NovMo ‘24: The Best Recipe for Tea

For this upcoming Novel Month, I am focusing on a lighter, realistic-magic kind of thing as in like casual ways that magic might be incorporated in the world, whether someone realizes or not.

I like the classic idea of a quiet, stubborn or seemingly uninterested main character who is a witch/warlock but realizes that they have to help someone cause they're hopeless.

Or, the opposite, someone is rather positive and happy despite being in a potentially dangerous situation, and wants to take care of others in need or in a specific circumstance in which they feel like they can only be the one to help.

I've read a few stories like that, but I wanted to start my own version of it.

This sounds awesome! Like a nice, accessible contemporary fantasy
Are you going for 50k or something else?

Thanks @Carlito !

I absolutely love the concept and work behind fantasy novels but I have not been able to find the time to truly create a world. A blend between contemporary and fantasy seems to be more easily attainable, aha.

I would love to get to 50k this year -- I am trying to attend a few writing events in November so I can find some free time to write, but I definitely need to be getting some planning in, or at least some kind of timeline in place.

I'm aiming for at least some consistency in writing, hehe :]

Main Challenges

Elevator Pitch

Our main character, Althea, is a tiny bit insecure witch who is the only worker at their little tea shop every day (besides an occasional Sunday closure so that they can practice their customs). Who walks into their tea shop besides a downtrodden being who needs a smidgen of good luck? They see an opportunity to truly feel like they are contributing to the better of others -- even if they're a bit nervous about the whole keeping-a-special-group-of-people safe from some pretty dangerous occurences.

Main Character

Write a few paragraphs about who your main character is before the novel starts. Not what they look like or what they do, but who are they on the inside? What do they believe? Want? Where are they in their life? (Why is the plot of this book you're about to write going to change them?)

My main character is someone who thinks of themself as a weak witch but still wants to help people in whatever way possible, mainly by adding little good luck charms in brewed tea drinks. Althea is a secluded, cheerful witch that thinks of themselves as rather weak and incapable, mainly from years worth of teasing and self-doubt, but they strive to be helpful even in mundane ways to their neighbors and customers. They also have at least one cat familiar, and at least one bird familiar. Neither talk, but do seem to communicate in some way with each other and with Althea.

Playlist

playlist ideas:
- anything related with tea or coffee shops
i.e. coffee's for closers by fall out boy is a must
- anything that gives slightly fantastical vibes
i.e. electric love by borns

I might be getting some time / forcing myself to get some time for writing ... soon-ish.

If nothing else, I want to at least get some ideas in ahah for this month.