GLQ's Nano: Malleable Past

[Gelquie]

Well, I know I'm gonna be busy, which is why I was considering not doing it. But my busy-ness over the years is only going to increase as I go through college, so this may well be now-or-never.

Anyway! This is my first Nano! I just created my account and frankly, I still have no idea what to write. However, this post will be in many ways edited as time goes on.

Story Ideas:

SPOILER: Click to show

This is just partial of an idea, but it's sort of a prequel for what I plan on writing in the future. (Does that make it a prequel, or does that make it the first one?)

Anyway, I've invented this world where there are kingdoms, empires, plots of land taken over by wanna-be tyrants, stuff like that.

While humans are the dominant species of the planet, they are not the only inhabitants; there are various other creatures capable of human intelligence or at least close enough. (Before you think humanoid, I'm thinking impanoid.) However, as of right now, none of these creatures are accepted by humans. To the humans, as long as the creatures stay in their little bits of land, they will be left alone by the kingdoms. Some of the creatures have accepted this and have carved out well-established societies from what little they have. Some of them are a bit more rebellious. However, none have ever attempted an uprising or started a real war against a human kingdom.

There is magic in this world, but it is rare for anyone to have it, and it is inconceivable for anyone to have magic worthy of real fear. Yup. No epic magic battles between casters. Most of the magic that the few users of it can cast are: tiny flicks of fire from a finger, making a few snowflakes from a hand, making your vision like binoculars at will to see kinda farther, sensing hints of others feelings (like really sensing), etc. Not that major, right? However, using magic at all, even in the most trying of situations, is a taboo in the human kingdoms that is always punished with death. It's because of cultural superstition. If I do write about this, I'll talk about it.

I plan on writing on one of the sides, like one of the growing human or creature kingdoms in its early stages. Haven't decided which, or if I'll stick to that plan. Of those two, I may end up doing a creature kingdom. Or I could expand on some of the folk tales. I dunno. Still wondering about it, and wondering if I'm even going to do this idea.

SPOILER: Click to show

I just came up with this one not so long ago, but I've played with the idea in my head before.

It's the story of a young teenaged girl (I'm thinking 14 or 15) who at the beginning does the typical teenager stuff with her friends and best friend. Their life has the small-time drama, but the main protagonist is aware of the dumb stuff and mistakes she's done in the past, but isn't mature enough to apply those experiences to what's happening now.

One night, she goes to sleep, wondering about a few past events and thinking "What if?". Then she wakes up... And she's 9 years old, and it's the same year as if she was 9. And so she has to relive her experiences from that point in time. Obviously, some things would be changed, since her memories when she was 14/15 didn't go away, but she decides to change some of her mistakes while she's there.

It'll be geared towards a semi-younger audience, since it'd be more appropriate. For the events the girl chooses to change, I will likely put slightly altered events from my own life in there to create a little of my own "What if" situations. ^_^ If I decide to do it, that is.

No other ideas at the moment, but that may change.

[Gelquie]

Okay, after much consideration, I've decided to go with my second idea: basically, the "what if" scenario.

Getting the characters down will be easy enough. The main protagonist will have number of friends both as a 14 year old and a 9 year old, and she will have at least one very close friend. Funnily enough, I only have one name down. I don't even have a name for the main protagonist. ^_^; I'm open to suggestions, but nothing too weird; this is supposed to be modern times. (The name "Katherine" is taken by another character.)

I'm mostly concerning myself with how I should write it. ...Well, by that I mean... Um... Okay, obviously, there are going to be some very light-hearted moments, and there are going to be some pretty darn dark moments. It's gonna be difficult to determine where I should place the peg, especially with some of the pretty intense moments. That's basically where I'm having most of the trouble.

[Zylaa]

This sounds cool! Time travel cause-and-effect stories open up lots of interesting possibilities.

[Gelquie]

There ARE a lot of possibilities. I'm gonna try to not get too major about what the main character will change. For example: She could go around warning everyone that the twin towers* are gonna fall, but if some random kid walked up to you shouting horrible things that don't sound plausible, how many people are going to believe you?

*May not actually set the book in the time frame where this happens. It may not even matter.

I have a working title now: "Malleable Past".

Earlier, I wrote a little "back of the book" thing that I posted on my NaNo page. If I were going to write an actual "back of the book" description, I'd probably alter it so that it sounds more like one, but I think it'll do for before the thing is actually written. I'd also have her name in there. When I find a name for her, I'll edit this so that the description will have her name.

SPOILER: Click to show

Young 14-year-old Morgan is a typical teenager, really. She hangs out with friends, she gets crushes, she does girl stuff, etc, all while in school. Her past wasn't entirely full of sparkles; she lost her mother years ago during the birth of her younger sister, and she had some typical problems back then. But there's nothing she can do to change the past.

At least, there was nothing, until she suddenly woke up, in her 9-year-old body at 5 years in the past. Shocking, certainly. But she knows what happens now. She can change things any way she wants to, however she wants to. She can reshape her future.

EDIT: I have found a name for our protagonist: Morgan!

[Gelquie]

Woohoo! It's getting closer! Just because I feel like it, I'm going to put up some character stuff for my major characters and characters I'll probably put in that may or may not be major.

SPOILER: Click to show

Morgan- Main character. Is 14-years-old and when it comes to tennager-itis (as her dad calls it), she's rather typical for her age. However, she does have a few stumbling points in her past that she often thinks about. These include the death of her mother during the birth of her little sister, and the family's previous financial struggle because of this. Despite this, she tries to act her age and participate in fun stuff. She is the one who is sent back in time 5 years and into a 9-year-old body.

Katherine: Morgan's best friend since... well, a very long time. At the same age as Morgan, they can talk about anything and work as the backs of each other. Katherine is pretty well off compared to Morgan, but it doesn't stop her from being a vocal about whatever problems she may have. Kinda different when she is 9.

Gabe: Morgan's dad. He is a good father, but he struggles with jobs, so the mother brought in most of the money while he stayed at home. When she died, Gabe was forced to frantically look for a job, resulting in the financial hardship. By the time Morgan is 14, these seem to have been solved as Gabe finally gets a steady job, but he's forced to spend less time with his kids. Whatever stress he may have felt, he never lets on to it.

Caitlyn: Morgan's mother, deceased at the time Morgan's used to from childbirth, but alive at the time Morgan goes back. A hard worker (she'd have to be to support the family) and not always around, but she always shows that she cares when she gets the time.

Cali: Morgan's 4-year-old little sister. She's very typical for a 4-year-old girl, even with the financial hardships. Morgan sometimes has to care for her when her dad's not around, but Morgan doesn't seem to like her very much.

Jason: Moved to the town while the others were 9, and tries to be as friendly as possible to other people. Katherine culminates a huge crush on him, which she is afraid to culminate. Jason has since figured this out, but has not said anything about it.

More coming.

[Sq]

I love your idea! =D And good luck! I am in the same college-boat as you. ^^