Timothy J. Pruitt's Blog, page 182
October 31, 2020
Writing, Characters
All writing involves characters, whether fact or fiction. Just as life, writing is made up of people. People are drawn to people, even if those people are fictional. Today, let’s discuss characters.
Name a piece of writing, from any age, any genre, real or imagined, and within the first two pages, you’ll meet someone. The challenge is, will the person you meet be interesting enough to go with them all the way to the final page? Some characters are so interesting, we meet them again in many other books.
How you do write a character? While there are many ways, let me share with you mine. Usually, I have a picture in my head of either the character themselves, or what I want the story to be about. At times, the plot is almost a character themselves.
The danger when you have a strong plot, is to create weak characters. A character can be on a page only for a few seconds, but they need to be more than just a plot device. Your last page may be powerful, but if the characters on that page were not fleshed out, you may not have any readers to get there with.
Of course, the opposite side of this is, the character doesn’t need to be so large that the plot is just a stage for them. The great detective needs a great mystery to solve. He needs at least a competent, if not brilliant antagonist.
This doesn’t mean a character needs to be flamboyant, not all characters should be likable. What they must be is magnetic. You have to be drawn to them in some way.
One way of doing that, is to place a character somewhere out of place. A little old lady sat knitting in a Park Avenue office. She had never liked visiting here, but today, it was most necessary. Those two sentences do a couple of things.
It introduces you to a character, who is out of place, with a problem. Next, it gets you interested in why she is in a place, that you know she doesn’t like. Yet, you don’t know either her name, what she looks like, or who’s office she’s in.
Keep in mind, she’s not elaborate at this point, and she’s not very original. Thousands of stories include little old ladies, but for a second or two, you wanted to know more. Quality characters invite you to know more, and take you from chapter one to chapter two.
Let’s talk again about chapters tomorrow. For today, in addition to 500 words, I would suggest you create a character. Write down whatever you like about them, but I would write them down, then put it in your writer’s notebook. You need one by the way, let’s talk more about that tomorrow too.
October 30, 2020
Inktober Ominous Test
Today’s word for inktober is Ominous. Tests can be ominous, especially if they take you unaware. I’m not a fan of pop quizzes, in school, or in life. However, to see what you’ve learned, there’s nothing better than a test.
Most people don’t argue that when you’re talking about Math, they do when you’re talking about our every day. Compassion, patience, and kindness are not tested when the skies are blue, the sun is shining, and the birds are singing. They’re tested when it’s pouring the rain, you’ve got a cold, and you just want to go home, and someone needs you.
What are you going to do? Are you going to bale and fail, or are you going to share from a loving heart? Tests can be ominous, but only when you haven’t studied. Those who practice love and kindness every day, get an A+ when the teacher passes out the test.
Taxi Writing
You’ve made a list, you wrote 500 words. You’ve already taken the first steps towards writing, you’ve written. Ask yourself three questions. First, did you enjoy it? Yes, it can be intimidating, yes it can be challenging, but did you enjoy, either the act of writing, or having written?
If the answer is yes, then you know you want to go forward. If the answer is no, before you put down your pen, let me ask you question two. This question is really the important one. Is the subject you’re writing about important enough to write, even if you don’t enjoy the process?
If the answer is no, you’ve still answered a question you’ve always wondered about. If the answer is yes, then you have more than a desire to write. You have something so important, that you are now compelled to write. Writing is exciting, not only for the enjoyment of it, but for the way it can affect a life.
From history to mystery, words written thousands of years ago have shaped the destinies of men and women in the 21st century. We are not in this internet age because we invented all of these things, we are in this age, because we inherited them.
The last question is, what’s your next step. There are actually two of them. The first is, decide if what you have written is the topic you want to go forward with, or the taxi to get you to the runway. Taxi writing gets the juices pumping, it’s like stretching before a run. It’s not the marathon, but it will help the marathon to go smoother.
If the topic you’ve written about is what you’re passionate about, then start writing. If not, take today, decide what you want to start writing. Notice, you don’t have to decide where you’re going, just what you’re starting with.
The second step, is to write 500 words for the next five days. This will lead you into Nanowrimo. Since you’ve begun a few days early, you don’t face the intimidation of starting. You are already on your journey.
Remember, write, don’t read. Don’t try to write and edit, that’s a sand trap. Write, put it aside, and write again. Let’s talk tomorrow about characters. They are found in every piece of writing in some form, and they can make your writing easier.
October 29, 2020
Inktober Shoes In Progress
Today’s word was shoes, but there is a lot of work that goes into making shoes. I decided to show shoes in progress. Just as with our shoes, the steps we take each day, and in life, make who we are.
I believe that when we listen, God orders our steps. He has a plan for us all, but He will not force His way. I’ve found though, when I go His way, my steps always lead to a better place.
Writing, Five Or Six Paragraphs
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We talked yesterday about the dream of writing, and some of the issues that can keep us from it. I understand, I’ve been there, and I get it. I also have written over thirty books now, it’s much easy than it looks like when you’re starting with an empty page.
If you made a list yesterday though, you’ve already started, if not, you may have a mental list of what you want to write. The next step is not to write a whole book in one setting, a chapter, or even a page. All you have to do is write 500 words. I know that seems like a lot, until you consider my first paragraph was fifty words.
Five or six paragraphs, and you’ve written 500 words. Now take that number and multiply by 5. You can see how quickly add up. Now here’s the hard part, put it aside, don’t read it yet. We’re not in the editing stage, we’re in the writing one. They’ll be time for that, but a carpenter doesn’t sand the desk until he finishes building it.
Let’s talk more about what to do next tomorrow. For now, you’ve written two days in a row. You are becoming the writer you always wanted to be, and it’s been much easy than many expect it to be. See you tomorrow Writer, you’re doing great!
October 28, 2020
Dreaming To Write
I’ve never met Lincoln, Dickens, or Churchill, but I’ve read their words. In that way I know them. Who knows you, who will know you years from now? This is why I’m passionate about writing, specifically writers.
I’ve written over thirty books, I love to write. More importantly, I love to encourage others to write. Everyone has knowledge that is unique, in the sense of how it arrived to them. That knowledge can help someone who doesn’t know what they do.
Before you say, anyone can do what I do, let me ask you something. Can a baby walk before someone teaches them? Just because others have done it, doesn’t mean everyone knows it.
Many people dream of writing, but they say I can’t, or I don’t know how. The truth is, we overthink a lot of things. Writing is as simple as writing a shopping list. Here’s my writing challenge for you today.
Take a subject you know, maybe it’s how to change the oil, and make a list. How do you start? What materials do you need? What steps are the ones you can’t afford to get wrong?
Don’t look now, but you’ve just written a how to guide. Yes it’s a rough draft, but all drafts have to be shaved down a bit. Most writing we call great should more accurately be referred to as great editing. Before you pass it off as trivial, there are a number of people who don’t know how to do what you just wrote.
That was exercise number one on your writing journey. November is Nanowrimo, or National Novel Writing Month. Whether you want to write a novel, your family’s story, or a how to guide, stay with me. Let me encourage you to write.
If you’ll allow me to, I would like to help you on your journey. You don’t need a critic, or a expert, you need an encourager. I encourage writers. I share ideas that help people on their writing adventure. Let me do this for you. We’ll talk more tomorrow about step two, 500 words.
Inktober Float
Today’s word is float, and this time of year, one thing comes to mind. Though this year is very different, I would encourage you to cherish your loved ones during this season especially. Home can mend hurting hearts, when filled with love.
October 27, 2020
Acrylic Pachyderm
I wanted to share my latest acrylic, Pachyderm. I love both elephants and lions. To me they are symbols of God’s creativity. He not only made them unique, He made them powerful, but at the same time they can be caring, and loving, and warm. We all have the potential to seek to be what He created us to be. We just have to listen to The Creator, to achieve what He is calling us too.
Inktober Music iPainting
Today’s Inktober word is Music. Many a soul has found joy in the words of a song. The Psalmist David knew that music could praise God, lift David’s own spirit, and encourage others. PruittWrites is thankful for the music makers today.
October 26, 2020
Inktober Hide
Inktober’ s word today is Hide. As always, this time of year, I look forward to Christmas. We’ve got a couple of gifts in a closet for a certain little boy. I began to think of the blessings God placed in my life, years ahead. At the time, I had no idea, but after it all came together, I can look back and see what God was wrapping up for me. If you’re hurting today, I would encourage you to run to Jesus, and let Him hide you under His wings. You’re find so many gifts for you waiting there!
