One challenge I faced as a new
writer was fleshing out my characters so they weren’t one dimensional. I’ve
blogged previously about how to create characters.
Aside from poorly developed
physical, emotional, or spiritual traits, a sluggish plot is another reason
characters fall flat. The story might open with a bang then quickly fizzle into
everyday routine. This is understandable since routine depicts real life. After all, it would be weird if characters didn’t
do some mundane activities like eat, drink, and walk. But remember, you’re creating a world your reader wants
to escape to, not from.
Instead of being like the stick man on the
left carrying boxes, characters should be engrossed in activities that give the
reader insight into their goals, conflicts, and relationships.
Write each scene and chapter to
ensure characters strive toward their goals while conflict mounts. Through
this, your characters will shine, and the reader will learn their inner
workings, fall in love with them, and cheer them on.
Whether you’re a
seat-of-the-pants writer “pantser” or a plotter, it’s a good idea to construct character
sketches before starting the manuscript. This will spur your creativity into
figuring out what situations characters might get involved in to give natural pace
to the plot. Otherwise, your characters are vulnerable to performing everyday tasks
just like we do, when you’d rather show their vulnerability.
Now, I want to hear from you. Look
at the photo on the right. Tell me something about one of the characters or what
could be happening in the plot at this moment, if they were part of your book.
“I
am weak, but Thou art strong; Jesus, keep me from all wrong; I’ll be satisfied
as long; As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.”
Recognize the words to this old
hymn? I love hymns because of their encouragement and theology.
I’m not a person who freely
shares my struggles with others. Since I’ve started this weekly prayer post, a few
followers have emailed me and asked, “How can I pray for you?” I appreciate this
and those who silently pray because I feel it. I’m so humbled by the
support. So perhaps you’ll indulge me for a few minutes while I share.
I’ve never been what you’d
consider athletic, though I try to stay physically active. I believe in taking
responsibility for your own health as far as you’re able. Some people are
blessed with better health than others, and this changes as we go through
different seasons in life.
For years I’ve dealt
with sciatic nerve problems. Exercise helps, though finding the right balance
can be a challenge, especially as I grow older. Sitting at a computer for long
stretches doesn’t help and sometimes causes back and hip pain. I’m sure those
of you who sit at a desk for long periods can relate. I’m fortunate to work
from home, so I’m able to move around often, and this helps.
However, within the last six
months, the discomfort has started to disrupt my sleep, which in turn increases
the problems during the day. So far it hasn’t slowed my productivity. I’ve
learned to work around the unpleasant nature of the situation.
Instead of going to the YMCA to work
out, I’ve started walking in the mornings. After adjusting to the outdoor
climate, especially in this South Carolina heat, I discovered something really
neat.
While the Y is bustling and noisy—outdoors
it’s just God and me dwelling in nature! Genesis 3:8 describes God walking in
the Garden of Eden in the cool of the day. I find it remarkable that Eve chose
to jeopardize this relationship. If only she’d taken God at His word instead of
learning the hard way, but that’s a topic for another post. J
I return from my morning walk hot
and sweaty, but also refreshed physically and spiritually. Since my change in
exercise, finding a comfortable sleep position has improved, and I don’t wake
up as hobbled in the mornings.
Through this and other trials, I’ve
learned to appreciate Paul’s testimony of his “thorn.”
“Three
times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My
grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2
Corinthians 12:8-9a
I praise God for the pain that
drove me into the comfort of His solitude each morning. I know He will sustain
me through anything.
Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
I’d love to hear your praise
reports about how God has worked in your life to remedy a difficult situation
or walk with you through it.
Please share your prayer requests
in the comment section or email me confidentially. I’ve created a separate page
above to give updates on the U.S. soldier we’ve been praying for, Sgt. Jesse
McCart. As I get news and photos of his progress, I’ll share on that page. Take
a moment to check out the photos and his status, as well as a mailing address
for him and other GIs in the same hospital who could use encouragement during
their long recoveries.
We’ve been praying for Karen
Redding who was in hospice care with leukemia. She passed away this week. Praise
God she’s no longer in pain, but pray for her husband and children as they deal
with their grief and loss.
Remember these
folks battling cancer:
Courtney, young mother with brain
tumor
TC’s father-in-law
Emily, 12-year-old with bone
cancer
Lori, my cousin’s wife with
terminal cancer
Sally continues to fight a 12-year
battle with breast cancer
Would you also
lift up the folks who visit this blog—that they would be ministered to at their
point of need? God knows what this is.
Are you seeking a closer walk
with God? Or perhaps a revelation about where to go or what to do in your life?
Take a moment to worship with Third Day’s “Revelation” before we go to the Lord
in prayer.
“Deep
summer is when laziness finds respectability.” Sam Keen, American author
For parents, the summer doldrums
start setting in around the beginning of August. Kids complain they’re “bored”
because there’s “nothing” to do. My son Josh, a high school senior this year,
manages to stay fairly busy between his friends and firefighting activities. He’s
helped a neighbor landscape to earn extra money and recently got a job at
Bi-Lo.
Still, inevitably, the dog days
of summer can’t be escaped. Josh is fairly resourceful, but to my dismay, he
discovered a new extreme sport called Parkour. The only way to describe it is a
cross between gymnastics and skateboarding (without a skateboard). It’s
propelling oneself from one obstacle to another.
Americanparkour.com defines it as
“the physical discipline of training to overcome any obstacle within one's path
by adapting one's movements to the environment.” Clear as mud, right? Here’s a
video demonstrating it:
(Disclaimer: Josh and I made a pact. No bridges, buildings, or vehicles involved in performing this sport.)
For several days, Josh had
obstacles set up in the yard he hurdled, swung from, leapt against, or ran
around. I have to admit, he got a pretty intense workout. As I worked at my
computer one evening, I heard a loud crash against the side of the house. Images
of various injuries raced through my mind. When I flung open the door and ran
around the corner of the house, Josh stood gasping for breath, sweat pouring
down his face, and grinning.
“I’m
okay, Mom.”
“You’re
killing me, son, you know that?”
“I
know. I’m sorry.”
Then we laughed as he explained
how he’d misjudged a particular obstacle and crashed into the house. Thankfully,
kids’ extreme interests are usually short-lived. When he discovered Parkour isn’t
an Olympic sport, he said, “Maybe I should take up BMX bike racing.”
More gray hairs for me!
Meanwhile, I’ll return tomorrow with
our weekly prayer post and discuss the changes I’ve had to make in my own
personal exercise routine. Parkour’s not included, I assure you.
If you’re looking for a way to
beat the summer doldrums or just enjoy the last lazy days of summer, consider
reading one of the books I’ve reviewed listed under the “Reviews” tab above.
Also listed are upcoming reviews. If you’ve written a book and would like me to
review it, my contact info is above, as well.
“O
LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.” Psalm 30:2
Normally in this spot each week,
I post Writers’ Corner—encouragement and tips for aspiring writers. We all have
days where life doesn’t cooperate, and this was one of those days for me. God
works everything for our good and His glory, so I felt led to set aside what I had
started writing and instead share an update on the U.S. soldier we’ve been
praying for.
In a span of a few seconds, Sgt.
Jesse McCart’s life and that of his family changed forever.
Jesse and two other U.S.
soldiers stepped on an IED in Afghanistan on July 30, and were seriously
injured. Jesse lost part of both legs. He arrived in the United States on a
ventilator and in critical condition. He has made remarkable progress in the
last week and a half.
His family has graciously shared
these photos of him.
According to the latest family update
today, Jesse will be moved into a private room from ICU as soon as the room is
ready. He slept last night the whole night which they rejoice for since he has had difficulty sleeping. Sleep
is so important for his recovery. His pain is
still an issue and the doctors are trying different medications to see what
will be effective. He has continued physical therapy and is able to get
in and out of a wheelchair. To quote his wife, “We definitely have a long road
in front of us, but we have gotten a great start!”
We all face uncertainty in our
lives, and none of us are guaranteed tomorrow. Hug someone you love. Forgive
someone who doesn’t deserve it. Ask God to help you love that person you feel
is unlovable.
Thank you to all the prayer
warriors who’ve joined in prayer for Jesse and his family. I will keep you
posted as I get updates. If you have a prayer request, please leave it in the
comment section or email me. My contact info is above. I’ve love to pray for
your needs.
“I
look back on my life like a good day's work, it was done and I am satisfied with
it.” Grandma Moses (American folk artist)
If you were given paper and pen
to write a final statement about your life before your death,
what would you write? The Apostle Paul wrote this passage in the shadow of impending
execution.
“For
I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for
my departure. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race.
I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that
day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” 2
Timothy 4:6-8
Paul had committed egregious sins
prior to becoming a Christian. Formerly a Jewish zealot who persecuted
Christians, he was equally fervent in leading people to the Christ he
knew intimately. He instructed the early Christians, not only in behavior but
in their life’s purpose.
One might say this final recorded
statement reflected Paul’s legacy. Yet nothing in his closing remarks mentions punishment
for past sins.
Why?
Because he’d been forgiven. And
once we’re forgiven, the only direction to go is forward. Paul’s ministry was
the best example we have of the Christian faith manifested through works—bringing
action to his testimony.
So, back to the piece of paper in
front of you—the one that will hold your legacy. Can you write that you’ve fought
the good fight? Finished the race? Kept the faith?
Very few Christians can measure
up to Paul’s accomplishments, but do we earnestly try? Regardless of man’s assessment,
when we stand before God, will we hear, “Well done, thou good and faithful
servant?”
Our legacy before God and man is created
by living a life worthy of being remembered.
************
Father God, as we lift up the requests
from many burdened hearts, we ask you to shine a light into our ministries, our
lives, and our fellowship. Show us where we need more sacrificial living and
dying to self. May your priorities be our priorities. Strengthen us for this service
through your Son Jesus.
************
Please access last week’s post
for a list of prior requests. For a comprehensive update on Sgt. Jesse McCart
since being severely injured in Afghanistan, click here. Add your prayer needs
in the comments section below so others can pray for you, as well. If you have
a confidential request, leave it anonymously or email me. My contact info is
above.
Please pray for healing, comfort,
and strength for the people listed below:
·Latest
from U.S. soldier Sgt. Jesse’s McCart’s family: Prayers, prayers and prayers on
top of prayers are being answered for Jesse. His ventilator is out. He’s eating
regular food and started physical therapy. He was up today in what his wife Cassie
refers to as a 'wheelchair bed' doing some of the work of getting into it
himself, doing exercises on his own to keep his body in shape, and received his
Purple Heart.
·TC’s
father-in-law is battling cancer and isn’t doing well. He has lost more weight
and is in a great deal of pain.
·Sally
Manning from Lexington as she continues to fight a 12-year battle with breast
cancer.
·Karen
Redding with leukemia in hospice care, not doing well.
As we bring our petitions and
praise to God, join me in worship with Matthew West’s “My Own Little World.”
But
He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in
weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so
that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9(NIV)
For those of you who follow this
blog, you’re familiar with my weekly prayer post. Last week, soldier Jesse
McCart’s aunt requested prayer for him. Since a few of you have asked for
updates and due to the length of updates, I decided to share the news I’ve
received and not wait until Wednesday. This is a timeline as it transpired
since last Monday paraphrased from his family updates.
July
30:
U.S. soldier Jesse McCart, age 26, was severely wounded in Afghanistan. He lost
both legs (amputation of right leg at knee and left leg below knee) and part of
an arm. Stabilized in a base hospital in Afghanistan with plans to move him to
Germany. He has a wife Cassie, twin babies, and a toddler.
August
3:Jesse is on his way stateside tonight! He is in the air right now. He is
responsive and following commands. They are telling us his hearing and motor
skills are good. Another injured soldier sent a message that he talked to Jesse
on the plane: Jesse knows where he is and what is going on, but can't respond
verbally because of ventilator, but blinks his answers. He can hear and see and
follow commands.
August
5: Jesse
arrived in Texas safely in the middle of the night, last night. Cassie, his
wife, his mom, and dad all arrived there safely today and are with him. He is
still on life support and is sedated but knows everyone. Smiled once today when
his oldest niece told him he is still good-looking.
Two other G.I.'s were injured by
the IED at the same time. We are asking for prayer for them also.
August
5:
Jesse is OFF THE VENTILATOR, is talking, and knows what's going on—is even
cutting up a little bit (like Jesse does).
***********************
Folks, God hears our prayers and
cares about our needs. Please continue to pray for Jesse’s recovery, and his
wife, children, and parents during this long, difficult healing process. Pray
for strength, comfort, and wisdom for all involved, including the medical
staff. I will share any more updates received on the regular weekly prayer post
on Wednesday.
Praise to our Father whose grace is
sufficient to meet all our needs!
“I
learned never to empty the well of my writing, but always to stop when there
was still something there in the deep part of the well, and let it refill at
night from the springs that fed it.” Ernest Hemingway
Sounds like a good habit. In
order to have a successful writing career, one must purposely develop habits to
make this happen. In talking with aspiring writers, a common thread emerges in
their comments as to why they don’t.
Of these, two consistent obstacles
derail their efforts for a writing career—and I’ve experienced these in my own
life.
ØI can’t find the time to write.
Believe me, I feel your angst. I
used to say this, too, until I realized it was a ridiculous lie I told myself
for various reasons. Lack of confidence, lack of support, overcommitted to
other things, working, and being a mother and wife. The list was endless. Some
were legitimate excuses at times, but most of the time that’s exactly what they
were—excuses.
Even for published writers,
distractions like platform building, mentoring, or writer’s block can devour your
time. This is when it’s most important to be deliberate in setting daily goals,
whether it’s word count, blocking time, or finishing a chapter for your latest
book manuscript.
While platform building is vital
for a writer’s success, how much time do you waste on social
media? What begins as a way to connect with readers can also become a bad habit
and hinder a writer’s discipline to accomplish goals. It becomes an excuse when
we don’t feel like writing.
It usually goes something like
this for me. My characters won’t cooperate or my mind is not clear on how to
proceed, so I decide to check my Twitter account. After all, maybe my followers
list needs tweaking. I have to keep an eye on that. Wonder what’s happening on
Facebook? Maybe I should check that while I’m taking a break. It wouldn’t hurt
to respond to a few emails, as well.
The problem is when we’re playing
on Twitter or Facebook, our characters are, too. Our readers aren’t ever going
to discover if Lassie rescues Timmy from the well or Harry escapes the clutches
of Lord Voldemort or whatever our characters are supposed to be doing, if we
don’t get on with the writing.
I guard against this during
creative droughts by forcing myself to put words on the screen and create
scenes and dialogue, not worrying about how it sounds or reads. Later, I
re-read and tweak, and usually to my surprise, it’s not as awful as I first
believed. But even if most of what I wrote gets cut or revised, the discipline
of forcing words onto the page develops the habit.
Becoming a successful writer
takes consistent work. This only comes through diligence in time management.
ØI don’t have my own space to be creative.
We used to have one computer in our
home. Given the fact that I also run a medical transcription service, it seemed
someone was always standing in line to use the computer. Kind of hard to be
creative under those circumstances. J
Still, I snatched a few minutes here and there to work on short stories and
articles. I also went to the library where quiet space is plentiful.
Consider this for a moment. Writing
can be done away from the computer. Sometimes I do my best plotting when I’m
exercising, taking a shower, or enjoying a long walk.
During the time my family of four
shared a computer, I also used a notebook to write down ideas or plot points.
I’d craft opening paragraphs or queries for non-fiction articles. A
designated “physical space” is not necessary to do this, as much as finding a place to consistently be alone and write.
Now I write on a laptop at my
kitchen table. From my vantage point, I can look through my sunroom windows to the
outdoors. I’ve found this to be more creative than sitting at my desk in the
office/guest room where I transcribe medical reports. The kitchen table is not
an ideal situation for some families, but it works for us.
I found another Stephen King
video to share this week. J He and author
of The Time Traveler’s Wife, Audrey
Niffenegger, discuss the habits they’ve developed in regards to writing space
and setting in order to be creative.
Now, I want to hear from you. How
do you find time and create space to write?
