Monday, November 1st!

I am SO looking forward to reading about everyone’s projects. Every single year I am utterly blown away by the sheer amount of creativity. Doing this linkup brings me so much joy and I do hope you all enjoy it as well.

I’ll be sharing about my own NaNo project later in the month. I’d love it if we could be buddies on the site! You can find my NaNo profile HERE.

I seriously cannot believe we’ve entered NaNo season, but my goodness am I EXCITED! These last 3 months of the year are my absolute favorites and I hope to soak them up to their fullest and feed on the streams of inspiration sparking in the air.

I do hope this month of planning and prepping goes spectacularly for you all!

Show of hands! Who’s doing NaNoWriMo??? Can you believe it’s so CLOSE? Are you excited? I cannot wait to see what you’re cooking up! If you join the linkup, don’t forget to share your link above!

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Caroline Knightley
October 4, 2021 9:11 AM

Omg Christine it’s insane that NaNo is right around the corner. Time flies by so quickly. It feels like it was just May and now it’s October???? I.N.S.A.N.E.
I missed NaNo last year since I was finishing school, and now I am hoping I can have time to write. Do I know what I’m writing if I do? 50/50 at this point. But I always love participating in your Know The Novel blogs since they’re so amazing and give such insight in how everyone is going about their writing. I’ll be sure to link mine in the future when I get to do Part 1 of Know the Novel 🙂
I hope that I’ll be seeing you on the NaNoWriMo website this year (I know you’ll be there, it’s me that needs to show my face there this year lol).

Katherine
October 4, 2021 10:02 AM

Eeeekkk, I am SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!! 😃😃😃 My sister, Issabelle, did Know the Novel last year, and this year we’re both going to do it!!! I CAN’T WAIT, I’m practically jumping up and down! Aaah, this just makes me want to work on my story even more!!!!! 😀

Issabelle Perry
October 4, 2021 10:13 AM

IT’S HEREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *squeals and jumps up and down excitedly* This is by far one of the things I have been looking forward to all year!!!!! I LOVED LOVED LOVED doing it last year, and I canNOT wait to see what everyone’s going to be working on!!!! I totally agree, Christine, that everyone’s ideas are always just pure genius and it’s a blast reading about them all!!!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH for hosting this linkup!!!!!!!

*rushes to go start working on my post for know the novel*

Chloë
October 4, 2021 10:22 AM

Good gracious, I can’t believe NaNo is almost here! I’ve seen this linkup around for years, and this year I want to to finally do it! I’m doing NaNo, though I’m not quite sure if I’m going to set my own goal in the YWP, or do the full 50k this year, which I’ve never actually done before. I start work in November, so I’m not sure how well I can juggle school and a job and NaNo. Guess I’ll have to wait and see! 🙂

Megan Chappie
October 4, 2021 11:13 AM

*squeaks with joy* It’s back!!! Thanks for hosting this again, Christine!

Jennifer Guyer
October 4, 2021 1:07 PM

Yay! Your writer link up is the best! I’m hoping to steal some of your enthusiasm so I can get back in to writing. Motivation has been low these last few months ever since I finished editing my first novel and my health has been not so great. I would love to participate, just have to find the energy somewhere…

Amelie
October 4, 2021 1:25 PM

AHHHH, so excited for this, Christine!!

I’ve loved reading everyone’s Know the Novel posts in the past, but I’ve never been able to participate myself. But…I do believe I need the motivation, and it seems like so much fun, so I’m definitely joining in this year!! I’m not sure yet if I’m doing “official” NaNoWriMo, but I will be doing the King’s Daughter’s Writing Camp, so this will go along perfectly with that!

Can’t wait to read everyone’s amazing posts! And I hope your Preptober/NaNoWriMo is amazing!

Esther Lowery
October 4, 2021 8:31 PM

Ahhh, I’m so excited! I loved participating last year and I’m excited to do so again, although hopefully this year I’ll actually finish it off. I’m working on the same novel this year as last year, so I’m probably going to use a different WIP that I’m working on for Part 1 to save being redundant. Luckily I have an abundance of them.

I look forward to reading everyone’s posts and learning more about everyone’s WIPs, it’s going to be tons of fun. I eagerly await your post, Christine, your posts about your stories always get me so hyped up to write because you’re so enthusiastic, it’s infectious! Thank you so much as always for hosting this linkup, it’s really so much fun and it really helps to get me ready and excited for NaNo. I hope your November goes well!

Kenzie
October 4, 2021 9:24 PM

Oh my goodness!!! I can’t believe NaNoWriMo is legit one month away. (less than a month, even!!!) Where has the year GONE?? But also–YAY! NANOWRIMO IS LESS THAN A YEAR AWAY!!! XD

I am SO excited that Know The Novel is coming back!!! I adore this linkup and reading everyone’s posts, and I cannot wait to see what everyone has in store for their NaNo (or not NaNo!) projects this year!! Thank you so much for hosting this, Christine! I may or may not stay up late tonight working on my post… Mwahahahahahahaha!

Lemon Duck
October 5, 2021 3:24 AM

YAY!! I can’t WAIT FOR NANO!! I love this month so much, and I can’t wait to answer the tag as well!! I hope all goes well for you, Christine!

Chelsea R.H.
October 5, 2021 4:37 AM

I am so excited that Know The Novel is back! I’ve participated in it every year and I am KEEN for this years NaNoWriMo! I also can’t wait to see what you’ll be writing, your novels always sound so good!

Allie Jo Andersen
October 5, 2021 10:10 AM

Yay, I’m so excited for NaNoWriMo!!! This is my first time trying it out, so I can’t wait to (hopefully!) finish a novel in one month!!

Oooh, I’m definitely going to have to do this linkup!!! It looks like so much fun!!

Joy C. Woodbury
October 5, 2021 10:26 AM

This is so exciting, Christine! I love your Know the Novel linkup. I definitely want to do it, but we’ll see whether or not I will. 😅 I’m not sure which one I’d do it on… my Biblical fiction that I haven’t worked on in, like, a month, or on a blog serial I just started. Well, if I figure it out I’ll definitely do it this month, and if not maybe next month.

Apologies for that big ramble basically saying I’m undecided. XD

Anyways, I can’t wait to see what my fellow writers will cook up!! 😁

Julia Garcia/ Arysta Henry
October 5, 2021 10:28 AM

*Squeals* YAY!!!!!! I’m so excited for this link-up! Honestly, I look forward to it all year long. I may be slightly insane, but I’m thinking of doing a pseudo-double NaNoWriMo this year using it to draft book 2 of my Drops of Inspira trilogy and to rewrite and implement edits for the first book of my Harbinger trilogy.

*dives into a cloud of blue cotton candy and disappears*

Maple
October 5, 2021 12:00 PM

*squeals* Oh I’m so excited for this! *bounces* And I’m SO EXCITED to hear more about your Nano!! Happy Preptober 😀

Lily
Lily
October 6, 2021 8:53 PM

WHAATT?!!! NaNoWriMo is almost here already??? *hauls out big sack of coffee for everyone*

Unfortunately, I won’t be doing it this year, but I’m on standby for any emergency coffee refills…. as soon as I figure out how to make espresso (might be helpful if I knew how this espresso machine works… where are those instructions? *hmmm* *decides to randomly hit buttons ’cause that’d be a smart idea*) XD

Ooo, but I can’t wait to hear about your project, Christine! I hope your creativity well runs full as you plunge into NaNoWriMo!

Jenelle Schmidt
Jenelle Schmidt
October 9, 2021 3:28 PM

Yay! I’m so glad that Know the Novel is back!!! Planning on actually getting the posts done this year… 🙂 heheheheh.

Jameson C. Smith
October 9, 2021 10:49 PM

Yay!!! As always, I’m excited that you’re hosting this and can’t wait to hear about everyone’s projects!

Jameson C. Smith
October 9, 2021 10:52 PM

Yay!!! As always, I’m so excited you’re hosting this again and can’t wait to hear about everyone’s projects!

Emily Grant
October 21, 2021 8:37 PM

I’m literally so behind on blog posts and things but AAHHH KNOW THE NOVEL IS BACK AND NANOWRIMO IS ALMOST BACK AND JUST AHHHH ALL THE EXCITING THINGS

Tomas K. Grizzly
October 25, 2021 12:15 PM

Can I take part when one of the planned three books of my project is already completed?

Tomas K. Grizzly
October 25, 2021 1:02 PM

Cool! I’ve put together a rough post and will finish it tomorrow when I return from work.

Tomas K. Grizzly
October 26, 2021 9:14 AM

Done! Link added in the widget above. Hope you won’t be disappointed.

E. G. Bella
October 29, 2021 10:43 AM

This is such a wonderful thing to do, and I’m so excited to be participating for the first time this year! I just posted my answers to this on my blog this morning, here: https://egbella.com/2021/10/29/know-the-novel-linkup-part-1-introduction/.

Thanks so much for hosting this! 😄

Sarah Ryder
Sarah Ryder
October 30, 2021 1:09 PM

So excited to be joining in for the first time! I tried the linkup, but I don’t think it worked and now I’m super paranoid about using it so I’m just gonna put my link here instead. 😅 (I just sent you an email about this—sorry for being such a bothersome tech idiot!)

Here’s my link—I hope you like it!

https://youtu.be/H4OIj_hAGTY

Sarah Ryder
Sarah Ryder
October 30, 2021 4:50 PM

Aw, thank you so much! And I hope dearly you are right because I just so want to get this rough draft DONE….

Brielle Andela
October 31, 2021 6:09 AM

I was just writing a post about my NaNoWriMo plans (which basically amount to consistently working on drafting) and it occurred to me that Know the Novel was probably happening. I think it highlighted how unprepared I am, but that’s okay. I’ve got something to write and I submitted my link for this before the deadline.

Brielle Andela
November 1, 2021 12:42 AM

Sometimes planning works well for me. I’ve had stories that got stuck because I didn’t really know where they were going. But I’ve also gotten stuck in the planning. The key might be having a clear idea of what I’m trying to do instead of dozens of little things that could go in the study, but at this point I think writing it is the best way to go forward.

Victoria Crooks
October 31, 2021 2:30 PM

*pants* Made it with approximately 9 hours and 30 minutes to spare! There ain’t no way I was passing up this chance!! (Not after waiting for a whole year…) XD 😉

Jen
Jen
October 31, 2021 7:48 PM

And I squeezed in my post! *grins* I was so worried I wouldn’t be able to join in time. That would have been so sad 🙁 And goodness, do I need to figure out a way to get caught up on all your lovely blog posts! Here’s to a productive writing month!!! *throws confetti*

Blue Pail Blogs
December 1, 2021 7:31 PM

I’m too late to join the official link-up, but here’s my post: http://bluepailblogs.com/meet-my-wip-of-vampires-and-cherry-limeades/

Just in case anyone’s interested. 🙃.

Blue Pail Blogs
December 2, 2021 8:19 PM

Oh my goodness, thank you so much! 😊. Thank you for letting me tag (pun intended) along!