Sources Of Conflict

    Every story needs conflict. It's got to have at least one kind of problem that the main character(s) spend the story trying to solve.
    Though almost always, there's more than one conflict going on. As there are different aspects of life, a character may have problems from multiple areas in their "world." Like for example, a character could be trying to solve a bullying problem at school while trying to deal with a family issue at home, and maybe also trying to remedy their own feelings of insecurity.
    A handful of problems keeps a character on their toes--which is good for a story.
    Here are a few ideas for sources of conflict:
    Finances. A shortage of money can mean losing a lifestyle or moving away from a beloved area; and a sudden gain of money (while it has its charming benefits) can attract unwanted attention or threaten to make the protagonist shallow.
    A figure/secret from the past. A mistake the character made long ago that could cause serious damage to their life and/or their reputation; an old enemy who's come to rock the boat.
    Visitors. A mysterious stranger, a new student, the crazy uncle . . .
    Troublemakers. Someone who likes to play games with people and their lives. People like this aren't common in real life, but they can make things a little more interesting in fiction.
    Relationships. Arguments with friends, rivalry between coworkers, having issues with the boyfriend/girlfriend, etc.
    Family: Why can't they just get along with each other? Does the protagonist verbally battle their sibling or their parents? Is there some kind of competition for attention?
    Someone else having a problem: What if the best friend got dumped by her boyfriend and started clinging to the protagonist like a wet rag? What if the protagonist's sibling got in trouble with the law?
    Death: It touches everyone. And it is always horrible to go through.
    Changing society: These are especially useful in historical novels. How would the main character react to the world around them becoming totally different? Maybe they would have trouble adjusting to changes.
    Was this list helpful at all? Please feel free to leave comments! :)

Matthew 18:20

"'For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.'"

Matthew  18:20 (NKJ)

    Wow. Two or three believers, and Christ is there. Isn't that incredible?

Pearl

    Lots of people know how a pearl is made, right? A grain of sand or fragment of rock or something gets trapped inside a clam or an oyster, it rolls around inside, gets coated with a substance called nacre, and eventually becomes the beautiful white orb we treasure.
    It's really fascinating when you think about it. A tiny, irritating little speck becoming something gorgeous and precious. Kind of like the issues we face in life, right? Annoying problems that we overcome can become precious lessons, valuable trophies of life. Or it can be like something we face in life that we initially see as annoying, but come to be fond of. Like a mandatory activity or an imperfection that eventually becomes tolerable and fun.
    What do you think of this comparison? Do you think it's accurate?

Letting An Idea Sit

    It's awesome when you come up with an idea for a new story. And sometimes it's a chain reaction: you get an idea for a character, then a setting, then other characters, then a villain, then a story plot (or in completely different order). And when those ideas do strike, the characters seem awesome, the plot sounds easy to write about, and you may want to start writing the first draft immediately.
    Although, you might want to wait a few days or so first. Let the idea sit in your mind for a while.
    Doing so can give the idea some time to mature a bit, time to solidify the characters and the plot in your mind. You may also come up with some crucial details to add to the story, saving serious re-writing time. Also, in waiting a little while, when the initial excitement fades a bit, it can be a lot easier to focus on writing one chapter at a time (you know, instead of trying to write your way through a hurricane of what-ifs that pop up whenever you think of the story).
    How long do you usually wait before beginning a first draft?

1 Timothy 4:12

 

"Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity."

1 Timothy 4:12

Crash And Burn

    Life is not a smooth road. It has bumps, it has sharp turns . . . and sometimes it flips the car upside-down. Completely upside-down, and everything's broken, and there's pain, and one is worried sick about everything.
    It's bound to happen at least once. It's very unpleasant when it does. Sometimes it seems to just be random, and other times it's because of a bad decision. Things are especially unpleasant when it's the latter.
    But God is here for us. When we crash in life, He's by our side. And He's promised us that whatever happens--even when we crash and burn--He has a plan that works for our good. Yes, things are broken around us. Yes, there's pain. But we can have faith that even in that, God is faithful. He will make things work out for our good.

Glean From Everything!

    Gleaning.  It basically means to collect or gather something. You would glean berries from berry bushes, glean apples from an apple tree, and glean information from a source.
    I think gleaning from everything is an awesome way to improve as a writer. You can learn from almost anything--including an addicting TV series, the way someone talks, a crummy experience, or a story you read. Jotting down notes and reminiscing certain things you noticed can give you ideas about a different design technique, another way to describe things, what makes characters likeable, what makes dialogue realistic . . . all useful things that a writer can use. It's not copying someone else or stealing their ideas, but learning from them and adapting similar skills. Like learning from a teacher.
    So what do you think? Do you have a specific note-taking/gleaning technique?

Psalm 46:1-3

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah."

Psalm 46:1-3 (NKJ)

Having Christian Friends

    Friends. Are. Awesome. The time you spend with them can give you wonderful memories you'll keep all of your life. You may have a friend you've known for years; a friend who's like a sister or brother to you. You might have friends you've gone on adventures with, have laughed with, and have done projects with. When you're with a friend, things can be great for everybody--especially if that friend is a Christian like you, because that makes you siblings in Christ!
    Another wonderful thing about that besides having wonderful times together is that you can also get through tough times with each other. When you're discouraged or afraid or downhearted, a friend who's also a follower of Christ can comfort you, encourage you, and pray for you!

A Character's Vocabulary

    Vocabulary. An array of applicable words. It's great/fantastic/magnificent for a person/individual/soul to have an extensive/vast vocabulary. With it you can appeal to many different kinds of people.
    In fiction though, I think it's important to limit a character's vocabulary.
    Only to a certain degree. The way a character talks partly shows their personality and their upbringing. For example, a creative person might use analogies a lot to describe something, and a character who wields sarcasm like a weapon might make up his own phrases and nicknames. In addition, a person's accent might also change the way they pronounce words, and they could use terms that would be completely foreign to a person in another location.
    The way characters talk and the words they speak can help shape what they're like; but if a character uses different kinds of phrases (like telling someone "dunno" in one chapter and saying "I haven't got the faintest clue" to the same person in the next scene), it can be out of character. Including if the figure of speeches are out of context with the time period/setting of the story.
    What kind of vocabularies do your characters have? Do they have a favorite catchphrase?

Psalm 37:11

 

"But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace."

Psalm 37:11 (NKJ)

Moments Alone With God

    Sometimes you just have to get away.
    The world can be confusing, complicated, and really hurtful sometimes. Situations can bring and break you down, and make you afraid or feel hopeless. It really makes a Christian crave God's presence.
    One-on-one time with Him is so wonderful. To just be alone with God and talk with Him, to hear what He has to say in His Word; it brings needed healing. Being in God's presence gives peace, an understanding that He loves us immensely, remembrance He is always there to help us through any problem we face, and that things are going to be okay. Moments alone with God strengthen our relationship with Him, and strengthens us as well to face the problems in life and to overcome them.

While You're Doing The Dishes

Hello, blog world. So sorry that I haven't posted anything in a while! :( I'll try to get back into posting regularly.

"The best time for planning a book is while you're doing the dishes."

~Agatha Christie

    Ideas can come during strange times, can't they?
    It's really cool when they do! You can be doing something completely ordinary (like walking to class or vacuuming) when this brilliant idea suddenly strikes. Then more little ideas connect to it, and the story forms in your mind, and viola! Same with plotting too--you can be doing regular stuff when you notice something and think, "hmm, what if that happened next to my main character?"
    Brainstorming sessions are fantastic for coming up with ideas, but sometimes ideas come when you don't expect it. When you're active, and your mind is stimulated, and you can daydream. Like when taking a walk around the neighborhood or (as Dame Christie states in this quote) while doing the dishes
    When do you usually get inspired? :)