The Avengers inspire a character sketch

I guess if my goal was to get more page views, I'd have to post something daring again.  I'm just going to keep posting about my life.

Wow that sounded pessimistic.

My biggest writing weakness over the past year – probably longer – has been character development.  As I may have mentioned recently, I became more focused on the mechanics of writing and my characters were born dead.  It's been a frustrating journey – do you know how many operations and sweat and tears are needed to revive dead characters?  Well, a lot.

After just recently seeing the latest Avengers movie, I had an epiphany.  You know, it's one of those epiphanies you should have had ages ago, but didn't?  I love looking at character development (one of the reasons I lost a lot of love for Frozen) and Stark had a moment or two that stuck in my brain.

Disclaimer: I should clarify that I have not watched or read a lot of Marvel.  One character I don't know very well is Stark.

But he had this *spoiler alert* "revelation" that he would not only be the cause of the deaths of all his friends but that he would survive them.  And it really ate into his heart.

But what I really loved about that is that his desire to "break up the Avengers" and finally bring permanent peace to earth was not a power thing.  It wasn't, "I just cleaned up this mess – can you keep it clean for 10 minutes?!"  This revelation revealed that in his heart he wants everyone to be safe, especially his friends, and he doesn't want their lives on his hands.  He can seem so cavalier but he has a soft and broken side – and his stupid, pig-headed choices stem from that brokenness.  It's not two separate downfalls; it's actually one.

And that idea suddenly set me on fire.  Something finally clicked.  I sat down and began fleshing out my characters for my latest story idea, making notes in the margins for possible tests they have to face based on their specific weaknesses and "strengths."  Because so many of my subscribers are experienced and excellent writers themselves and many of the bloggers I read are too, this probably won't be especially revolutionary or cause too many ripples in the pond; but if it helps one person like it is me, my pride is satiated.

Of the three characters I have worked on (the three main characters), Erron is proving the most difficult.  His story has progressed since his conception and sadly, his prognosis is not good.  His time is limited, he's dying but won't tell anyone, and he's crushing on a girl, hopelessly – turns out she's "immortal" and is devoted to her not-immortal dead husband.  Not only will she choose not to marry Erron but she will also strongly advise him to not accept the gift offered him of immortality.  I believe, in a moment of strength, he will take her advice and go home to bless his sister's marriage and meet his nephew before finally, and heroically, biting the dust.

He still needs some fleshing out, but here's what I've got:

Via…

Greatest desire: [his goal in life] fame, to be in legend, live on in story

Greatest dream: [if his life could be what it certainly never can] live to be a wise old mentor

Greatest fear: losing sister or leaving her vulnerable, becoming useless/forgotten (see greatest pride)

Greatest embarrassment: [something he doesn't like to talk about; doesn't have to be a regret] abusive mentor; the deaths his quests caused (and his failing health)

Greatest pride: [what does he pride himself on?] agility and athletic skill (see greatest fear), secret-keeping, saving an old man and his daughter (from a fire?)

Greatest weakness: pride and depression; feeling alone and takes charge because he knows what others don't (secrecy); glory

Greatest strength: love for his sister, ability to assess strengths and weaknesses in others and in situations, strategy and planning

As you can see, I have a few things listed in each category even though I say "greatest."  My point in saying greatest is to focus on the deep issues.  For example, one of his "embarrassments," for the purpose of this character sketch, is not that he doesn't like to pee in the woods or sleep in front of other people (neither of which were on the table until just now… hmmmm…), but rather, the things that he feels too vulnerable to mention – the wounds that drive his flaws and mettle.

Also, for pride, I tend to mention personality qualities, which I think is good, but I also made a point of choosing an accomplishment or deed that the character was proud of.

My own self-awareness helped a little in differentiating between these categories, but as I worked on my characters, I wondered what God's character sketch of me would look like.  Interesting question, no?  I haven't actually spent the time to fill one out on myself, but I should.

Anyway, back to Erron – I'm making progress with his character sketch but I'm still struggling to really get to know him.  Although I suppose that's the irony of it.  Thoughts welcome.

~Meggy

6 Summer Goals and a bit of awesomeness

Now that summer is here, I have a decently challenging to-do list:

1) laugh at people more (see #2) [will explain in more detail at a later time]
2) Read Anne of Green Gables
3) read C. S. Lewis' The Four Loves
4) finish reading The Iliad of Homer, The Aeneid, The Divine Comedy, and Anna Karenina (bonus: Augustine's Confessions)
5) plan a book club
6) finish writing (or editing) at least one novel

I'd like to give a shoutout to the gal over at Heavenly Aspirations, since she also wrote about her summer plans and I think they are kinda inspiring. :)  [UPDATE: Sarah over at A Free Mind also told us about her summer plans :) ]

I don't know about you but Pirates of the Caribbean always motivates me.

And then there's young Sungha Jung's version, which is also really awesome:

(Also, Enya Radio on Pandora is usually really great to listen to for inspiring and motivating music that won't distract you!)

The following is from a new idea I have.  Please let me know what you think!  I've had a lot of trouble writing for some time now, but I'm determined to break bad habits and put the passion back into my talent.  If you have something encouraging to say, it would do a lot for my confidence.  If you have critiques, I'll accept that, too, because I want to figure out where my problems are.

Here goes.  I think I might call this book Welcome to the Wood, but I'm not sure.

"Welcome to the wood," she said.

†

Hearing a voice melodiously mingled with the murmuring of the leaves in the wind, merely a whisper at first, he stepped off the road and forged into the wood.  The singing, a woman's voice, was deeply enchanting; the tune haunting.  He pursued it deep into the wood, marking his way as he went and noting landmarks, such as a great oak growing on a rock in a clearing as wide around as its branches.  But the voice was not in the direction of the clearing.  He veered away from it in the brush and weaved on.

At last he found her, harshly rubbing a cloth against itself in the deep brook.  Her black hair rested on her shoulders and tickled the ground as her slender body crouched there.  Her sleeves were rolled up to her ivory-white, sculpted elbows; her strong arms, fine wrists worked back and forth in the water.  She couldn't be more than 25 years old.  And at last he distinguished the words she sang: 

If the water is too cold…

Go right in and catch a toad…

But if the water, the water is too hot…

Throw him… throw him in, throw him in a boiling pot…. 

She stopped when he had come near and looked at him: long, hollow cheeks and nose; closely trimmed beard; clear, round eyes; long hair; young; sword nearly concealed by his cloak.  "Welcome to the wood," she said.  "It's a lovely day, isn't it?" 

"It is, madam," he said.  "May I ask why you've come so far into the wood to wash a cloth?" 

"I live in the wood," she said, wringing out her cloth.  "What have you come for?" 

"I heard your voice while taking a morning stroll, as I like to do.  It's an odd song.  I've never heard it before."

"The words are not original to the melody," she said, her eyes locking with his unabashedly.  "The melody, ages old, belongs to a song about a lost loved one.  It was taught to me many years ago."

His imagination was captivated by her elegant beauty.  "Would you care to walk with me?"

"I must take this back to the house," she said.

"I'd be honored to walk with you," he pressed.

Smiling, "I think perhaps not this time.  But if you walk in the wood often, I will see you again.  Fare thee well."

As she noiselessly moved through the brush, he moved to follow her.  But she was out of sight and he, an honorable man, would not track her like a stag.  Rather, after a few minutes, he found the road again and continued his walk, musing.  The leaves of the mountain laurel resembled the color of her pinafore.  The soft brown of a bracket mushrom was similar to her mysteriously wise eyes.

But slowly, a bitterness settled in his face; and turning, he retraced the road back into town and to his room at Greeneback Tavern.

I'm sorry to have been neglectful for so long – Thank you very much for coming back and reading :)
~Meggy

(Also, if you'd like, check out my other blog for a recent update (and writing experiment): Our Hearts Unhindered)

Biodegradable origami for your plants

http://allourdays.com/2012/03/sturdy-recycled-newspaper-pots-tutorial-origami-fold.html

Maybe you creative types have seen this before, and really, maybe it's too late for this to really be helpful.  But if it's still a little too cold where you live and you want to plant something, these are super easy and very convenient.  If you don't cut your newspaper, you can just staple the final project together.  But of course, that makes it less biodegradable.

Being a farm-crazy college girl who is staying in Steubenville for the summer, I just had to try this so I could get my vegetables started.  I stored them in cut-off cardboard boxes under my bed when it was too cold and in the trunk of the car when it was warm out.  They loved the car!  It's almost time to plant them outside - I'm glad we haven't had time yet to do so because we're coming out of what I hope will be the last cold spell until October.

In any case, I can highly recommend this option for getting an early start indoors.

Passion and beauty

One thing going to school for writing has done is strip me of my ability to write.  It's true!  And very sad.  Especially for certain professors, in attempts to fulfill their every expectation by demonstrating everything I have learned, I may actually be a more skilled writer but I have lost my imagination and my instinct.  So that's my goal for this summer.  I want to become a writer again.

I'm sorry, this post isn't going to be very long.  In fact, I'm at work!  I'd like to share some things with you soon, but in the meantime, have anything inspiring to share with me to pull me out of this adult-ish funk they've trapped me in?

Chicken Farmers

I don't know if you watch John Oliver but I highly recommend him.  I don't always agree with his opinions but I often do, and I think his show does a wonderful job of opening our eyes to problems we don't see.  This chicken farm problem is startling on many levels.  For one thing, I tend to believe that the average farmer will have the best interest of his stock weighing heavily on his mind.  The big companies they're slaving for do not see the animals nor care for them and don't care.  This system sucks.  Ignorant as I am, I won't claim to know what's best, but it seems to me like we don't need big corporations just to sell chickens.  Those that do the work can earn the cash.  The fact that the farmers are being screwed over and are in debt because of it and could be punished for complaining about it is disgusting.

I never intend to be that level of farmer, but I do want a farm so this spoke to my heart and caught my attention.  The more I heard, the more I couldn't believe it.

Please forgive my neglect

I think I'm going to try to make a comeback here.  I'll have some time this summer to free-write, and it would really do me some good.  Plus I have some ideas of what I could write about.  This summer is going to be full of adventures and I'm really excited about it.  Right now, I have one more day of work to get through before the weekend.  Ho boy....