Cynthia A. Morgan's Blog, page 31

Faithfully Besieged – #DarkPoetry

 

I have been here many a year,
Lost in the dimness and shadows
Beside you, Waiting for you to Hear,
The voice your Spirit ever knows.

I am lost Light, a transient apparition,
Standing in limbo, shaded and mute,
A silhouette of sweet contrition
As human frailty conceives of Truth.

Waking and sleeping, I live on the Border
Of what I Was and what Will Be,
Ever Listening to the Higher Order,
Calling me Home to that Tranquil Sea.

But Thoughts of you Retain my core,
Ensnared am I, Willingly Aggrieved.
Impossible, it is, to Seek after More
While I Linger here, Faithfully Besieged.

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Poetry and Art by ~Morgan~

~Thank You for reading ~

If you’d like to keep up with everything I’m doing, sign up for my monthly newsletter by visiting my author website

If you’d like to see more of my artwork, please visit my DeviantArt page

Orphan – #Mediations for #Spirituality

Don’t pray “Our Father” on Sunday
And spend the rest of the week living like an orphan.

Love Ever Abides,

Love Never Divides.

~Morgan~

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Image found at: http://www.guardianangel.in

Self Promotion Sunday – Of #Bookcovers, #GraphicNovels, & #Digitalart #Illustations

No, I haven’t written another book (Yet!- although that IS in the works).

Yes, that’s my artwork on a book cover.

Yes, I designed the book cover.

Why do you care? LOL, ok maybe you don’t, but if you’re in need of a cover for your book, graphic novel, short story collection, or other writing project, maybe I can help.

 

Whether you’re writing a tale of swash-buckelry or are putting together a collection of magical short stories for children, I have artwork that will suit your genre.

Bright, clear images of at least 2500 pixels (width) will keep your cover sharp enough to be seen clearly, even when reduced to a thumbnail for social media search engines.

I also use crisp, clean fonts with text effects that will make your name and title STAND OUT.

 

 

SciFi, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Childrens, Middle Grade, or YA, I’ve got an image that will work for you.

Visit my DeviantArt gallery today and find an image (or three!) that you love.

Then click on the Commissions Banner to complete your request.

~Morgan~

Vast Reaches of Love – #Love#Poems

Man of my Heart,
Who is Ever in my Thoughts,
Love is but a fragile flower
Compared to the Ocean of Intensity
I Feel for You.

Man of my Love,
Who is Closer to me than Any,
Passion is but a fainting fancy
Compared to the Vast Reaches of Devotion
I Feel for You.

Man of my Soul
Who was Created for me Before Time,
Eternity is but a Drifting Petal on the wind
Compared to the Endless Expanse of Adoration
I Feel For You.

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Poetry and Art by ~Morgan~

~Thank You for reading ~

If you’d like to keep up with everything I’m doing, sign up for my monthly newsletter by visiting my author website

If you’d like to see more of my artwork, please visit my DeviantArt page

Walk in Purpose- #Poetry of #Spirituality & # Faith

Walk with Me at the Break of Dawn,
Awaken to My Love, My Caring;
Quietly Pause before Monotony,
For this Splendor of Simple Sharing.

All your cares, Entreat to Me
And Accept this Peace, Unending;
Then Walk in Purpose, Where I Lead,
Your Gifts in Tribute Spending.

For as the Day Increases, Dour,
Tumult and calamity Breeding;
With your Talents, Bravely journey,
Each Life you Touch with My Love, Seeding.

 

~Morgan~

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image found at: http://www.boostinspiration.com

The Development of #CharacterDevelopment- Insights from #Author Ezekiel Eversand

I’ve recently created a group on Goodreads called The Source Book Club.  While reading through some of the INTRODUCTIONS, I came across this treasure, written by author Ezekiel Eversand

It began with this simple question:
What do you look for in a favourite book?  His answer was:  Character development. World building is great, but it should NEVER distract or take away from what matters most, which to me, is the characters. I definitely adhere to incorporate this virtue into my own writing. I think a good book has several shades of grey in its characters, and also never let’s you feels as if the heroes are invulnerable (I don’t think its entirely wrong of me to say that I enjoy a good, unexpected character death). Furthermore, to take it a step further, I prefer it when the “heroes” and the “villains” are not so clear, and that all of the characters have realistic justifications for their actions, rather than the simple good vs evil outtake.

Great stuff huh? I thought so too, so I asked him if he’d write a full post about it and he was happy to oblige.

Greetings all,

Please let the information below serve as supplementary assistance to aide as a character development guideline for your novel (or novels). I believe there are at least 7 major elements that come into the process of creating the characters for your story, and that there indeed is a sequence in which to prioritize first to ensure you forge better streamlined, more believable, and thoroughly interesting characters. Here they are:

1. The Purpose (Main or Support – POV does not have to mean Main Role)
– The first thing I believe you need to do when creating a character is to decide the point of them entirely. Are they what you might consider a main (someone who the story never takes its eyes off of, someone critical to the plotline), a support (someone to enhance the actual main character/characters, or even give a point of view of them when a support has its own POV), an ancillary (someone given a name and brief history and solid description that you plan to have companion the main & supports from time to time), or a “fodder” character (someone minor you’ve given a name for the sole purpose of evoking more drama from the reader when you inevitably kill them off).
– NOTE: If writing in POV style, you do NOT have to give your main a POV. Perhaps one of your main characters is too complex, knows too much that you don’t wish the reader to know so soon in the story, has a major plot twist planned you don’t want the reader knowing, or you just want to be purposely vague for the intrigue of it all. Give a POV to a solid supporting character. I do this often in my novels.
– Think like a developmental editor. Think like a devil’s advocate. Could your story do without this character? Would your story be better without this character? The reason you created this character should carve your story, become a part of it symbiotically – not distract. Never EVER create a POV that you feel the reader will feel: “Ah man, not this guy again…”

2. History:
– Once you’ve decided on the purpose of your characters for your novel, I am sure by now you have conjured some concept of them. Even more important than how they look (which I am sure is the most enjoyable part to create), you need to flesh them out. You need to know their history. If it helps, even create a mini-timeline of their life, which is something I do. Who were they raised by? Was it their parents or someone else? Who are their family members and are they in the story? Any significant relationships we should know about? Were they involved in any past major conflicts, such as wars or duels? Did something drastic happen to them to make them who they are today, or alter the way they current look like?

3. Description Evolution:
– This may be a flaw in that this is the first thing you think up. “A cool looking character”. Sure, you can do this first, and maybe you did on accident, but the prior two focus points should be covered soon after then if you bypassed them. But description should not just be about their current aesthetics, color features, the way they dress, the weapon (if any) that they bear … You should know about the evolution of their description as well. Are they going to lose a hand by the end of the first novel? Did something magical happen to them to make a white streak form in their hair. Are they going to acquire some nasty scar or cybernetic part at some point? Are they “weak character” but suddenly they are awarded with “powerful item” and now they look like “strong character”? You get the idea.

4. Relationships:
– This topic does not simply mean intimate relationships. It envelopes all relationships. With their closest companions, family members, and yes potential romances. If you are writing in multiple POV styles as I do, does “this character” ever cross paths with “that character” and how do they react with each other? What impact do other characters they are involved with have on them. Relationships can even be broad. Is your character sorely prejudice against another organization or type of people in your world because of their history?

5. Personality:
– Fun stuff, but a difficult part perhaps if your story has a ton of characters. Your characters should all seem uniquely different in the way they think. If you are writing with a traditional main character POV or clear chapter POVs, then my best tip for these is to incorporate inner monologue (I use italics to accentuate this in my novels). Inner monologue is a great way to show how the character truly feels in a non-verbal dialogue delivery system. Maybe your character is forced to act completely noble in front of their peers, but they secretly loathe it and you can express that better this way, as an example. Diverting from just introducing such a feature in your novel, is to of course, make the personality a part of the character-building process. As a practice, take a current or past job you’ve worked at perhaps, and think of yourself and everyone that worked there. Now, write down in your mind the different personalities, mannerisms, and motivations of each employee. Now try that on your own characters.

6. Knowledge Base:
– Very important topic not to be ignored … How much does your character know? In the old table-top RPG terms there was a sinful word everyone avoided – METAGAMING. Be fully aware of which characters are privy to which, and how much, information about your world and plotline. A good editor will slap your wrist quick from detouring from this.

7. Trajectory:
– Last on the list, but especially important if you are a writing a series, and where so many writers go wrong in a book series and a television series. Speaking to series authors specifically here, I am going to use a trilogy for the example. Before you begin writing Book 1 you should have at least some idea of the fate of the character (if they live) throughout Book 2 and Book 3. Whose paths will they cross, what conflicts will they have, what relationships will they build or be betrayed by? Geographically, take a map you are using for your story (whether its your own made-up world or our real world) and print it out or open it in a simple Paint program on your computer. My practice, is that I draw a line that each character will travel to as the chapters evolve and each book installment progresses.

I hope my own 7 topics of character development help! These are my no means the 7 Commandments of Characters, as I am no self-proclaimed expert. Creating characters is simply something I have always had a passion for. Looking forward to seeing what other authors have to share on this. And I will make myself available to any authors that feel they need help in this category for characters they are working on.

– Ezekiel Eversand

 

I am so thankful for the many talented authors I have the priviledge to know.  Thank you Zeke for taking time out of your busy writing schedule to share these invaluable insights with us!

Find Ezekiel here:

Amazon

 Instagram: @author_ezekieleversand

Facebook

Website

~Morgan~

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Cartoon by Grant Snider

The Blessing That Walks Softly – #Inspirational #Poetry

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Be the Breath of the Moon

And the Smile of the Sun,

Be the Source of Gentle Grace

And the Joyful Giver, where there’s none.

Be the Praise in the Morning

And the Laughter of the Breeze,

Be the Patience of the Evening

And the Acceptance that Kindly Frees.

Be the Love of the Lingering Blossom

And the Hope of the Gentle Rain,

Be the Blessing that Walks Softly

Through this world’s avenues of Pain.

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Simple Acts of Kindness can change the world, but they require change within us first.  How?  By Being the Blessing that walks softly.

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I invite you to JOIN ME in Creating Positive Change through poetry.

Whether you opt for Free Verse, Form, Narrative, or Visual Poetry, I hope you will take up this simple challenge to post once a week about something you BELIEVE needs to be changed.

Please use the hashtag #PoetryforChange and spread the word by reblogging and retweeting your post and others with the same tag.

Let’s make the world a better place!

With Hope for Harmony,

~Morgan~
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Beautiful Photograph found at: zastavki.com

The Soiree – #MicroFiction

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Even as the last hues of diminishing day fall silent in the hush of twilight,
trepidation dances with delicious anticipation.
Shadows lengthen into velvet darkness
as the bluster of rush and hurry scurrying from the daylight stretches out against the cool shadows to sigh.
Midnight flutes serenade the sparkling hours of night
as billows of possibility mingle with whispers of dreams
like lovers dallying amid the soiree,
kissing the sweet honeyed nighttide before Apollo stirs.

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Poetry and Art by ~Morgan~

 

~Thank You for reading ~

If you’d like to keep up with everything I’m doing, sign up for my monthly newsletter by visiting my author website

If you’d like to see more of my artwork, please visit my DeviantArt page

Creature of the Rustling Sea – #Fantasy #Poetry

 

Trade my Heart for any Notion,
Rocking on the Breathing Ocean.
Dreaming in the Midnight Hour,
Gentle Rain, Falling Shower.

Love and Passion upon the Breeze,
Life is too short, Not enough Ease.
Silence Drifting like the Soaring Gull,
Hear the waves lap against the Hull.

Starlight Glistens, a Guiding Light,
Truth and Serenity, beacon of Night.
Upon this Shifting, Churning Tide,
A Breathless, Tantalizing, Lonely Ride.

Creature of the Rustling Sea,
Come and Share the Day with Me.
Walk with me Upon the Shore,
Hold my Hand and nothing More.
Until the Deep Beckons you Home,
and I stand amidst the Breakers Foam.

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Poetry and Art by ~Morgan~

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~Thank You for reading ~

If you’d like to keep up with everything I’m doing, sign up for my monthly newsletter by visiting my author website

If you’d like to see more of my artwork or commission a character, please visit my DeviantArt page

Beyond the Borders – #Mythical #MicroFiction

Beyond the borders of imagination, where reality blends with myth, a realm of enchantment presides over the tempestuous seas of time. Anchored in the distant past; yet sailing the present tides, this timeless dynasty abides amid lush and verdant green. Entwining tapestries of amber and sage bedeck the primordial weald; yet within the opulent splendor, peril intractably awaits.

Awaits the luckless, the vengeful, the courageous and unsuspecting, its beguiling temptation borne upon the breeze and its silken captivation steeped in sweet poison. A seduction so bewitching, even the emeraldine hues of its lavish domicile draw close in an oblivious embrace.

And though curiosity beckons the intrepid, none escape the invitation drenched in gilded phrases.

MicroFiction and Art by ~Morgan~

~Thank You for reading ~

If you enjoyed my article, you might also enjoy: The Nevermore- Realm of Dreams

If you’d like to have my articles sent directly to your email you can do that by visiting my author website

If you’d like to see more of my artwork, please visit my DeviantArt page