This or That

Third Person or First Person
And which variation? 

Where the Rubber Meets the Road

Or in a writer's case...where the fingers meet the keys.

I've been plotting, character journaling, and outlining my latest WIP.

It's going great.
My petulant character I ranted about here finally opened up a little and shared with me what his thought processes were.

However, it's been about a month since I started organizing and outlining this work in progress, and I finally feel as though it's time to start writing.

How do we know when that time comes?
When is it time to get down 'n dirty?

1.  When things are making sense
I've been trying to organize this book for a long time, but now, after much agonizing and fretting with my Critique Partner and with God I feel as though I know where this thing should go.  I've got the jist of the thing.

2.  When you feel the need to just WRITE!
Okay, let's face it.  We're writers.  We've got to do it or things just aren't right.  I've noticed a significant difference in the way I feel and react to my family and friends when I AM writing and when I'm NOT writing.  It's night and day.  So when we feel the itch, it's nothing to write a few chapters even if we're going to scrap them later.  Just write!

3.  When you're at that deadline.
As an aspiring author, I have to set my own goals and deadlines.  I don't have an agent tapping his/her foot and rolling eyes at me (this in no way reflects how I feel about agents.  I know they are here to do what's best for us and our work).   Our goals in reality are probably cake compared to an agent's requests.  But in order to get anything done in the unpubbed world, we HAVE TO SET GOALS.  Otherwise, we'll be floating for a long, long time.  It's healthy to have goals.  It keeps us moving. (okay, rant over.)  Make them attainable, but make them to push yourself.

4.  When you feel led by God
I've been waiting for God to come and lead me through my characters when I character journal with them.  I've asked Him to lead me when I'm just opening my notebook to show me what He would have me write, and He does!  I know without a doubt that this is God's story.  It's a worship time, and we're connected.  (See one of my post about this here)  So it's obvious He's going to give us a prompt in the right direction. 
Take those prompts and follow Him.  He's got a plan for all things.  That includes our future, and that includes our work.

These are the four factors that have finally pushed me to the point of action.

Question:  What are your "go ahead" signals?  How do you know when it's right to write?

This Or That:

Is your story character driven or plot driven?

Joy vs Happiness

I was listening to Jill Briscoe, an Ah-HA!-MAAAAZING teacher and speaker.
If you've never heard her, you NEED to!
Telling the Truth is her family's ministry.
She is the person that prayed and spoke at the Just Give Me Jesus! event.


She was talking about joy vs. happines.

Happiness is fleeting.
Happiness you find in finishing a task; from the rain and a good cup'a joe; from a silly movie you've been dying to see, but joy...
Joy is much different.

I learned WHY I feel so wonderful when I write.
Why I feel as though it's what I'm called to do.

Becuase it brings me joy.
And it makes me happy but the point is:

Her definition of joy is when God smiles.

When I'm writing and we're communing, THAT is making God smile.
Therefore, THAT brings me joy.

We are made to bring praise to God.
When we do what we are meant to do, it brings God joy...for me, that's writing.
I can feel Him smile over me.  When I ask Him to come with me and work through me, that gives God joy.

What about you?
What do you do that gives God joy?

 Find Jill Brisco's work here and here.
The two on Spirit Life for 9/14/2010 and 9/13/2010 are what you're looking for, although every one of them packs a power punch of love and learning.

This or That

To read:
Fiction/Non Fiction

To write:
Fiction/Non Fiction

My Petulant Character...The Man

It has been suggested that I try character journaling.
I ask my characters a question and answer it in first person, their pov.

I LOVE it.

Getting to know our characters takes time and patience.
At the moment, my main man :) is being a little petulant in my opinion.

He's not really telling me what is going on in his head.

I've prayed that the Lord be by my side and point out how to iron out their personalities, inconsistencies, goals and such, and we've come a long way, but this guy...I don't know what to do with him.

He's a man of power who's cheated on my MC...HOW does a guy think, first of all, and second, how does a guy like THAT think?

It's all sort of comical, really.
I'm sitting in my chair, blanket covering me, pen and paper in hand, question laid before me:
Q: What made you do it?  Why did you cheat?
A:



Still blank.
Ha.
Funny.  I know exactly how I would portray him, given the reins on this beast!  I'd make him a JERK!
But it doesn't seem to work out like that.  The answer line is stiiiiiiiill blank.  God's holding my pen when I get angry at this fictional man.

Did he want attention he wasn't getting from his busy wife?  And his new blonde secretary in his outter office enticing him, her soft blone hair curling just under her strong, stubborn jaw line; her painfully vast, knowing hazel eyes; she sees through him.  She knows how he feels.  She's seen his shaking hands as he reaches for the daily reports.  She's witnessed him on the phone glance her way as her hazels drag his attention away from Madame President. 

But did he JUST want attention?
What did he want?
What do you think?
What does this jerk want? lol, I'm good a'mind just to make him hated. 
But, he can't be hated.  My MC still loves him, finds Christ and loves him even more although she's hurt, and yes, they get back together -sorry, but this won't be out soon, and by the time you actually read it, you'll have completely forgotten about his post-I'm not spoiling =D

She loves him, the reader has to love him....but if he starts out so...hated, even by me, how in the WORLD will I get him back into our good graces again?

How do you deal with stubborn-willed, unrelenting characters?
How do YOU break through that wall they build so high?

This or That: Q4U

Plot it or Pants it?