Part of the reason I wanted to finish the first draft of my current novel by the end of February was because I knew I was participating in a challenge in March.
The challenge is NaNoRenNo.
It’s kind of like the normal NaNoWriMo, but instead of producing a 50,000+ novel, you produce a completed visual novel.
For those that don’t know what a visual novel is here’s the Wikipedia definition-
‘A visual novel is an interactive fiction game, featuring mostly static graphics, most often using anime-style art or occasionally live-action stills (and sometimes video footage). As the name might suggest, they resemble mixed-media novels.’
It’s a different kind of storytelling that instantly caught my interest for a few reasons:
1. Any form of storytelling is good with me π
2. I adore Choose-Your-Own-Adventure books.
3. I love gaming, so being able to take some aspects of it and add it to my own story is awesome!
4. Really being able to bring the story to life through both writing and art.
I’ve always had a dream of creating a comic, because of the mixture of writing and drawing- I love the two!- But I was never patient enough to complete a whole comic.
With visual novels I get to draw the art (though not anime-style as is usual), and also add more writing than I would in a comic. I am not even kidding about how perfect a medium that is for me π
So my project this month is to complete a visual novel, and see how it goes. Also, I will say that visual novels are something I hope to look into producing and selling along with my novels in the future.
For those interested, I will detail the visual novel I am producing below π
Sorry for the white backgrounds on the art, WordPress apparently doesn’t like transparent images!
When underwater archaeologist, Quinn, discovers an artifact in the ruins she is exploring just offshore, she doesnβt realise the significance of it.
At least, not until she comes face to face with the owner of the artifact⦠who happens to have a tail.
Introduced to the world of the Merpeople, Quinn must keep the exciting discovery quiet in order to protect their secrets, all whilst dealing with new feelings that are stirring towards her merman guide, Merrik.
If that wasnβt difficult enough, she must contend with the persistent interference of a dangerous treasure hunter searching for his next big prize.
And Quinn is all too aware that the Merpeople would be his perfect target.
Characters
Quinn Lanton
The main character of this tale, a woman whose curiosity helps her to find the biggest discovery of all time, only to realise she must keep it a secret.
Her personality can be defined by the player through dialogue and action choices, which will affect the way characters react to her and the outcome of the ending.
Merrik
Merrik is happy to live his life in the safety of the sea, but meeting Quinn changes things.
Now the merman finds his position as Guardian of the artifact tested as he navigates through the world of humans and their greed for what does not belong to them.
Walton Huntley
An ex-archaeologist turned treasure hunter. His only interest is the next big prize and the fortune he could get for it.
The Artefact
Diving in Deep is going to focus on romance (obviously π It’s what I write!), but will also have a good amount of excitement and action so hopefully all can enjoy it! It will be FREE, so I’m hoping lots of people will be willing to try it out.
Though I realise this may not be the kind of thing some people would go for, I am hoping to open up this form of storytelling to those who might not even have known about it, and maybe get them to try out something new π
Is this something you’d be willing to try out? Does this interest you as a different form of story?
*This is a scheduled post, I will be back on Tuesday. Hope everyone has a brilliant weekend! :D*
That’s a great project! It is fun and challenging to try new types of stories/projects. I am glad that this seems to be a perfect medium for you! I look forward to the finished result. π
It is certainly a fun challenge to try this format π But hopefully it will be worth the effort!
Thank you so much for commenting π
So that’s where you’ve been hiding! The art work is wonderful, and like Natacha – I can’t wait to see the finished result π
I have been pretty much burying myself completely in this project. I knew it would take a lot of work, but it has been interesting working out a right schedule to get it all done π
I am really excited about how it’s going though, so it will be worth it in the end!
Thank you so much for the encouraging comment π
I’m absolutely positive it will be worth it. It’s wonderful to invest in this kind of project π
Wow! Amazing! you are so multi talented! Good luck with this project, it sounds perfect for you. Btw will you be able to upload this format for sale on Amazon, or is it just for the ipad?
This one will be free, so will be uploaded through a download site (not sure which yet). But in the future, when I sell them, I will hopefully be able to upload them to Amazon in a variety of formats (as an app and for Windows, Mac, Linux, etc) and to Googleplay π
Thank you so much for the compliment and comment! π
Good luck – seems you have the talent and the passion for it!
Thank you so much! It’s all coming together really nicely at the moment π
This project sounds so cool! I’m super excited to see where you go with it! Your artwork is really good, by the way, and the story sounds interesting. π
Thank you so much! I’m glad you’re excited to see it, I am really excited about it myself π It’s going really smoothly so far, so will have ot see how the rest of the month works out. I can imagine getting it done by the end might be… an interesting challenge!
Definitely a challenge but worth your while! I bet you could do it π
That’s a really neat idea! Good luck this month!
Thank you so much π I’m hoping it goes as smoothly as I have it planned out!
I think it’s awesome that you’re doing this!! Love the art work!
Thank you so much π It’s nice to have a bit of a change to writing a normal novel, and it’s great fun!
This sounds awesome! I’m already obsessed with your art style – so cool π I’m excited to see how this develops. I love art but have never really been good enough to do anything with it, so I’ll be routing for you π
Well, that is a lovely compliment! π
Most visual novels I’ve seen have had an anime art style, which is understandable seeing as visual novels originated from Japan, but I’m hoping to bring my own style (both in art and writing) to this story telling format in order to create something fresh and fun!
Thank you so much for the lovely comment π
Absolutely! I can’t wait π
This sounds like so much fun, but not something I think I could do at this time. Too busy. *wipes brow* I wish you good luck though and will be looking forward to seeing/hearing more about it. π
It is great fun, but yeah, a ton of work! Had to cut back on some of the artwork I wanted for it just to make sure I can keep to schedule π
Thank you so much for the encouraging comment π
I love visual novels! I’m really looking forward to seeing where you go with this.
It’s been really fun getting the art up together, and now I’m onto the writing today! Full steam ahead on this π
Nicely done, Mishka. I’d never heard of this NaNo, probably because I’m not an artistic writer.
I only heard about it at the beginning of the year π But it’s been great fun to try out something different.
Thank you so much for commenting π
This is awesome! I wish I was good with graphics–I think it would be fun to create a visual novel. I can’t wait to see and read your story!
It has been great fun doing the visual novel, though it certainly has been stretching my skills, which is always good too π
Thank you so much for the encouraging comment π
I love all forms of storytelling π I can’t wait to read it!
Thank you so much! π It’s a really different way of writing, but I’m really enjoying it!
Sounds like a huge project but I’m excited for you. Looking forward to seeing the finished product. (Love the storyline)
They have a NaNoish event for all kinds of things apparently! That’s pretty cool. ^-^ I’ve heard a lot about visual novels, and though I haven’t yet checked any out I’ve always found the idea very intriguing. I am excited to see your story! The art already looks excellent.
Pingback: Romance Writers Weekly #lovewritechat | A Writer's Life For Me.
Pingback: Diving in Deep- Challenge Complete! | A Writer's Life For Me.