Into the Fire

Sometimes when the words don't form, the plot doesn't thicken, the blanks are shot in place of loaded prose, writing isn't much fun. But when the pictures are painted with perfect metaphors or similes or sassy repartee, writing is as fun as fun can get.

How to get from blanks to bluster is the mystery of writing. One day you're empty and dry as the desert. And then your words sprout to life like spring tulips and daffodils, colorful, bountiful, and full of life – or death if you're writing thrillers.

Writers tend to love formulas, disciplines, or like gamblers: "sure things" to keep them engaged in the creative process. I for one have none of these. But then I'm not a "successful" author. I'm a writer who has stories to tell, hopefully created to touch lives. No one demands my time or is anxious for my next novel.

Regardless of the lack of notice or interest, I prepare a story with vigilance and desire to always improve. I like my stuff. I write the way I want to read. I attempt to make a movie within a novel's framework, hoping my readers can see the characters and the scenes and experience the emotion. The spiritual aspect is a necessary piece whether covert or overt. It brings a dimension that can't be omitted. 

The difficulties of creating a story, of getting the words right, of seeing it through to its end, can be taxing, frustrating, disappointing, or aggravating. We watch as words fail to appear as we wish they would. But then we get that rush of words, that amplification of a character's psyche, the expansion of the storyline, the hurried clamor of descriptions and actions to fill page after page, and we know.

We know. We know we're writers. We know we love the fun of it. And nothing can replace that kind of fun.

Lord, thank you for allowing me to keep on with this writing thing. It's a privilege to string those words together. Help me to continue. Please. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Ephesians 5:15 (NIV)

Never watched a lot of cartoons, but this picture seemed appropriate given the title of the post.

There's a time for backing off whatever it is we're striving to attain, achieve, or acquire. Call it a re-evaluation period, a rest period, a change of pace period, or a regrouping period. Regardless of the motive for taking a break, sometimes it's a necessary diversion.

Writers tend to finish manuscripts and then leave them alone for a while before taking a fresh look at them. The intensity used to create a novel must relax and fade before re-examining the story to discover any shortcomings, outright errors, or small problems. It's easier to be objective, although never truly "easy", when returning to a story determined to spot those areas that require more work and fine-tuning. Backing off means a writer will be better equipped to assess his work when it's not front and center occupying every waking moment.

The pressures of living life often produce the attitude depicted in the above caricature. We push ourselves into places we don't always fit and demand a constant stream of results, some of which turn out to be unfavorable or complete failures. We react with an attitude that screams for everything, and sometimes everyone, to back off and leave us alone in our particular struggles or projects. However, oftentimes it's we who need to back off. Get away from whatever it is that's driving us into the ditch of anxiety overload.

Learning when to back off can be elusive in writing pursuits and in life experiences. Human beings, in spite of all their various levels of toughness, can be fragile, breakable, and corruptible. We bend to our desires without specific and meaningful direction. And sometimes even with specific direction, we falter and lose faith in our purpose and create a new one to alleviate the stress, only to find it increases.

If you think it's time to back off or to give that instruction to another person, chances are you're right.

If you're a Christian, the Lord is your source for answers and conduct. He will lead if you will follow. His solution might not be easy, but it will be the best. He'll prove true. If backing off is necessary, let the Lord show you how to do it.

Father, thank you for all the times you've shown me what to do. Forgive me for all the times I've ignored your design and direction. You're the One I need to follow. Help me to do just that. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.   

Back at Novel Rocket today. Hope you'll visit me there.

Lord, so grateful for all these avenues. Thank you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

How many times have you been instructed or thought on your own you needed a backup plan. Who wants a backup plan? Most of the time it means your preferred plan failed to materialize and you're relying on a less than favored substitute. Although it could mean, Plan A wasn't all that hot either and leaned heavily toward not succeeding, so Plan B will provide adequate backup.

Writers need backup. They need their computer files backed up. They need backup plans for agents and publishing choices if their first effort(s) are unsuccessful. They need backup readers/endorsers if their chosen ones can't manage the task of reading their novel and providing a favorable blurb. They need to manufacture a backup for any part of the story an editor wants to change, erase, or enhance.

It doesn't hurt to have an emotional backup plan in place if it seems as though every door is closed after submitting your work to many professionals only to experience being outrightly ignored, getting the form letter rejections, seeing the "not right for us", and being told too many times to count: "Don't take it personally. It's just business." Really? "Personally" is what's it's all about. It wasn't your dog who spent two years constructing this novel, editing and re-editing, even paying for a professional edit which proved a dismal failure at a hefty cost. It was you. So if anybody failed here, it's you. Or them. Which is always a possibility. However, no way to prove it at that moment.

So what's the backup plan? You can ask that question to a multitude of authors who will answer with the following variety of responses: lots of chocolate, weeping incessantly, a few (or more) stiff drinks, the repeated urge to cuss someone out, throw a stack of stuff against the wall, composing nasty retaliatory notes and then burning them in effigy, and so on. Most of these writers will return to their craft after their alloted time for mourning, sulking, raging, or dissing every known publisher on earth.

The real backup? For Christians it's always the same: prayer, reflection, obedience, and action. It's a total package that gets broken up into compartmental reactions, but for believers, it's what is done. We do what we're ultimately supposed to do if pleasing the Lord is our first priority. Sometimes we confuse the priorities, replacing God's plan with our own. At least until it doesn't work, or it doesn't achieve what we thought it would or should. The solace arrives with the realization – or sometimes revelation – that there is a plan designed just for us by a dynamic and fascinating Creator who always has our best interests in mind. Hard to understand how our "best" sometimes involves suffering (and I'm not talking about publishing rejections here), but in the grand scheme, it all works together for good. Somehow. The Plan A belongs to God. His plans don't fail. We do, sometimes, in the process of life. That's why we need His backup. Whatever it is.

Father, thank you for watching over us, for directing our steps, illuminating our paths, always always being there for us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.   

There are a multitude of rules concerning backstory in novels. How much to include, when to insert it, why it needs – or doesn't need - to be there, and of course what not to do with backstory. You know how I feel about rules, but let me attempt to be reasonable about this element of writing stories.

First of all, rules are guidelines for those writers who appreciate them, who actually need them, and who want to pass all the "tests" which will lead them to a publishing contract while hoping to improve their skills. Rules are borne from the theory that setting up general requirements to write well will in fact produce better writers and stories. Most professionals will admit – when pressed – that rule-breaking can be done effectively by good writers without those rules being missed.

And that's the defining factor. Good writers can do anything and make it interesting. They can shove backstory in where it supposedly doesn't belong and the reader doesn't even notice. They can fill page after page with backstory, but they manage to set it up so well and keep it uniquely enticing so that the reader is carried back into the past of a character or circumstance without objection.

Not everyone can do it. Thus the rules.

Backstory doesn't bother me. Neither do prologues. Or adverbs. Or a multitude of other items considered to be no-nos. Just do them well. That's the quantifying and not-so-simple solution we writers strive to do.

Father, thank you for words, even though they hide from us at times, feel completely inadequate for our true expressions at others. You are the supplier and provider of all we need. Thank you for your generosity to us and for imparting inspiration for what you have for us to do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Okay. Reluctantly I return to your regular programming and will desist from celebrating the Seahawks Super Bowl win.

"Normally", writing produces two things: either a desire to be alone or a desire to break out and socialize after being alone. There are media-savvy writers, marketing-mogul-type authors, and there are recluses who want nothing in life but the hours to devote to creating with words.

I can tell you firsthand I don't mind being in the solitary trenches creating characters and situations. I don't mind making blog posts most of the time. I love reading, although I don't think I've finished a novel in the entire months of December and January which must be a new record for me over the last several years.

The last few days I've restarted the editing process on what I have so far in my mystery titled Race. Of course I've reread it so many times, but I've waited long enough – far too long actually – for it to feel new all over again. And . . . I like it. Which is good. I'm catching up to where I need to be to re-engage the writing process and hopefully finish this book.

I wrote a blog post about the fear involved with this one: that nagging fear of making a serious mistake in procedural details that would lead to smart readers discovering how little I really know about how murder is investigated. I've had terrific assistance from a former detective who now works in SWAT. And another resource has recently been made available to me. I couldn't ask for better help.

Since I took a considerable amount of time off from writing novels after completing my seventh book, I started three stories but haven't finished one of them. It's time. Past time. Now time. It takes discipline, and the only discipline I've practiced has been posting on this blog. I made it a priority. Whether or not that was a good idea, I don't regret it. It seemed the right thing to do.

The normalcy of writing a book requires time specifically given – some would say "allotted" but I don't work like that - to the process. My normal doesn't often mesh with that of other writers. To each his own. But I know what I need to do, and I'm praying I'll dig in and accomplish the task. Because I know I'm supposed to, and that makes it compelling.

So . . . this is me being "normal". Sort of.

Father, you're the only one who can help me get this done. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.   

Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1:13-14 (NIV)

What I learned over the course of the final weeks of playoff football and winning the Super Bowl:

Haters gonna hate. The repurcussions of Richard Sherman's immediate postgame (the NFC Championship) comments to reporter Erin Andrews, after attempting to shake WR Michael Crabtree's hand and getting a push in the facemask for his efforts, drew out racists and judgmental individuals, football fans, and sportscasters. Some of the reactions to Sherman were instantaneous and without mercy, merit, or investigation as to who the whole person of Richard Sherman is. There was unrelenting ugliness even after his apology.

The sports media overvalues itself just as the mainstream media does. Its demands for the players' time and commentary on NFL Media Tuesday the week before the Super Bowl should not dictate the quantity of time donated by players. Some individuals don't enjoy the limelight nor the direct attention. In fact, one of them is "all about the action, Boss." End of story. Or it should've been. But a few of the sports media fumed and fussed because this player didn't choose to spend a lot of time with them answering questions which had been asked a multitude of times. This particular player had previously been insulted and attacked by members of the media and figured it was better not to speak with them any longer than was required. Good for him. His few words pleased a lot of us fans.

Most of the media expected astounding, spectacular, outlandish quotes from Richard Sherman at Media Day and throughout the week but received none. He answered questions with his usual articulate, straightforward, and thoughtful demeanor. The media decided to mince and edit a complete quote from Richard about Peyton Manning in order to inflame the contest, but it backfired. In spite of all the attempts to make Richard Sherman a villain, the true and classy Richard prevailed.

Winning the Super Bowl is an extremely emotional experience as were the games leading up to it. Somehow there is a deep connection between our fans and this team, especially those of us who've faithfully rooted for the Seahawks from day one in 1976.

Nearly 750,000 people can gather and line the streets in downtown Seattle, cheer their team, and manage to maintain order while they celebrate. Fantastic.

I love Seahawks football. This was a special team, an amazing season.

God, I pray you would watch over these players in the off-season. Keep them safe from all harm and help them to do all the necessary things to come back sound and committed to playing their best. Help them to be grateful and realize the huge blessings you provide in their lives. Encourage them as only you can do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

Some estimates put the crowd at 700,000 while a couple of others suggested one million people congregated on the streets of downtown Seattle on Wednesday to celebrate the Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks. They came down from Canada, over from eastern Washington, and from all over the Puget Sound area to honor their team. For a die-hard fan, it was a grand day in the beautiful chilling sunshine. The 12th Man stacked and bunched for the parade route all the way to Century Link Field with ticket purchasers once again loading the stadium and the nearby Safeco Field to cheer their team for a final tribute before the draft, the OTAs, and Training Camp resume. Memorable for players and fans alike . . .

                       Thank you, Seahawks!

Father, thank you for joy and fun and loyalty. Thank you for gifts and talents and the unusual beauty in this life on planet earth. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

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