Proverbs 1:8-9

"My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother; for they will be graceful ornaments on your head, and chains about your neck."

Proverbs 1:8-9 (NKJ)

    Ah, a mother's wisdom. Mothers themselves are a blessing from the Lord, but when they know Him, and know His word, it's even greater!
    Because the wise words of a caring mother are powerful, strengthening us when we need to be strong; they're calming and sure when we need comforting; practical and time-proven when they want to show us how to make the right choices.
    It's truly a blessing that lasts for lifetimes. Happy Mother's Day, everyone!

When the Bad Guys Sell their Cause a Little too Well

    I read a novel a little while ago that I was really disappointed in by the end. The premise was fascinating, and the setting and background story were genius, but I felt really let down by the main protagonist, who goes from being a really nice and noble person at the beginning to a coldhearted, corrupted murderer in the end. It wasn't even a tragedy story like Marissa Meyer's Fairest, where the character is expected to turn to the dark side over the course of the story; this was very sudden, and frankly out of character.
    One of the major factors that led up to this character's moral downfall (and another thing about the novel that saddened me as a writer and a person) was the way that the antagonists, the cruel and self-centered villains, presented their cause. There were multiple incidents over the course of the story where the main character was hearing the antagonists' view on a conflict both their sides were in. The antagonists' points were realistic, actually very important things to consider ethically, but when the cruel villains finished talking, everything was just left at that. There was no rebuttal from the main character, or from another one of the good guys; nothing happened in the story that provided a ray of hope, or any kind of proof that showed that the evil deeds of the antagonists were unjustified. By the end of the story (and even well before that), the villains' cause sounded righteous, and the virtuous side from whence the main character came sounded like the wrong one.
    Usually it's a pretty good writing accomplishment when a bad guy can sell their cause really well--it is logical for an antagonist to think they're right, after all; and when their corrupted logic can tempt the character, it's interesting for plot. But in this kind of situation where the bad guys had the final word when they didn't have to, and their claims sounded right when there were plenty of arguments that could have shown that they were wrong, I think the author really crossed a line. Because not only was the main character listening to the villains' argument, and watching their crooked claims go without defiance, but so was the reader.
   And while people don't believe everything they hear, stories still have a special sort of power that can potentially sway a person's views. Characters might not be "real" in the sense that they aren't walking on our streets, and the settings might not actually be established places on earth, but the principles of the story's themes, and the way that a reader can connect with characters is very real. So when a person writes a story with a great (at least, initially great) protagonist/narrator, and makes an un-refuted claim that  willfully evil actions can be justified and accepted, or that genuine goodness doesn't even exist, it's possible that a reader will make some partial connections to the real world and really accept this as truth. And that is a seriously horrible and tragic thing to happen.
    There are a lot of books where the established "heroes" of a society really do turn out to be corrupt, and where the villains do a top-rate job at persuading people to their side, but those stories don't push it too far like this book I read did. They don't absolutely blot out the line between good and evil. They show that the world can be a pretty corrupt place, but they also provide that goodness and truth can still prevail. They show how there is a difference between right and wrong. They let their antagonists make seemingly bulletproof arguments, but then they bring in someone who points out all the cracks and flaws and outright lies in it, who gives an argument of their own (or prompts the narrator to create one) that stands for truth, virtue, and the good things that the world really needs to stick to, not abandon.
    There are ways to apply the skill of persuasion to antagonists without going too far, but it is important to make sure that they don't go too far. Does anyone else agree with me on this?
    Have you read any novels where the antagonists' cause stands unquestioned? Or have you read a book that applies a healthy measure of persuasion, where the antagonists sell their cause really well, but not too well?

 

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?

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!

Having a Dictionary at Hand

    Sometimes when I'm doing a Bible study, I have a dictionary at hand. And whenever I see a word that's particularly interesting, I look it up.
    Not because I don't know the definition. No, I understand what the words mean. But looking into the definition more thoroughly can further develop my idea of the word. Compromise, for example, can mean coming up with an evenly fair agreement, but it can also mean appeasement. The difference between these two definitions is major, and understanding this gives a clearer picture of the event it's used to talk about. Like, say, the response of a king to an enemy's threats.
    Atonement, propitiation, and compromise are some of the words I've looked up during Bible study. Do you ever take out a dictionary to look into words more deeply?

Proverbs 16:24

 

"Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones."

Proverbs 16:24 (NKJ)

    Words are powerful. They can do great things on a grand scale, worldwide and within individual people. Good words are amazingly sweet, some of the most wonderful things in the world.
    And the most beautiful words among words? They're God's words, hands down. The words of the Lord are literally perfect, they are kind, they are beautiful, and they are wise. God's Word, His good news, is a brilliant light that leads and comforts. Hearing them, we can be refreshed.
    Is there a particular Bible verse you find marvelously sweet? One you hold close to your heart and often call to mind?  :)

A Variety Of Description--The Color Yellow

    Colors are an important and common part of description. They paint the mental pictures in a reader's mind as they read the story. Using creative words to portray the color can help create an even more vivid scene. But if the same phrase or descriptive term (like "sky blue" or "death glare") is used numerous times for different objects/places/people, it does kind of begin to get worn out.
    Having an array of descriptions and phrases is important for writing. They're like tools in a toolbox, gadgets in a utility belt. The words to make an already interesting passage even more exciting!
    Here are a few words that could be used to describe something that's the color yellow:
-Daffodil        -Sunflower        -Egg yolk        -Golden            - Neon           -Mustard
-Duckling      -Rubber duck     -Banana          -French fries     -Corn            -Highlighter
-Pencil           -Bumblebee       -Cheese           -Lemon             -Mango        -Butter
-Minions (from Despicable Me)
    Is this list useful? :) Can you think of other words to describe the color yellow?

"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?

Matthew 24:35

 

"'Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.'"

Matthew 24:35 (NKJ)

 

    The Lord's words are kind of like rock. Sturdy, solid, and reliable, it doesn't change. You can grab onto it and trust that it won't vaporize or anything. God's words are dependable, able to help you through any situation, and not needing to be revised in order to suit the transforming world. Isn't that great? :)

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?