Getting back in the wierd of things.

I'm slowly getting back into the flow of writing and getting a steady pattern going. Finished one scene of my current WIP this week (which is also the one that finaled in the ACFW Genesis Contest). I'm hoping to get it done by September so that if the story manages to end up in the top three I can maximize the exposure as much as possible.

Though already the story took a somewhat unexpected turn. The scene featured one of the major supporting characters rescuing some others from a cursed village. Originally this scene was simply to be there for showing the rising stakes in the world, and just how bold the evil forces were becoming. However one of the characters being rescued seemed to be a little more important than I was expecting and the focus of the scene shifted to highlight that, costing the other two characters their lives.

I was a bit sad about that, but this new path ads a whole new sub-plot and depth to the story. One that I think will play out a theme of emotional healing and strength. It will be interesting to see just how this new character develops.

Have you ever had one of those twists jump up in your writing? Or do you have a favorite twist from a novel or a movie?

Running in Place

Ever feel like you're just running in place? Maybe inside some giant hamster wheel?

I know I have, it's one of the reasons I burnt out last year. I felt like I was running as hard as I could, into a brick wall over and over again. Talking about how we need more sci-fi and fantasy in the CBA or at least from a Christian world view. In the end I felt like I was just beginning to repeat myself and had nothing new to the equation. I still pretty much feel that way.

So instead of me talking about it, I'll point you in some directions of places where you can find others who can give the arguments much better than I can. I'll also try and highlight places of success and interest for those of us interested in Sci-fi and Fantasy from a Christian Worldview.

Finally, I'm going to talk about things that come up in my own writing and reading and general life and what they make me think about. Which could be interesting... or perhaps just a good way to put yourself to sleep.

For now, head over to A Christian Worldview of Fiction for a discussion on why we need Christian SFF in relation to the defenition of good.

Be sure to check out The Anomaly, a growing community of readers and fans of SFF, especially from a Christian Worldview. And while you're there, swing by Where the Map Ends, and Marcher Lord Press for some very cool interviews, news, and a look at three very promising titles coming out later this year.

What's that word again... oh yeah Consistency!

The problem with starting fresh... is starting. :)

Sorry for the big gap here, from now on, barring any big issues I plan on doing a Mon, Wed, Fri posting schedule here from now on. At least until one other change I have planned comes along, though that may be a while out yet.

I mentioned on the 21st how the healing method shown in The Begotten raised some questions for me and wondered if there wasn't something Christian fantasy writers could glean from the instance.

The main reason I started down this train of thought is that usually when a character in the story is "gifted" there tends to be more of an emphasis on the power emanating from that character themselves in a drastic and obvious way, even if the character doesn't know about the gift.

That is what struck me most about the first instance of healing, and shifted me from reading this as a fantasy mindset into a historical with spiritual elements mindset. Daria felt to me like she played just a small roll in that first healing, that came with so much effort, that she didn't feel particularly "gifted".

Though the second instance of healing was much more dramatic, and leads me to think there is a progression of the gift as Daria accepts it and grows in her faith.

So what do I take away from this?

Perhaps when we're writing fantasy, we can easily tend to fall toward the gifts of our characters (especially the supernatual ones) being too focused around that character and less around them being a conduit for God's power.

Just a thought.

CSFF: Blog Tour - The Begotten

This month's CSFF feature is The Begotten by Lisa T. Bergren

The Begotten in indeed an interesting novel, and hard to classify as others on the tour have stated. Currently I'm only about five and a half chapters into the novel, and it's already getting me to think. The story starts off fast and has a strong hook, then slows the pace to let you catch up with where the world is at as the first of the Gifted are brought together and an evil is introduced.

I think what has got me thinking so far is the first instance of the healing gift shown in the novel. Unlike many instances of healing we might see in a typical fantasy or sci-fi, this one isn't a near-instantaneous act. Instead, Daria (the healer) spends a grueling four hours in earnest prayer, along with many others. She even continues prayer "in her dreams" after she passes out from exhaustion. Only later when she is awakened is the healing shown.

This piqued my interest and got me wondering if I liked the instance or not. On one hand it left no doubt that the healing was coming from God. On the other, it didn't really make it seem like Daria was overly special.

There is a possibility that as the story progresses the healing gift could become more immediate and 'flashy' I suppose. Still I don't wonder if perhaps there's a lesson here for those of us who write fantasy or science fiction.

But I think I'll delve into that later this week, along with more thoughts on The Begotten as I progress in the reading.

Be sure to check out the rest of the tour:

Brandon Barr
Jim Black
Justin Boyer
Jackie Castle
Karri Compton
CSFF Blog Tour
Gene Curtis
D. G. D. Davidson
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Beth Goddard
Marcus Goodyear
Todd Michael Greene
Michael Heald
Christopher Hopper
Joleen Howell
Jason Joyner
Kait
Carol Keen
Mike Lynch
Terri Main
Margaret
Melissa Meeks
Pamela Morrisson
John W. Otte
Rachelle
Steve Rice
Ashley Rutherford
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Rachelle Sperling
Stuart Stockton
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Robert Treskillard
Laura Williams
Timothy Wise

Emerging from the Dark Abyss of CyberSpace

Shnakvorum, Earthlings!

Wow, hard to imagine it has been over a year since my last post! Quite a lot has happened since then. Getting married and moving my new wife halfway across the country is only part of why I went dark though.

Around this time last year I reached a point where I felt like I was repeatedly bashing my head into an adamantium wall. I flamed out and really began to question if writing was something I really wanted to do.

But as with all cycles of life, my sojourn through the dark couldn't last forever. My fusion reactors are warming up, and the etherial nets are unfurling to catch the mystic currents that flow through the vast imagination.

In short, I'm back and ready to pick up the pen again. And it is fun to discover what all has changed, and what's stayed the same since I last plied these waters.

But, enough with the purple prose and mixed metaphors.

I'm back. And I've got a keyboard and am not afraid to use it.

Big, Huge, Announcement

No, not a book contract, something even better.

My life is going to be changing in a big, wonderful way this July. But this announcement is bigger than just words.

Click Here to see the announcement!

A very exciting day indeed!

Editor Interview at Speculative Faith

Be sure to swing by Speculative Faith today for Becky Miller's interview with Interview with Harvest House Editor Nick Harrison.

Her interview is focusing on their foray into the fantasy realm with The Trophy Chase Trilogy by George Bryan.

Be sure to check it out!