A to Z Challenge: Z is for Zealous

Welcome to the 2013 A to Z Challenge!
This year, I’m focusing on two themes:  Emotions and grammar,depending on which letter we’re on each day.
Today’s an emotion day!  Or, perhaps, more accurately, an EMOTIONAL day, ‘cause it’s over.
This is the end.  The letter Z.  The Omega. And just like last year, I am tired.  Beyond tired.  So much so, I can barely think.  So have a little patience with my very last A to Z Challenge post.  Okay, here goes…
__________
Z is for Zeal:  fervor of a person, cause, or object; eager desire or endeavor; enthusiastic diligence; ardor       
Yesterday, I wrote about yearning and how to effectively convey a character’s yearning, no matter how despicable, in such a way as to make the reader not only sympathize with him, but empathize, as well, even going so far as to want the same thing.
One of the best attributes a character—and his author—can employ to indoctrinate the reader in this way is with zeal.  A character, and again, his author, must utilize their confidence and utter conviction in whatever cause or yearning they are fighting for. 
Of course, zeal requires knowledge, but knowledge without understanding can come off as madness.  Just look at the very definition of a zealot—one who is excessivelyenthusiastic, a fanatic.  It’s what we call those crazies who protest war by bombing the innocent. 
So while your characters, and you, as their creator, should express a certain amount of zeal in order to impress your reader with the characters’ cause, make sure you not only believe it, no matter how awful it is, but understand it, as well.  Readers can detect a writer who simply phones it in.
With that said, I hope you have enjoyed my A to Z Challenge series.  I think it will probably be my last one.  Thanks to all of you who dropped by for a visit and left a comment.  You are the reason I saw it through to the end.  I will be back tomorrow for another IWSG entry and next week for my A to Z Reflections post.  
Until then...Goodbye and God bless!