This past week began October’s #WIPjoy over on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, the first week being “Intro Week”. Read on for an introduction to my work in progress!

Day 1: Your WIP: blurb, genre, visual

For this month, I chose to focus on my young adult (YA) project, Story-Keeper. It’s a modern/portal fantasy with a vibe reminiscent of old books and evergreen forests, featuring twists on classic fantasy beings, Rogue antics, and sibling banter.

Day 2: Your own backstory and goals

I’m a fantasy/contemporary author in my early twenties. Although I’ve been creating stories nearly my entire life, I first began my journey as a writer in 2011, with One Year Adventure Novel. This curriculum not only shaped my writing, but my life as well. Writing has seen me through struggles and joys. I’ve seen the power of words and stories firsthand, to uplift and destroy. This is why I write.

I write to inspire and encourage, to remind people that hope exists in the midst of struggle. I write to explore worlds that don’t exist. I write to create the books I wish did exist. Words and stories are one of the most subtle yet powerful shapers of the world, and I write to use them to God’s glory. Currently my goals are just that: to keep writing and to reach out to others who love to do the same.

Over time, I’ve found that my passion for championing other writers nearly eclipses my passion for writing itself. To watch someone else’s story develop before your eyes is truly a moment of wonder. There are so many out there with powerful stories bound in uncertainty; all they truly need is someone to help bring out the gem that lies within.

Day 3: A WIP line about a theme or topic you care strongly about

The truest friends are the ones who won’t give up on you… even when you push them away. Sometimes people can truly need distance, but other times, hidden within is a cry for help. One person who hears can make all the difference.

Day 4: Book(s) that changed your life

It’s hard to say what books have changed my life, when most of my life-changing influences have been friends or TV/movies. No one book stands out as monumental in my memory, but every book I read changed me, changed the way I write. Some instilled a sense of wonder, others revealed what true loyalty and friendship look like. Still others revealed just how cleverly a plot could be woven, or how complicated people can truly be. These books were my escape and my adventure, even as they shaped the way I viewed the world.

(Head to Twitter to see which ones fell under which categories)

Day 5: Your tunes for this WIP

My playlist for Story-Keeper is, in essence, a mix of Imagine Dragons and heartfelt emotional songs.

“You’ll Find Your Way” by Andrew Peterson holds a special place as the theme song for Story-Keeper. I’d written 10k+ words before happening across the song on YouTube, yet it fits perfectly. “You’ll Find Your Way” puts into words the elusive undercurrent of the story, helping me to stay centered through the surface events.

Shoutouts also to:

• Imagine Dragons as my ally Marcus’s jam
• Danny Gokey’s “Tell Your Heart to Beat Again” as my MC Cass’s core song
• Thomas Bergersen’s “New Life” as tonal writing music

Day 6/7: Link your books or websites!

If you’re here, it means you’ve already found my website! Congratulations! I’ll be featuring Week in Reviews all throughout WIPjoy October, as well as Short Reviews when I finish new reads (and possibly some old favorites).

This is also a great place to get the latest news on Unmasked, my short story featured in an upcoming Kindle anthology. Stay tuned for a cover release sometime in the next few days!

Check out my other social media spots at:

• Facebook.com/jessicacrespinoauthor
• Instagram.com/jessicacrespino
• Twitter.com/JessicaCrespino
• Goodreads.com/jessicacrespino
• Pinterest.com/jessicacrespinoauthor
• Linkedin.com/in/jessicacrespino

Or simply leave a comment below! Either way, I’d love to meet you!

Question of the day (well, week): What’s a fun fact about you?