July 6, 2011

my summer reading list

Summer is here which, for me, means more time to read. And for remembrance and goal purposes, and if any of you want to know what I plan on reading this summer, here is a list of books. Both serious and funny, non-fiction and novel.


Serious:

- One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp

- Crazy Love by Francis Chan

- Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
- The Pastor's Wife by Sabina Wurmbrand

- Joni: an unforgettable story by Joni Eareckson Tada

- These strange ashes: is God still in charge? by Elisabeth Elliot


Fun Novels:

- Deadline: a novel by Randy Alcorn

- Curse of the Spider King

- The Death Cure by James Dashner

- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (again)

- As many Agatha Christie novels as I can read!

- Poetry

If you've read any of these books please comment on how you liked them. I'd LOVE to hear your opinion.

And a question or two for all of my blog friends, what are your thoughts about posting poetry on this blog? And what are some writing things you would like me to post about?

Have a great summer day. ☺

July 4, 2011

Fourth of July



Happy fourth of July to you all in the U.S.A. I hope you are having an enjoyable, wonderful, fun fourth on our country's 235th birthday.


And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star spangled banner in triumph shall wave.
O're the land of the free and the home of the brave.
- the last three lines of 'The Star Spangled Banner'

July 3, 2011

to be or not to be (character development)

To be or not to be, that is the question. - Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Oh, dear characters, why do you let me down? It's so odd that main characters do what main characters should not do. To me a main character is a hero, a Robin Hood if you will, a defender of the weak. I was very upset every time I started writing a book my main character was far from what I wanted him/her to be. So what was wrong with me?

As I started reading books and paying close attention to plots line, characters, and such I noticed a ground breaking thing. No character is born/introduced perfect. No character starts as the hero but develops into what he/she must become, like real people. As I thought this another thought entered my mind: It would ruin a book to just happen upon a perfect hero. Like opening a book in the middle and trying to understand it.

Characters need development, trials, and choices to make them who they are. I like to quote Shakespeare's famous saying, "To be or not to be, that is the question", when referring to characters choices. For "to be" will take them in one direction while "not to be" will, as well, change there live. And sometimes us writers don't even know what will happen one way or another. We, most of the time, are just along for the ride. So just keep in mind that it will not always appear the way you want it to, but it will become more clear in the end.

One thing to keep in mind thankfully is that God does not write stories like us. He has no plot issues, no character issues, and no second thoughts for He has written our story with care.