Amanda Stephan's Blog: God is Good, God is Great, page 53
May 3, 2012
But I Want My Readers to KNOW my Characters
Character and plot are, in my opinion, the two most important parts of any story. Any writer worth his salt will spend many hours developing characters. What do they look like? Where do they come from? We create the history or back story. We make the characters into "real", believable people. Then we (or at least I) struggle with wanting to share all that information with our readers.
I read two separate posts addressing this issue that have stuck in my thoughts. We will be discussing these in the next two weeks. Unfortunately, I didn't write down the websites I was on when reading them. Please forgive me for not siting the authors of these thoughts.
The first post said that many young writers feel the need to include as much information as possible about their characters in an effort to make them seem real to their readers. This author stated that, while it is vitally important for the author to know everything about their character, in reality only about 10% of that knowledge should find its way into the pages of the story.
I think part of this goes back to the "show, don't just tell" rule we discussed in an earlier post. I can show by my character's actions that he is impatient, hates to wait, and often makes rash decisions. I don't have to tell the reader. I can trust that my reader is bright enough to make those inferences on her own.
Allow me to give an example.
Carter stood abruptly, interrupting the conversation. As all eyes turned to him, he said, "I don't care what the rest of you think. I'm going in there. We can't just leave Jill to fend for herself." Before anyone could comment, he strode purposefully out the door.
Allen sighed. "The idiot. He's going to get himself killed." He jerked his head toward Simon. "Go stop him before he blows this mission. And if you can get him to listen to you, tell him we are all going in there. But we'll do it in a manner that is most likely to succeed."
Now read the same scene with background information.
Carter couldn't believe they were still discussing the issue. He hated waiting. He knew he was going to do whatever it took to get Jill out. Finally he had had enough. He stood abruptly, interrupting the conversation. As all eyes turned to him, he said, "I don't care what the rest of you think. I'm going to go in there. We can't just leave Jill to fend for herself." Before anyone could comment, he strode purposefully out the door.
In Carter's mind inactivity was the worst possible sin. He remembered when he was a boy, hearing his grandpa say, "Idleness in the devil's playground." Well, it had been their idleness that had led to Jill's capture. He wasn't going to fail again. He was going to get her out.
Allen sighed. "The idiot. He's going to get himself killed." He jerked his head toward Simon. "Go stop him before he blows this mission. And if you can get him to listen to you, tell him we are all going in there. But we'll do it in a manner that is most likely to succeed."
Allen shook his head. He knew that Carter thrived on action. But he also knew that many times he made rash decisions in the heat of the moment that he later regretted. This time others' lives were at stake. He couldn't allow Carter to go off half-cocked.
Granted, the second passage greatly increases our word count. However, does it give any vital information that the reader could not have figured out in the first scene? Some of you may say, "Yes. We know that part of the reason he thrives on action is because of his grandpa's raising." Well, that's true, we have more information. But was it vital? Does inserting that information there help push the action along? Is it an important part of the story?
I would suggest that, while this information is important to our character, it is not a necessary fact at this point in the story. And unless his grandpa plays a major role, we don't have to know this information. We can understand that Carter is reckless, rash, and impatient by his words and actions.
The other fallacy that occurs in the second example is that by sharing both Carter's and Allen's thoughts about the situation we have shifted point of view within the same scene (see previous posts concerning this faux pas). When we try to include everything, many times it makes the action sluggish and causes the reader's attention to wane.
So. Continue to create those character webs. Make your characters into real people. Know their strengths and weaknesses, their likes and dislikes. But consider that many times a character's actions or words will show his personality, motivation, or traits. We don't always have to explain them by "telling" the readers the back story.
Happy writing,
www.karinaharrisauthor.com
Below are some links to character development websites:
http://www.pgtelco.com/~slmiller/characterdevelopment.htm
http://fullcircle.comicgenesis.com/characterdevelopment.htm
http://www.plottopunctuation.com/blog/show/56
Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com
I read two separate posts addressing this issue that have stuck in my thoughts. We will be discussing these in the next two weeks. Unfortunately, I didn't write down the websites I was on when reading them. Please forgive me for not siting the authors of these thoughts.
The first post said that many young writers feel the need to include as much information as possible about their characters in an effort to make them seem real to their readers. This author stated that, while it is vitally important for the author to know everything about their character, in reality only about 10% of that knowledge should find its way into the pages of the story.
I think part of this goes back to the "show, don't just tell" rule we discussed in an earlier post. I can show by my character's actions that he is impatient, hates to wait, and often makes rash decisions. I don't have to tell the reader. I can trust that my reader is bright enough to make those inferences on her own.
Allow me to give an example.
Carter stood abruptly, interrupting the conversation. As all eyes turned to him, he said, "I don't care what the rest of you think. I'm going in there. We can't just leave Jill to fend for herself." Before anyone could comment, he strode purposefully out the door.
Allen sighed. "The idiot. He's going to get himself killed." He jerked his head toward Simon. "Go stop him before he blows this mission. And if you can get him to listen to you, tell him we are all going in there. But we'll do it in a manner that is most likely to succeed."
Now read the same scene with background information.
Carter couldn't believe they were still discussing the issue. He hated waiting. He knew he was going to do whatever it took to get Jill out. Finally he had had enough. He stood abruptly, interrupting the conversation. As all eyes turned to him, he said, "I don't care what the rest of you think. I'm going to go in there. We can't just leave Jill to fend for herself." Before anyone could comment, he strode purposefully out the door.
In Carter's mind inactivity was the worst possible sin. He remembered when he was a boy, hearing his grandpa say, "Idleness in the devil's playground." Well, it had been their idleness that had led to Jill's capture. He wasn't going to fail again. He was going to get her out.
Allen sighed. "The idiot. He's going to get himself killed." He jerked his head toward Simon. "Go stop him before he blows this mission. And if you can get him to listen to you, tell him we are all going in there. But we'll do it in a manner that is most likely to succeed."
Allen shook his head. He knew that Carter thrived on action. But he also knew that many times he made rash decisions in the heat of the moment that he later regretted. This time others' lives were at stake. He couldn't allow Carter to go off half-cocked.
Granted, the second passage greatly increases our word count. However, does it give any vital information that the reader could not have figured out in the first scene? Some of you may say, "Yes. We know that part of the reason he thrives on action is because of his grandpa's raising." Well, that's true, we have more information. But was it vital? Does inserting that information there help push the action along? Is it an important part of the story?
I would suggest that, while this information is important to our character, it is not a necessary fact at this point in the story. And unless his grandpa plays a major role, we don't have to know this information. We can understand that Carter is reckless, rash, and impatient by his words and actions.
The other fallacy that occurs in the second example is that by sharing both Carter's and Allen's thoughts about the situation we have shifted point of view within the same scene (see previous posts concerning this faux pas). When we try to include everything, many times it makes the action sluggish and causes the reader's attention to wane.
So. Continue to create those character webs. Make your characters into real people. Know their strengths and weaknesses, their likes and dislikes. But consider that many times a character's actions or words will show his personality, motivation, or traits. We don't always have to explain them by "telling" the readers the back story.
Happy writing,
www.karinaharrisauthor.com
Below are some links to character development websites:
http://www.pgtelco.com/~slmiller/characterdevelopment.htm
http://fullcircle.comicgenesis.com/characterdevelopment.htm
http://www.plottopunctuation.com/blog/show/56
Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com
May 1, 2012
Be Responsible for your own Junk!
Sheila was the first to speak “We need to trust the Lord Laney. I know that is hard for you, but, until you do, you won’t find peace. There will always be something troubling you.”
Laney looked at her friend “I can’t do that Sheila. I watched a whole church turn their heads and look the other way when my mother would come in battered and bruised. I heard them ask her what she had done to deserve it. They even went so far as to ask if she wasn’t doing her duty in the bedroom. I don’t want anything to do with faith like that. That isn’t for me.”
Sheila pulled the van to the side of the road, a righteous anger spilling from her being. “Laney, do you really think that was God? Do you? Do you really think He thought she deserved what she got? Do you really think God looked down from heaven and said, that woman isn’t pleasing her man in bed so she deserves to be beat? Well, do you?”
Laney had never thought that pointedly about where she was placing the blame.
Sheila held her hands up “See this? This is flesh. It means I’m going to screw up. Every man, woman and child is gonna mess up at some point in their lives. It’s called sin. And if you think you hate it, imagine God hating it a billion times more. Sin is what happened to separate His creation from Himself. Sin is what happened in the Garden of Eden and sin has been a part of our lives ever since then. What happened in that church was not God. What happened in that church was people too ignorant to know better, people who had been brought up to think a certain way. Think about it, Laney. Don’t make excuses for people. We are responsible for our own junk.”
Sheila let out a deep breath in a desperate attempt at gaining control. She hadn’t meant to preach at her, but Laney’s preposterous belief that God was responsible for the contentious treatment of her mother made her see red. “Every time I hear someone say ‘if there was a God there wouldn’t be starving children in the world,’ it makes me want to slap them. Where is common sense? Do you know that if every Christian tithed, there would be no hunger in the world? That’s just the Christians. What if the world was giving? God has given us everything we need to feed the world. We’re the problem, not Him!”
Laney was silent. The unanswered questions that Sheila posed tore at her heart with vise like claws, threatening to tear down all the carefully erected walls she’d so painstakingly built. Had she been wrong? Did God really hate the wrongs as much or more than she did? A single tear escaped. Her vision was obscured. She no longer knew if what she saw was reality, or simply vengeance and hatred of a different kind.
Sheila sighed and looked at her friend. “I’m sorry, Laney. I sometimes forget I don’t have to defend my God. He is God. His existence does not depend on my defending Him or you believing in Him. He wants us for his own, but He does not need us. Man does not define God. He defines us. His creation, created with a purpose and a plan with a destiny to fulfill. What we do with it is up to us.
Both women sat quietly for a moment. Sheila put the van in gear and started toward home.
Today’s post is an excerpt from my soon to be released novel, Forever Blessed. This portion of writing was on my heart and I thought I would share it with you. I think it does a good job of pointing out that sometimes we, the church, mess up. But God’s grace and love are bigger than anything we can imagine. Have a great day and thanks for growing with me this Wednesday! DarleneLonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com
Laney looked at her friend “I can’t do that Sheila. I watched a whole church turn their heads and look the other way when my mother would come in battered and bruised. I heard them ask her what she had done to deserve it. They even went so far as to ask if she wasn’t doing her duty in the bedroom. I don’t want anything to do with faith like that. That isn’t for me.”
Sheila pulled the van to the side of the road, a righteous anger spilling from her being. “Laney, do you really think that was God? Do you? Do you really think He thought she deserved what she got? Do you really think God looked down from heaven and said, that woman isn’t pleasing her man in bed so she deserves to be beat? Well, do you?”
Laney had never thought that pointedly about where she was placing the blame.
Sheila held her hands up “See this? This is flesh. It means I’m going to screw up. Every man, woman and child is gonna mess up at some point in their lives. It’s called sin. And if you think you hate it, imagine God hating it a billion times more. Sin is what happened to separate His creation from Himself. Sin is what happened in the Garden of Eden and sin has been a part of our lives ever since then. What happened in that church was not God. What happened in that church was people too ignorant to know better, people who had been brought up to think a certain way. Think about it, Laney. Don’t make excuses for people. We are responsible for our own junk.”
Sheila let out a deep breath in a desperate attempt at gaining control. She hadn’t meant to preach at her, but Laney’s preposterous belief that God was responsible for the contentious treatment of her mother made her see red. “Every time I hear someone say ‘if there was a God there wouldn’t be starving children in the world,’ it makes me want to slap them. Where is common sense? Do you know that if every Christian tithed, there would be no hunger in the world? That’s just the Christians. What if the world was giving? God has given us everything we need to feed the world. We’re the problem, not Him!”
Laney was silent. The unanswered questions that Sheila posed tore at her heart with vise like claws, threatening to tear down all the carefully erected walls she’d so painstakingly built. Had she been wrong? Did God really hate the wrongs as much or more than she did? A single tear escaped. Her vision was obscured. She no longer knew if what she saw was reality, or simply vengeance and hatred of a different kind.
Sheila sighed and looked at her friend. “I’m sorry, Laney. I sometimes forget I don’t have to defend my God. He is God. His existence does not depend on my defending Him or you believing in Him. He wants us for his own, but He does not need us. Man does not define God. He defines us. His creation, created with a purpose and a plan with a destiny to fulfill. What we do with it is up to us.
Both women sat quietly for a moment. Sheila put the van in gear and started toward home.
Today’s post is an excerpt from my soon to be released novel, Forever Blessed. This portion of writing was on my heart and I thought I would share it with you. I think it does a good job of pointing out that sometimes we, the church, mess up. But God’s grace and love are bigger than anything we can imagine. Have a great day and thanks for growing with me this Wednesday! DarleneLonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com
T-shirt Shrug - Thrifty Tuesday
iving on one income, I have become thrifty. I love finding new and inventive ways to reuse, repurpose, and save money on everyday items. However, being the mother of teenagers, I have to find a way to do these things without being an embarrassment to my children.*Ahem. Yes, I do try.* ;)
So, without further adieu, please let me introduce you to my newest blog segment ~ Thrifty Tuesdays. My plan? To inundate you with countless projects and plenty of ideas to help get those creative juices flowing. What? You don't sew? Perfect. Because me staying on one track for long periods of time doesn't seem to work. As I'm sure you've noticed.
What's in store for future Thrifty posts?
- DIY business card holders
- DIY magnet mayhem
- DIY business card bling
- DIY origami bookmarks
- DIY homemade laundry soap
- anything else I find that holds my attention, is easy, and cute.
Have an idea for a Thrifty post? Want me to post about something in particular?
Fantastic! Leave a comment!
When I saw this crafty project, I was thrilled to pieces. I love shrugs and sweaters of all sorts. But I cannot justify in any shape, form, or fashion, spending $20 on a little itty bitty shrug. Seriously? Um, no. I'll find a cheaper, more cost-effective way to feed my habit and clothe myself and daughter. ;)
This is one I found through Pinterest. (I love that place. read: very addictive and I would love it if you wanted to follow my boards!)
See T Shirt Shrug and 1000's of others - or share your own on Cut Out + Keep
No t-shirt is safe in our house now. None. My husband came home the other day with a gift from his job. Guess what? It was a bright yellow t-shirt, and my first thought was...
"Oh yeah! Uh huh, gonna tear it up and make it mine!" Yes, I did all this without asking. Why? Because I know hubster isn't going to wear anything on this earth that's yellow ~ yep. Mine by default! And I'm thrilled!
Just so you know, I'm not one to discriminate. Nope. Not at all. I've already tore up several of my long sleeved shirts, sewn up the easy-peasy seams, threaded the neckline with some pretty ribbon, and made a few long-sleeve shrugs to wear for church.
I'll never look at a T-shirt the same again...
Lonely Hearts - $1.99 on Smashwords $2.99 on AmazonThe Price of Trust - $2.99 on SmashwordsLonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com
April 30, 2012
Egads, We Were Adopted By A Cat
Last
year my daughter was convinced that she wanted a puppy, and her dad was
ready and willing to let her have one. But thanks to the foresight of
my mother-in-law, we simply borrowed her new puppy for a week. It only
took one turn at picking up the dog waste, which was fresh and warm, to
change my daughter's mind about puppy ownership. Not particularly being a
dog person myself, I secretly rejoiced. It's not that I don't like
dogs, I just don't like the dog maintenance that would fall to "ME" no
matter how much my husband and daughter proclaimed otherwise.
On
the other hand, I have always been a cat person. The death of both of
my cats after twenty long years, however, convinced me to take a break
from pets of any kind. I enjoyed two years of pet free, odor free, hair
free, litter free peace and quiet, that is until recently. That is
until, we were adopted by Max. Max, the year old, black and white, male
cat that showed up in our yard one day and refused to leave. He sat at
our back door and cried to be let in which of course encouraged my
daughter to champion his cause vehemently. "Pleeease, can't we let him
in?" she pleaded with the cuteness factor that only a seven year old
possesses.
"Daddy would kill Mommy if I let that cat in
the house," I said. Because you see, my husband has definitely never,
ever, ever, been a cat person! But as I told him about the situation
that night when he called from work, he began to melt. His attitude
towards cats had not changed, but his daddy would do anything for his baby girl instinct
had kicked in. That night on his way home from work he stopped at an
all night grocery store to buy cat food in case the cat came back the
next day.
Although both my husband and I looked for the
cat all day, we did not see hide nor hair of him. Soon it was time for
me to go pick my daughter up from school and on the ride home I told her
of her father's decision. She was over come with a joy so great that it
would not be dampened even when I cautioned that the cat might not come
back or that he may already have had a home. We quickly arrived and
climbed out of the car, and who do you suppose ran to greet my daughter?
That's right, the cat. Being familiar with the cats that roam the
neighborhood, I was relatively sure this cat had been dumped, and so I
told my daughter she was allowed to keep him. No sooner had I opened the
door a crack and the cat my daughter would later dub Max ran into the
house, looked around as if to say so this is my new home, and started purring happily.
Noteven one week had gone by when all of us began to feel that Max was
family, yes even my formerly anti-cat husband. Thinking about how easily
Max had adopted us and we had adopted him made me think of two of my
author friends who wrote books based on similar experiences of adopting
pets.
The first is Buddy Finds a Home by Rachel Edmiston. This story of how Rachel's family found a very imperfect dog and how he made a
perfect addition to their family is a good lesson in how love can
cause us to overlook differences. My daughter truly enjoyed this book,
especially when she realized it was a true story. I would recommend this
book for children 6 to 8.
The second is a cute book called Grady the Gray Cat by Lori Moore. This adorable flip-it-over book offers two stories about Grady the gray
cat. Side one tells the story of Grady's adoption, and side two offers
the story of Grady's new toy firetruck. Told in rhyme, this book is an
excellent choice for a read-aloud to young children. Lori did an
excellent job of making me wonder what will happen to Grady next.
So ends another episode of Kids Korner with me, Children's Author Aileen Stewart. Join me next week for another exciting episode same krazy time, same krazy channel. And feel free to drop by my personal blog Aileen's Thoughts any day of the week for even more on reading, writing, and life in general.
Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com
April 29, 2012
Sundays with Kristi - "I Feel All Alone"
Have you ever felt like you are all alone?As we have finished our study over the Fruit of the Spirit (which you can go back and review by clicking on the Sunday tab above), I was thinking about doing another multi-week study. However, this week, as I was doing my devotionals, I really felt impressed to expound on one of them as it’s an issue that is a struggle for me and probably many others as well.
I’ve been going through 1 Kings reading a chapter a day. This book contains a lot of history, but toward the end of the book, it tells the story of the great prophet Elijah. In some ways, I really feel like I can relate to Elijah. He had some great moments of amazing faith and a profound witness for God. He also had a big struggle that plagues many of us as well.
Elijah’s Triumphs
If you have the time, I encourage you to read through 1 Kings 17 and 18. These chapters detail some of the amazing triumphs God provided through Elijah. By God’s power, Elijah controlled the weather. He enjoyed an endless supply of food that miraculously refilled every day. He brought a young man back to life, and in an amazing showdown, he went against 450 false prophets and called down fire from heaven as God proved He was the one and only God.
Elijah had experienced some amazing things and he had been party to God’s miraculous works. Elijah knew first-hand the power of God. He relied on it for everything he did. But even though Elijah didn’t seem to struggle with trusting in God, Elijah wasn’t without struggles.
“I’m all alone”
Often, the life of a prophet was a lonely one, but especially during this time in Israel’s history. The leaders of the country had turned away from God and were leading people down a path of idol worship. The prophets were often alone and ostracized. Elijah seemed to feel this more deeply and he struggled with depression and feeling that he was all alone.
Right after the amazing triumphs of 1 Kings 17 and 18, chapter 19 opens with the bold, daring, outspoken, usually confident Elijah running for his life in fear and cowering in a cave hosting his very own pity party.
God comes and finds Elijah. God comes in and crashes Elijah’s pity party and, almost like a mother with hands on hips, asks Elijah very pointedly, “What are you doing here?” (1 Kings 19:13)
Elijah has thought about his situation and tells God very honestly exactly how he feels. 1 Kings 19:14 tells his answer, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the god of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”
I’m all alone! I’m the only one left! And, I’m under attack and soon even I won’t be left. Elijah has a logical explanation for why he’s cowering in a cave. How many times I’ve gone to God in the midst of my own pity parties and told God some or all of the following, “I feel all alone. No one wants to hear me. I’m the only one who is trying to serve You. I’m the only one listening to You. And yet, I’m the one suffering for it. It’s not fair. I don’t like it. I don’t know what to do and I just want You to take me out of this situation.”
I think most people get to this place at some point. It is one of Satan’s favorite lies. I can almost picture him whispering in my ear, “Yep, you’re all by yourself. No one else is going through this. No one else cares.” Granted, Satan has several lies he tells people, but this one seems to be one of his favorite to use with me.
So what do we do when we’re experiencing this? What do we do when we feel all alone? What did God tell Elijah to do?
Get Specific and Get a Reality Check
The next few verses there in 1 Kings I find extremely helpful. Verses 15-18 of 1 Kings 19 tell God’s response to Elijah. They can be summed up in a two part plan. Get specific and get a reality check.
First, God give Elijah extremely specific instructions of what to do next. There was no guessing, there was no chance for Elijah to misunderstand. He left that knowing exactly what he needed to do next. For me, I try to get back to the very basics. What exactly do I know I need to be doing? Then start doing it! I don’t need to try to make complicated plans at this point; I just need to do the small things that I know I should be doing.
Second, Elijah needed a reality check. Elijah FELT alone,but that doesn’t mean he was ACTUALLY alone. In fact, God goes so far as to tell him that there are over 7,000 other people who were still following God. Our perspective is typically only a small view. We need to widen our gaze and realize that we rarely actually see the whole picture of any situation. Even if we are the only person following God, we always have God, so we are never alone. When we feel this way, we need to get a reality check to remind us that no matter how alone we feel, we are never ACTUALLY alone.
So do you feel alone today? Are you tired out, worn out, and exhausted thinking that you’re carrying the load all by yourself? Remember, get back to the basics and do only the things that you know you are called to do. Second, remember, your perspective is rarely complete and you never know how many others are with you, not to mention God is always with you. We are NEVER ALONE!
Father, You love me. You have a plan for me, and even when I get downtrodden, You don’t leave me there, You come and find me. You want me. You don’t leave me alone. I am so grateful. Forgive me for ever doubting that You know what is best for me. Help me to see all that You want me to do and help me stay focused on doing the tasks that You have for me. I love You, in Jesus’ Name, amen.
RESPONSE:Anyone else out there felt this way? How do you get back on track?
May you live out His Word today!Kristi BurchfielCheck out my daily devotions either on my blog or on my Facebook pageLonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com
April 28, 2012
Is Plastic Surgery a Sin?
While reading an article in Ladies Home Journal about the increase in cosmetic procedures these
days, the following question came to mind:
Is plastic surgery a sin? I am not saying it is a sin, nor is this
article an assault on plastic surgeons, patients, or cosmetic procedures. So put down your sticks and stones, please. I happen to like my face (for the most part!).
Besides, how do you know I haven’t been
nipped or tucked?
People have cosmetic procedures for all kinds of reasons. Although there is a tendency to associate
plastic surgery or other cosmetic procedures with low self-esteem and vanity,
for some it is a medical necessity. Cancer
and burn victims, accident victims, and those with birth abnormalities such as
cleft lip can benefit not only physically but emotionally from reconstructive
surgery.
It is no secret that we live in a society which has a
standard of beauty which differs greatly from God’s standard. One only need look through the pages of a
magazine or watch a TV commercial to see what the world’s standards are. It doesn’t take more than a glance at someone
beautiful or a critical word about our own appearance to develop a negative
self-image. Once that happens, we may decide that the only way to solve our
dilemma is to alter our appearance so that we will look and feel younger or be
better able to compete with those who seem to have inherited all the beauty
genes.
Every one of us wants to look our best. I won’t even go out of the house without penciling on eyebrows and slapping a little color on my lips. Truth be told, I would probably even consider an eyelid tuck or neck lift if money were no object. For now, though, I have to settle for my age-fighting skin care regimen and Photoshop to get the laugh lines (I refuse to call them wrinkles) out of my face.
Before Photoshop
After Photoshop
Whatever our reasons or methods for achieving a more youthful
or glamorous appearance, we occasionally need to be reminded that God loves us
just the way we are. Psalm 139 tells of
the care God took when he created each of us.
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s
womb. I praise you because I am
fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well”
(vs. 13-14). Yet many of us feel
inadequate, inconsequential, and insecure unless we are tattooed, tucked,
enhanced, or plucked. God never intended us to feel that way about ourselves
and he wants us all to be mindful that he loves us, warts and all. We can try to outrun the clock or turn back
the effects of time on our bodies, but we can never outrun God’s love or do
anything to ourselves to make him love us more than he already does.
Here are a few verses regarding beauty that may be of
interest or encouragement to you:
Esther 2:12 – “Before a girl’s turn came to go in to King
Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for
the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics.” Can you say “spa treatment?” Even in Esther’s day, physical beauty was
highly esteemed and labor-intensive.
Proverbs 31:30 – “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is
fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” This is one of my absolute favorite verses in
Scripture. As a fifty-one-year old
woman, I know that beauty is fleeting.
But when I look into the mirror, not just at my face but into my eyes, I
see a woman radiant with love for her God.
Mind you, I look more radiant
when I have taken a little time to care for my skin and enhance those eyes with
a little mascara! It is said that “beauty
is skin deep” and that “the eyes are the window to the soul.” Next time you gaze at yourself in the mirror,
look into your own eyes and see if you don’t see some hidden beauty just
beneath the surface.
1 Peter 3:3-5 – “Your beauty should not come from outward
adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine
clothes. Instead, it should be that of
your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of
great worth in God’s sight. For this is
the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make
themselves beautiful.” The saying “pretty
is as pretty does” still applies today.
The most beautiful woman or handsome man on the planet can suddenly lose
all appeal when their behavior is ungodly and their words are venomous. The prettiest person you know may not be
nearly as beautiful inside as you are.
So, is plastic surgery a sin? Probably not. But the underlying motivators of pride and
fear can be. Ask God to show you if there is some area of
your heart that needs a makeover then focus on what his Word says about true
beauty. You may suddenly realize that
you’re more beautiful than you ever imagined!
“Search me, O God, and
know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and
lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24).
Copyright © 2012 by Dee Dee
Wike. All rights reserved. www.deedeewike.com
********************************************
"Dear Dee Dee" is the featured Saturday column at Sisters in Cahoots! We encourage our readers to write in with their questions. If you have a question you would like answered from God's Word, please email deedeewike@gmail.com or write to: Dee Dee Wike, 728 Peterson Lake Rd, Collierville, TN 38017-1851.
********************************************
Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com
days, the following question came to mind:
Is plastic surgery a sin? I am not saying it is a sin, nor is this
article an assault on plastic surgeons, patients, or cosmetic procedures. So put down your sticks and stones, please. I happen to like my face (for the most part!).
Besides, how do you know I haven’t been
nipped or tucked?
People have cosmetic procedures for all kinds of reasons. Although there is a tendency to associate
plastic surgery or other cosmetic procedures with low self-esteem and vanity,
for some it is a medical necessity. Cancer
and burn victims, accident victims, and those with birth abnormalities such as
cleft lip can benefit not only physically but emotionally from reconstructive
surgery.
It is no secret that we live in a society which has a
standard of beauty which differs greatly from God’s standard. One only need look through the pages of a
magazine or watch a TV commercial to see what the world’s standards are. It doesn’t take more than a glance at someone
beautiful or a critical word about our own appearance to develop a negative
self-image. Once that happens, we may decide that the only way to solve our
dilemma is to alter our appearance so that we will look and feel younger or be
better able to compete with those who seem to have inherited all the beauty
genes.
Every one of us wants to look our best. I won’t even go out of the house without penciling on eyebrows and slapping a little color on my lips. Truth be told, I would probably even consider an eyelid tuck or neck lift if money were no object. For now, though, I have to settle for my age-fighting skin care regimen and Photoshop to get the laugh lines (I refuse to call them wrinkles) out of my face.
Before Photoshop
After Photoshop
Whatever our reasons or methods for achieving a more youthful
or glamorous appearance, we occasionally need to be reminded that God loves us
just the way we are. Psalm 139 tells of
the care God took when he created each of us.
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s
womb. I praise you because I am
fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well”
(vs. 13-14). Yet many of us feel
inadequate, inconsequential, and insecure unless we are tattooed, tucked,
enhanced, or plucked. God never intended us to feel that way about ourselves
and he wants us all to be mindful that he loves us, warts and all. We can try to outrun the clock or turn back
the effects of time on our bodies, but we can never outrun God’s love or do
anything to ourselves to make him love us more than he already does.
Here are a few verses regarding beauty that may be of
interest or encouragement to you:
Esther 2:12 – “Before a girl’s turn came to go in to King
Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for
the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics.” Can you say “spa treatment?” Even in Esther’s day, physical beauty was
highly esteemed and labor-intensive.
Proverbs 31:30 – “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is
fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” This is one of my absolute favorite verses in
Scripture. As a fifty-one-year old
woman, I know that beauty is fleeting.
But when I look into the mirror, not just at my face but into my eyes, I
see a woman radiant with love for her God.
Mind you, I look more radiant
when I have taken a little time to care for my skin and enhance those eyes with
a little mascara! It is said that “beauty
is skin deep” and that “the eyes are the window to the soul.” Next time you gaze at yourself in the mirror,
look into your own eyes and see if you don’t see some hidden beauty just
beneath the surface.
1 Peter 3:3-5 – “Your beauty should not come from outward
adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine
clothes. Instead, it should be that of
your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of
great worth in God’s sight. For this is
the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make
themselves beautiful.” The saying “pretty
is as pretty does” still applies today.
The most beautiful woman or handsome man on the planet can suddenly lose
all appeal when their behavior is ungodly and their words are venomous. The prettiest person you know may not be
nearly as beautiful inside as you are.
So, is plastic surgery a sin? Probably not. But the underlying motivators of pride and
fear can be. Ask God to show you if there is some area of
your heart that needs a makeover then focus on what his Word says about true
beauty. You may suddenly realize that
you’re more beautiful than you ever imagined!
“Search me, O God, and
know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and
lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24).
Copyright © 2012 by Dee Dee
Wike. All rights reserved. www.deedeewike.com
********************************************
"Dear Dee Dee" is the featured Saturday column at Sisters in Cahoots! We encourage our readers to write in with their questions. If you have a question you would like answered from God's Word, please email deedeewike@gmail.com or write to: Dee Dee Wike, 728 Peterson Lake Rd, Collierville, TN 38017-1851.
********************************************
Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com
April 27, 2012
Book Review: Immanuel's Veins by Ted Dekker
Image by blmurch via Flickr
As some of you may know, I am an avid reader (have been since high school). I love to read all kinds of Christian fiction: romance, historical, action, drama, mystery, etc. I rarely read anything other than fiction, unless it's something related to Christian living like a book by James Dobson or something. Some of my favorite authors are Ted Dekker, Tim LaHaye, Francine Rivers (oh I loved, loved, loved Redeeming Love), Karen Kingsbury, and Coleen Coble; just to name a few.
For a while I had been anxiously awaiting Ted Dekker's new book, Immanuel's Veins. I love Dekker's writing. He always does this almost supernatural kind of fiction that really keeps you on the edge of your seat, but at the same time makes you really stop and think. Well, this book was no exception!To quote Ted Dekker's website:
"It is a dangerous tale of times past. A torrid love story full of deep seduction. A story of terrible longing and bold sacrifice.
Then as now, evil begins its courtship cloaked in light. And the heart embraces what it should flee. Forgetting it once had a truer lover. With a kiss, evil will ravage body, soul, and mind. Yet there remains hope, because the heart knows no bounds. Love will prove greater than lust. Sacrifice will overcome seduction. And blood will flow. Because the battle for the heart is always violently opposed. For those desperate to drink deep from this fountain of life, enter. But remember, not everyone is for this story."
This story follows the lives of two people who are in love with each other but don't tell each other until the almost bitter end. Now, before you go thinking this is a typical romance novel...think again. This is nothing of the sort. There is nothing typical about this book.
Possible spoiler ahead!!
It is written in first person narrative by both of the lead characters, Toma and Lucine. Toma is a warrior sent by Catherine the Great to protect Lucine and her mother and twin sister. Toma immediately falls in love with Lucine and she too with him, however neither says a word until the almost bitter end of the story. But there is a dark force trying to win Lucine over to himself...Vlad van Valerik. A beautiful being whose life and lifestyle is enticing to all who enter his castle. The story moves through how each of the characters in the book are enticed into some part of the world of Vlad van Valerik. But Lucine is who he wants the most. Once he has her, the real battle for the heart and the mind begins.
I won't tell you anymore...I'll leave the rest for you to discover.
As for my take on the book...WOW!! When I first started reading the book, I was worried I would not like it because it was written in first person. But because it was written by one of my all time favorite authors and it was so talked up, I continued on. I was very quickly caught up in the story line and the first person narrative no longer bothered me.
Another thing about the story that made me wonder if I should continue reading at first was this: during the scenes at Vlad van Valerik's castle, the clan who lived there were not only living wildly in sin (which you expect because you need to see that contrast between good and evil), but they were biting each other and drinking the blood. I was worried that Dekker had lost it a little and was buying into the whole vampire fad that is going on right now. I was determined to continue reading, but I was worried I would no longer be able to read his books.
What I found out was that this was about something bigger...not about vampires at all.
During the last quarter of the book, you begin to see the theme come together and you start realizing that this is a story of heaven and hell fighting a physical battle on earth. It's a retelling of sorts of the love of Christ to die for our sins and the defeat of Satan. I loved the imagery, especially at the end of the story. It was beautiful how Toma was willing to die for Lucine because he loved her that much and how his love for her saved her from death. Which is exactly how Christ loves us.
So, for this book, I will give it two thumbs WAY UP! If you love to read and if you like fiction, may I suggest that you grab a copy or download it on your Kindle, Nook, or whatever format you prefer and sit for a spell. I guarantee you will not be able to put it down.Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com
April 26, 2012
But I Want My Characters To Sound REAL
I have read many books where the characters' dialogue mimics their natural speech. For example, Scottish highlanders saying, "Dinna fash yerself" and early American pioneers drawling, "Ah reckon thet's a dandy." I rarely have issues with it. I love listening to foreign accents, and sometimes reading dialect helps me get into the characters of that particular story. However, I have come to realize that everyone does not share my opinion.
In my first novel, one of the minor characters is Irish. I wrote much of her speech in that dialect. While I had no difficulties understanding what she was saying (insert sarcastic remark here), my father mentioned on more than one occasion that he found it distracting. I decided it was not an important enough issue to pursue, and changed much of her words to their proper spelling. After all, I wanted my readers to enjoy the story, not get hung up over the pronunciation of the word "very".
My daughter is currently reading Janette Oakes's "Love Comes Softly" series. She has seen the movies multiple times and adores the story. However, she struggles with reading the dialect. She says many times she has to stop and re-read characters' words in order to understand what they are saying.
So I thought I would see what the Internet experts have to say. As usual, I discovered a wealth of opinion and advice. The general consensus among bloggers today is to use grammar, social/cultural idioms, and cadence rather than phonetically spelled dialect.
Some social or cultural sayings automatically identify a character's nationality. (Right, mate?) If your character says, "Y'all are welcome any time", it is obvious to most readers that the character hails from the Southern part of the US. We don't have to make an attempt to spell the words like they sound. (Ya'll er wellcum enytime.)
Sometimes the nationality is not as important as the socio-economic status of our character. If we have an Italian fisherman, we can make his nationality known with description, and his knowledge of the English language by his grammar. "I like boats. Wooden boats. Steel boats have no love, eh?" We can have faith that our readers will 'hear' the accent. We don't have to try and spell it out for them. (I likea the boatsa. The wooden boatsa. Steela boats, they haf no a-love!)
Consequently, someone who is not a native speaker, but is well educated would have very precise speech. A character in one of my stories is a native Spanish speaker. She is married to an American and has lived many years in the US. Rather than try to mimic the accent, I can help my readers hear it by using the cadence of her speech. "You will come to dinner now. Do not forget to wash first."
The main point, I believe, is that dialogue should sound real without causing our readers to have to consciously think about pronunciations. And while I love reading with an Irish brogue, perhaps I dinna haf to spell the words oot litrally fer my readers ta ken wat I'm sayin.
Happy writing,
www.karinaharrisauthor.com
Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com
April 25, 2012
We were driving home from church with our son and our Pas...
We were driving home from church with our son and our Pastors’ son in the back seat of the truck. It’s always entertaining listening to them talk. You never know what you are going to hear. Today we heard about being in love with five girls, being in love with our pastor’s wife and marrying her, and any and all sorts of oddities.
Then we heard this conversation. I’ll call them J (our son) and Jay. Jay: Do you know who Oprah is? J: No, but I know who Godzilla is.
We started laughing. Leave it to our son to not know who Oprah is and to compare her to Godzilla. I suppose that makes sense as out of the eight years he’s been on this earth, we have only had television channels for a little over one of them. He has never seen court tv, Hannah Montana, The Simpson’s, Lost or talk shows, including Oprah.
The only time we watch regular tv is when we are in a hotel for some reason. Then, it’s a major treat. Of course those are the times he wants to see what cartoons are on.
Sometimes I get to thinking about how sheltered he is. He has no idea what brands of shoes are cool. He doesn’t know what clothes are popular. He doesn’t know the “in” thing. If a person who is immersed in the world were to ask him about any number of worldly subjects, he would have no idea what they were talking about. He is home schooled and his friends are from church. His circle of influence is largely dictated by those we allow him to have contact with. Some may say we are hindering him, keeping him from growing up and knowing what he should know. I disagree.
The past couple of weeks have been a bit stressful for me. “A bit” might be putting it mildly. Ok…so, I completely lost it Friday night after prayer while I was standing in the vestibule. I am not a public crier so this was a traumatic experience for me. My husband’s job schedule has been crazy, as has his pay, our daughter’s up coming wedding, writing and trying to figure out God’s plans has really just put me over the edge. I guess it all hit me at once and the outcome was a ball hit out of the ballpark. I was a goner.
I had fallen into an old way of thinking. I let the “old” Darlene creep back in. I started to feel anxious and I became worrisome.
Then I read this: “Deep in my heart I say, The Lord is all I need; I can depend on Him.” Lamentations 3:24
At that moment I realized what I had done. For a moment, I forgot to include God in all things. I left Him out of a few. He has always gotten us through the rough times. For some reason, I got to thinking maybe this time, the wedding and everything that needs to be done and paid for, was a little too big a job for him. While I didn’t think that last sentence outright, my actions said it loud and clear. By worrying, I was doubting Him.
As I read that verse again and again in Lamentations, I came to realize what it meant to be in this world but not of it. First of all, He is all I need. I love my husband. I love my children. I love my church and church family. I love writing. I love singing. I love traveling and having fun. I love setting and reaching goals. I love being successful. I love many things. But, if He is not in it, it is of the world. In and of themselves, without God, all these things mean nothing. With Him, they are heavenly minded and full of purpose. Without His direction, without Him being the center, the core, they lack fulfillment and joy.
As I thought on these things, I applied this line of thinking to my son, and the things I mentioned at the beginning of this post.
While we still have some areas that need working, for the most part our son is God centered. He loves worship and praying. He is tender hearted and is compassionate. He enjoys spending time with people and is respectful. He cried alligator tears for the people of Japan and Missouri. The other day, I was given the best compliment a mother can receive. Someone said to me: You did good! It didn’t matter what he did or didn’t know, what mattered was this person saw the Godly influence in everything that my son is, a young man with a purpose and a calling to serve his Lord.
Is God the center of you?
Thanks for growing with me this Wednesday! DarleneLonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com
Then we heard this conversation. I’ll call them J (our son) and Jay. Jay: Do you know who Oprah is? J: No, but I know who Godzilla is.
We started laughing. Leave it to our son to not know who Oprah is and to compare her to Godzilla. I suppose that makes sense as out of the eight years he’s been on this earth, we have only had television channels for a little over one of them. He has never seen court tv, Hannah Montana, The Simpson’s, Lost or talk shows, including Oprah.
The only time we watch regular tv is when we are in a hotel for some reason. Then, it’s a major treat. Of course those are the times he wants to see what cartoons are on.
Sometimes I get to thinking about how sheltered he is. He has no idea what brands of shoes are cool. He doesn’t know what clothes are popular. He doesn’t know the “in” thing. If a person who is immersed in the world were to ask him about any number of worldly subjects, he would have no idea what they were talking about. He is home schooled and his friends are from church. His circle of influence is largely dictated by those we allow him to have contact with. Some may say we are hindering him, keeping him from growing up and knowing what he should know. I disagree.
The past couple of weeks have been a bit stressful for me. “A bit” might be putting it mildly. Ok…so, I completely lost it Friday night after prayer while I was standing in the vestibule. I am not a public crier so this was a traumatic experience for me. My husband’s job schedule has been crazy, as has his pay, our daughter’s up coming wedding, writing and trying to figure out God’s plans has really just put me over the edge. I guess it all hit me at once and the outcome was a ball hit out of the ballpark. I was a goner.
I had fallen into an old way of thinking. I let the “old” Darlene creep back in. I started to feel anxious and I became worrisome.
Then I read this: “Deep in my heart I say, The Lord is all I need; I can depend on Him.” Lamentations 3:24
At that moment I realized what I had done. For a moment, I forgot to include God in all things. I left Him out of a few. He has always gotten us through the rough times. For some reason, I got to thinking maybe this time, the wedding and everything that needs to be done and paid for, was a little too big a job for him. While I didn’t think that last sentence outright, my actions said it loud and clear. By worrying, I was doubting Him.
As I read that verse again and again in Lamentations, I came to realize what it meant to be in this world but not of it. First of all, He is all I need. I love my husband. I love my children. I love my church and church family. I love writing. I love singing. I love traveling and having fun. I love setting and reaching goals. I love being successful. I love many things. But, if He is not in it, it is of the world. In and of themselves, without God, all these things mean nothing. With Him, they are heavenly minded and full of purpose. Without His direction, without Him being the center, the core, they lack fulfillment and joy.
As I thought on these things, I applied this line of thinking to my son, and the things I mentioned at the beginning of this post.
While we still have some areas that need working, for the most part our son is God centered. He loves worship and praying. He is tender hearted and is compassionate. He enjoys spending time with people and is respectful. He cried alligator tears for the people of Japan and Missouri. The other day, I was given the best compliment a mother can receive. Someone said to me: You did good! It didn’t matter what he did or didn’t know, what mattered was this person saw the Godly influence in everything that my son is, a young man with a purpose and a calling to serve his Lord.
Is God the center of you?
Thanks for growing with me this Wednesday! DarleneLonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com
April 24, 2012
I said I wasn't going to do this...
and yet, here I am. Doing exactly what I said I wasn't. *face palm*
Yes. I've procrastinated in setting up my blog post, and here it is, past my curfew (set by my wonderful hubby) and I'm typing like a mad woman.
Seriously, why do we do this to ourselves? Or, more correctly, why do I do this to myself?! Humor me a side trip, if you please. Sleep and I don't seem to get along. I mean seriously. Most nights, I operate on less than six hours. And that's a good night. I was like that as a kid ~ I have the ornery mother that'll prove it to you! (Love you, mom!) But, I won't bore you with horrid details of my insomnia. On to better and brighter things.
One of my excuses reasons for waiting until the last minute for this post is, I want to talk about what people want to read/learn/know. And frankly, sometimes I just don't know what you people want! ;) (smile. It's healthy!) I'm not normally a person that says do this, do that, do this. (Unless you're my child. And if you're my child, did you brush your teeth? Clean your room?) In fact, I probably shirk my duties in that area more than I should. I mean hey! God made me the wife, and we all know what God says about submission, right?! (Yes. I'm one of those weirdos that actually likes to listen to my hubby. Except, of course, when my blog post needs to be done right before bedtime...)
I've been bombarded/asked/prodded (use whichever verb you prefer) lately about being published. About writing. About...how do you get started writing? My smart aleck self usually starts to reply with a more profound answer, like, write but I realize this is not the answer most people are looking for. So, today, please bear with me as we try to navigate this new, daunting river called...experience. I don't mean that I know everything. Oh my word, absolutely NOT. Don't even go there! But, there are a few things I wish I had been told or had found out before I had started this journey. Up the creek. Without the proverbial paddle.
Please let me preface this by saying, I never intended to be an author. It wasn't something I used to dream about lying in bed at night. It just...happened. But let's get to it, shall we?
1. If you're interested in becoming a writer, your best bet would be to narrow down what you want write. Do you want to write fiction? Non-fiction? Mystery? Romance? Christian? Secular? Those are your starting points.
After you figure area you want to write in, don't box yourself in and think that's the only place you'll ever write. I never. EVER. thought I'd write non-fiction. Yet, that's exactly what I'm working on. Come to think of it, I never thought I'd write a series ~ and yes, I'm working on one of those as we speak, er, type.
2. Find a writer's group. You might find one near you. Google it. If your main interest is, say, Science-Fiction, Google Science-Fiction writer's groups in your area. If you come up empty, use a series of different words. I realize there may not be too many writer's groups that focus on the mating rituals of insects, but the internet levels the playing field. All of a sudden, (or not), you can become best friends with the person that discovered there are 1500 different species of Australian spiders. (Please dear Lord, don't let them come over this way. I've seen pictures, and they're HUGE!)
3. Start making connections now. Social Media is your best friend. But, like a best friend, if you abuse it, it won't come out and play with you. Do NOT under any circumstance, only talk about yourself. Or your book. Or your fascination with Australian spiders. (ick. Really. Why are you still reading this post if that's where your tastes lie?!) Spend time making friendships. Talk to people. Tweet someone else's books.
*(Right now, I'm reading an excellent Christian romance by Beth Vogt - Wish You Were Here
. If you like C.R., you might want to try it!)*
Tweet someone else's posts. Start doing this now ~ even before you write your book. I wish I had done that, but I have to do things the difficult way. :) Ah well. Sometimes we learn best when things aren't so easy.
**Note to the A.D.D. types out there ~ it helps to set a timer to keep from getting sidetracked. I've found it especially helpful not to feed my family right before I get online. When a sufficient amount of time has passed, they start hovering like buzzards and I usually get the point. Usually.
4. A very important thing to do is set aside a time for writing every day. Every. Day. Don't skimp on this point. Your brain is a muscle that needs to be flexed to get stronger. Use it even when you don't feel like it. Grab a nice cup of tea or coffee, or whatever, and write. It helps relax. Unless you're writing about those spiders and you've got the heebie-jeebies. Then you may want to use bug spray.
5. Start a Blog. There are a few people that just aren't interested in blogging, and that's all right. But, I find it boosts my creativity and gets those juices flowing. If you don't want to be tied to the computer all day, start a journal. It's simple and effective. Plus, you can take it with you when you're traveling.
These are just a few things to get you started. I realize there are about five-million other things you can do to kick-start your, ahem, lucrative, *gasp, wheeze* writing career. Are you a writer? What things do you find helpful? What advice would you give?
Christian romance by Amanda StephanLonely Hearts The Price of Trust
available in paperback or eBook formats!Amazon.comSmashwords.comLonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com
Yes. I've procrastinated in setting up my blog post, and here it is, past my curfew (set by my wonderful hubby) and I'm typing like a mad woman.
Seriously, why do we do this to ourselves? Or, more correctly, why do I do this to myself?! Humor me a side trip, if you please. Sleep and I don't seem to get along. I mean seriously. Most nights, I operate on less than six hours. And that's a good night. I was like that as a kid ~ I have the ornery mother that'll prove it to you! (Love you, mom!) But, I won't bore you with horrid details of my insomnia. On to better and brighter things.
One of my excuses reasons for waiting until the last minute for this post is, I want to talk about what people want to read/learn/know. And frankly, sometimes I just don't know what you people want! ;) (smile. It's healthy!) I'm not normally a person that says do this, do that, do this. (Unless you're my child. And if you're my child, did you brush your teeth? Clean your room?) In fact, I probably shirk my duties in that area more than I should. I mean hey! God made me the wife, and we all know what God says about submission, right?! (Yes. I'm one of those weirdos that actually likes to listen to my hubby. Except, of course, when my blog post needs to be done right before bedtime...)
I've been bombarded/asked/prodded (use whichever verb you prefer) lately about being published. About writing. About...how do you get started writing? My smart aleck self usually starts to reply with a more profound answer, like, write but I realize this is not the answer most people are looking for. So, today, please bear with me as we try to navigate this new, daunting river called...experience. I don't mean that I know everything. Oh my word, absolutely NOT. Don't even go there! But, there are a few things I wish I had been told or had found out before I had started this journey. Up the creek. Without the proverbial paddle.
Please let me preface this by saying, I never intended to be an author. It wasn't something I used to dream about lying in bed at night. It just...happened. But let's get to it, shall we?
1. If you're interested in becoming a writer, your best bet would be to narrow down what you want write. Do you want to write fiction? Non-fiction? Mystery? Romance? Christian? Secular? Those are your starting points.
After you figure area you want to write in, don't box yourself in and think that's the only place you'll ever write. I never. EVER. thought I'd write non-fiction. Yet, that's exactly what I'm working on. Come to think of it, I never thought I'd write a series ~ and yes, I'm working on one of those as we speak, er, type.
2. Find a writer's group. You might find one near you. Google it. If your main interest is, say, Science-Fiction, Google Science-Fiction writer's groups in your area. If you come up empty, use a series of different words. I realize there may not be too many writer's groups that focus on the mating rituals of insects, but the internet levels the playing field. All of a sudden, (or not), you can become best friends with the person that discovered there are 1500 different species of Australian spiders. (Please dear Lord, don't let them come over this way. I've seen pictures, and they're HUGE!)
3. Start making connections now. Social Media is your best friend. But, like a best friend, if you abuse it, it won't come out and play with you. Do NOT under any circumstance, only talk about yourself. Or your book. Or your fascination with Australian spiders. (ick. Really. Why are you still reading this post if that's where your tastes lie?!) Spend time making friendships. Talk to people. Tweet someone else's books.
*(Right now, I'm reading an excellent Christian romance by Beth Vogt - Wish You Were Here
. If you like C.R., you might want to try it!)* Tweet someone else's posts. Start doing this now ~ even before you write your book. I wish I had done that, but I have to do things the difficult way. :) Ah well. Sometimes we learn best when things aren't so easy.
**Note to the A.D.D. types out there ~ it helps to set a timer to keep from getting sidetracked. I've found it especially helpful not to feed my family right before I get online. When a sufficient amount of time has passed, they start hovering like buzzards and I usually get the point. Usually.
4. A very important thing to do is set aside a time for writing every day. Every. Day. Don't skimp on this point. Your brain is a muscle that needs to be flexed to get stronger. Use it even when you don't feel like it. Grab a nice cup of tea or coffee, or whatever, and write. It helps relax. Unless you're writing about those spiders and you've got the heebie-jeebies. Then you may want to use bug spray.
5. Start a Blog. There are a few people that just aren't interested in blogging, and that's all right. But, I find it boosts my creativity and gets those juices flowing. If you don't want to be tied to the computer all day, start a journal. It's simple and effective. Plus, you can take it with you when you're traveling.
These are just a few things to get you started. I realize there are about five-million other things you can do to kick-start your, ahem, lucrative, *gasp, wheeze* writing career. Are you a writer? What things do you find helpful? What advice would you give?
Christian romance by Amanda StephanLonely Hearts The Price of Trustavailable in paperback or eBook formats!Amazon.comSmashwords.comLonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com
God is Good, God is Great
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