A Book's Genesis is  a monthly meme hosted by +Daniela Ark, you can check out the rules/future topics here. 

So basically it's all about Works in Progress (WIP) and each month there'll be a different topic related to a WIP. Because April is the first month of this it's kind of like an intro post! 

An Introduction to my WIP 

While I technically have more than one WIP going on at the moment, I'm focusing on one that is currently only called Phantom, which is a purely working title. This is a story that is based on The Phantom of the Opera and while originally it was just a story in my head, as soon as my best friend found out about it she told me I had no choice but to write it. So as it stands I'm 41,115 words in and approaching the big finale, which is kind of planned out. 

As it stands, Phantom follows the story of Annabelle Phillips, who is the assistant director/stage manager of an amateur theatre troupe's production of The Phantom of the Opera. Annabelle has stayed away from relationships since getting out of her abusive relationship with local radio DJ, Toby Withers, 3 years ago.But when one of the lead roles from the production, Jack Fenton, comes on the scene she begins to change her mind, spurred on by her best friend, costume designer, Hayley McCarthy. While characters have their parallel characters (Annabelle = Christine, Hayley = Meg, Jack = Raoul, Toby = the Phantom/Erik, there's even a Carlotta character!) I tried not to get too stuck in them personality trait wise. There are also other unrelated characters! 

I feel it'll be easier to talk about any WIP if I talk about how my writing process works first. Basically I engross myself in a story (thought there will be other stories that I note down in that time) then once I've finished a draft I abandon it for a while. I come back to it and rip it apart (which is how I describe the editing process to myself. 

I am terrible at planning ahead. I have basic plot points clear in my head, but most of the time I just write and my characters tell me what to do! In fact the one time I didn't do this I ended up really struggling to link up the beginning of the story and the end (I did manage though!) 

My Phantom WIP has been a little different though. I've had certain scenes planned longer than others, though I try not to write them until I get there. And naturally, moments of inspiration strike at very random points in time! Particularly while I'm driving.