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As you may know, I’m currently working on a rewrite of my contemporary YA manuscript, Cross My Heart. This story is a labor of love — emphasis on the word LABOR. Once called Loving Max Holden (a title I might revert back to), it’s been giving me headaches for nearly two years. But I CANNOT let it go. Why, you might ask, have I stuck with a troublesome manuscript for so long? Well, its main characters, Jillian and Max (who you’ll meet on Saturday!), are just too adorable for words. I love them so much, and, simply, I can’t not tell their story.
Jillian is the most like me of any character I’ve written. She’s got a dry wit about her, and one might say she’s emotionally stunted. She’s constantly measuring herself against others, wondering how she compares. Though she puts on a casual-cool air, she’s highly analytical. She’s tight with her dad and angsty about her (pregnant and perfect) step-mom. Jill loves to bake, and she’s got clear goals in mind. She’s not the swooning type, and she’s definitely not that girl who’d let her life be derailed by a boy.
Until… it is.
Meet Jillian…
Where she sleeps…
Where she lives…
What she loves…
What she dreams of…
What she reads…
What she drinks (no sugar, please)…
What she learns…
Tell me: Do you use visual inspiration for your WiPs?
katyupperman.com 
Awww! 😀 Jillian sounds like somebody I’d like to call a friend! And those pictures are indeed quite inspiring, Katy! I cannot wait to read that book…The more you mention it, the more intrigued I am. If you ever need fresh eyes on it, you have my email/Twitter/blog/pinterest/Instagram, right? 😀
I also use visuals for inspiration and I have to say that Pinterest is great for this! 😀
Yes, I think I can somehow manage to get a hold of you, Elodie. 🙂 And thanks for the offer! I might just have to take you up on that!
Hi Jillian! Can I have your kitchen, please? 😉 The story sounds pretty awesome—baking and cute boys? Yes please!
I use a lot of visuals too. I would be lost without my Pinterest boards!
Isn’t that kitchen gorgeous?! I think I’m living vicariously through Jillian a bit on that one. And doesn’t Pinterest make “research” so much more fun? Love it!
Stop posting pics of food! Just kidding – but my tummy’s a little rumbly now. 🙂 And, um…I hope you’re hard at work on those revisions because Alison misses Jillian and Max something fierce.
Oh, no! Food pics two days in a row! I didn’t even realize. I love that you referred to yourself in third person in your comment, SWF. My husband was just making fun of me for doing that the other day. And yes… I’m working!
Funny, I just posted twice about Pinterest and image inspiration, must be something in the water. I gravitate towards photos of setting and occasionally possible character photos, but mostly I just seem to be hoarding pretty pictures!
Pinterest is EXCELLENT for hoarding pretty pictures! 🙂
These are great. I’m trying to use Pintrest to create some boards for things I’m working on. Great work.
Pinterest is great for collecting images and organizing inspiration. It’s lots of fun, too. 🙂
Katy I love this post! This is probably my favorite of all the ones I’ve come across today. I’m inspired to put something like this together for my characters now. I’m intrigued by this WIP! I also love your tie-in to A-Z.
Thanks so much, Liz! It was lots of fun to put together, and it happened to fit in perfectly with RTW too. Pinterest is great for collecting and organizing inspirational images. I highly recommend it if you’re not already using.
I have never thought about doing this, but now I want to spend the day finding pictures for my WIP. 🙂 I am definitely interested in this story–it sounds like something I would enjoy reading.
Thanks, Zanne! I’ve spent many days collecting images. I find them really inspiring, and they make writing descriptions much easier and much more fun!
Lovely images, Katy! I especially like how you structured the post — seeing bits of Jillian’s life (her kitchen, what she’s reading, etc) is so fun. I really hope to meet her and Max one day 🙂
Thanks so much, Erin! I hope you get to meet them someday too. 🙂
Sounds like a very well-developed character, Katy. I can only imaging Max is as well-realized (I guess we’ll find out on Saturday…). 🙂
Thanks so much, Colin! Looking forward to introducing Max on Saturday. 🙂
I find images of people I think are my main characters, and yes, it does help me. However for settings, etc. I like to keep that in my head. And don’t want to be too informed from the “real” world.
I’m that way with some things too, but over all, I like to have a really clear picture in mind before I write descriptions. Collecting photos helps me to develop my characters and settings in more detail.
It’s so fun to learn about everyone’s individual processes!
That KITCHEN. #LOVE 🙂
Jillian sounds like such a fully developed character–I’d love to read her story one day!
I hope you get to, Sara. 🙂
I love Jillian already!
I do use pics to inspire me. Usually, I create a folder of pics for each WIP. I guess I should try Pinterest for that, right? lol
I used to use folders too, Juliana, but yes, Pinterest makes the whole process much easier, and much more fun!
Ooo, cool 🙂 Thanks for sharing your visual inspirations and a bit about your WiP with us. It definitely sounds compelling!
Thanks, Jaime! It was a fun post to put together. 🙂
She sounds awesome! Love all of the photos, and I’d also love to read her story someday. 🙂
Thanks so much, Ghenet! I sincerely hope you get to. 🙂
I love meeting new characters! I like Jillian already. 🙂
Thanks, Lydia! She holds a very special place in my heart. 🙂
Loved your pics. It gave such an insight into your character it makes me want to read the book!
Thank you so much, Melanie! I hope you DO get to read Jill’s story someday!
Great pics! Can’t wait to read about Max. 🙂
Thanks, Pam! I’m looking forward to introducing him. 😉
These are wonderful pictures. They paint such a nice image of your character. After all these posts today, I hope in the future of publishing and enhanced e-books we get to see more books meshed with photography. 🙂
Ooh, me too, Laurie! It’s been so fun to hop around to view everyone’s inspiration today. 🙂
Ah yes, I used to love to eat the things Jillian loves and still be able to look like Jillian–no more!
Ha! Me too, Angelica! Ah, to be seventeen again. 😉
She sounds awesome! I love that pic of her…and her kitchen isn’t too shabby either.
Thanks, Jess! Totally my dream kitchen. Oh, and I’m very much looking forward to your Bookanista post tomorrow. 😉
Jillian sounds great! And I love her kitchen style!! Stylish 🙂
Dropping in again,
#885 of A to Z challenge…
Leigh @ oneandoneequalstwinfun.com
Thanks, Leigh! Wouldn’t it be amazing to bake and cook in Jill’s kitchen? 🙂
On the basis of these pictures, I am dying to read your book. Dying! I love this aesthetic, and she sounds like a great character. Good luck with the rewrite–I’m starting one myself right now. 🙂
Thanks so much, Rebecca! You have no idea how encouraging and motivating that is! I hope you DO get to read it someday. 🙂
These are nice pictures. Definitely curious to learn more about Jillian, her baking, and that boy. I would be curious to see a picture of him too!
Funny you should mention Jill’s boy, Cynthia. His post is coming up on Saturday. I hope you’ll check back in to meet him!
Um…I know this is crazy but I’d love to beta. I’m sure you have a 1,000 beta readers but…this sounds SO good. I am not much of a baker but i love reading books about baking and brown haired girls. lol. (My MC is also a J – Jenna!) I really like both titles for your WIP and I hope you continue — please give us all blog readers a snippet some time? *looks at Katy innocently*
Rachel, I’m actually posting a tiny snippet tomorrow for my Lucky Seven post. 🙂 And thanks for the offer to beta… I might just have to take you up on that when I’m done with this rewrite!