Update #2: In Which I Am Good at Something for Once

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Okay, you’re right, that was a silly title. I’ve done awesome things before. In fact, I’m pretty much the master of awesome things.

But really, I’m super pleased with one thing I did these last couple days, and so I have to share it with you … and yep. That’s about it. (I don’t really have low self-esteem, at least not in the writing area of my life. #conceited #terribleperson)

So far, NaNoWriMo is going swimmingly for me. According to my best friend, I write too slow, but really, am I to blame for her impatience? Nope. I think not.

I’m reasonably pleased with my writing. It’s nothing flashy like a girl I know who got 50,000 in the first couple days or other friends who are 25K+ each, but … I’m happy with it. That’s all that matters in such a self-motivated challenge.

So, I have 16,859 words! I haven’t begun writing today yet (#school, #work, #AWANAs), but hopefully I’ll get to 17K and maybe even 18K sometime this afternoon/evening. Probably not, though … my life has been #hectic. (Puppies take time! So does school and band and work and … mostly school. *glares at school*)

I need to stop using hashtags! It’s not even like I’m on Twitter that much … *sigh* I don’t know what’s wrong with me.

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What I’m Proud Of

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I couldn’t think of an easy simple way to put this into words, but basically …

Characters

Jordy

Bailey is an ESFP (same as Jordy), and she’s been reading my book (because I spoil her … and because it makes me happy … okay, truthfully, she’s not spoiled at all; I force her to read my books, haha).
Her comments are mostly like, “OMW THIS IS SO ME!” and “GET OUT OF MY HEAD YOU’RE BEING CREEPY.”
It’s not my fault that I know her very well and essentially just made her personality male.
Anyway, suffice to say I’m immensely proud of having made a believable male protagonist with a personality and all (at least in the eyes of The Very Prejudiced Author and The Very Prejudiced Best Friend of the Author).


Ivy

I was super nervous about writing Ivy.
It was fairly easy to write her as a child – just because it was totally natural for her to be this innocent sweet little girl.
But now she’s all grown up (*weeps*), and so it’s a little different.
BUT … it turned out all right! I’m really loving her voice. She’s an adult, yes, and she has adult thoughts. But she’s still IVY.


Violet

I can’t resist mentioning this lil’ bundle of joy.
(I’m being completely sarcastic, of course … she’s a little hellion.)
Violet is just … way too much fun. She is such a jerk! Yes, she went through some changes in IvIn, but …
She still basically just insults everyone and pretends they don’t matter. (It’s to protect herself because she thinks everyone will eventually betray her, but still …)

And yes, I do realize that was in outline format. I have outlines on the mind. Don’t judge.

I’m just really pleased with my characters and how they’re turning out.

And that was what I did right for a change.

And I shared it with you. (So much for exciting blog posts …)

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So, I wrote this scene on day 1, but I decided you should read it. It’s just such a pivotal scene … it really defines Ivy’s story.

(Which reminds me that I need to do the same for Jordy … oh, well. I can add it in later …)

|Very Much A First Draft|

“Ivy, I can’t say what God wants for your life. I know it’s just between you and Him. But … sometimes we can serve God best through the little things. Loving our family, being a help to them as best we can … that sort of thing.”

Ivy waited, but Alice didn’t continue. She just sipped her lemonade and looked out towards Pearlbelle.

“Is that all I can do?” Ivy asked at last. “Do you think … do you think I don’t have a calling?”

“No, darling, no. Of course not! It’s just … some people are equipped to go out into the world and be … I don’t know, missionaries. To help people. To do great things. And some of us … darling, it says in the Bible, ‘whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.’ No matter what you do in your life, you must do it to the glory of God.”

Ivy nodded slowly. “But … what is it I’m supposed to do?”

Alice sighed. “It’s not for me to say. But … be content in what you have. God has given you more than enough. He loves you. He treasures you. He’ll give you what you need and more!”

What Alice was saying, Ivy realized, was that Ivy shouldn’t want more than she had. That what she had now … was all she’d ever get. All God planned to give her. Bowing her head, Ivy understood the truth. She was not enough of a person to be worthy of a calling … not in the same way Alice was. Her calling was a simple little thing. Something in her wanted more … but she would not get it.

Ivy wasn’t worthy of a calling.

*info-dumps all the plot* *shrugs*

It’s so sad, though, isn’t it? Like … no one gets Ivy. Or at least not enough people. *hugs Ivy until she suffocates* I feel so sorry for her. I would never hurt her …