Becky Wade's Blog, page 148

Inspired by Scripture

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Creating Characters that Evoke Deep Emotion

I recently received an email from a writer named Ariana who is struggling with character development: “I am currently writing a book and would like your advice on it. I’m stuck on how to make it so the reader can feel like the characters in my book…if that makes sense.”  

It makes perfect sense, Ariana! Thanks for asking such an important question. A vital part of the reading experience is getting so invested into the main character that you begin to feel like you’re in her head, experiencing everything as the story unfolds.

But how do authors make that happen? How can writers create characters that evoke deep emotion within the reader?

First, I believe the writer has to be in touch with her own emotions in order to transfer that to characters.

Second, if a writer wants to create a rich emotional experience, then she has to take the story below the surface and share what’s going on in the character’s head (learning to balance internal narration with keeping the plot moving).

Finally, to get readers to care about characters, the writer has to care about them first. In order to do that, a writer must get to know her characters intimately, essentially becoming the character during the writing process.

But how can a writer get to know the characters that well?

One thing that really helps me is that I spend time getting to know both my hero and heroine BEFORE I start the book. I find the process of developing my characters one of the most delightful aspects of the entire writing process. I relish the idea of playing “god” and breathing life into people. I get to make my characters exactly how I want. And while it’s daunting to have so much power, it’s also euphoric.

Here are just a few things I take into consideration as I get to know my characters:

1. Make them distinct.

Obviously I consider their physical appearance. I have to visualize every physical detail about my character before they come alive. In addition to hair, eyes, and body type, I consider distinguishing physical traits (usually two or three unique things). Often I find a picture of an actress or actor that serves as the basis of my character.

But I always go much deeper than physical appearance. I pick an action tag (something they do like nail biting or head scratching). I also choose a verbal tag (something they say like “My, my” or “heaven have mercy”). And finally I narrow down a characteristic tag (something like timidity, arrogance, or boldness). I also analyze if they have any quirks or eccentricities.

2. Flesh out their personalities.

When analyzing their personalities, I try to understand their skills, abilities, and talents.  I also determine their personality type and lately have been using the Enneagram descriptions to help (Here’s a great website with a simple breakdown of the 9 types).

I also go deeper with these kinds of questions: What makes them angry and how do they handle their anger? What embarrasses them and how do they handle embarrassment? What makes them afraid and how do they handle their fears? What are their prejudices? What is their sense of humor? What’s their philosophy of life?

3. Understand their past.

I may not need to know when they had their first scraped knee or lost tooth. But I do try to look for those defining incidents in their past that have shaped them into the characters they are in the present. These are usually the painful, life-shaping events (big or little) that provide the impetus behind their motivations in the story. I usually answer the question: What are the most painful experiences in the character’s past to prove why they act the way they do?

4. Define their strengths.

I try to narrow down the qualities that will help my readers care about the characters. Some refer to these as the “heroic” qualities. I brainstorm a list, then try to pull out a top strength. This is the one I show my character doing in my first chapter, to get my readers caring right away. I also pick out a few others that form the backbone of the character.

5. Define their weaknesses.

I carefully decide a main inner struggle or conflict that my character will need to work through. This is sometimes called the internal plot which is separate from but woven together with the external plot (and the relationship plot in a romance). The weakness needs to arise organically in the story out of those past motivations that we know but won’t divulge until later to our readers.

6. Understand their goals.

As chapter one opens, I want my characters’ story goals to become clear right away. But that means I have to know what they want first. Their wants often stem out of the past hurts and pains. I ask myself three questions: What’s my character’s biggest dream? Why do they want that goal (or dream)? And then what’s keeping them from that goal?

Getting to know my characters doesn’t stop in the pre-planning stage. In fact, the real knowing happens once I start to live out the story. With each new page and chapter, I understand them better, and they often surprise me with new things that I didn’t see coming (such as a hobby, quirk, past issue, etc). They come to life in unexpected ways, but that only happens because I’ve already laid a foundation and can build upon to develop a richer, more complex characters.  

What about you? What are some ways writers can help readers feel like the characters in their books?

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Another Manuscript Finished

It is always such a relief and a feeling of accomplishment to get a book turned in. August 15 was the deadline for Book 2 in my Hanger’s Horseman series. I’m pleased to report that The Heart’s Charge is in my editors’ hands. This book was challenging but so rewarding to write. I can’t wait to share it with you!

This is my longest book to date at just under 103,000 words. The editing process might change that number, but I usually stay pretty close to my initial word count. This needed to be a bigger book with 4 POV characters and 2 full love stories going on side-by-side.

There are still several layers of polishing to be done before it is ready for public consumption, but the largest chunk of work is done. Hooray!

I received my editorial feedback letter last Friday, so I’ll be diving into rewrites soon, but for now, I’m enjoying a peaceful moment of accomplishment. OK . . . Maybe not so peaceful seeing as how I’m in the midst of plotting my next novella, writing a short story to promote my upcoming fall release, and getting all my kids moved out of the house to start college in the middle of a pandemic. But hey, I’m a fiction writer, so I can pretend the peaceful moment lasted for more than a day.

If you are interested in a brief sneak peek of the upcoming story featuring Mark Wallace and Jonah Brooks and the women who capture their hearts, see below to read the first page.

What big project have you accomplished lately that gives you a feeling of satisfaction?

Chapter 1

Llano County, TX
Spring, 1894

When Mark Wallace left Gringolet two days ago to deliver a prize gelding to a wealthy rancher west of Llano, he never dreamed he’d be called upon to deliver a baby, too. Or that the mother of said baby would be waving a pistol back and forth between him and Jonah as if trying to decide which fellow to shoot first.

“Get outa here! I don’t want your help.” Her face contorted, and a muffled groan escaped as she wrapped her left arm around her swollen belly.

She might not want their help, but she sure as shootin’ needed it. The woman looked as wrung out as yesterday’s washrag.

Mark, palms out in front of him, took a step forward. “Easy, now, ma’am. I’m not going to hurt y—”

The pistol exploded. Mark flinched. Noted the barrel pointing toward the sky. Tossed a look over his shoulder, anyway, to make sure his friend wasn’t sporting any new holes. Jonah gave him a nod, his hand curling around the handle of his own revolver, ready to defend them if necessary.

Mark prayed it wouldn’t be necessary. The lady in front of him might be a few cards short of a full deck at the moment, but she was still a woman. And a gentleman never abandoned a woman in need. Even if she shot at him. The sound of the gunshot seemed to startle her as much as it had him. Her eyes widened and her gun arm quivered. Seizing the opportunity, Mark rushed forward, grabbed her wrist, and knocked the pistol from her hand. She shouted, kicked, and pounded his chest and chin with her fists, but Mark ignored the pummeling. Well, until she nearly gouged his left eye from its socket. Couldn’t ignore that. A man needed to be able to see, after all. Especially when dealing with a woman in a delicate condition who seemed to have taken leave of her senses.

Oak Apple Day

Between my history degree, my extensive reading of historical fiction, and my own research and writing of historical fiction, I consider myself pretty well-versed history, especially English history and American history.

So imagine my surprise when I dove into two different historical novels last week and found mention in both of an English holiday I’d never heard of! And here’s the kicker—one book was published in 2015, set in 1665, and written for the general YA market (The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands); the other book was published in 2018, set in 1808, and written for the Christian historical romance market (The Innkeeper’s Daughter by Michelle Griep).

With such an amazing coincidence, I couldn’t let it pass. I had to find out more. And I thought I would share with all of you who love history and story.

Oak Apple Day was an English holiday instituted on King Charles II’s birthday—May 29—as a celebration of the restoration of the monarchy. For those not intimately familiar with English history, this was after the period of time in which those who believed parliament should rule, not a monarch, fought with those who supported a king. This was the English Civil War. The most famous face of the opposition to the monarchy was the Puritan Oliver Cromwell.

Painting by John Michael Wright of King Charles II’s coronation and the restoration of the monarchy.

Once King Charles II regained the throne (the Restoration), a holiday was instituted to celebrate the monarchy and affirm its rule. Oak Apple Day was celebrated with dancing and feasting and general celebration within the community. Citizens wore an oak leaf (or an oak apple, a gall on an oak leaf that somewhat resembles a small apple) to display their loyalty to the king. Oaks were not only a symbol of the monarchy but also important for Charles II in that it was said he hid in one while escaping the Roundheads after a battle.

For people choosing not to wear the oak leaf, with or without an oak apple, on May 29, they could be pelted with rotten fruit or pinched on the bottom or struck with nettles, so of course it behooved you to find that oak leaf to attach to your person!

Oak “apples”

The holiday continued to be celebrated nationwide until 1859, though it is still celebrated in specific areas of England today.

One last interesting note: I often watch Midsomer Murders (a British murder mystery series set in the Cotswolds) during lunchtime, and as I was preparing this post, one of the episodes centered around Oak Apple Day! However, the explanation of the historical roots of the festival given in the show (by a character played by Sophie Thompson, no less!) was almost nothing like the history of the actual festival! I found that quite odd.

So there you have it. Oak Apple Day. I love when historical fiction sends me to research aspects of history I hadn’t known before.

Have you heard of Oak Apple Day? Where did you learn about it? Have you ever read something in a work of historical fiction that set you to researching the event or circumstance on your own? Do tell!

Deepening your understanding of the Bible

For the past four plus years, I’ve been blessed to study the Bible with Kristi McLelland, a professor and biblical culturalist in Nashville—and a phenomenal teacher of the Word. Kristi has dedicated her life to teaching people how to study the Bible—and how to read it through a Middle Eastern lens.

She’s recommended some wonderful Biblical study resources that I’m eager to share with you. Plus I’d love to know what sources you’ve discovered that have not only enhanced your understanding of the Bible but your relationship with Christ. So please get ready to share!

First, if you haven’t read the following books by Lois Tverberg and Ann Spangler, please put them at the top of your to-be-read list.

More about Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus



More about Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus



More about Reading the Bible with Rabbi Jesus

As you read these books, you feel as if you’re walking step-by-step in the Holy Land beside the disciples and early church believers. What insights. What pearls of wisdom. These resources are perfect for an enriching individual study or group discussion. The audible versions are highly recommended too.

Speaking of walking step-by-step in the Holy Land…

I was blessed to travel to Israel with Kristi last year (she loves taking people to “the Land”). Here we are at Masada (April 2019) on our all women trip to the Holy Land. Talk about a little slice of heaven on earth! Especially since my daughter and I shared this experience together. (Kristi is in the back in denim, and I’m just in front of her in plaid.)

Learning about Jesus through the Middle Eastern lens, and through Jewish eyes, has deepened my understanding of God’s Word, and the following Kenneth E. Bailey books have greatly contributed to this as well.

More about Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes



More about Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes

The historical detail Bailey lends to the Scripture, and the way he unpacks the parables of Jesus in the gospels really gives you food for thought. Both of these are highly recommended.

Lastly, I’m sure most of us are familiar with Ravi Zacharias—gifted apologist, author, and teacher—who passed into eternity earlier this year. You have likely heard him speak before. But have you read this book? You’re in for such a treat with Seeing Jesus from The East.

More about Seeing Jesus from The East

Are you looking for a resource that will take you on a deeper dive into God’s Word? Any one of these books will do that, and you’ll leave so much richer for having taken the journey.

Now it’s your turn! What book have you read that’s deepened your understanding of God’s Word?

In this entertainment-saturated world we live in it’s so easy to get swept up in binging endless and often mindless series on TV. But it’s imperative that we routinely shut off that spigot, turn off Netflix, hang up Hulu, and routinely immerse ourselves in the living, breathing Word of God, to seek his wisdom and his words. Especially with the world around us in the current state it’s in. These books are wonderful companions in that endeavor.

Happy reading and blessings from Tennessee,

Tammy

__________________________________________________

DID YOU KNOW . . .

Kristi McLelland’s Biblical “feast” entitled Jesus & Women released earlier this year and quickly garnered two #1 bestseller spots in Amazon’s Christian Biblical History and Culture and New Testament Biographies categories—and with good reason.

More about Jesus & Women

Right now all 7 videos in this study are FREE when you buy the study booklet. Details below!

Jesus & Women is a life-changing 7-session video study about seeing Jesus through the eyes of women who came face-to-face with the Living God. You’ll never look at Christ—or your life in him and his desires for you—in the same way again.

Want to take Kristi’s Jesus & Women study?

Right now is the time because all seven videos are FREE—all you need is a copy of the study booklet, which is a treasure in itself.

Click here for details!

Click for more about the Jesus & Women study!

Life-changing Non-fiction

Blessings on this first day of September!

I know we’re all about the fiction here at Inspired by Life & Fiction. But just for today, we’re switching sides . . .

For the past four plus years, I’ve been blessed to study the Word of God with Kristi McLelland, a professor and biblical culturalist in Nashville—and a phenomenal teacher of the Word. She’s dedicated her life to teaching people how to study the Bible. Another passion is taking people to Israel!

Here we are in Israel (April 2019) at Masada with our group—an all women’s trip to the Holy Land. Talk about a little piece of heaven here on earth! (Kristi is in the back in denim, and I’m just in front of her in plaid.)

Kristi’s Biblical “feast” entitled Jesus & Women released earlier this year and quickly garnered two #1 bestseller spots in Amazon’s Christian Biblical History and Culture and New Testament Biographies categories—and with good reason.

Jesus & Women really is a life-changing 7-session video study. Seeing Jesus through the eyes of women who came face-to-face with the Living God… Well, you’ll never look at Christ—or your life in him and his desires for you—in the same way again.

More about Jesus & Women

Right now all 7 videos in this study are FREE when you buy the study booklet. Details below!

Learning from Kristi, attending her classes, has not only deepened my love for God’s Word, it’s deepened my love for Christ. Through her teaching, she’s shown me that God is better than I ever knew. And for that, I’ll be forever grateful.

She put me onto some wonderful study resources too, and I want to share some of them with you today!

First, if you haven’t read the following books by Lois Tverberg and Ann Spangler, please put them at the top of your to-be-read list. These insights into Rabbi Jesus in his Jewish world make a truly enriching personal or group study. The audible versions of these books are highly recommended too.

More about Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus



More about Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus



More about Reading the Bible with Rabbi Jesus

Learning about Jesus through the Middle Eastern lens has taken my understanding of God’s Word to a deeper level, and Kenneth E. Bailey’s books have greatly contributed to this.

More about Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes



More about Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes

Lastly, I’m sure most of us are familiar with Ravi Zacharias—gifted apologist, author, and teacher—who passed into eternity earlier this year. You have likely heard him speak before. But have you read one of his books? You’re in for such a treat with Seeing Jesus from The East.

More about Seeing Jesus from The East

Are you looking for a study that will take you on a deeper dive into God’s Word? Any one of these books will do that, and you’ll leave so much richer for having taken the journey.

Have you read a non-fiction book lately that’s brought you closer to Christ? If yes, what’s the title and author? It can be recently published or a “golden oldie.” I’m always wanting to add to my list!

I look forward to hearing from you—and thanks for being part of the community here at Inspired by Life & Fiction.

Blessings from Tennessee,

Tammy

Want to take Kristi’s Jesus & Women study?
Right now is the time because all seven videos are FREE—all you need is a copy of the study booklet, which is a treasure in itself.
Click here for details!

Click for more about the Jesus & Women study!

Inspired by Scripture

This Sunday feature is brought to you by ClashEntertainment.com. You may sign up to receive a beautiful photo with scripture in your inbox each morning or view the verse each day online.

Devouring the Word of God

A little over a week ago, I heard about the Illuminated Scripture Journals from Crossway. These books have the Scripture on the left hand page (ESV) and lightly dotted blank pages on the right, perfect for writing or drawing or however you best interact with Scripture. (There are also the same journals with plain black covers where the right hand pages are lined.)

The Illuminated Scripture Journals have beautiful covers, and each cover represents something within the book itself. Inside, the book names and chapter numbers are gold, matching the gold on the covers. There are individual journals for every book of the Bible, with the exception of a few really short ones; those are combined (i.e. 1-3 John).

I bought the book of Psalms and the entire set of the New Testament journals. (I believe you can find all of the individual journals on Amazon.)

The Psalms Illustrated Scripture Journal



The New Testament set

While I love to Bible art journal, I bought these journals to write my thoughts and prayers in as I work through the Scriptures. It’s possible that more artistic entries will find there way onto these pages, but I anticipate that these journals will be more words than anything else. I want them to help me go deep and gain new understanding.

For most of my Christian life, I’ve been writing teeny-tiny notes in the narrow margins of my study Bible. I’m excited to think what I might glean from the Scriptures with so much room to write out my meditations. (Did you know the Hebrew word that is translated “meditate” can mean devour, like a lion eating its prey? I want to devour God’s word like a ravenous lion!)

Have you heard about these journals? How would you put them to use?

~robin

Lost and Found

A few months ago, in this post, I told the tale of my lost and found Bible. Several of you responded, saying that you’d lost and found something that was important to you, too. Your stories were so heartwarming that I decided to compile some of them into this blog post. Here’s hoping they bless you as much as they did me!

“After my sister and brother passed in 2013 I looked and looked high and low for a small bundle of cards they had given me. Each contained a message to me. I tore through this house until I finally had to acknowledge I had probably misplaced them and they were tossed out.

Five years…yes five years later I needed to find some retirement papers and in my box that ONLY contained my work and hygiene license document that bundle appeared.

I cried the day I had given up looking for them but I SOBBED that day when I found them. My husband found me on the floor in the closet I haven’t gone into for years. So miracles do happen.” -Denise Bailey

“When I was baptized I made a “morse code” bracelet with my favorite bible verse out of beads. During my internship at UNC Hospital I realized one day that after visiting patients all day I had lost my bracelet (it must have come off while I was removing my gloves). As soon as I realized it I ran back up to my floors, to no avail. The nurses said they would keep an eye out for it.

A few days later I was back on a floor and one of the nurses asked if I was the one who lost a bracelet….well she had found it in one of the patient’s beds. And she told me she left it on the nurses’ desk taped to the ledge….I ran there but it was GONE!!! I was so upset but as I was walking away I realized I did not have my pen so I reached in the pencil holder and guess what had fallen into the pencil holder? MY BRACELET!!! AHHH! My homemade $5.00 bracelet means so much to me.” -Neils Barringer

“A lovie blanket came up missing that belonged to our third born. We searched high and low, plus two sheds at my mom’s and her attic. We looked and prayed for months.

At the very beginning of Covid, my mom was laid off and was going through her dad’s shed to just be nosy…and guess what she found?!? The lost lovie! My daughter said, “Momma, I prayed Jesus would point me to it. But he pointed Nana to it…I mean, he wouldn’t tell me to walk ten miles to her house to that shed to look. So he led her.” -Laura Napier

“A few days before my mother passed away in 2007 from a 6 year battle with cancer she gave me her Bible with all of her handwritten notes from different studies and sermons that spoke to her.

A year or so later my dad asked if he could take it back home with him to go through and make notes from. Somewhere throughout the next few years the Bible had traveled to several different people and he couldn’t remember who had it.

Out of the blue my mom’s childhood best friend Facebook messages me letting me know she had the Bible and all of the notes and knew I would want it! She mailed it back to me and it hasn’t left my house since!” -Amy Parker

“About two dozen years ago I lost a small blue diamond stud earring that Tony had given me for present. We concluded that my in-laws cats had done something with it. Lost it or eaten it. My sweet father-in-law even went through all the kitty litter boxes looking for it. We came home thinking that it was gone for good.

Several times I asked the Lord to help me find it. About a week later I was drying my hair and I flipped over to get the back of my head and I looked to my right to see, on the OUTSIDE mesh of my toiletry bag, a little blue diamond stud earring. I was amazed. I promise I thought an angel stuck it there. How did the earring survive the trip home? I carried the bag outside my suitcase. In the trunk of the car.

I blessed the Lord so loud. I knew He answered my prayer. Wild!” -Rachel Hauck

“I was flying to Louisiana from Houston Hobby airport. While at the airport, I took 3 gold rings off, laid them on the counter to wash my hands, and walked out to my flight, leaving them there. One of them was my mother’s wedding band. Flew to NOLA, then drove in to Houma LA about 10 pm. That’s when I realized that I didn’t have my rings on. The other 2 were not as important as my mom’s ring. I was sick. I figured they were gone forever.

I called that night but everyone was gone who I needed to talk to, and the man I did speak with said there wasn’t much chance anyway.

I called in the morning, and the lady said, “Three gold rings? Describe them.” Wow! Someone picked them up and turned them in! There are good people going through airports! And it was my carelessness – but God still cared.” -Debbie Moon

“When I was in high school, I lost a watch that was very important to me on the way home from a band competition. I was super upset and prayed to find it. I had a dream that I found it underneath the seat in the bus I had been riding.

At our next competition, that specific bus was one of the ones that pulled up. Before it was time to board the buses to leave, I got on that bus, went to that seat, and lifted it up. There was my watch.” -Nicole Allen

These stories strike a chord with me for two reasons. One, they’re a wonderful reminder that if something is important to us, it’s important to God. He sees and He cares.

Two, they’re a small but tangible example of the greatest lost and found story of them all — the story of our salvation. We were once lost. But we’re indescribably fortunate to have a God who specializes in doggedly pursuing and finding lost things.

If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish. -Matthew 18:12-14

Books I’ve Loved this Month + Giveaway

I think because classes started this week at Purdue, I’ve been in a race to read some good books. The above are just a few of them that I’ve inhaled and recommended. Here’s why I loved them:

The Price of Valor is Susan May Warren at the top of her writing game. Susie is a master of creating characters and plot that will not let me go as a reader. This book is no exception. From the opening scene to the final pages, it’s a race to uncover the truth about Ham’s relationship with his wife and her relationship with CIA. Throw in a host of wonderful characters, many I’ve come to know and love through earlier books, and it was a great read! A perfect wrap up to this series. Right mix of romance, mystery, and a taste of suspense.

The Price of Dreams was the first of Toni Shiloh’s books that I’ve read, but it won’t be the last. The Price of Dreams is a sweet romance with delightful characters. Third in a series, I hadn’t read the others but was able to fully enjoy this one. It explores the challenges of an interracial relationship in a way that pulls back the curtain on the challenges. I highly recommend it for those who love clean, inspirational romance.

In Unknown Threat, Lynn Blackburn has created a page-turning novel with all the elements I’ve come to love in her books. The hero and heroine are unique and compelling, while surrounded by a rich cast that adds depth to the story. The suspense thread is intense and pulses with energy and pressure. And the romance? It’s perfection with tension to keep me rooting for the characters. It’s a perfect read for those who love engaging stories that are threaded with hope.

I adore Rachel’s royal stories and To Love a Prince is a new favorite. I inhaled it in 24 hours, reading my Kindle as I walked…it’s that good. Daffy is a heroine I rooted for from the earliest pages, and it was delightful to see Prince Gus in his settings whether that was a Florida beach or the halls of a castle. Add the spiritual elements that break through the veil — this book is a spiritual fairy tale that will leave you sighing and smiling at the end. As well as wondering who the next book will be about!

I’ve also been reading/listening to some non-fiction. I found Team of Five to be an utterly fascinating look at the relationships between presidents and former presidents. I really enjoyed this peek into the historical and current relationships. The author includes chapters on the first ladies and children as well. My history and poli sci loving mind inhaled this book — and it’s almost ten hours of audio.

Now for some fun. Friends, I was looking at a couple of my platforms the other day and realized I’m really close to 2,000 followers on Instagram and Bookbub. I’m also crazy close to 11,000 on Twitter. This giveaway is your chance to follow me and see different parts of me. You can use the form below to enter the giveaway. I will give away one copy of Delayed Justice. But I want to do more. When each platform crosses it’s next threshold, I’ll add a book from my Hidden Justice series and a winner to the giveaway. Spread the word! I’m ready to giveaway books! All you have to do is use the from below to follow along. Also feel free to share this far and wide. This giveaway is not limited to the US — I welcome my international friends to enter and if they win will use Book Depository for paper copies.

Follow me on Bookbub to see books I’m recommending and stay up to date on new releases and sales. On Instagram, you’ll see quite a mix of my life and family. What have you read and enjoyed this month? What’s your favorite place to interact with authors?

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