Writing Specific New Year's Resolutions

New year, new resolutions . . .

    As this wonderful year of 2016 comes to a close, I and a plethora of other people who have written New Year's Resolutions have been reviewing the old lists, trying to discern if all the goals were met. As I analyzed my results, I got to thinking about and analyzing the process I took to get the results, and something occurred to me. Something that applies to goal writing in general, in fact: Resolutions work much better when they're specific instead of vague.
    Making a vague goal means that there are no definite qualifications for reaching the goal, and when nothing is definite . . . Well, for example; if someone resolved to "be better at writing essays" without mentioning any specifics, at the end of the year they could tell themselves, "Well, I didn't get anything lower than a C on any assignments, which is better than what I did last year, so I have gotten better at writing essays!" It would be true on a technicality, but is that really the kind of improvement a goal is supposed to create?
    To make big improvements, the goal should be specific and loophole-free. Using the example of wanting to improve essay writing skills, a person could resolve to "get nothing lower than a B, and earn at least two As within the year." This would be a definite goal to reach for; something a person can't explain away. It would also produce a very specific result: a better grade, and probably an array of methods that the person collected in order to earn the desired grades.
    In addition to making the goals themselves specific, it would probably also be more effective for a person to make the methods of attaining them specific. One way to do that would be writing down some guidelines (tentative ideas or instructions to follow by the letter). Still going with the essay writing example, the person could write down that they're going to see a tutor by the end of February, or record their process for writing every essay in a document they'll review once they get the next assignment. The specific dates maintain a clear path to the goal, and by writing this stuff down on a calendar, it would also eliminate the problem of forgetting certain New Year's Resolutions.
    And at the end of the year, one would also be able to see a list of specific accomplishments and have a definite understanding of the improvement that's been made, which would definitely be satisfying!
    I haven't been very specific about my New Year's Resolutions in the past, but I'm going to try to be this time around.  How about you? :)

John Rogers: "Don't Write Action Scenes"

"Don't write action scenes. Write suspense scenes that require action to resolve."

~John Rogers

    "Don't write action scenes? Uh, no way. You can't not have at least one action scene." Did anyone else think something like that when they first saw this quote? I did. But it makes a lot more sense when one thinks about it.
    I don't think Rogers is saying that writing scenes in which there's action (like a fight or a chase or something like that) is ineffective writing, but he's saying that writing scenes that are completely about the action is ineffective. Maybe it's wrong to make action the only point (or the only important one) of a chapter, because then all the other things in that chapter just exist for that particular action. The setup's purpose would only be to lead up to it, and it would seem that after the action, there'd be very few options for ending the scene aside from a cliffhanger.
    It also risks having faulty reasoning, prompting a reader's questions such as: "Wait, how did that little argument turn into a full-out fight?" or "Why was she even there in the first place?" or "If he has a phone he can call for help with, why is he going after the guy himself?"  Most people would try to avoid conflict until they have no other choice, so when there's a fight (or another action event) there's got to be a very, very good reason for it; there's got be something building up to it, a suspenseful series of events, like John Rogers proposes. This would make the action the natural effect of other events in the scene, instead of making all those other events unnatural effects of the action.
    What's your opinion on the matter? Do agree with John Rogers and think that chapters should be "suspense scenes" with action occurring only as a result of the suspense, or do you think that "action scenes" are "action scenes," and that there's nothing wrong with making the fight (or whatever action it is) the main attraction? Or are you in a gray zone between the two?

Isaiah 7:14

 

"'Therefore the LORD Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.'"

Isaiah 7:14 (NKJ)

    That name Immanuel is such a good point in this prophecy about Christ. It means "God with us," and it totally describes how when Jesus came to earth as an infant, He could have come as an adult with angels for company, but instead He chose to live with us, amongst the people He would be saving. There's just something wonderfully personal and loving about that decision; it's another example of how true and deep God's love for us is.
    Merry Christmas, everyone!

Wintertime!

A winter sunset; what a blessing they are!

    Winter is a wonderful time of year.
    All of the seasons of the year are wonderful, and they each have their own style of beauty, but personally I love the changes that wintertime brings to the world most.
    Firstly, there's the matter of holidays. Christmas and New Year's happen during wintertime, and Christmas is the celebration of how Jesus Christ came to the earth to save mankind. It's definitely an important and joyous thing to celebrate! And New Year's Eve/Day is also a wonderful time to think about the past year's accomplishments and memories, and be glad for the gift of the new year!
    Then there's the weather. I think I've mentioned before that it rarely isn't hot or warm where I live, so chilly weather is a treat. Being able to bundle up in warm clothes, feel the cool air, and see the amazing phenomena that is snow . . . Winter weather's beauty is both elegant and strong at the same time, and it's a delightful thing to behold.
    And then there's the sky when the sun comes up and goes down. I'm not sure if this is something that happens everywhere, but during winter, the sunsets and sunrises I see are different than sunsets that occur during the rest of the year. During the winter, they tend to be more vibrant, with deeper colors and a smoother fusion of them that remind me of a painting. For some reason, it's like these amazing kind of sunsets only come during the end of the year, and they're something I really look forward to when it's becoming wintertime.
    So those are the major things I enjoy during this time of year. What are your winters like? :)

Things I've Learnd from Preparing to Rewrite

    I've been working on preparing to rewrite a manuscript lately. Not actually revising it yet, but just preparing to by creating a guideline of notes to follow. I've found that when I just dive into revising a work, making changes one chapter at a time, overall plot problems are overlooked because I can't see the story as a whole. Editing a book involves adjusting the plot and characters and making sure everything's balanced, and it can be pretty hard to do that when one doesn't prepare beforehand.
    I haven't really revised a long writing piece like the one I'm working on now in a very long time, so I've had to play with note-taking strategies for rewriting chapters. This experience has been fun and interesting, and I've learned some very helpful concepts in the process; I hope you don't mind if I share some! :)

There's no "perfect" way to take notes,
but I find typed notes more convenient
and neat, provided that they're
eventually printed.

     Thing Number One that I realized: when one has a computer with which to take notes, they should use it! During my first attempt to take notes on the manuscript, I wrote by hand. I got the basic ideas down, but when I was finished, I noticed that I had notes in later sections that I should be able to see while working on earlier chapters, but I couldn't exactly move them there because it wouldn't all fit in the margin (plus, cluttering up the margin like that makes the paper hard to read). So I ended up copying all my written notes onto a computer document, and not only was it quicker, but I found it easier to add more ideas that came to mind.
    Thing Number Two that I learned while preparing to rewrite: prioritizing is very, very important. The notes that one takes when preparing for a revision is what they'll be paying close attention to when they start rewriting. When I start my revisions, I plan to study each section carefully, taking in everything; too much unnecessary information (like a character's physical description, when the current rewrite is only focusing on plot) will seriously slow down the revision process, and create distractions. I've had to resist the urge to write down every really awesome bit of dialogue or funny moment that I read, and just write down what I'll be needing, but now I see it's been worth it because the concise notes won't have to be sifted through later.

These are my chapter cards.

And this is the calendar; it was great for
solidifying the plot structure.

    Thing Number Three that I've learned: preparing for a rewrite should have multiple mediums. Not just notes that point out problems, but visuals that help one understand the structure of the story. For my own manuscript, I ended up making little "chapter cards," each with one or two sentences summarizing a chapter. Laying them out and using small objects to highlight chapters with certain elements (like putting strands of yarn on chapters where the antagonist appears, or placing pencils between cards that occur on different days), I could see the story as a whole, notice imbalances, and be more able to tell when chapters need to be added or removed. In addition to the cards, I also typed up a calendar, which really helped with making the timeline of the story clear.

It's so satisfying to have a finished set of notes
at the end. :)

    And finally; Thing Number Four that I've learned: keep working. Not for hours on end, attempting to write quality notes and plans for twenty chapters in a single morning, (because when that isn't impossible, it's utterly exhausting),but just making sure to keep working consistently. Like during any other stage of the writing process, when one stops thinking about a story, or takes a long break from working on it, the details and the mindset for the story fades from memory, and one loses the sort of groove they had when they were working on the manuscript every day. So even if it's just one chapter's worth of notes, I think it's worth taking the time to complete it.
    So these are a few things that came to my attention while preparing to work on Draft Number Two. What about you? What kind of things do you do to prepare for a revision?

Psalm 18:28

 

"For You will light my lamp; the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness."

Psalm 18:28 (NKJ)

    Light is good. There's safety in light; it keeps someone from standing/sitting/walking around in complete darkness. And in addition to that, light also provides enlightenment by which to see things (like one's surroundings).
    These two factors can be applied to the Lord as well. Like an unwavering, pure light, God protects us from being swallowed up in darkness and He also enlightens us, giving us a true understanding about Himself and about everything in life.
    God is light, and He is very, very, very good. Amen? :)

Martin Luther King Jr.: "Faith is Taking the First Step"

"Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase."

~Martin Luther King Jr.

    Life is a lot like a staircase. A long staircase, with a lot of twists and turns (maybe one of those fancy spiral staircases), and a staircase that you can't see the end of until you're actually there.
    I think certain things we do in life are also like a staircase. A ministry that one commits to, for example, or a career path, or a new relationship. Like a spiral staircase, it's a journey that one can't see the end of from the bottom; one actually has to embark on a trek without knowing what exactly is going to happen, or how long it'll take. When we start a new project or plan, we don't know for sure how it'll turn out, or if it'll even turn out at all! That can make it seem a lot like a risk.
    But it isn't really an unreliable risk with the Lord in our lives, is it? Since we've given ourselves to God, He's placed a purpose in and a diligent plan for our lives, which means that He's got everything figured out step by step, all the way. When He places a "staircase" in our lives to climb, He'll give us the strength and endurance to make it to the top, to a good and fruitful end.
     But to make it up to that good and fruitful end, one actually has to take the first step, which requires faith, as Dr. King states in this quote. To live out God's wonderful plan, one has to believe that He has a plan, a whole set of stairs for us to climb, and that He'll guide us through each one to the end. It takes faith throughout the whole way, but faith is especially needed at the beginning; it ignites the action that starts the whole thing.
    A staircase is a pretty interesting way to picture this, don't you think? :)

Writing Games: Never and All the Time

    Have you ever gotten bored of trying to describe characters in one sentence? "John is a sullen person," "Jane is happy-go-lucky." Short summarizing statements like this can be good for making a character's personality consistent, but it can get pretty tricky sometimes to keep from using the same term for multiple characters.
    But what if instead of focusing on one character and one adjective, a sentence like this was used to summarize: "John never smiles, but Jane does it all the time."
    There are numerous helpful things about never/all the time sentences like this. For one, it helps come up with a defining characteristic for not one but two characters, and it does it in a more creative way than coming up with just one word to describe them.

Squirrels in the park are never very
dramatic . . .


    Secondly, writing never/all the time sentences is an exercise that helps one remember characters in their story. It jogs the memory of what they're like and how they might have associated with each other.
    Thirdly, a never/all the time statement might uncover a parallel trait that wouldn't usually come up. Using the John and Jane example: if John never smiles, he could just be a pretty serious person, or he could be hiding his emotions behind a continual scowl; similarly, if Jane's always grinning from ear to ear, she's got to be either uniquely peppy or someone who's very accustomed to masking her real feelings, like John. In this context, the never/all the time sentence doesn't show opposing personalities, but opposing reactions, which can make a relationship between these characters more interesting.

. . . but spoiled housecats, on the other
hand, are dramatic all the time!

    Fourthly, writing never/all the time statements for characters is useful because they could point out a weaknesses of each character, which could be focused more on in the written story. John could look at Jane and think that he's never as happy as her, or Jane could look at John and think that she's never as focused and respected as he is; either of these could add conflict to the story or build on a recurring theme.
    Finally, coming up with never/all the time sentences is also just fun to do; it's a writing game!
    Can you think of a "never and all the time statement" for two characters in one of your stories? :)

1 Chronicles 16:27

 

"Honor and majesty are before Him; strength and gladness are in His place."

1 Chronicles 16:27 (NKJ)

    God is so great. Among many, many, many pure virtues, the He has invincible strength, and He has perfect joy. This truth is a delightful and comforting thing to know, and 1 Chronicles 16:27 is good for remembering that.
    And in addition to that, this verse also points out another wonderful truth: as we walk through life with the Lord, and spend time with Him, He makes us stronger and more glad! As we read the Bible, He helps us remember His word and strengthens our spirits; as we worship Him, our hearts come alight with joy.
    God is great, and He's also so generous and kind! He is good, isn't He?

Deviating from the Schedule; the Solution?

It's usually not a good sign when one's working by lamplight instead
of daylight by the time they get to work on the most important
item on the To-Do List . . .

    Schedules are great! They put the events of a day in order, they keep a person from forgetting important tasks, and good schedules ensure that there's enough time to get everything done that needs to be done.
    But when one has this fantastic schedule that gives just enough time to get all the work done, and one ends up not getting to anything on time because they chose to deviate from the plan . . . everything on the schedule gets shifted time-wise, and it's definitely not great. Things that are supposed to be done around evening-time can become a late-night task, or something to quickly attempt to finish in the morning. Not getting to work at the right time also crams up the day even more, taking from minutes of "breathers" that could have been had the schedule not been altered.
    On top of those things, not doing something scheduled when it's scheduled to be done devours time, it's succumbing to distractions (not the small things like sharpening a pencil, but larger jobs like sharpening every pencil one has), and when one finds themselves scrambling around to finish the important stuff at the last minute, stress and guilt usually join forces to make a person feel really, really crummy (and tired).
    It's yet another form of procrastination, along with a few other things. Hesitation for fear of messing up the task (I think I posted about that in September), and having a sudden thought to do something else (a decidedly more interesting work than the scheduled activity) can also contribute to the frustrating and guilt-prompting choice to not get to work when one really needs to.
    So let's see; what are the solutions? Prioritizing, remembering the reasons why tasks need to be completed ASAP, remembering what happened the last time the planned schedule was shifted; all of these are good, but it seems sometimes that they can be easily forgotten when one's caught up in an unplanned task.
    So maybe involving other people would strengthen these solutions. Requesting that a friend ask about the progress of something major on the To-Do List, asking a family member to point it out when they notice you surfing the Web for a while. It's hard to forget the importance of a task when someone else is talking about it, right? What do you think?

Three Ways to Talk with Characters

    Talking with characters is a great writing experience. Putting the "we talk to imaginary people" jokes aside, it's both an indicator and a writing tool. Being able to construct a realistic and interesting conversation with a character is a sign of how deep and well written a character is. And as a writing tool, conversations with characters can give an opportunity to develop the character more, and bring up important factors in their backstory that wouldn't come up in the written manuscript. Plus, frankly, having a talk with interesting figures (even if they're fictional) can be really fun.
    A couple forms of talking with characters include:
   Narratives. These would be just like regular scenes that focus on questioning, told from the point of view of either the questioner (oneself, the writer) or the character being questioned. Like this:

    "So," the stranger said to John. "What's your favorite color?"

    John had a really deep feeling that he knew this person somehow, but he couldn't put his finger on it. Nevertheless, he decided to go with it. "Red, I guess."

    It's really great how one can get an in to the character's thoughts through scenes like this; it gives more room for developing the inner details (emotions, immediate thoughts, minute gestures), which formal interview scenes can't really do. Plus, narratives are a good exercise for balancing actions, thoughts, dialogue, and descriptions. However, unfortunately, narrative scenes like this have an upsetting potential for going down rabbit holes (leading away from the planned questions), and finding smooth ways to go from question to question can be pretty tough.
     Interviews. Very different than narratives, formal interviews are usually solely dialogue and the occasional action tag. To avoid the temptation of adding description or excessive action tags, it's helpful to write it as a script like this:

    Writer: What's your favorite color?

    Character: Uh . . . [squints, deep in thought] blue, maybe?

    Interviews are a little quicker than narrative scenes because one doesn't have to mention action in the background, every single gesture the character makes, and setting descriptions are cut out completely. One can just go down a list of questions naturally, and while avoiding (most) rabbit trails. The downside to this sort of chat though is that sometimes it can be difficult to come up with really deep questions (deeper prompts than "What's your favorite color?"), and gauging reactions without descriptive gestures can be tricky.
    Mental conversations. It can actually be done out loud, but being quiet about it is probably best, since it really is awkward to be seen talking to a wall. Having a mental conversation is just like it sounds; basically just thinking out a conversation between oneself and a character. No plans, no outlines, just daydreaming. Such a conversation might go like this:

    "So, what's your favorite color?"
    "My favorite color? Why on earth do you want to know that?"
    "Uh . . . curiosity?"
    "Funny thing to be curious about . . ."

    This is the easiest and quickest way to talk with a character, and it can bring out the character's strongest voice, but it's also sort of the least reliable way to get information unless one is somehow recording the chat. An audio recording would catch everything if the conversation is spoken aloud, and a few quick notes on the important subjects (like a unique term the character tends to use) can be just as effective. However, if diligent notes aren't taken, and there's no record whatsoever, the risk of forgetting what could have been useful is very, very, very high.
    Talking with characters; what's your view on the matter? Do you ever do it? Do you use any methods other than these three?

Genesis 12:3

 

"'I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.'"

Genesis 12:3 (NKJ)

    This promise of the Lord's is incredible for at least two major reasons.
    For one, it showcases a great promise made to a great nation--an ancient, enduring, blessed nation.
    And secondly, this verse also includes a promise made to the entire world. The part where it's said that "all the families of the earth shall be blessed," is a direct reference to Jesus Christ! Just as this promise conveys, He came through the descendants of Abraham (to whom God is speaking in this verse), and made eternal life available to anyone and everyone in the world.
    It's so awesome hearing prophecies about Christ as early as Genesis 12; don't you agree?

Lovingkindness

    "Lovingkindness;" what a wonderful, wonderful word. The very sound of it emanates emotional comfort; kindness with immense care, beautiful grace.
    It's used in the Book of Psalms in the Bible a couple times. "Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You" (Psalm 63:3, NKJ),  "Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You" (Psalm 143:8, NKJ).  Most if not every time, "lovingkindness" is used when referring to the Lord, to His deeply caring nature.
    Which is fitting, since such continual kindness from love totally fits the way the Lord is. He is deeply kind, lovely, and His care for us is obviously immeasurable.
    This word in and of itself is great for how it's an instant reminder. Just hearing "lovingkindness" can bring to mind all the good, kind things the Lord has done and still does for us, and it reminds of how unstoppable and strong God's love is.
    Part of me wishes that "lovingkindness" was still in common use today, but the other part of me likes how its rarity makes it special and associated with God. You know what I mean? Don't you think "lovingkindness" is a beautiful word?

Beverly Cleary: "Write It"

 

"If you don't see the book you want on the shelf, write it."

~Beverly Cleary

    The fact that we writers can do this is so awesome; it's almost like a superpower! Knowing that one can think of a story that they'd want to read, and being able to produce it--the thought is both mind-bending and exciting, ripe with possibilities.
    Though it takes a while to produce this story (to plan, plot, research, type it all up, then re-write parts or even the whole thing, and then doing more revisions, etc.), even the long process is fun because it builds up one's knowledge of the story and characters. It helps the setting develop in one's mind, and the history of the story can kind of seem longer. Plus, investing so much time and effort into the story makes it even more precious, and that can give a writer pressed for time more determination to finish the work.
    One could imagine that some really great novels have come from moments where a writer suddenly thought, "I want to read a novel with elements of such-and-such," and decided to write that story. Because of moments like that, writers have not only produced a nice story to read themselves, but something that others can enjoy as well.
    Is the story you've written or are writing now one that you wanted to find on a bookshelf? Do you know of anyone who wrote the kind of story they couldn't find anywhere else? :)

Psalm 147:5

 

"Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite."

Psalm 147:5 (NKJ)

    The understanding of the Lord is infinite. What an awesome thing to point out. Understanding is tantamount to having sensibility and knowledge in a matter (or in God's case, all matters). Having understanding also speaks of great experience, having seen what occurs when certain things happen. All in all, someone with great understanding has great wisdom, which is a very impressive quality.
    And the Lord's understanding is limitless. He literally understands everything.
    Our God is incredible; isn't He?

"What are You Thankful for this Year?"

    Thanksgiving is the giving of thanks.
    And Thanksgiving Day is an entire day formed for giving thanks. Giving thanks for freedom, for family, for having a great nation, for friends, and all the little things in life. As Christians, we have even more things in life to be joyfully thankful for: salvation, a relationship with God, His love, His guidance . . .
    It's kind of funny. There are so many blessings in life to be thankful for that it'd probably take a lot longer than one day to list and consider all of them. Yet at the same time, the concept of coming up with and pondering that massive list of blessings can be so complicated and difficult, because where does a person even begin? There are so many wonderful things to be thankful for!
    I've heard a question that seems like a really great starting point for this kind of matter: "What are you thankful for this year?" It's a simple question to consider because it sets some perimeters in the thinking, but the emphasis of the question isn't on importance. It's not like asking "What are you most thankful for this year?," because then one would try to sift through the top things on their list and carefully consider which blessings are "better" than the others. But with "What are you thankful for this year?," one could literally answer anything, big or small. And after giving thanks to the Lord for that blessing, one would have in mind more blessings related to the first topic.
    What are you thankful for this year? Spiritual growth? The election results? A new family member? Improvements in a skill?

The Spectacular Experience of Writing Emotional Scenes

When written really, really well, an emotional scene/moment can
be as beautiful and touching as a sunset (if you love sunsets, that is).

    Stories with emotional moments in them are spectacular! Formed with care and caution, scenes with deep, realistic feeling are beautiful like a vibrant sunset, and powerful like a hurricane. You can see it when people get thrills of exhilaration or start to cry during a movie.
    Writing something with emotional moments like that is awesome for more than one reason. For one, emotions in fiction are good (it's part of what makes the reading experience fun). And secondly, certain parts of the story (like the introduction of a key character, the story's climax, or the epiphany scene) need emotion for them to work. And in addition to those things, writing emotional moments in a story usually means writing from one's own heart, which is a wonderful experience for a writer!
    Starting with the idea. Sifting through the concept of an emotional scene, discerning whether or not it's necessary for the story, or realistic for the characters involved. It's important to have discernment in valuable scenes like this since while they are powerful, an emotional moment set in the wrong time could have no effect, and too many emotional moments would water down the effect of all of them.
    After the idea stage, there's the first draft stage. Pretty much everything in a first draft is a little disheveled, but emotions? Definitely. Because feelings are incredibly difficult to pin down, and the chances that the right words to describe it will be found in the first attempt or two is basically zero. So sometimes (at least, in my experiences) first-draft emotional scenes can seem too short or too fake-sounding or too out-of-character; which can be a little disappointing. But it is important to keep writing because:
    Revisions! Once the whole first draft is done, the reshaping of the story and its chapters and the events of said chapters begins! Looking over the scene as it fits into the whole plot, seeing whether it really does work with the characters' personalities, and whether or not it comes at the right time during the story; deciding once and for all whether it belongs. And then, once the fantastic emotional scene is determined to belong where it is, making the necessary adjustments until it's just right.
    And when it's just right, it's just great to read. The emotional experience is captured perfectly, conveyed successfully and efficiently, prompting readers' feelings, giving them a beautiful and meaningful moment.
    It's good how writing and hard work can make such a thing.
    What do you think of emotional scenes? :) Do you like reading/watching them? Do you write them?

Psalm 4:11

"But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You."

Psalm 4:11 (NKJ)

    It's great how joy is an effect of the Lord in life. Knowing how wonderful He is, how He loves us, how we don't have to stress out about anything because He defends us. It's an incredible blessing that's basically impossible to uphold without Him. Bible verses like these are great to recall at any moment.
    I hope you have a fantastic week! :)

Self-Depreciation: Not as Good as it Might Seem

This is the kind of view one gets of oneself when they
take self-depreciating comments to heart instead of
holding to the Lord's comforting words.

    Am I the only one who's believed that calling oneself "stupid" after making a dumb mistake is just humble self-depreciation?
    It kind of seems okay. It isn't calling anyone else those names; just oneself, and it feels deserved most of the time. Such self depreciation (insulting, chiding, mocking) can be seen as self-discipline, an improvement strategy.
    Only now I'm pretty sure that "self-depreciation" isn't humble, helpful, or okay to do at all.
    For one, there's just something fishy about putting the responsibility of scolding (or complimenting) into the hands of the person who's going to receive it. It's too tempting to pass on the scolding, for one, and just ignore the problems. But a bigger issue is that when one puts themselves in charge of monitoring their own flaws . . . well, there are probably a lot that a person would never realize they had until someone else pointed them out.
    It's not our job to judge ourselves like that anyway. Discerning problematic attitudes and flaws that need fixing is one thing, but when one calls themselves an idiot (a vague insult) and don't even fixate on the issue that prompted the scolding, nothing is being improved. The only one who's really able to instruct us in how to change is the one who actually has the right to: God. He alone sees all the core issues that need to be addressed, He knows the correct way to mend those issues, and He instructs us on doing that in a kind, loving way, whether by people in our lives or by the Good Book.
    Which doesn't involve name-calling. That's another evident problem with self-demeaning. Typically, when a person scolds themselves, they mutter something like "idiot," and feel cruddy about themselves. But after that? Probably not much else.
    Which is eerily a lot like what the enemy does to us. In Revelation 12:10, Satan is said to be accusing us "day and night." Accusing, condemning. Drawing attention to all the mistakes, sins, all the bad, but not in a way that helps or gives hope. It only hurts.
    But God gives hope, healing, forgiveness. The salvation He gives has redeemed us from all our mistakes; another reason not to judge oneself with self-depreciation. Yes, we make mistakes, but we're redeemed from them. The amount of wrong choices we make even after accepting Christ is not going to annul that grace, but allowing self depreciating comments to fill our minds (and actually believing them) will definitely distort one's memory of it.
    God wouldn't call any of us "idiot," and He definitely doesn't want us calling other people things like that (see Matthew 5:22), so logically, it makes sense that He wouldn't want us calling ourselves that.
    So; personal conclusion? Calling oneself "stupid" or "moron" is probably not right.

Writing Games: Weird Words!

    Have you ever just Googled something like "weird words" to find out-of-the-ordinary terms? You know, the long, difficult-to-pronounce, whimsical-sounding words. Like jouska or pluviophile; peculiar words that are fun to use and to know about . . . the ones that are so awesome that one very much wishes they were used in modern day. These kind of terms are awesome, and it's a shame that they can't be used in writing, since nobody would understand what they meant.
    Or could they be used in writing?
    Maybe not in a novel/short story manuscript (except maybe in the historical genre, depending on the word), but I think weird words like this would make great writing prompts.
    Take pluviophile, for example. It basically means a love of rain, or a person who really likes rain. Using this word as a writing prompt, one could make it a character (a guy named Josh who loves rain), or utilize it for a setting (a region that has only one rain season, which people eagerly anticipate all year long), or it could be an action/event that makes up the situation (a person getting caught in the rain and suddenly becoming fond of the wet weather).
    Here's a short list of weird words that might make a good writing prompt. Have you ever heard of any of them? :)

-Coddiwomple     -Yonderly     -Vellichor

-Slugabed     -Gonzo     -Athazagoraphobia

-Zugzwang     -Overmorrow     -Hobbledehoy

Psalm 147:11

 

 

"The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy."

Psalm 147:11 (NKJ)

    Hope is such a relieving thing. It's like the understanding that one can rest on something, and rely on it for total protection and support. Something good to hope in is like a shelter, a haven.
    And the Lord's mercy is the perfect hope. Unwavering and vast, there's a sure reliance that God cares about and for us in spite of any mistake we might make. It's a massive comfort to know that it doesn't have to be earned with good works.
    No wonder the Lord is called the Rock of ages; He's absolutely reliable in every way.

Albert Einstein and Science and God

 

"The more I study science, the more I believe in God."

~Albert Einstein

    Science is so epic.
    It not only shows what exists, but how it exists. And it pairs up so perfectly with the Bible, which not only states what exists, but also why it exists.
    It drives me nuts when people try to say that science disproves God's existence, because when one really looks into it, they can see that the exact opposite is true! God's fingerprints are all over creation (Romans 1:20 says that this in itself is enough for a person to believe He's real). Plus, science (and archaeology, studies of history, and the Dead Sea Scrolls) not only shows that our faith in Him isn't completely blind, but seeing things like laminin and the creative design of genetic coding is sort of comforting. It's a reminder of how intricately thoughtful God is, and how much consideration He's put into making us and everything else.
    Books/articles/documentaries that talk about how science supports (not contradicts) God's word are the best! Some of my favorite books about God and science are Evolution Exposed by Roger Patterson, and the Case for books by Lee Stroble. There are also some really great articles on this website called godandscience.org.
    Do you have a favorite concept/fact about God's hand in science? Or a quote? Please feel free to share in the comments section! :)

Things I Learned from The Hunger Games

    The Hunger Games is possibly one of the most popular series in modern day; a trilogy of books, four movies, and a gigantic fandom . . . When I finally got to reading this series a while ago, one of my first reactions was, Wow; this writing is great! I learned so many writing techniques from it, including:
    Narration. Personally, I thought it was what stood out first. Katniss's voice is clear, very distinct, and she totally sounds like a sixteen year old girl. Though Katniss is hardened by a rough life and required to know a lot more than the typical teenager does, she acts her age.One of my writer fears is that as I get older, I'll write young characters who don't act or think like actual people their age do, but Suzanne Collins clearly does not have this problem.
    Pacing. Oooh, so you don't have to describe scenes moment-by-moment. This book had fantastic pacing. Rather than write every single action that happens and every place Katniss walks through, there are some parts where it's just briefly mentioned. Like saying "they went to the cafeteria" instead of "they walked out of the room, through the hall, into and down the elevator, went through another hall, and entered the cafeteria two doors down." There was no fluff in the writing. The pacing flowed smoothly, seamlessly, carrying the reader from event to dialogue to action, and so on.
    Humor. The funny moments in this book really balance out the more grisly events of the novel. Some sources of humor in this somewhat gloomy setting were Katniss's sarcasm, Haymitch Abernathy, Effie Trinket, and some scenes where Haymitch and Effie collide. The presence of these humorous characters act as sort of an alleviation in what could otherwise be a very tight, sinister setting, and Katniss's wit is just really balanced well with other parts of her personality.
    The training scenes. In the story, Katniss, Peeta, and all the other tributes have to go through extensive training. These scenes are shown in the book, but they're not boring or too long or anything. The length is reasonable enough to show that a lot of time is invested in preparation, but not enough to make it seem like time is dragging on and on. Plus, the training scenes don't just push the plot forward, but there's some foreshadowing, added conflict, and character development. The scenes are really utilized to their fullest extent without crowding them up with information.
    Killing is not justified or romanticized. This was one of the reasons I stayed away from the series until I was older. I feared that the story was beefed up with characters who kill and then justify it with "them or me" without any qualms, but that's not the way it is. Katniss does take lives in the story, but one was an accident, and one was a mercy killing. She understands that the killings in the Hunger Games are murders, she is horrified and repulsed by the death she sees, and she's haunted by it throughout the whole series. In a story like this, death would be inevitable, but I sort of admire how Collins carefully handled the subject in this first book.
    Wounds and consequences were realistic. One of the things that's fantastic about novels is that there's more room to add and go into details. In The Hunger Games, details are definitely given attention. The arena is a synthesized forest, so Katniss has to constantly hunt for food and fresh water. The authenticity of the hunting/cooking details are also impressive, going beyond mentioning only shooting arrows and cooking over a fire. There's also a part where Katniss is very, very close to a large explosion, and she suffers the consequence of partial deafness. This kind of thing isn't always touched on in TV serieses or movies, so I found the realistic consequence almost refreshing.
    So there are the major writing things I picked up while I was reading. What about you? What's your favorite writer thing about The Hunger Games?

Psalm 119:169

"Let my cry come before You, O LORD; give me understanding according to Your word."

Psalm 119:169 (NKJ)

    You know that sort of mindset you get just after hearing a sermon, after having a Bible study? Refreshed by the pure words of the Lord and a godly message, it's like one sees the world through different eyes--righteous eyes. It's easier to think in biblical terms, easier to understand feelings, and doing right is also less difficult than it might usually be.
    Reading God's Word makes things in life clearer, brighter, it gives such a deeper understanding of things! I wish that I always had this mindset 24/7, don't you? :)

Blah! Distractions!

The view outside the window . . .

    Everywhere! Distractions are everywhere!    In the house, at school, at work, by the sidewalks. No matter where I go, there's always something to keep me from doing what I should be doing, or something that's more interesting to think about than the thing I need to be planning for. Even when there's nothing in the room, zoning out or daydreaming happens in an instant, and the minutes get eaten up like crazy!
     And it's not just stuff like that or the Internet or snacking or having a sudden interest in the fish tank in the other room. Distractions tend to involve good things too, like other forms of work; "fun" projects and skill-developing things. Like, for example, designing decorations for an event instead of studying, or reading a great book on writing instead of finishing required reading for class. It's still work, but work that can be put off, and work that keeps a person from doing something that needs to be completed now.

Pets . . .

    But the worst kind of distraction's got to be the kind that one thinks is useful while they're spending time on it, but really isn't. I stopped and began to read a book recently, spent precious hours doing so, thinking "This book has great material! It'll be so useful!" but really I was just enjoying the book for myself, and when the book was finished, I found that I didn't have anything to apply to other kinds of work. And then came that guilty feeling.

And even the way the light shines onto
the wall can be a distraction!

    The guilty feeling that marks the end of the distraction cycle. After the time's been spent, and the distraction's gone, when one thinks about what they have left--which is sometimes really nothing. Guilt, shame, and even anger can come, because it's not just our time that's wasted on distractions, but God's time. He's given us a certain amount of hours, and the thought of some of those precious hours being gone forever because of a thoughtless decision . . . it's really crummy.
    Distractions . . . (cue the long sigh). They'll always be a part of life, which means fighting it is a regular thing too. I guess the only way to really resist distractions and get down to work is to be determined, and to pray (especially the prayer part).
    How do you deal with distractions? Do you put yourself in a place where they're minimal? Or do you have the grit to ignore them and just get the work done?

Borrowing!

    Does anyone else read the fine print in the very first pages of a novel? The ones that show the publishing house and the  book's subgenres and the legal stuff? It's pretty interesting; particularly when there's a short, short, short summary of the book (you know, the kind a writer finds impossible to write for their own story!). There's also another interesting few sentences near the bottom. It's a disclaimer of sorts which states that none of the characters, settings, and events in the story are actually real. That they're completely, totally, utterly fictional.
    That kind of makes one wonder about the characters that are based off real people. Not copy-and-pasted, of course, but inspired by persons in the real world. A lot of published authors are said to have written characters slightly based off friends, family members, and other people they knew. Alice Liddell, Tom Sawyer, Sherlock Holmes, and even Iron Man supposedly had real-life counterparts that at least partially inspired them.
    Hearing the stories about these people is cool, and it's also awesome when one considers how their own acquaintances might have been inspirations for their characters. It's not an uncommon practice for any writer to do that. "Borrowing" little things from the real world and putting them into a story. As long as it's not too much, little things taken from real life can make a character more three-dimensional, and bring hilarious and believable incidents into scenes.
    Physical appearances, for example, can be borrowed from real life. Not just hair or eyes or even a sort of smile, but a certain outfit can be too awesome to not give to a character.
    Habits too, like snapping one's fingers to every song they hear, or straightening books in a room (but nothing else). It can add so much flavor to a character.
    And names! Haven't you ever met a person with an incredibly awesome name that you just want to use for a main character? Not their whole name, of course, but a first name, surname, or middle name.
    One of the best parts about borrowing is that when you've experienced/seen/have the characteristics, you can write about them easier and more accurately. Plus, a lot of people would be excited about seeing some of their own words/actions in an awesome story.
    But there is a dark side to this sort of thing. There's a law that allows someone to sue for libel if a fictional character bears a little too much resemblance to them (often in an unflattering way). And then there's the matter of hurting feelings. The teacher who was supposedly the inspiration for Severus Snape in the Harry Potter series was said to have been really dismayed when he found out. Nobody likes to have their negative characteristics and flaws splattered out in print.
    So yeah, borrowing should be done with consideration of others' feelings, and perhaps permission prior to writing. But with that consideration and permission, borrowing is a really cool writing technique!
    Have you ever written a character inspired by someone you know? When you think about the character, do you think about the real life person? Or when you see the person, do you immediately think of the character?

Psalm 119: 114

 

"You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word."

Psalm 119:114 (NKJ)

    I think it's cool how God is given analogies like this. Shield, hiding place, rock, tower, strength, salvation. The imagery strengthens one's understanding of God being like these things. As our hiding place, He gives us a place to go to be sheltered from the craziness of the world and just rest in Him. And as our shield, it's like He stands in front of us, putting a protective barrier between us and stones being thrown our way.
    Being our hiding place and shield, the Lord is our mighty, invincible Protector. What an awesome thing!

Well, at Least I've Got a Ball of Yarn

Untangling yarn is about as fun and easy as reorganizing boxes
in a hot, spider-infested attic.

    Failures happen. It's a generally acknowledged part of life.
    But that doesn't mean it's always easy to accept them when they happen. Non-successes are not pleasant, they are not fun, and they can frankly be really depressing.
    A little while ago, I dove into a special knitting project that I needed time set aside for. I'd waited for a while with anticipation before the timing was right, and then got to work. For hours I knit incessantly, gradually noticing the project's progress, thinking out the next step, smiling as the piece grew longer and longer. Eventually, I ecstatically decided that the knitting piece was  finally long enough, and ready to be finished.
    But somehow I made a mistake. A big one. Something that wouldn't allow me to bind off the work. I tried to mend the mistake in several ways, but it was to no avail. I couldn't fix it. The work I'd spent hours and hours on was irreparable, ruined. All that time and effort, and it was a failure. The feeling that proceeded the actualization of that was was really crummy.
    Sitting there in the lamp light, looking at the stringy catastrophe in my minds, I reviewed my options. Turning the thing into something else wasn't possible, so I had no knitting piece to salvage. And I thought, Well, I have a lesson, at least.
    Though lessons are valuable things to glean from mistakes, the thought wasn't much of a consolation at that time.
    But then I looked at the yarn in my hands again, and considered. The failed project couldn't be bound off, couldn't be made into another piece, but it could be unraveled, bound up into a ball of yarn. And reduced to that basic form, the yarn would be something I could use for a different project--or the same one, just a little shorter. It could be salvaged from this failure.
    So I started to work on that, gradually unraveling the ruin of the project, undoing every single one of the many, many stitches and frequently untangling knots that appeared in the yarn. The unraveling process was long and even boring, but I finally managed to wrap up all the yarn of the failed project into a round orb about the size of a baseball.
    So then I thought: Well, I've got a lesson and a ball of yarn.
    There's always a lesson to be learned in a failure, but I wonder how often something else can be found. Using the yarn in this failed knitting project was kind of a no-brainer, but maybe other non-successes hold things that can be utilized in the present, rather than in some possible re-attempt in the unknown future. Maybe there's always more than one thing to be salvaged from a failure, and it has to be actively sought out.
    What do you think? Have you ever salvaged something from a failure besides a lesson?

Edmund Wilson: No Two Persons

"No two persons ever read the same book."

~Edmund Wilson

    What an interesting thought! That everyone reading a book is getting their own unique perception of it.
     It's easy to imagine. Even if two readers are extremely alike in behavior and attitude, if they read the same book, they're not going to notice the exact same things as each other. One might pay more attention to the characters, while the other's focus catches on to the descriptions of the settings. One might look at dialogue intently, and the other might keep a diligent eye on the plot. If a reader likes one character in particular, they might pay more attention to them than they would to others. And if one likes to read slowly, they have a better chance at soaking in more details at once. All of these factors affect the way each reader takes in a book, and would cause their readings of it to be totally different. It would produce different opinions, or a similar opinion with different reasons for it.
    Maybe the biggest (and most fascinating) difference in reading would be that of  the author of the book and a person picking it up for the first time, don't you think? As the author re-reads their book, they would probably notice basically everything--and then some, if they had scenes that they couldn't fit into the book--to the most intricate detail. But meanwhile, as the new reader reads for the first time, they'd probably just get the first few layers of the story's plot, characters, descriptions, etc., and not notice as much as the author would. This particular difference in perceptions would be more of a positive than a downside in editing though, since a new reader's observations and thoughts are vital in showing the author what's actually written in the book, and what might need to be changed.
    Have you ever thought about this concept before, and the way it plugs into the editing process like that? Isn't it intriguing? :)

Psalm 119:93

 

"I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life."

Psalm 119:93 (NKJ)

 

    The Lord's instructions are good. Healthful, helpful, wise, flawless . . . Following God's instructions always leads to doing the right thing, and it strengthens character. Plus, in following the Lord's commandments, one can avoid so many problems that making a blind decision leads to. God's precepts make life so good, and opens up so many opportunities to do good; no wonder the psalmist loves them so much! :)

God is Not a Braggart

    There's a certain passage in Exodus where the Lord makes an in-person appearance to His people. As He makes His appearance and passes before Israel, He says something to them; what He told Moses would be "the name of the LORD" in Exodus 33:19.
    "And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, 'The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression of sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation.'" (Exodus 34:6-7 NKJ)
    Quite a resume. A lot of people get somewhat puzzled the first time they read it though, because it sounds a little bit like bragging, like the Lord is going on and on about how wonderful He is. God definitely is all of these wonderful things, but He definitely is not a narcissist. Haughtiness is at the top of the Proverbs 6:17-19 list of things He hates. So why does He announce His own flawless characteristics to the people? Why not have an angel do it?
    Omission of the truth counts as deceitfulness, and God can't lie, but since Moses and the people undoubtedly already knew that Lord is righteous, a need to announce His characteristics in order to be truthful probably wasn't the reason. The Lord would also never allow His Holy Word to be polluted with a lie, including a fictional event written by someone who just wanted to "add a story" to the Bible like oral tales like Beowulf were edited over time; so that's not it either.
    Maybe the reason the Lord announced Himself like this is was an act of assurance. Because He wanted His people to know--really know--that He has all of these characteristics. To keep them and future generations from thinking of Him as only just (without mercy) or only gracious (without justice). Maybe the reason He proclaims all these wonderful things Himself is to ensure that it's not the wishful thinking of man, but that mercy, grace, patience, goodness, truthfulness, forgiveness, and justice all truly are in His character. The people knew that God can't lie, and He knew that they knew. Maybe this is the reason He chose to make the introduction Himself.
    What do you think? Have you ever wondered about this event in the Bible?

Wow, Drawing Can Actually Sometimes Be a Distraction

This is one of my sketches (sorry for the blurriness). Drawing characters
or potential characters is both fun and useful!

    Lots of writers love to draw, and love to find ways to use this gift to contribute to their writing. I'm one of them, and while I'm definitely no Picasso, drawing characters, outfits, gadgets, and settings is helpful and extremely satisfying! It's added some flavor to the stories they're based on, and given ideas for new writing pieces.
    But I've noticed that sometimes when I'm drawing, it's not for a story. And it's not a setting, character, or object that's found in my usual genres. It's not something I'd likely ever use in writing, and as I sketch it, I'm not even learning a new strategy for drawing. I'm just sketching because the subject looks nice; an entirely recreational act. That's not a bad thing, but when I could--and should--be using that time for writing, homework, or other important responsibilities . . . well, it would seem that in this situation, drawing is a serious distraction. A distraction made even more dangerous in the fact that it's easy to justify as "creative work."
    It makes one wonder--if drawing (a creative, constructive practice) can have a detrimental affect, what other activities can easily be distractions? What other artistic skill has to be used with caution?
    Maybe that's the wrong way to look at it though. The fact that drawing could become a distraction definitely doesn't mean that it always is. The problem of distraction seems to lie in a matter of context, of whether or not something else needs to be focused on instead. If a person has one hour to do anything, and they're already really good at painting, but they could use some practice with writing descriptions, spending the hour writing descriptions would probably be the more efficient choice. Whereas if the person with one free hour is horrible at painting, and wants to practice, painting would possibly be the better option.
    Of course, these are just opinions. What do you think? Have you ever had to reluctantly put off drawing (or another artistic practice) in order to focus on writing?

Psalm 147:4

 

"He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name."

Psalm 147:4 (NKJ)

    The Lord is so immeasurably incredible. The fact that He's made such a massive universe full of uncountable stars is mind-blowing in and of itself. But the fact that He's actually named every single star?
    Even if this verse is only referring to the stars that we can see from Earth, having an individual name for each star (and keeping track of them) is amazing and intricately diligent! There's so much thought He puts in every part of His creation!
    God is a good, wonderful Creator, isn't He?

Max Lucado: "Our Prayers May Be Awkward . . ."

"Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the One who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference."

~Max Lucado

    There's a really cool verse in the Word that this quote reminds me of. Romans 8:26, in the NKJ version, says that "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."
    This seems to line up so perfectly with what Max Lucado is saying here, that the Lord hearing our prayers means more than our actual spoken words in the prayer. That God's ability to do things isn't limited at all to the number or eloquence of words we use when we pray to Him, but He already understands what's on our hearts (Christ said something like this in Matthew 6:8) and He knows exactly what He's going to do in response.
    God's gift of prayer is such a wonderful blessing. Speaking to Him (and knowing that He won't roll his eyes at poor word choice or stuttering) is absolutely wonderful, don't you think? :)

Special Writing Times

 

Do you prefer writing during the morning . . .

    The famous authors Ray Bradbury, Toni Morrison, C.S. Lewis, Danielle Steel, and Jack London all have at least one thing in common: they have (or had) a special writing time. They make a habit of committing certain hours of the day to writing. Some of them make sure to be up and scribbling before the sky is blue, others wait until the sun is far above the horizon, and some even wait until the moon makes an appearance to start working on their stories. During this special set time, they're able to write without interruption, giving all their attention to their craft.
    It sounds so awesome! And very productive in developing both story and skill. Each kind of writing time setting has benefits for creating a good writing environment.

 

the afternoon . . .

    Morning hours are great for writing with a fresh mind, free of distracting thoughts and memories of recent actions. Writing before the sun comes up is also cool in the fact that it's a lot quieter when everyone else is sleeping or just waking up. It's almost like a little pocket of peacefulness in life, a safe couple moments to write without needing to worry about other things.

or at night-time?


    Afternoon hours are very beneficial in how the natural daylight is usually bright. Sitting in front of a window would provide enough lighting to write by without using electricity. Writing during the daytime is also great because during the day, the mind is already pretty awake and active.

    Night hours: it's dark outside at this point, so natural lighting isn't really an option. But there is an opportunity to use candle/lamp light to write by, and I've heard that some people find this kind of lighting very inspirational and even fun. Plus, when one chooses to write at night,  everything else that had to be done is out of the way, completed, and no longer requiring attention, so one can give their absolute attention to the writing.

    Do you have a special writing time? What time of the day is it at? :)