Conveying the meaning of a story requires a writer's entire bag of tricks. Some of these include: word usage, sentence structure, plot and characterization.
As I searched for the meaning of a Bible passage today, a good friend reminded me about the importance of not taking it out context. I have found that when I am going through a trial, or looking for the answer to a question, God's Word does supply me with the wisdom I long for.
However, haphazardly thumbing through the concordance to sit on one passage of Scripture (without studying an entire chapter or book) can cause me to lose the meaning of what God intended to say.
Working this principle backwards, the same can be true for writers. It is important for us to be clear about the message we are trying to convey. Whether you like to brainstorm or you prefer to discover as you go, I want to emphasize the importance of clarifying your message before your reader comes into the picture.
In God's great masterpiece, the Bible offers loads of back story, setting and story arch for every set of eyes that land there. I thank God for the people He brings into my life who are willing to ask the hard questions. Have you taken a passage of Scripture out of context? Has it affected your message ... your writing?
Part of our job as a writers is to embrace the hard questions, and to stop at nothing in our search for the answers.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
Point of View
Every story needs somebody to tell it.
We hear a lot about POV (point of view) in the writing world, particularly in fiction. Deciding whether or not to write from the first person or third person, POV is something we writers must decide on before writing the first word. Then there's deep POV, where we work to draw a reader's emotions out.
I've decided to write about point of view today, because I think it is vitally important in our own lives as well. How do you perceive things? Are you skeptical? Or do you prefer to wear glasses with rose-colored lenses?
How is it that one person sees a glass of milk half empty, while another sees it half full?
There are many elements to consider with regard to POV. The way we see the world hinges on a number of things: our genetic make-up, our personality and our experiences. Holding a strong opinion about something can be an important virtue. But when we are no longer teachable, we become the kind of kooky character nobody wants to be around.
I'd like to leave you with this challenge. The next time you feel dead set on an opinion about something, consider the opposite opinion held by the person sitting across the room from you. Roll it around in your hand, study the different facets of possibility. Vibrant color always reflects off of a heart that seeks to value others.
Which deep emotion have you generated in others due to the way you live your life? Point of view can mean the difference between freedom and chains.
We hear a lot about POV (point of view) in the writing world, particularly in fiction. Deciding whether or not to write from the first person or third person, POV is something we writers must decide on before writing the first word. Then there's deep POV, where we work to draw a reader's emotions out.
I've decided to write about point of view today, because I think it is vitally important in our own lives as well. How do you perceive things? Are you skeptical? Or do you prefer to wear glasses with rose-colored lenses?
How is it that one person sees a glass of milk half empty, while another sees it half full?
There are many elements to consider with regard to POV. The way we see the world hinges on a number of things: our genetic make-up, our personality and our experiences. Holding a strong opinion about something can be an important virtue. But when we are no longer teachable, we become the kind of kooky character nobody wants to be around.
I'd like to leave you with this challenge. The next time you feel dead set on an opinion about something, consider the opposite opinion held by the person sitting across the room from you. Roll it around in your hand, study the different facets of possibility. Vibrant color always reflects off of a heart that seeks to value others.
Which deep emotion have you generated in others due to the way you live your life? Point of view can mean the difference between freedom and chains.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Noodling
Sitting at my keyboard every morning, I strive to put my heart on paper. At times, the surface of what I want to say only scribbles hints, leaving my reader scratching her head. Then there are moments when I've opened a vein and poured my soul out, hoping to reach at least one person with my message.
Getting an idea down clear enough for your reader takes hours of polishing and re-writes. Of all the tools I've encountered along the way, for example: sentence structuring, grammar alignment, spelling and punctuation rule-keeping, there is one tool available to any writer hoping to get a good handle on her message.
The outline.
Some may nod in agreement, while others feel a sudden tightening in their chest. They watch the walls close in and literally feel every ounce of creativity squeeze out. Outlines do work for some writers, and not for others. The trick is to try different approaches until you discover what works best for you.
After spending months discovering my direction, or finding out that a piece has no direction, I've decided to try outlining. I've incorporated this little gem during the brainstorming process, long before anything gets roughed out. So far, I've been really happy with the results. I have a clearer picture of where I am heading. This gives my reader less work and leaves her with a tangible take-away.
I once read that when you don't take the time to outline, your story can start spaghettying. In other words, with no clear direction, the noodles in your brain get transferred to text. Then they get all mixed up, making it really difficult to reign things in.
I love hearing about what other people are doing. What works best for you? Are you a writer who likes to outline? Or do you prefer to fly by the seat of your pants?
Pasta, anyone?
Getting an idea down clear enough for your reader takes hours of polishing and re-writes. Of all the tools I've encountered along the way, for example: sentence structuring, grammar alignment, spelling and punctuation rule-keeping, there is one tool available to any writer hoping to get a good handle on her message.
The outline.
Some may nod in agreement, while others feel a sudden tightening in their chest. They watch the walls close in and literally feel every ounce of creativity squeeze out. Outlines do work for some writers, and not for others. The trick is to try different approaches until you discover what works best for you.
After spending months discovering my direction, or finding out that a piece has no direction, I've decided to try outlining. I've incorporated this little gem during the brainstorming process, long before anything gets roughed out. So far, I've been really happy with the results. I have a clearer picture of where I am heading. This gives my reader less work and leaves her with a tangible take-away.
I once read that when you don't take the time to outline, your story can start spaghettying. In other words, with no clear direction, the noodles in your brain get transferred to text. Then they get all mixed up, making it really difficult to reign things in.
I love hearing about what other people are doing. What works best for you? Are you a writer who likes to outline? Or do you prefer to fly by the seat of your pants?
Pasta, anyone?
Friday, January 1, 2010
Reader Profile
As we step into this New Year together, I invite you to visit my blog from time to time - I will be sharing my latest writing discoveries! And whether you call yourself a writer or not, we all have a message to convey about who we are and what we believe. My desire is to help you communicate that message.
With the New Year upon us, it seems fitting to contemplate what it really means to start from the beginning.
Meeting with a magazine editor at Mount Hermon last year, I was given a new take on my prospective reader. As I created a visual of that person, the following questions came to mind: What does my reader look like? What does she care about? Is there a problem she is trying to solve? How can I help her arrive at a solution?
Putting this principle into practice through the months, I've noticed a difference in my plotting and in my heart.
I've started to care about my reader.
As you think about the people you hope to influence this year, whether it is a family member, a friend, or a middle-aged mother across the country who is searching for self-worth, I want to give you a new take on things.
Have you considered starting with prayer?
With every magazine article I compose, every self-help idea and fiction characterization I develop ... before a single idea hits the page, my primary responsibility to my reader, is prayer.
As I study the craft of writing this year, I want you to know that I have prayed for you too. I may not know the color of your eyes, what you like to compose or who you have a burden for. But as we journey together, I pray that our message reflects what's truly on our hearts.
Our readers deserve nothing less.
With the New Year upon us, it seems fitting to contemplate what it really means to start from the beginning.
Meeting with a magazine editor at Mount Hermon last year, I was given a new take on my prospective reader. As I created a visual of that person, the following questions came to mind: What does my reader look like? What does she care about? Is there a problem she is trying to solve? How can I help her arrive at a solution?
Putting this principle into practice through the months, I've noticed a difference in my plotting and in my heart.
I've started to care about my reader.
As you think about the people you hope to influence this year, whether it is a family member, a friend, or a middle-aged mother across the country who is searching for self-worth, I want to give you a new take on things.
Have you considered starting with prayer?
With every magazine article I compose, every self-help idea and fiction characterization I develop ... before a single idea hits the page, my primary responsibility to my reader, is prayer.
As I study the craft of writing this year, I want you to know that I have prayed for you too. I may not know the color of your eyes, what you like to compose or who you have a burden for. But as we journey together, I pray that our message reflects what's truly on our hearts.
Our readers deserve nothing less.
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