Well, it certainly is hard to choose a character you don't like at all, since, as Anna at Insanity Comes Naturally mentioned, every character has a purpose to fulfill. Even if that purpose is along the lines of the villian, you still can't completely dislike them, because they are doing their job. It is their job to not be likeable, and you must like them for that.
However, if I must choose, so be it, and I must, therefore, choose the first set of villians we meet in my book.
Firstly, I don't, in general, care for Hwinny's guardians. What kind of people stalk and run off the road the girl they raised? If you can call what they did raising her. They really didn't have much of a part in Hwinny's life. They were like absentee parents. Providing, but leaving the care and raising to the nanny.
Secondly, Nurse Ippy...after all, she was the one who kidnapped the princess. I have also found, now that I'm writing more of her due to Naji's story, that I find her a bit annoying. I can't place my finger on just what makes me feel that toward her, but I know it's there- ready to show itself in the book I'm working on.
Today's instruction is to tell about a novel or author who has influenced your writing style in some way.
I am going to interpret this in two ways.
Story Content-
This may not actually be what was meant, but I felt it should be mentioned as it seems to go hand in hand, to me.
The authors who have influenced the creating of the world in my book are C.S. Lewis and Frewin Jones.
Lewis for his creativity which inspired my own for being able to create a fantasyworld, plus his way of putting in the Christian themes without it being overbearing. He also inspired Frewin Jones, who in turn, inspired me to writ my book because I knew there should be a Christian alternative to his Faerie Path series for all those young (or even not so young) people out there who would love the stories but not the type of magic used, etc.
Writing Style
This I feel was strongly influenced, again by Lewis for his simplicity, but also Robin Jones Gunn (who is also a Lewis fan) for her straight forword but engaging way she presented the teenage/college age world and mind. The way Mrs. Gunn writes her books makes it easy to understand her characters, both what they are saying and what they are going through. I like to strive for that, myself. Plus she presents the Bible and Biblical morals in a way that is right on.
I'm so thankful to have these authors be my influences. :-)
Ok...I'll actually tell of my first two, as both were school assignments, and the second, I think, gives me better credit. ;-P
The first attempt was in fourth grade. Everyone in the class had to write a book, and they were indiviually bound with wallpaper covered cardboard covers. (Honestly, I would have completely forgotten about this thing if my sister-in-law hadn't found it in the attic a few months ago.)
My book was titled The Princess and The Dragon. Can you guess what it was about? :-P
And who knew the oldest, though smallest, roots for my last book started way back then?
It was your typical princess captured by dragon story, and I cringe at my ending: "Then they saw it was time to go home. The End." But, hey, this is out of the mind of a nine year old! :-P
My second real attempt at writing wasn't until eighth grade. My English class was supposed to read Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart and then each student write a short one or two page story based off of it. However, my mom would not let me read the story (for good reason), so my teacher selected another story from which I was to do the assignment. I don't remember the name of the story or the author, but I remember it was set in the future in a space port on the moon. Two men were discussing an art burglary that had happened on Earth.
I put my character in as a young girl traveling to visit her grandmother when her father had an urgent business matter to attend to. This girl is sitting in the port listening to the two men's conversation when she realizes all the circumstances match to why her dad was shipping her off, and that- I think it was a vase- was in her suitcase.
My teacher gave me an excellent grade, saying I did very well. :-)
Though I don't remember all the details of it, I still like to think of that story now and then....
I'll admit, this is another one of those things that it seems all my friends are doing, and I end up getting sucked into. Not a bad thing, though. And I did promise more posts soon, so this counts! Right? ;-)
This challenge comes from Lerowen's blog and can be found here: http://thethoughtsofabookworm.blogspot.com/2011/08/day-2-male-author.html
Day One- Favorite Character You've Written
Well, what can I say? There is only one work that I've really written enough to actually get to know the characters. My choices are wide enough, even in that one work...Would it be Caleb? Would it be Naji? Perhaps Karen or Holly or Purity? Or would it be the more obvious Hwinny...
Honestly, I think my favorite would actually be Lady Henafubi.
She may be a bit of a silent presence in the story, but she's a strong silent presence. She's also based off of a friend of mine by the same (English) name, so I can't help liking her. Thankfully we'll get to know her more in the next book. ;-)
Day Two- Favorite Male Author
It seems my friends have taken most of those I would pick.
I love C.S. Lewis, George MacDonald, J.R.R. Tolkien...a whole slew of those most beloved by my friends.
However, and I hope this counts as they more compiled than authored, my absolute favorite other than those would be the Grimm Borthers. Fairy tale freak that I am. ;-)
How can anyone not at least appreciate, if not love, the original classic tales that have inspired the imaginations of millions- including our favorite authors!
To me, these are the best, and I think Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm are to be honored, for where would we be without fairy tales?
I, for one, would be truely lost.
And if they don't count, then I say Hans Christian Andersen! ;-P
I know it's been a few months, and I promise I'll write a real post sometime somewhat soon (if I can ever think of something I want to say that will stick in my head from when I'm getting dressed for work all the way until I'm home again and can get on the computer. :-P ). For now, I just wanted to share a poem I wrote several years ago that I was afraid I had lost! But, lo and behold, when I was cleaning out my email inbox today (106 pages down to 76), I found it in an email to a friend! :-D And there was much rejoicing! Now it is safely saved on my computer....I just need to make sure I take other precautionary saving measures, as well. ;-P
The Heart of The Prayer
by Rebekah Porter
What's in the heart
Of those who pray?
What secrets lie in there
That never see the light of day,
And still their souls do bare.
What do they keep?
What do they give?
And does it fade away?
Or do they hold
Until it comes
And haunts them
Day to day.
"Cast all your cares!"
They seem to hear,
But never take to heart.
Those burdens,
Which had seemed so dear,
To close with which to part.
"Let me heal you!"
Makes them cry
As this is all they know.
Yet gentle hands lift the weight,
And leave them room to grow.
So dance now, prayers!
Sing and shout!
With all your heart, rejoice!
For light of Son
And light of day
Now fill that burden's void.
What's in the heart
Of those who pray?
What secrets lie in there?
None they do not give away
To the One they know
Does care.
I hope this touches lives, and if you are dealing with fear and/or burdens, remember the victory is already yours because it is already Christ's and if He is your Savior then you are in Him. Let Him take your loads, remove your fears with His perfect love, and heal your heart.
As it is Easter weekend (specifically, as I write this, Good Friday), I thought it would be a perfect time to write out what I believe, both spiritually and morally (as morals tie in with faith).
I believe that there is only one God, that he is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit- three seperate but equal parts creating the whole of God. I believe that God created the entire universe in six litteral 24 hour periods, and on the seventh he rested. I believe that all things were created by God in those six days, including man, and that Adam and Eve were the perfect representations for humans. I believe that Satan took the form of a serpent and decieved Eve into eating the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and that Adam, who was not decieved and could have stopped Eve, sinned by not stopping her and by eating of the fruit himself. I believe that man fell away from God that day, but that God was not at a loss as He sees the end from the beginning, and had already set into motion His plans for our redemption and reconciliation with Him, because He loves us.
I believe that God sent His one and only begotten Son, known to us as Jesus Christ (the second Adam), to earth to be that plan. That Christ was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and walked the earth doing miracles- healing the sick, raising the dead, delivering people, etc. That Christ was betrayed and brought before Pilot, and condemned to death, though He had committed no crime. That Christ was bruised and beaten and scourged beyond recognition and until the flesh was falling off His back, that by those wounds- that massive stripe-we have received our healing from all sickness, disease, and hurt. That Christ was crowned with a crown of thorns that we could have Shalom; and nailed to a cross, His hands and feet nailed and his side was pierced, in atonement for our sins- past, present, and future. That He gave up His spirit once He knew that the work He had come to do was finished. That He was laid in a borrowed grave, and laid there for three days. That on the third day He rose, body and spirit, from the grave, having passed through Hell- defeating Satan and taking back the keys to the Kingdom. I believe that after some time (ok, I can't remember the exact lenght) He ascended into Heaven to be seated at the right hand of the Father, where He sits today waiting to come back for His bride. That He did not leave us alone after His ascention, but sent the Holy Spirit- who is the spirit of grace- to guide us and comfort us, and to further empower us to live our lives in Him.
I believe that Christ is THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Life- that there is NO other way to the Father but by Him. That no other religion leads to Heaven, nor that any other way leads to true peace- that the world has nothing to offer that can satisfy. I believe that a person will receive salvation if they only ask. That salvation is by grace alone through faith in Christ alone. That if you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and ask Him to come into your life as your personal Lord and Savior, that you will be saved and spend eternity in Heaven with the Father. That when you recieve Christ as Lord, His grace comes into your life, and that when you are in Christ, you are no longer under the law, but under grace. That grace is NOT a license to sin, but what keeps us from sinning, and that anyone who is still living in sin is not living their lives in the true knowledge of that grace, but still living their lives under the law.
I believe in baptism in water by full submersion AFTER salvation, which is the burrying of the old man and the resurrection of the new. I also believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which gives us the further empowerment to not only live according to Christ but to also recive the gifts of the Spirit, including the ability to speak in tounges (the heavenly prayer language), and to do works even greater than Christ, as He said we would do- the healing of the sick, the raising of the dead, the deliverence of the oppressed, depressed, and possessed- all through His power.
That Christ will return again, one day, as King, to take back the world. In that day, those who are in Him, including the dead, will be taken up body and spirit to reign forever with Him. And should anyone who is in Christ should die before that day, that their spirit will remain in Heaven with God until that day. But those who are not in Christ, who have not recieved Him as thier Lord and Savior, will spend eternity seperated from God in Hell (which is very real, and God does not want anyone to have to go there, but that all would come to know Christ so they can be reconciled to Him- but that decision is ultimately yours. If you go to Hell, it was your own decision.)
I believe that the Bible is the infallible Word of God. That " All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16&17)
I believe that sex is to be saved for marriage only. That romantic relationships are to be between a man and a woman only. That marriage is between one man and one woman for life. That children are a blessing from God, not a burden. That life begins at conception. That we are to train up children in the way of The Lord. That life and death is in the power of the tounge, and that drunkeness is wrong.
To the best of my ability to describe, that is what I believe, and NOTHING, no lies of the devil, no schemes of man, NOTHING will ever change that...and NOTHING can ever take me from God's hand. :-)
Secondly, Nurse Ippy...after all, she was the one who kidnapped the princess. I have also found, now that I'm writing more of her due to Naji's story, that I find her a bit annoying. I can't place my finger on just what makes me feel that toward her, but I know it's there- ready to show itself in the book I'm working on.