Matthew 5:3

 

"'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.'"

Matthew 5:3 (NKJ)

Lists!

   

     Lists! They're awesome. Gotta have 'em, gotta like 'em.
    They're organized, they help to visualize what's going on and what materials are available, and they can help sort out what's important and what can be put off for later. Of course, depending on what kind of list it is, it's got a different purpose.
    To-Do Lists are every-day sort of lists. They're done daily, and they list basic things that have got to be done by the end of the day. Sometimes the same activity is listed for every day (like writing or taking an afternoon walk), and other times something new comes up (like a school club meeting or a dentist appointment). These lists are a huge help with scheduling and remembering to do stuff.
    To-Read Lists. Ah, how long these can get. Every avid reader has probably had at least one. A list of books they want to read, and must get their hands on at some point when they have more time. This kind of list is cool because it keeps you from forgetting about an awesome book you could otherwise forget about.
    To-Accomplish Lists. Goals are valuable motivations for writers, athletes, and a whole bunch of other people. Taping a scrap of paper or a sticky-note with a goal on it to the wall by the area you do your writing/exercising/etc. can help remember the goal and go for it.
    Song Lists. Not the place where you store music, but a list where one might write down their favorite songs. There could be categories of the types of songs (delicate melodies, rock songs, catchy tunes), or it could just be a column of songs one likes in particular. Having an organized list ready is useful when one's in the mood for a particular kind of music.
    Of course, these are only a few kinds of lists. Do you use any of them? :)

"Phantoms"



 

    I've noticed that when a character's main flaw is associated with their past, they tend to be sort of haunted by these things one could nickname "phantoms."
    Not actual phantoms, but things like memories or associations that constantly remind the character of what they fear/have serious guilt about. Things that affect the character in a negative way. "Phantoms" can come in many forms in the character's life, such as specific words, phrases, objects, nightmares, memories that are hard to ignore, etc.
    These "phantoms" influence how the character thinks and how they act. A character whose "phantom" is a person in their life who broke their heart could avoid similar people, or constantly think about particularly painful things that person said to them. A character whose "phantom" is a serious and damaging mistake they made years ago could cause him/her to always think about that mistake and how s/he should have acted, question him/herself constantly, and/or be afraid of making choices. "Phantoms" don't define a character, but they can diagnose what their inner turmoil is.
    Usually there's a point in the story where the main character overcomes his/her inner turmoil, and a scene with the character directly facing their "phantom" could be a good way to portray that moment. Plus, who doesn't love a dramatic showdown, or a quiet, heart-touching moment?
    Does your character have a "phantom?" Is there a specific scene where they overcome it?

Philippians 4:6

 

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;"

Philippians 4:6 (NKJ)

    Isn't it amazing and wonderful how the Lord hears  us every time we ask Him for something? It's so incredible that sometimes it's hard to believe, but it's true. God does want us to ask Him for things like courage, empowerment of the Holy Spirit, etc.--good requests that are in line with His perfect, holy will. It's not throwing a coin into a wishing well or asking Santa for a pony; it's having faith in God's love for us and His ability to see us through, giving Him all of our trust and asking that His will be done. When prayers like that are given, they're always answered, and such requests are granted.  Isn't it wonderful?

Grace

    Admittedly, there are times when I feel guilty as I pray--particularly when asking God for something. Bless me? After messing up intentionally and/or unintentionally numerous times? Inspire me to write? After I've been chasing waterfalls in my mind all day?  Help me do well on this test? After only using fifteen (okay, ten) minutes to study? No way do I deserve any blessings of that kind. What I probably really deserve is a bonk on the head. And I feel guilty for asking the Lord for so much.
    But when I read the Bible and hear about God giving grace freely, and being patient with believers who mess up big time, it all becomes clear again. Grace is undeserved kindness, and God wants to give it to us. He blesses us gladly in spite of our flaws because He loves us so much. And He will never stop loving us. It's such a relief to know we can fall into His caring arms . . .
    Do you have a favorite Bible verse or quote about grace? What is it?

"Circles"

    It was Girl Scout cookie season. The time of the year when those beautiful boxes of deliciousness were being sold everywhere, and when those who had a little sister selling the cookies got swarmed by masses.
    My math teacher mentioned the cookies during his lesson one day. Only he didn't call them cookies--he called them circles.
    Circles. For some reason, that was funny and surprisingly catchy. Cookies are delicious, but circles are amusing and delicious!
    Similarly, lots of characters in fiction use nickname terms for something. They give their vehicles names, refer to a favorite hangout to a cool-sounding term, and often in science fiction the technology and gadgets are given less formal names. "Sky Boat" is a whole lot easier to say than "anti-gravitational water vessel." Nicknaming things can also show a bit of a character's personality too if they're the one who made up the phrase. Someone who calls their car "the limo" is probably considerably different than a person who would call their vehicle "the Dude-mobile."
    Aren't nicknames like "circles" interesting? Do you use nicknames in your story, or in real life?

Robert Cormier: Writers Are Not Brain Surgeons

"The beautiful part of writing is that you don't have to get it right the first time, unlike, say, a brain surgeon."

~Robert Cormier

    Well, that's a relief. And it's a good thing to remember when the perfectionist in your brain starts screaming at you.
    Writing is a tool, but it's also an art. Making mistakes in the first draft will not ruin the story. Like with sketching, when you can erase a mistake or something not as fantastic as it could be, you can re-write and edit and make lots of changes to make the work even more beautiful. No time limit. No dire stress.
    Robert Cormier puts it in a pretty simple and practical way with this quote, doesn't he?

Proverbs 16:3

 

"Commit your works to the LORD, and your thoughts will be established."

Proverbs 16:3 (NKJ)

Writing Games: Personifying Inanimate Objects! :D

    What would Sunday be like if it were a person? How would it interact with Monday or Saturday? How about if a water bottle was a teenager, or a scarf was a little girl?
    Okay, that sounded weird. But it can be interesting. Writing about inanimate objects as if they were people could be a good writing exercise. Fun, interesting, and it gives an opportunity to sharpen describing skills.
    How would you personify, say . . .
-A coaster                                           -An alarm clock
-An egg timer                                     -A flashlight
-A really old book                              -Yarn
-Days of the week                              -Holidays
-Weather (like rain or windy days)    -A cell phone

Habakkuk 3:18

 

 

"Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation."

Habakkuk 3:18 (NKJ)