Storyteller: A Writer's Journey

RUN!

2012-02-13T12:16:00.001-05:00

     I can be picky about games. But once I find a game I like, it’s easy to become addicted.
     Right now, I’m addicted to Temple Run. It’s basically a chase scene on an ancient temple wall. Simple. But here’s the thing:

     It never ends.

     You run and run until you are caught by the obstacles or the evil monkey creatures. The point is to collect as many coins as you can before you die so you can “buy” upgrades to help you run farther next time. Poor Guy Dangerous the explorer never makes it out of the Temple.

     There’s another thing about Temple Run. It’s fast. You can’t look away from the screen for a second or splat. Dead. And you need close-to-ninja reflexes to jump, turn, and slide on time.

     So the games whizzes by at Millennium Falcon speed and the runner never actually escapes except by death.

     Sounds like life, doesn’t it?

     At least, that’s how my life feels, lately. As I mentioned before, I spent last year at Word of Life Bible Institute. But now I’m back home, and sometimes it feels like nothing ever changes. I’m busy, but what am I really accomplishing? Or, to put it in Temple Run terms, I’m running, but it’s only a matter of time before I trip and fall off the wall. It’s easy to be discouraged.

     But I read something encouraging a while ago, and I want to share it with you. It was written by Paul Enns in his new book Heaven Revealed. Dr. Enns’s wife died suddenly a few years ago, so he did a study on Heaven and wrote the book. Here’s what he said:

     “Think of the words. Heaven. Earth. Heaven is always better, in every realm, in every dimension. How could heaven be heaven if there was one arena in which heaven would be poorer and inferior to conditions on earth? It wouldn’t be heaven! You and I cannot think of a single realm or phase of living in which life would be poorer in heaven. Health? Better! Knowledge? Excessively better! Relationships? Much better! Everything will be better in every area of life.”

     Yes, our run through this crazy life will end in death. But we have the expectation of better at the end, if we trust Christ. I hope this encourages you today in your run. It gives me hope when I remember it.

     Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us….
Hebrews 12:1

Post Tenebras Lux
-ST

Character Development Part 2

2011-11-21T11:35:00.000-05:00

"3-D"

One of my writer friends asked me how my writing was going. I told her that I haven't been writing much. I've been developing my characters. I expressed my frustration over my antagonist. My story, at the moment, has no antagonist. The old manuscript had your average evil villain, but I am striving for more.

My writer friend asked if I had tried character boards. After I displayed my ignorance, she explained that character boards are when you write down character information on index cards. "Sometimes the 3-D, being able to touch the cards, triggers something in your mind to help you find what you're looking for," she said.

So I tried it. I wrote down different traits for my antagonist on pieces of paper. Some of them were obvious: "Prideful," "Selfish," "Vain." Some were contrasting: "Male-Female," "Rich-Poor," "Easily Angered-Not Easily Angered." Then I picked out the ones I really liked and wanted to see in my story. I had a "Eureka!" moment after looking at them for a few days and wrote down some possible motives.

Since the antagonist board is going slowly, I also wrote down each of my characters' names and made a "main cast" character board. I found that the characters naturally fell into pairs. After a while, I felt that something was missing. Then I realized I had forgotten the most important "character." Jesus. I wrote His Name on a paper and it really helped me figure out how each character relates to and views Him, which of course affects their personalities entirely.

Have you ever used character boards? How did yours work?

Post Tenebras Lux!

-ST

Scared Stiff

2011-10-29T16:58:00.000-04:00

     I have many fears when it comes to writing. I'm afraid I'll never finish my book. I'm afraid no one will like my story. I'm afraid that I am wasting my time. And I am especially afraid someone will have the same idea I have and publish before me.

     My Dad has told me many times that fear is the opposite of faith. Faith is trust, after all; so I am afraid when I am forgetting to trust God.True, but there is another reason for my fear.

     Pride. Ow, just reading the word hurts. I get caught up in this work I am doing and forget Who I am doing it for. I get competitive with my fellow writers and then I feel bad for not measuring up. Then that still and quiet Voice reminds me that it doesn't matter what the world thinks. It is all going to burn in the end. What really matters is what HE thinks.

   Do you ever feel insecure about your writing?

Post Tenebras Lux!
-ST

Character Development Part 1

2011-10-09T19:44:00.006-04:00

“A Day in the Life”

I have decided that developing characters is much harder than developing relationships with real people. With real people, all you have to do is ask them what they like to do for fun or what their opinion is on something, but with characters you have to make up their response. And all the characters have to be different.

I want my characters to feel like real people. So I decided to write them in different situations that would be normal life to them. For example, I wrote a short story about one of my characters taking a trip to a mall to go shoe shopping. Not a thrilling plot, and the story has no real “point,” but it really helped me discover more about what he thinks about himself and others, what he fears, what he likes, and, most importantly, what he wants.

I wrote the story from 1st person POV, as if the character was telling me his story. I also purposefully avoided listening into the characters thoughts; so not only am I learning about my character, I’m also practicing my writing skills in “showing” instead of “telling.”

That particular character is a new one I am adding to the story. For one of my original characters, I went through the old manuscript and pulled out everything that would tell me what kind of a person he is. It was tedious, but now I have a list of characteristics for him.

How do you develop your characters?

Post Tenebras Lux!

-ST

The End is... Somewhere...

2011-10-03T21:30:00.003-04:00

I have started writing again, but with a clean slate. The previous plot is obliterated. I have many of the same characters, but I am trying to develop them fully. Right now, all I have is the bare bones of a story. It's exciting and nerve wracking; I can't wait to see where the characters take the story, but I don't have a clue where the end might be.

Maybe to say, "I'm writing again" is misleading. I have not begun the first draft. But I have given some careful thought to what messages I want to weave into my story. To me, messages are the most important part. Whether writers intend to or not, every story carries messages. Most are subtle. Satan likes to use messages to make people think certain behaviors or beliefs are normal and ok. Jesus also likes to use messages. Look at His parables - every parable has a message that points people to God. So here are some questions I asked myself while I was thinking about the messages in my story:

Why should someone read this book?

Entertainment will be the reason why they pick it up, more often than not. As for those who want to have a break from the junk in the worldly stories, this book will be a safe haven.

What do I want my readers to remember after reading this book? How do I want to encourage my readers toward the straight and narrow path?

I want to make my readers hungry for God. I want to feed them with His Word so that they will develop a craving for it. My characters must be constantly encouraged with the Word, because then my readers will be encouraged. At the end, I want the reader to be well aware that God is loving and trustworthy; whether they truly believe it or not is up to them.

Like I said, these are the bare bones of the story. I also wrote down some other questions, like:

What is my goal with this book?

What do I want to see happen at the end?

What lessons must be learned along the way?

These are yet unanswered. We'll get there.

Any thoughts? Suggestions?

Post Tenebras Lux!

-ST

Where in the World has Storyteller Been?

2011-09-20T22:30:00.001-04:00

     It has been more than a year since I've taken a break from writing to do other things (see post God's Timing). This post will attempt to explain where I have been, what I have been doing, and why I haven't been writing.

   I told some of my "elf" friends in the Underground that I'd been busy "learning how to wield my sword." What I meant by this was that for the past year and a half I have been at the Word of Life Bible Institute receiving biblical training. It was amazing.

   Picture this: a full year of learning about the Bible, surrounded by people who are pursuing God with all their hearts and Bible teachers who are ready to answer your questions. The Word of Life Bible Institute (affectionately, WOLBI) offers classes on nothing but biblical training; no English, math, science, etc. Just the Word of God. Amazing.

   Not only are you being taught the Bible, WOLBI gives you various opportunities to put what you learn into practice. You are sent with your Ministry Team to help out in the local community throughout the year. Then, at the end of your formal training (sometime in June), you serve as a counselor at the kids/teens summer camp. Serving is not for the faint of heart, but it is what God calls us to do, and He certainly provides everything we need to do it. Amazing.

     This past year at WOLBI has been the most challenging year of my life. It has also been the best year of my life. God has changed me through His Word, and that is always a good thing.

     I HIGHLY recommend you consider going to WOLBI, no matter what age you are (I know many couples who were married and had kids when they went). What could be better or more important than studying the very Word of life (Phil. 2:16)?

     If you have yet to graduate, then I also suggest you look into summer camp. It is a week of absolute fun!

     Post Tenebras Lux!
-ST

Word of Life website link: wol.org

Here is a video about the Bible Institute:

P.S. No, WOLBI did not ask me to write any of this. These are all my true thoughts that I just couldn't wait to share with you!

Question!

2011-05-04T19:26:00.001-04:00

If you were chosen to go on a quest in another world, what would your immediate answer be? Comment below! (Feel free to write a short story)

Voyage

2010-11-04T21:13:00.001-04:00

What pictures, thoughts, or memories come to your mind when you hear this song?

I found this beautiful song yesterday for free at http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/freemusic.php . Been listening to it all day. Enjoy!

Post Tenebras Lux!

-ST

Square One… Again

2010-08-22T22:48:00.002-04:00

     See this book? It is The Art & Craft of Writing Christian Fiction by Jeff Gerke. I love this book. And I hate this book.
     I love this book as in - if you write Christian fiction, you have to go and buy yourself a copy! Right now! Here is the link: CLICK HERE! Go now, then come back and finish reading this. I don’t care if your summer job didn’t work out and you don't have any money, go and buy this book!!!
     I hate this book as in – it completely destroyed my story. Demolished. Foom, gone. Bye-bye.
     When a friend of mine gave me this book, I never would have guessed it was so destructive. But I read it, and it’s too late now. See, Jeff Gerke showed me that my story is nowhere near finished. Turns out that my plot needs to be re-thought and, more importantly, my characters need to be fleshed out.
     Here I am, thinking my story is as good as I can possibly make it, sending it to authors and looking for agents, when suddenly – WHAM! – I’m nuked by a ferocious, yellow-covered, 300+ page paperback that saves me years of learning lessons the hard way.
     What does that leave me with? Pretty much nuthin’. I have a junk finished-manuscript-turned-rough-draft, a bunch of characters who are little more than display mannequins from a mall, a plot riddled with unoriginal material, and lots of prayers for creativity.
     So, it’s back to square one… again. Back to the majority of dreamers without a completed work. It’s all rather discouraging when I think about it.
     All that said, I am looking forward to seeing what God will do with my story now. I have no doubt that I was supposed to read Jeff Gerke’s book, that it was God’s plan for me to read it at this time. I’m wondering if He will allow me to create another, better, story out of the old ashes, or if He’s preparing me for something else. I’m going to work on it as much as I can this year, but it’s been hard to find time to think much about it. God has given me some good ideas, I just need to talk to Him about it in earnest and figure it out. And then I need to write it.
     Post Tenebras Lux!
-ST
     (Oh, and I don’t really hate the book; it’s amazing. And you still need to buy it.)

God's Timing

2010-05-29T09:10:00.000-04:00

     Sometimes God's watch does not run at the speed we want it to. Sometimes we think we know the best way and time for something to happen, but God knows otherwise. Sometimes His will is clear to us, but more often we cannot see the path our story is taking.

   This is where I am right now. I know God has a plan for me, but I do not have a clue what it is.

     For the past few weeks, I have not been actively pursuing an agent. (Maybe you have noticed that my last update was in the beginning of April?) The reason for that is I have been waiting and preparing for something.

     In the second post on this blog, way back in September, I said, "I am going to keep pursuing getting this book published unless God tells me to knock it off." Well, God has told me ( not suddenly, but quite decidedly) that I need to stop looking to be published at this point in time.

     No, I did not hear His audible voice; I know He wants me to pause in my journey simply by how my circumstances are.

     When I first began searching for an agent, I thought my book would have a contract by the end of 2010. At least, I strongly hoped it. The way things were going seemed like perfect timing back then. But my life story is taking a different turn, and I have to trust that God's timing is perfect. I am confident that what is happening in my life will accomplish His good purpose.

     Basically, there are some things I have to do before I can resume my search for an agent and/or publisher. It will take me at least a year and a half (and that would drive me insane if I didn't believe this is the way God wants it to be). I am not even sure that is a good time line, because I have discovered my book could use some major rewriting. So that will also have to happen before I can think about publishing again.

      I hope to be able to post here still, but it won't be as often as I have been. Please keep me in your prayers. Let us continue to walk the narrow road that leads to Christ.

     Post Tenebras Lux. After Darkness Light.
-ST

Facebook Page

2010-05-20T20:01:00.001-04:00

     The Storyteller Support team has been published to Facebook! As you can see from the sidebar, Picture Four, the brown background, was the one most voted for. Thanks for your help, everyone!
   The Support Team has been up since yesterday morning and already 13 people have joined. Yipee!!!
     Here is the link, FBers: Storyteller Support Team.Feel free to join. (That's nice talk for "Please, please, please JOIN!!!")
     Now if only Mr. Smiley would stop bugging me to make a page for him....

     Post Tenebras Lux!
-ST

Writing Rants

2010-05-19T16:49:00.000-04:00

     Why do writers begin to write?
     I think most writers, especially those who start young, begin writing simply because they want to. It's fun to create characters, places, and plots. We enjoy writing.
     But the complex web of publishing and marketing tries to conform us to its whims. Not everyone wants to read the type of material we write, so publishers and agents look for certain kinds of writers. I've been searching for an agent for over half a year now, and I've found that most Christian agents just will not accept the genres I write!
     That's sad.
     When art becomes business, it is more difficult to enjoy. That's what I think. Alas, alas, that the world provides only one way to tell the stories burning within us! You really can't avoid business of some type if you want to be well known.
     Think about it. The writer writes for enjoyment. The publisher publishes for money. Somehow, those two don't connect very well in my mind.
   I'm sorry to say I don't have a solution for this unavoidable problem. I think money and business are direct results of the Curse. I really do!
   Are you depressed yet? I don't like leaving people depressed. There is only one happy way to end this.
   I believe that everything good is from Jehovah, but we, being stupid humans, have completely messed everything up (money and business included). Because God is abounding in love and grace, Christians have hope that, through Jesus, everything will be good again, as it once was. What does that mean for you as a writer? If you are a believer in Christ, then you can expect that nothing will be futile in Heaven. Everything you will do will never have a bad side. I don't know if we'll write in Heaven, but I'm sure that whatever happens there will be much better than the best things that happen here. "And that is an encouraging thought," to quote a wise, old wizard.
   There is not much of a point to this post. More like a bunch of points rolled into one. Sorry about that.

     Post Tenebras Lux!
-ST

Vote Verdicts!

2010-05-07T14:22:00.000-04:00

For the past several months, I have been putting up various polls asking about different types of characters and books. I think the results are interesting; maybe even helpful for writers to see which characters people like to read about (not to say the polls were perfect!). Here are some of the polls and their verdicts:

Best Villain

The Joker - 29%

Count Olaf - 17%

Marsuvees Black - 17%

Darth Vader - 17%

Gollum - 17%

Favorite Damsel

Antoinette Reed - 50%

Lucy Pevensie - 25%

Arwen - 25%

Buttercup - 0%

Princess Leia - 0%

Best Kind of Hero

Swift and Cunning - 45%

The Underdog - 35%

Kingly, Noble, Mighty - 15%

Strong and Muscular - 5%

Favorite Antihero

Boromir - 54%

Dustfinger - 16%

Ruscuro the Rat - 12%

Captain Nemo - 8%

Boojum - 8%

Glew - 0%

Favorite Quotable Quote

"I would cut off your head, Dwarf, if it stood but a bit higher from the ground." - 34%

"Mawage. Mawage is what bwings us togethah today." - 31%

"For Narnia and for Alsan!" - 22%

"Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!" - 8%

"May the Force be with you." - 2%

Favorite Fiction Genre

Fantasy - 93%

Science Fiction - 43%

Mystery - 40%

Historical - 25%

Horror - 12%

Romance - 6%

Best Series

The Door Within - 37%

The Lord of the Rings - 25%

The Chronicles of Narnia - 25%

Dragons in our Midst - 7%

Harry Potter - 3%

Twilight Saga - 0%

And don't forget to vote on the most recent poll! See post "Your Vote Needed!" for details.

Post Tenebras Lux!

-ST

Your Vote Needed!

2010-04-30T15:36:00.000-04:00

     I have been sucked into the wild world of Twitter!
     According to Michael Hyatt, this is a good thing (see his article, "12 Reasons to Start Twittering"). And I have to admit, it's been really fun! I am admittedly still trying to figure it all out, but thanks to Brayden Hirsch, I think I am getting the hang of it. Come check it out! http://twitter.com/StorytellerSL

     Along with getting a Twitter, I have been contemplating a Facebook page. I wanted to create something that will grab people's attention, something they will hopefully want to join. Making a fan page for myself feels awkward, so I am doing a "Support Team" page. Encouragement is a big help to me, so a support team seems perfect. My hope is that it will "broaden my online platform," as well as enable me to connect with other fellow writers and readers. The page is all set and ready to go, but every good page needs a good picture.

     I've taken several different pictures in different settings, but I can't decide which one is the best. So I need your opinion! Ask yourself which one would grab your attention, and then vote for that picture on the sidebar poll!

PICTURE ONE

PICTURE TWO

PICTURE THREE

PICTURE FOUR

Thanks so much for your help!

Post Tenebras Lux!

-ST

.The Battle Surrendered - Part Eight.

2010-04-25T18:25:00.001-04:00

The Battle Surrendered

Part Eight

Storyteller SilverLoom

This was a battle I could never win.

With the last strength I had, I made my choice. Covering my eyes with my hands, I cried, “Jesus, help me! I can’t do it without You!”

Not even one second passed before He came. I sensed Him standing in front of me, and I looked into His face. The creatures were behind Him, but they were no longer docile. Furious at His interference, they launched themselves onto His back, trying to tear at Him with their nails and teeth. He remained unscathed by their livid strikes and ignored them completely.

The shadow creature’s false light still shown, but my mind was clear. Though their deceptive fingers had released me to attack Jesus, I was too shocked to stand.

Jesus simply stood, watching me with a smile tugging at the corner of His mouth. I noticed His strong sword still hung in its sheath at His side.

He saw my glance and shook His head. “You still don’t understand. Dear heart, they have already been defeated.” He reached down toward me, the scars made by the cross clearly visible. Grasping my hands in both of His, He pulled me to my feet. “You cannot defeat them. You cannot even resist them, except through Me. Use My strength; don’t depend on yours. I am faithful. I will provide a way out so that you can stand up under them.”

It was so easy, and yet so difficult. I suddenly felt like I wanted to cry, now that I was beginning to understand. “So,” I asked past the lump in my throat, “all I have to do is…?”

“Hold on to Me.”

Gripping His hands tighter, I said, “Ok. I trust You.”

The smile that burst upon His face was the grandest I had ever seen.

Soon after, some of the shadow creatures tried to bring me back under their power. They whispered in my ears and pulled at my arms, but I kept a firm clasp on Jesus’s hands and never looked away from His face. It was almost funny, actually; what chance did the shadow creatures think they had while I was holding onto my Savior?

Eventually, the shadow creatures tired of their fruitless efforts. Their light faded, and their masks of white skin disappeared with it. They slid, one by one, into the forest.

“We’ve arrived,” said Jesus. He turned me around.

Between two trees, like two door posts, I could see my bedroom.

“I’ll always be with you. Always use My strength. Don’t forget.”

“I won’t.” I spun back and threw my arms around Him. “I love You.”

“I love you so much, dear heart.”

I didn’t let go.

After a minute, He laughed. “Go on. You know this won’t be the last time you see Me!”

I nodded and pulled away. “I know. Ok. Bye.”

“Bye? Didn’t I just say I will always be with you?”

“Oh, yeah.” I laughed along with Him and walked toward my bedroom.

Though I was coming out of late afternoon, the first rays of dawn greeted me through the windows of my bedroom, chasing away the night’s darkness.

"Our temptation is to face adversaries from the standpoint of our own common sense. But a saint can “be of good cheer” [John 16:33] even when seemingly defeated by adversaries, because victory is absurdly impossible to everyone, except God."

-Oswald Chambers, “My Utmost for His Highest”

~The End~

'The Battle Surrendered - Part Seven'

2010-04-24T17:47:00.000-04:00

The Battle Surrendered

Part Seven

Storyteller SilverLoom

He looked me in the eyes before responding gently, “Dear heart, I am training you not to fight.”

“What? I don’t get it. You’re training me not to fight the shadow creatures? But they’ll keep bringing me back to that tower!” I was beginning to go into hyper-panic mode.

Jesus placed His hands on my shoulders. “Dear heart, this is what I’ve been trying to teach you. I want you to surrender. Listen to Me.” He continued slowly and deliberately, “You will never be able to defeat the enemy. They are far too cunning…. But I can defeat them for you.”

At last, His point was starting to click inside my thick head.

He went on, “You have to let Me do it. Dear heart, I want so badly to help you. Surrender to Me.”

“But…,” I attempted an excuse and failed. There was nothing to say. His words went against every instinct in me, but He had to be right because He was Jesus.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw movement among the trees. By the time I turned to look, they were just a few feet away.

I screamed and fled, pulling away from Jesus as I ran, but the shadow creatures moved faster than I did. They were on me in a moment, their icy hands pulling me down.

And then I did the dumbest thing. I fought the shadow creatures. I tried to claw at them and bite their hands. I pushed and squirmed and screamed, but they held on.

The now familiar light suddenly bathed me in its unnatural beams. My head lolled and I felt my muscles slow. Thoroughly groggy, I couldn’t keep up the fight.

Something brushed my ear. “Follow meee…,” the creature whispered.

No, I couldn’t. Why not? I didn’t know why not. The light made me so dizzy….

A sliver of sanity crossed my mind, telling me to surrender. Surrender to Him.

No, I could fight! I had to fight! I could do this!

The shadow creatures’ fingers felt so soft and smooth. The light made me so sleepy….

Surrender to Him.

This was a battle I could never win.

The Battle Surrendered - Part Six

2010-04-23T18:37:00.001-04:00

The Battle Surrendered

Part Six

Storyteller SilverLoom

I cried myself to sleep.

A gentle touch pulled me from my slumber. I looked up. It was Him.

As fresh tears cascaded down my face, He pulled me into His arms. “I’m sorry,” I sobbed out.

“Dear heart,” He said tenderly. “I forgive you.”

He held me until my wails evolved into hiccupping spasms. Then He helped me stand. “Come on,” He said. “You can’t stay here.” Taking that small gold key from his pocket again, He unbound my chained hands and feet.

I followed Him to the rope dangling into my prison through the crack in the wall. He gestured at our escape route and said, “Ladies first.”

I tried to pull myself up the rope, but the sides of my prison had somehow become smoother than last time, and my feet couldn’t find a good hold. If I hadn’t been so weak from days without eating, I may have been able to climb it, but I’m not sure.

After a few tries, I turned to Jesus. “I can’t do it. I can’t climb up.”

He nodded. “It’s always harder to escape the second time.”

“So, we’re stuck in here?!” I panicked aloud.

He waited.

I remembered Who I was talking to. Not even a sealed tomb could keep Him in, much less my prison. “Can You help me get out? Please?”

With an ear-to-ear smile, He replied, “I was hoping you would ask.”

He climbed the rope as easily as a fish swims; the slick wall could not hinder Him. When He was safely above ground, He told me to hang onto the rope. I obeyed, and He slowly drew me up. We were both under the blue sky in a matter of minutes.

Jesus untied the rope from the tree He had secured it to. As He began coiling the rope, a thought suddenly hit me, but I hesitated to voice it. He stopped His work and looked at me. “Go ahead,” He said.

“Jesus,” I began, “I know my capture was my own fault; I shouldn’t have given into the shadow creatures. But… why didn’t You help me? Didn’t You… I mean, You must have known what was happening. Didn’t You wake up?”

His eyes grew deeply sad. “Yes, dear heart, I knew what was happening. I was watching.” His voice cracked just a bit. “But,” He added, “you didn’t ask Me to help. You were too busy trying to fight them on your own.”

“I have to ask for Your help?” How could He have just stood there and let me be dragged off? I was incredulous.

He was patient. “You have to want my help. I never force it on anyone; I will only help you if you want Me to. My way is the perfect way, but I gave you a free will to accept or decline My help.”

So it was still all my fault.

We started walking through the forest, covering the same ground we had covered before. The sun moved across the sky slowly, but I kept a close eye on it. When it was past noon, I spoke up, “Hey, um, Jesus. Do You think now would be a good time to start my training? Because, those shadow creatures might come back for me tonight and I want to be prepared.”

“Your training has already begun.”

“What?” I cried. “But all I’ve done is get captured! You haven’t even given me the smallest bit of advice on how to wield a sword!”

He stopped and turned to look at me. “Did I ever say your training would involve weapons?”

“Um, well, not exactly….”

“I never hinted at anything of the sort.”

“But that’s what training is!” I protested.

Shaking His head, He explained, “You train to become better at something, and it doesn’t have to be with weapons. Athletes train to race better. Warriors train to fight better.”

“But I thought You were going to train me to be a warrior to fight the shadow creatures!”

He looked me in the eyes before responding gently, “Dear heart, I am training you not to fight.”

~The Battle Surrendered - Part Five~

2010-04-22T17:51:00.000-04:00

The Battle Surrendered

Part Five

Storyteller SilverLoom

The shadow creatures were back.

Again they pulled at me with their freezing hands. I cried out, “No!” and tried to stand, but they kept me firmly fixed to the ground. I looked around for Jesus, but the shadow creatures surrounded me and blocked my view of Him.

Suddenly, there was that same dizzying light. The same feeling of stupor. The same urge to give in.

No! I willed myself to fight back. I felt that I couldn’t fail again. I couldn’t let myself give in.

But the shadow creatures did not let me go, and I couldn’t tear myself from them. I wondered if I really wanted to. Was that prison so bad? Were the chains so heavy? And Jesus would rescue me as soon as I asked Him to. He was nice like that.

The intoxicating aura of false peace washed over me, irresistible. The creature leaned over and whispered, “Follow meee….”

I don’t even remember the first step this time. All I know is that I found myself starting awake, once again, in the prison tower with the vague recollection that I had chained myself there.

I had never thought I would fall into the same trap. If it had been horrible the first time I failed, it was double the horror now.

And then I thought of Him. I’d let Him down. And that was the greatest heartbreak of all. How could I have ever thought He would rescue me again? And even if He did, how could I face Him?

My shame overwhelmed me. My guilt was heavier than my shackles. I mourned and moaned in the tower for days. No one came, which only made my sorrow deepen, until it was so deep I felt like I could drown in it.

I was hungry, thirsty, tired, and cold. It was the closest to death I had ever been.

Finally, just when I thought I would burst from the pain, I did the only thing left to be done. I cried out for help.

“God,” I whispered, “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry. Please… help me. I’ll die without You.”

I cried myself to sleep.

"The Battle Surrendered - Part Four"

2010-04-21T18:30:00.000-04:00

The Battle Surrendered

Part Four

Storyteller SilverLoom

He shouldered the coiled rope and strode into the forest.

I scurried after Him, calling, “Wait! Where are we going?”

“Follow me.”

I halted. “Did You just quote Yourself?”

Thankfully, He understood my sense of humor and laughed. “Yes, I tend to do that. It makes it easier for people to see things the way I do.”

“And that’s supposed to mean…?” I asked as I again hurried to keep up with Him.

“That I never change. I am the same at this moment as I was two-thousand years ago, and as I was at the creation of the universe. Today, tomorrow, and yesterday, I remain the same. And so I can quote Myself in everything.”

We continued walking. And walking. And… walking. The forest floor was uncommonly free of debris, and a soft carpet of moss covered the earth, much to the glee of my bare feet. But after several hours of walking, and walking, and… walking, I finally said, “Ok, don’t get me wrong. I want to follow You wherever You go. But can You give me some clue as to where we’re headed? Please?”

“We are going home,” Jesus replied.

I gasped audibly, feeling both excitement and fear. He took one look at my face and cracked up. “No, dear heart! I mean your house. It’s not your time yet.”

“Oh,” I said. Then I saw the funny side of it and laughed along with Him. After a few minutes, it finally occurred to me what He had said. “Hey! Why are You taking me back home? You said You were going to train me!” I cried.

“No worries,” He replied. “We won’t arrive until you’re trained.”

It took me a while to try to sort that out. “So… You’ll be training me on the way?”

“Yes. We won’t get there until you’re trained.”

“Oh, ok. Gotcha.” Little did I suspect that I had no clue what He meant.

We walked some more. And walked. And… well, you know. But it wasn’t as boring as it sounded. The forest was beautiful and peaceful, and I was walking beside the Prince of Peace.

Presently, Jesus remarked, “We’ll stop here and make camp. We’ll continue your training in the morning.”

I can’t deny that I gave Him a funny glance. Continue? I wasn’t aware that we had started. I hadn’t even touched a sword or a bow yet!

He stripped the lower branches off some nearby trees and soon had a small fire going. We ate bread and drank water that came from the pack He carried on His back.

We slept on the soft moss under some light blankets from Jesus’s pack. The weather was perfect. I didn’t feel cold until early in the morning.

Shivering, I pulled the blanket more tightly around me. My eyelids fluttered for just a second, but what I saw in that moment made me sit up and scream.

The shadow creatures were back.

The Battle Surrendered - Part Three

2010-04-20T18:19:00.001-04:00

The Battle Surrendered

Part Three

Storyteller SilverLoom

I lifted my shackled wrists up and said wistfully, “I’m chained. I don’t know where the key is.”

He reached into a pocket on his tunic and took out a tiny gold object. “You mean this key?” Grinning at my surprise, he quickly bent to unlock the chains on my wrists and ankles.

“How did you know I was here?” I inquired as he unbound me.

“Well,” he replied, “I’m here to train you. And I can’t train you if you’re locked up like this.”

I decided not to push the question he had obviously avoided and let the conversation carry on. “Train me? Why?” I had read many stories of kids who were sucked into fantasy worlds and trained to be warriors for special missions. The thought that I could be like them filled me with jittery excitement.

“‘Why?’” he repeated, letting my final shackle fall to the floor. “You think you don’t need training?”

“No, no! It’s just that… why me? Why was I chosen to be trained? Why were those creatures after me?”

He looked me in the eye. “They are after all of you, dear heart.” With that, he turned back toward the rope, leaving me to follow and wonder what he had against direct answers.

It was fairly easy to climb out of the dungeon with my feet braced on the wall and my rescuer beneath me to give me a lift if I needed it. Soon, he and I were treading the green grass outside my prison. I shaded my eyes from the sun as I turned to look at the dreadful place. It was a single, tall tower without any doors or windows that I could see from this side. No banner flew from the top of this lonely turret, so I had no emblem to associate with the enemy who had captured me. The tower was set in the middle of a forest.

“Um, so, Sir…?” I let my sentence trail off and turned to look at my rescuer, who was busy coiling the rope. “Sorry. I didn’t get your name?”

“Jesus,” was the calm reply.

I balked. His grin returned as He added, “You wanted directness.”

Now I had to decide if it was a complete miracle or complete lunacy. The fact that He could read my mind pretty much ruled out insanity, but could it really be Him?

Before I could say anything, He stretched out His hand toward me. One look at the ugly scar marring His skin was enough to convince me. My mind spun.

He pulled me out of my circling thoughts by pointing out, “You were about to ask Me something?”

“Uh, yeah. When do we start… um, that is, when are You…?”

“When does your training begin?” He prompted.

I nodded, still dumbfounded.

“When you are ready,” He said.

I managed to squeak out, “Am I ready now?”

He smiled. “You tell Me. Are you?”

“I think so.”

He waited.

“Yes. I’m ready.”

“Good. Then let’s get to work.” He shouldered the coiled rope and strode into the forest.

TBS: Part Two

TBS: Part One

TBS - Part 2!

2010-04-19T17:30:00.008-04:00

The Battle Surrendered Part Two Storyteller SilverLoom

The next thing I knew, I was blinking as if I had just woken up and saw that I was no longer in my bedroom.

The eerie light was gone. The shadow creatures were gone. I was completely alone in a dark, damp prison. The only light in the place filtered in from a crack far above me. Someone had chained my ankles and wrists to the stone floor of the dungeon. I had a vague memory of the creatures telling me to chain myself up.

Now I realized just how dumb I had been to follow the shadow creatures. “Hello?” I called. No answer except for the constant dripping of water from a corner of my prison. “Hey! Let me go! Get me out of here!” I yelled. Was it my imagination, or did I hear malicious laughter coming from the darker parts of the dungeon?

My heart pounded with fear. I had never thought something like this could happen to me. This sort of thing only happened to people in books. It wasn’t supposed to happen in real life.

A scream welled up inside of me and I let it go, along with a torrent of tears. The worst part of it was that I knew I had put myself in this place; that I hadn’t fought hard enough.

I curled up on the cold stone floor and sobbed. Then I called for the only One who could hear me. “God, please… please help me! I don’t know where I am! I shouldn’t have given in. Please! Help me!”

As my tears fell afresh, the light from the crack in the wall suddenly disappeared. I stopped mid-sob and froze. I even held my breath.

A voice reverberated off the solid walls of my prison. “Hello, down there!”

I looked up at the crack. The face of a man stared back at me, his head almost completely covering the crack. He had the widest smile I had ever seen. “Not the most comfortable place to live, I’d say,” he remarked in a friendly manner.

I wiped my teary eyes with my pajama sleeve. “Can… can you get me out?” I stammered. I felt reluctant to trust this guy, afraid this was another trap.

His smile grew even larger. “That’s what I came here to do; to help you out." His face drew back from the hole as he stood.

I waited while he hacked away at the stone, making the crack large enough for him to crawl through. It was a few minutes before I realized that he was using his sword to send the bricks of my prison tumbling down. That was one strong blade.

Finally, he secured a rope outside the dungeon and used it to climb down through the gap he had made. He looked like a prince out of a fairy tale; dressed from head to toe in white stitched with gold thread, a voluminous cape thrown over his shoulders.

When he stood in front of me, I lifted my shackled wrists up and said wistfully, “I’m chained. I don’t know where the key is.”

TBS - Part One

2010-04-17T15:50:00.004-04:00

In a previous post, Tell Me a Story, I gave you the first paragraph of a short story I was writing and asked you to create your own version while I created mine. The stories you all wrote were great and I really enjoyed reading and discussing them.

My short story is finally finished, standing at about seven pages. Yeah, I really took the idea and ran with it. Apparently, it is nearly impossible for me to write a story shorter than a page.

Needless to say, I will not be posting the whole thing all at once. The story will appear, bit by bit, over the next few days... or week... or so... Anyway, I will try to keep the parts short and sweet for easy reading. Hope you enjoy it!

The Battle Surrendered

Part One

Storyteller SilverLoom

They came at night. Like gliding shadows, they moved soundlessly across my bedroom. I had no idea they were coming for me. There was no time to prepare for their attack.

I woke just in time to see them reaching toward me. It was too late. Their fingers were like ice; black icicles circling around my arms, my neck, and my head.

Screaming in terror, I pulled back, trying to roll over, trying to get away from the shadow creatures. Still they clutched at me.

All at once, a dim light dawned over me and my assailants. But instead of clarifying, this light seemed to make everything blurry. It illuminated the shadow creatures, but they did not disappear like shadows; instead, they seemed to grow more solid, and their skin turned white, soft, and pleasantly warm. Their eyes were dark, but gentle. The light seemed to emanate from someplace unseen behind the creatures.

A strange feeling invaded my body and mind, similar to the one you get when you have a fever and take a sedative cold medicine. I could feel my eyelids droop under the unnatural disorientation, and I began to wonder why I was fighting. I reasoned that I was not being hurt, so why bother to struggle? It was too much work to try to get away.

The creatures pulled me into a standing position beside my bed. I didn’t resist. One of the creatures twittered in my ear, its voice soothing, “Follow meee….”

I didn’t ask where it wanted me to follow it to. I would see when I got there. It would take too much effort to talk.

I remember taking the first step to follow the creature. Something nagged within me, telling me that what I was doing was stupid and wrong, but I buried the feeling and stepped forward. The next thing I knew, I was blinking as if I had just woken up and saw that I was no longer in my bedroom.

A Bunch of Randomness

2010-04-09T18:43:00.002-04:00

     Greetings, dear readers! Just a quick update to let you know what is going on.

     1: I am still agent hunting. Or, better said, agent researching. Some authors, publishers, and even agents I emailed for information haven't responded. I emailed them all several weeks ago, so I think it's time to buckle down and decide if I want to spend the energy on the agents, even though I don't know much about them.

     Another reason I haven't been vigorously pursuing agents lately is because I have been thinking about the alternate ways of publication. Two publishers in particular have caught my eye: Creation House and Marcher Lord Press. I am thinking I should email some of the authors that have worked with these publishers and ask for their opinions. What do you think about small publishers like these?

     2: I asked several other authors to read my manuscript, and a few of them agreed! Whoopee! I do not have permission to release their names, and it may be a while before they are finished reading it, but I am praising God for these opportunities! (Writers, if you are looking for endorsements, see my post "How to Get a Book Endorsement.")

     3: I've been tagged by Madeline at The Stuff I Throw Under My Bed. The rule of the tag is to list eight books you would like to live in for a week, then tag eight people. So, here goes:

     Book 1: The Magician's Nephew (C. S. Lewis). I would love to watch the world of Narnia come into being. And talking to Aslan wouldn't be so bad, either (hee hee).

     Book 2: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Jules Verne). Hey, Captain Nemo, can I please drive your ship? Just once?

     Book 3: DragonQuest (Donita K. Paul). Minor dragons rule.

     Book 4: The Lord of the Rings (J. R. R. Tolkien). By the time one week was over in this book, I would have enough of walking and battles to last me for... oh, about forever.

     Book 5: The Black Cauldron (Lloyd Alexander). Never, ever judge a book by its movie. Ever.

     Book 6: Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz (L. Frank Baum). Oz is one step above Wonderland in insanity, admittedly, but I think I could survive it for a week.

     Book 7: Tears of a Dragon (Bryan Davis). Let's skip chapter 19, shall we?

     Book 8: North! Or Be Eaten (Andrew Peterson). Beware the nameless evil named Gnag!

   Now to tag eight people. I will comment on your blogs to let you know if you are tagged.

     Seth, The Narrowing Road

     Squeaks, Hidden Doorways

     Araken, Writer's Passion

     Macey, A Girl's Journey

     Izori, Evening Stars

     Jessica, safirewriter

     Silver Angel, Silver Angel's Musings

     Galadriel, The Wordsmith's Shelf

     Alright, well, if you've made it this far, you have more patience than I have. So much for a "quick update." lol

   Post Tenebras Lux!
-ST

Interview with New Author, Jacob Parker!

2010-04-07T09:49:00.002-04:00

     They say you should never judge a book by its cover, but if the cover art of Jacob Parker's new fantasy is any indication of how great the story is, it must be a fantastic read.
   Expected to release in September, Kestrel's Midnight Song will be one of the newest members in the Christian fantasy genre. Its creator is, likewise, a brand new author.
     I had the honor of being able to interview Jacob Parker. Enjoy the story of the Yodeling Dwarf:

     What first inspired you to write Kestrel's Midnight Song?

I've always had an overactive imagination. And I've always loved reading. By 4th grade I had combined these passions and decided I would be a novelist. Not when I grew up... then and there. Several failed attempts and 2 years later, I gave up. My stories, though filled with action, wandered aimlessly over the course of tens of thousands of words until my characters had adventured into a rut I couldn't get them out of. Then, in seventh grade, I wrote a short story for a school assignment. My teacher sought me out at lunch time, and told me how impressed she was and said, "If you wrote a book, I would buy it." That might not seem very significant, but it reignited my desire to write a novel. So that summer, somewhere around my 15th birthday, I started. The original inspiration was a picture of rolling green hills against a blue sky. I imagined a shepherd journeying across those hills, and thus began The Shepherd, later retitled Kestrel's Midnight Song. This time, I wrote out an outline beforehand, and though it hardly resembles the story that has finally emerged, it helped keep me focused.

How long did it take to complete the book?

I wrote it mostly over the course of two summers, and some in my spare time during the school year, for a total of two and a half years.

Tell us the story of your publication. How did it come about?

My plan for attaining publication should never have worked, but it did. I started a blog, and my intent was to comment on the blogs of publishing professionals and authors, hoping they would click on my name and follow it to my blog, where I'd posted the first chapter of my story. Then, they would read my chapter, fall in love with it, and email me a request for the full thing. One of the blogs I commented on was Scott Appleton's. He followed my link back, read the first chapter and was "most intrigued." So he sent me an invitation to submit my manuscript for publication consideration under Flaming Pen Press... roughly two weeks after I'd started my blog. Please note that, in reality, it doesn't work like that. Publishing professionals and authors are too strapped for time to follow links. (usually) The author has to go out on a limb and make the initial inquiry. However, a blog with a strong following can be a very beneficial thing to put in a query letter.

Do you have any plans to write future books?

Yes, definitely. Kestrel's Midnight Song started as a standalone novel. But now it's a prequel. I'm very excited to begin the series ahead.

Tell us how you came to know Christ as Savior.

I grew up going to Church. But I honestly never fully understood what it was all about until years of Church attendance had passed. I thought of Jesus as God who came down to teach. His death didn't make sense until I was in seventh grade. In a conversation with my grandpa, it all clicked. The rest is... the future!

What do you hope readers will take away with them after reading Kestrel's Midnight Song?

     The best I can hope for on a consistent basis is that it was a riveting story that pulled the reader into an engaging world for a time. But I think the most rewarding reaction would be that they were changed for the better. Kestrel's Midnight Song has definite Christian themes, and if even one person emails me stating that the book aided them in their walk with Christ, that would make all the struggles and trials of writing and publishing a book worth it, instantly.


     To find out more about Jacob Parker and Kestrel's Midnight Song, visit http://yodelingdwarf.blogspot.com/

   Post Tenebras Lux!
-ST

Tell Me a Story

2010-03-31T16:28:00.001-04:00

     I simply cannot stop writing. If an idea springs up, I just have to grab it and write it down. To me, it does not really matter if the story isn't finished right then, as long as there is enough of it to remind me of my idea later.

   Do you ever feel this way? I bet some, if not most, of you do. And that is excellent, because I am counting on you to write... right now. Even if you have never experienced the irresistible urge to set your thoughts on paper, you can still help me out.

   You see, I got one of those ideas today. And so now I am writing a short story. I have written the first paragraph and I want YOU to tell me what you would write next. I already know what is going to happen, but because the plot is going to be a little different than "most stories" (I hope), I want to see what you guys come up with. Consider yourself my test lab guinea pig. (Brahahaha!)

     Here is the opening paragraph:

     They came at night. Like gliding shadows, they slipped through the cracks in my windows and door and entered my bedroom. They moved soundlessly, and I had no idea they were coming for me. There was no time to prepare for their attack.

      So, if you care to, comment and tell me what you would write next. What will the main character do as he or she is being assailed by these strange enemies? I promise not to steal your ideas (as long as your ideas don't unintentionally coincide with my preconceived ones).   ;)

     Once I am done writing the short story, I will post it here... if I ever finish it. There is no promise it will not be forgotten for a year or so, but I will try to finish.

     Come on; tell me your version of the story!

     Post Tenebras Lux!
-ST

P. S. If you are having an imagination cramp (wonder if Barney the dinosaur ever had those?) then you might try writing what you would do if you were in the character's situation.

The End of America?

2010-03-22T15:17:00.001-04:00

     Like many American's, I am bewildered and troubled by yesterday's Health Care vote. It is very easy to feel heavy-hearted and angry when I think about the direction this country is headed. Yes, my imagination tells a fearful story of America plunging to its doom in the same way that the ancient Roman Empire did.

     But there is hope.

     Not in Washington. I have very little hope that our nation will ever be the same as it was in the time of our Founding Fathers. I am not saying it is impossible; just that I place little confidence in our present leaders.

     My hope is found in only one place, or rather, one Person. He is the only perfect One to trust.

     I truthfully believe that every form of government will eventually fail unless its people and its leaders know God as Supreme. No amount of laws will stop sinful people from doing sinful things; only Jesus can do that. No amount of politicians will be able to make good decisions all the time if their worldviews are flawed; only Jesus can give us new eyes that see clearly. No amount of money can heal every illness; only Jesus brings peace to the hurting. Jesus is the only Solid Rock.

     America may one day be destroyed. That is the stark reality. But God is the King of kings. No matter where we are, no matter what happens, He is with us.

     As Believers in Christ we are "convinced that neither death nor life... neither the present nor the future, nor any powers... nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom. 8:38-39) There is no fear in God's infinite love for us.

     This is not to say that we should sit back and watch our country crumble. We have been given the gift of freedom. Let us use it while we still can! But use it for the sake of the future generations, and not out of fear.

     Come wind, waves, or fire... come terrorists, national debt, or Obamacare... God is firmly seated on His throne, and nothing can make Him walk away.

     Post Tenebras Lux!
-ST

How Goes the Search?

2010-03-20T12:30:00.001-04:00

     I cannot believe it has been over a month since my last update!

     So, how goes my search for an agent? Slowly. This past week has seen more progress than the previous four, I think.

     Let's see, I told you about the book, Christian Writers' Market Guide. This month I've been reading through the agents section. As I went through the lists, I looked specifically for agents who are seeking new writers (like me) and books in the sci-fi or fantasy genres (like my book). I narrowed down about nine agents. Yesterday, I emailed four authors about one of the agents. One of the authors replied already, and it looks promising. One agent down, eight more to research. *sigh*

     I'm afraid my book has taken the backseat lately. Necessarily, though. I've only been able to pursue agents on the weekends, for the most part.

     I bet most writers do not have as much trouble finding an agent. But I am picky. I do not want to end up with someone less than helpful. I am seeking someone who will be able to help me understand the steps of writing and publishing, who will listen to my ideas, and give me wise council. And I would love it if he or she is a Believer.

     But I am beginning to wonder if this person exists. Oh, well. I am praying God will lead me to the right one.

     On a lighter note, I have been writing on this blog for half a year, now. I am amazed and excited by all the "traffic" it has seen! As of today, there are 32 followers! I never would have thought so many people would take an interest in my blog. So, thank you, reader, for being a part of my journey. Your encouragement is such a blessing!

     And thank You, God, for guiding me and blessing me on my way.

     Post Tenebras Lux!
-ST

Book Review- Hunter Brown and the Secret of the Shadow

2010-03-11T20:29:00.002-05:00

Hunter Brown is your average High School prankster; the only thing he seems to be good at is getting into trouble. But his whole life changes when he is given a mysterious book and key. Strange dreams and visions lead him to the land of Solandria where he must find a man named Aviad.

Hunter soon learns that something dark is hunting him. The Shadow wants to turn Hunter away from his mission to find Aviad, and they will stop at nothing to capture him. With the help of the Codebearers (warriors who are part of a Resistance against The Shadow), Hunter trains in the ways of the Author. But Hunter is not completely sure he trusts the Author with his life, as the Codebearers do. Will he join the Shadow? Or will he learn to have faith in the Author and Aviad?

I loved the way this book parallels the journey to Salvation. It really made me think about what it is that Christ does for us when we accept Him as Savior. The book is packed with plenty of surprises. I would recommend it to anyone.

If you would like more information about Hunter Brown or its creators, The Miller Brothers, here is the link to the official site: http://www.codebearers.com/

Post Tenebras Lux!
-ST

The Next Step

2010-02-17T19:13:00.001-05:00

     I got a package today!

     Alright, it isn't that exciting, since I ordered the package myself. But getting mail is still fun.

     In the package was a book called Christian Writers' Market Guide 2010. The book was brought to my attention several times, so I thought it would be a good investment. It lists many helpful resources such as publishers, conferences, and (most importantly to me) agents.

     If you remember from my last update, I said that I was researching a few agents. Sadly, they do not seem to have worked out; thus the reason I bought the market guide.

     The next step in my journey is to tackle the book and glean what I can from it. That may take a while, though; I have been greatly pressed for time as of late.

     Oh, if you want to check out the book, it was written by Sally E. Stuart. I found my copy on Amazon.com.

     Another point I should mention; my computer has an overheating problem, but I gave it to a friend who I hope will be able to fix it. I am not sure how long it will be before I get it back, so I may be absent from the internet for a while. In fact, I am typing this post on my iPod. Obsessed? Undoubtedly. But I do it for you. :)

Post Tenebras Lux!

-ST

Romance: How Much Is Too Much? (Part Three)

2010-02-07T19:18:00.003-05:00

Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”

How do we protect our hearts? The same way a fortress is defended; by keeping it well maintained and fighting against those who seek to invade it and tear it down.

Our lives should not be centered on anything except God. In order to maintain our hearts, we must have a strong relationship with our Savior. He loves you more deeply than even your spouse will. Nothing in life matters more than God, not even your marriage. Do not forget that. Ever.

Our hearts can easily be invaded through our minds. Every action we make is first contemplated. The mind is the plain before the heart where the battle is fought.

If you could avoid a bloody war, wouldn’t you? One way to avoid a long war in your mind is to stay away from outside influences that may tempt you with thoughts and emotions that you simply do not need at this time in your life.

This is why I do not think romance stories for children and teens are a good thing. These age groups are not ready to be married, and therefore not ready for romance. Books and movies can plant tempting thoughts and dreams in a young person’s mind.

Daydreaming can be a distraction from your goal. Of course, we all wonder about our future, but to think about it all the time will pull you away from the work God has given you to do. Make His plan for your present life your number one priority, and let Him handle what is to come.

Again, every action we make is first contemplated. The battle begins in your mind. Be very careful of what you put in front of your eyes.

Maybe you are reading this and thinking, ‘I can’t do that. It is way too hard!’ You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. It has been done, and if you desire to live a life of absolute purity, the Spirit within you will help you. Yes, it is hard; all battles are hard. But the reward is worth it.

Perhaps you have already given your gift away. You may think you could never achieve the picture I have painted, because you’ve already messed up. Listen, what good is grace if we can’t use it? The Bible says that God forgives those who repent. It is never too late to begin again. It is never too late to fight.

‘Ok, sure, ST,’ you might be thinking, ‘but if I don’t date, then how am I supposed to meet my spouse when I am ready for marriage?’ That is where the faith comes in. I am sure that you know many people of the opposite gender that you haven’t dated. They may be at church or at your job. You meet people of your age throughout your life and someday one of those people may be the one you will give your gift to. Let God write your love story; He is the best One to do it.

I hope these posts have been helpful in explaining my beliefs on this subject. If you have any questions or if you have something to add, feel free to comment on this post or, if you would rather, email me at storytellerjourney@hotmail.com.

Post Tenebras Lux!

-ST

Romance: How Much Is Too Much? (Part Two)

2010-02-06T19:31:00.002-05:00

Why is guarding our hearts important?

Let’s use the story of the King and the gifts again. Suppose the person who had the gift they were supposed to give to you gave it away to someone else. How would you feel if you received less than the whole gift? Yeah, me too.

So, if you would be disappointed by someone recklessly giving your gift away, why would you recklessly give their gift away?

Remember that the gift the King has given you is called your heart. Philippians 2:3-5 instructs us as Believers in Christ, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus….” If this is how we should live, then how can giving your heart away be justified? Your future mate should have every bit of the gift God has given you to give. That is how God created it to be; He made one man and one woman for each other. He did not make a bunch of people and tell them, “Ok, go have fun!” He said, “… each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.” (1 Corinthians 7:2)

Romance is a good thing, created by God. But it can be misused by those who are not yet ready for it. We are ready for it when we are ready to be married, and not before.

Be very wary of making emotional connections with the opposite gender. It does not matter how fun it seems at the time. Later on, what will you have to give the person you marry? Imagine if you save yourself for your mate. If everything you do together after your marriage is a first for both of you. Seriously, stop reading and muse over it.

I do not mean just your first kiss. How about your first candlelight dinner? Your first, “I love you?” Imagine how connected you could be to this one person! Doesn’t that sound like something you could want?

The question should not be, “How much can I get away with?” But, “How much can I reserve for the one God has for me?”

The third and final part is coming tomorrow.

Post Tenebras Lux!

-ST

Romance: How Much Is Too Much? (Part One)

2010-02-05T18:42:00.007-05:00

I have found that romance is a controversial subject among Christians. In these next three posts, I would like to tell you what I believe, why I believe it, and why I apply it to reading and writing. I do not intend this to be a putdown of any differing convictions you may have, and I hope that you will comment with your thoughts; I only want to have my personal beliefs written down so that there will be no confusion about how I approach the books I read and the stories I write.

So the question that many single people ask is, “How much romance is ok for me to have before I am married?” I think the answer is very plain. None.

Let me tell you a story, paraphrased from the book Before You Meet Prince Charming by Sarah Mally:

Once upon a time, you, a servant of the King, are entrusted with a gift. The King gives a gift to each of the other servants as well. You are all instructed to guard each of your gifts carefully and, when the time is right, to find the perfect person who will receive your gift. Well, you eventually notice that some of the servants are sharing their gifts with each other. They are taking bits and pieces from each other and giving bits and pieces away. You are now faced with a choice; will you give your gift to just anyone or will you save the whole thing for the only, right person, as the King instructed you to do?

The King is God, your Creator, and the gift is your heart.

Do you desire to have a godly, wonderful marriage? Do you desire to please God with your life? God desires the very best for you. He has given you a wonderful gift meant to be given away. We, as humans, are meant to love and be loved.

This is where the dangers are. Because God has given us the freedom to give this gift away, we can easily abuse it.

Dating, for example, is a classic pitfall for giving away your heart and your purity. Consider this; dating is a cycle during which you give away pieces of your gift. You meet someone, you date and, if you do not really like them, you break up. If you do fall in love with the other person, you give your heart away and are crushed when they leave you for someone else. The cycle goes on. Now let’s compare dating and divorce. I was once told that dating is “practice” for divorce. That makes sense, doesn’t it? Dating does not prepare you for a life-long relationship; it encourages you to have fun when you want it regardless of how it affects other people.

But you do not even have to be “officially dating” to give your heart away, or to unintentionally steal the heart of another. There are many ways to fall into the trap. The simple flirtatious glances, the misleading flattery, the huge runaway crush. Before you know it, you have fallen in love with someone who may or may not truly love you in return. You have given your heart away.

Proverbs 4:23 tells us to guard our hearts. But what is the best way to do that? What is the alternative to the world’s alluring way? For fear of losing all interest on this rather long post, I will continue in part two tomorrow.

Post Tenebras Lux!

-ST

A Crazy Week Deserves A Crazy Post

2010-01-23T15:23:00.001-05:00

     Greetings, all! Whew, what a crazy week it has been.

   Because of the many comments regarding romance on my last post, I plan to write about what my beliefs are on that specific subject. I have mentioned my thoughts on it in various places, but now I want to have the full explanation here once and for all, so that you know where I am coming from. I just have not been able to write it yet. But I am hopeful that the post will be coming very soon.

     In the meantime, for those of you who perhaps do not know, Jacob Parker (a.k.a. the Yodeling Dwarf) is on the way to publishing his first book. Yesterday he finally released a sketch for his cover art. You can see the impressive picture at http://yodelingdwarf.blogspot.com/

     One of the things I like to think about often is the similarities between most fantasy stories and our real history. Typically, stories such as Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia have a good-verses-evil plot, kind of like the on-going battle between God and Satan. There are so many parallels to be drawn between our lives and the books we read and write. Thinking about this is one of the ways I worship the Author of authors. I am filled with awe when I compare the Bible, God's story, to any other man-written book. The Bible is so much more complex than Tolkien's works, more complex than anything man can create.

     So, a few days ago I was mulling over this subject and came up with a... a thing. I have no clue what to categorize this thing as. It's not really a song. Definitely not a poem. Not a story. Anyway, here it is. It is speaking from Christ's point of view. Let me know what you think!:

If you ever find you've grown up in Neverland; if the yellow brick road doesn't lead you home; and if your Mount Doom is too high for you to climb, let My love come and comfort you.

If your Wonderland is far from wonderful; if the winter has kept you frozen for one hundred years; and if you feel like your only friend has disappeared in the mud, let My love come and strengthen you.

I am the Author of your story; I know every word. I fight beside you in all of your battles. I am your strong Hero, the King over all, the Rider of the white steed. Won't you let Me pour my love over you?

If you fall to the enemy's strong cunning power; if the dragon is too mighty for you to fight; and if the darkness shadows you and your past comes to haunt, let My love come and carry you.

They call Me Faithful and True. Let My love come running to you.

Post Tenebras Lux!

-ST

Book Review - Rise of the Dibor

2010-01-15T13:38:00.000-05:00

In the land of Dionia, something evil is stirring. An ancient menace threatens the peaceful kingdom; even the earth cries out for mercy. Twelve young men, the sons of kings, are chosen to be trained as warriors to combat the enemy. These are the Dibor.

     This story follows Luik, one of the Dibor, as he grows from a boy to a man amid the chaos of war. Horrors unspeakable, blood-filled battles, the depravity of man, and one Truth that stands forever. Will the rise of the Dibor be enough to counter the rise of evil? The answer is not what you expect.

   Christopher Hopper writes the story as if it were a song, filling it with detailed descriptions. Though some readers may be bored by the descriptions, I appreciated Hopper's original way of writing.
   The plot was also very different, as it explores the question, "What would life have been like if Adam never sinned?"
   One thing I did not love about the book was the romance between Luik and a princess. There was nothing overtly wrong about it, but I am of the opinion that stories for kids and teens are better off without romance (without getting too far into it, as this is another discussion altogether).
     Overall, I think Rise of the Dibor is a good book for teens.

   If you would like to know more about Christopher Hopper or read Rise of the Dibor, click the links below.

http://www.christopherhopper.com/
http://www.amazon.com/Rise-Dibor-White-Lion-Chronicles

Post Tenebras Lux!
-ST

Meandering Thoughs

2009-12-29T18:23:00.000-05:00

     Take ye heed. This post hath no rhyme or reason.
   Here I sit clacking away on the keyboard tonight. A few random thoughts are going around in my mind, so I thought I would share them with you. Why? Because I can because it's my blog.

     Thought one: Why does Facebook post on your wall every time you breathe? It is just discouraging to look at the long list of likes and comments that you made and think about how much time you took to do them.

     Thought two: I have narrowed down my list of eleven agencies to two or three. Now we are getting somewhere. Beginning to think self-publishing looks inviting... but I will resist the temptation to throw my hands in the air just yet.

     Thought three: It has been almost two years since I began to write my book. Happy anniversary to me.

     Thought four: I emailed an agent asking if he accepts science fiction or fantasy. He wrote back saying "No. Try (name of agent I first sent my proposal to)." God definitely has a sense of humor.

Post Tenebras Lux!
-ST

Evil Time

2009-12-22T16:15:00.000-05:00

     I'm sure every one of my friends, even the "Underground Elves," have heard me express my lack of time to do, well, basically anything. This is usually due to the many projects I wish to undertake, while at the same time, I must see to my, shall we say, regular duties.
   Publishing a book falls under the "projects" list, and while it is a particularly high priority project, even it must be put off at certain times. Like at Christmas time.
     Someone asked me earlier this afternoon how my search was going. This is an indication that I need to write a new update. So here it is... nothing new.
     Very sad. But necessary. Just this past week, I hardly had time to take a breath.
     I do plan to pick up my quest for a new agent very soon after Christmas. Or New Years. Somewhere thereabouts.
     I have a list of agencies all ready, about eleven of them. *pauses* Yeah, that's a lot. My plan of action is to choose two or three agents, research their credentials, and send the story to them. While I am waiting for replies, I'll research two or three more. Hang on to your seats, people. This could get confusing. :)
     So, thar be yer update fer the day, matey....
     *shakes head*
     I think I better stop typing before I make a fool of myself. Yes, I am tired.

Post Tenebras Lux!
-ST

Whoever Started this Christmas Thing

2009-12-17T18:39:00.002-05:00

An email has been going around. You may have already read it, but it was just forwarded to me. The email is everything a forward should be; short, but powerful. Hope you enjoy.

On the radio this morning, I heard a story about a woman who was Christmas shopping with her two children. After many hours of looking at row after row of toys and everything else imaginable and after hours of hearing both her children asking for everything they saw on those many shelves, she finally made it to the elevator with her two kids.

      As they headed toward the elevator, she was feeling what so many of us feel during the Christmas holiday. Overwhelming pressure to go to every party, every open house, taste all the holiday food and treats, and get that perfect gift for every single person on our shopping list, making sure we don't forget anyone on our card list, and making sure we respond to everyone who sent us a card.

      Finally the elevator doors opened and there was already a crowd in the elevator. She pushed her way into the elevator and dragged her two kids in with her and all the bags of stuff.

      When the doors closed she couldn't take it anymore and said,  "Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be found, strung up and shot."

      From the back of the elevator she heard a quiet calm voice respond, "Don't worry, we already crucified him."

      For the rest of the trip down in the elevator it was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. Don't forget this year to keep the One who started this whole Christmas thing in your every thought, deed, purchase, and word. If we all did, just think of how different this whole world would be.

Post Tenebras Lux!

-ST

Christmas Rush

2009-12-07T09:24:00.000-05:00

     Christmas is my favorite holiday. I love the feelings it brings. Everything just seems so joyful, music and lights are everywhere. It is a great time of year to slow down and really contemplate God's incredible love for us.
     But this year, I haven't slowed down much. I have been frantically trying to complete the many projects that I must attend to. Then yesterday it hit me just how stupid I was being. So I dropped one of my projects. I do not want to rush through Christmas.
   Last night felt great! I cannot say I did anything especially Christmasy (except put on my fuzzy socks), but I made myself take a breath and quit rushing. And like I said, it was great.
     Now I can really listen to the lyrics of the songs on the radio. Have you ever done that? It fills me with awe when the songs remind me of the grace and love of our Savior.
     Now I can enjoy putting up the decorations with my family, and really appreciate the beauty. And, yeah, Christmas isn't about the decorations, but they certainly add to the season for me.
     Are you slowing down the Christmas rush this year? How are you accomplishing that?

Post Tenebras Lux!
-ST

Saga of the Brother Knights - Part 2

2009-12-02T15:15:00.001-05:00

PART II

The Clock

Derrik gazed at the gazebo, hands in his pockets. He marched up the steps and said, “It’s a little strange to put such a fancy clock in a gazebo, especially a gazebo in the middle of nowhere. Don’t you think?”

Thomas climbed up behind his older brother. “Yeah, I guess. The whole place seems weird.”

“Well, it’s definitely creepy,” Derrik agreed, peering closely at the clock. He removed the clock from its hook and turned it over. The hands of the clock had long ceased to move, frozen in their positions, no longer ticking in constant rhythm.

Carefully, Derrik pried open the back of the clock. “Woa,” he gasped.

“What?” asked Thomas, stepping over to look into the clock’s mechanics. He echoed Derrik’s gasp.

Bright, multicolored gems gleamed in the interior of the clock. The precious stones were flat and variously shaped, fitting together within the clock like the pieces of a puzzle. Thomas’s eyes grew as round as the tops of two light bulbs. Derrik whistled lowly.

“No wonder the clock isn’t working,” the older boy said quietly. He pointed at the gems and explicated, “It looks like all the gears and stuff were taken out to make room for the jewels.”

Leaning closer to examine the gems, Thomas saw that Derrik was right; the inside of the clock was empty of all machinery, containing only the gems.

“Lookit,” Thomas said. “There’s one missing.”

Derrik glanced at the empty space in the gem puzzle, then scanned the gazebo floor. “Maybe it fell out when I opened the clock.”

The two brothers searched the gazebo, but with no success. Thomas hopped over the railing and sifted through the fallen leaves around the gazebo. As he circled the perimeter, Thomas began, “I don’t see it….” Then something sticking out of the earth caught his eye. He bent and drew out the half buried object. It was a blood red, palm sized jewel that glinted in the sunlight. Thomas held it up victoriously and exclaimed, “I got it!”

The Truth about Clear Truth

2009-11-30T15:58:00.003-05:00

     There is something that annoys me a lot, and that is when authors are vague in their descriptions of truth for fear of being "preachy". It makes me so sad when I see Christian authors try to water down the gospel so as not to offend anyone. God has given us a Truth that needs to be told, whether people want to hear it or not.

     Don't get me wrong; I am not saying we should shove it down their throats and beat them upside the head with it. But I think we certainly do not need to be cautious about pointing to God in fiction. People can interpret "truth" and "faith" and "love" as meaning anything they want it to in this day and age; from Islam to New Age it differs. But real truth, love, and faith can only be found in one place, or rather, in one Person.

     Do people even care? Will it really affect anyone? Yes. I can tell you from experience that God can touch a hard heart through fantasy when nothing else could.

     No, I'm not going to tell you that I was saved through The Princess and The Goblin. I became a Christian when I was six years old, and lived my whole life going to church and believing in God. However, when I was in my early teens, my family decided to move across the country, away from our friends and everything I had grown up with. I became very sad, although if you had asked me then I would probably have said I was fine. I began to build walls around my heart in a sort of quiet rebellion against God and my family. All I wanted to do was be alone and read fantasy. I went through so many books during that time.

     Finally, I picked up C. S. Lewis's fantasy book The Magician's Nephew. I had already read all of The Chronicles of Narnia years ago, but I had run out of stuff to read on this particular day. I remember sitting on my bed, recalling the plot as I read. If you don't know the story, GO READ IT! But seriously, the gist of it is that a boy named Digory accidentally brings an evil Empress into the fantasy land of Narnia. In that land, Digory sees Aslan the Lion, who is the Christ figure of the story, and realizes that Aslan can help Digory cure his dying mother. Desperate, Digory attempts to ask Aslan for help, but because Digory brought evil into Narnia, Aslan appoints Digory to go on a quest that will defeat the wicked Empress. Digory agrees, knowing that it is his duty, but feels ignored by the Lion and thinks that he will now never get a cure for his mother. The scene comes to a point where Digory at last blurts out:

     "But please, please - won't you - can't you give me something that will cure Mother?" Up till then, he [Digory] had been looking at the Lion's great feet and the huge claws on them: now, in his despair, he looked up at its face. What he saw surprised him as much as anything in his whole life. For the tawny face was bent down near his own and (wonder of wonders) great shining tears stood in the Lion's eyes. They were such big, bright tears compared with Digory's own that for a moment he felt as if the Lion must really be sorrier about his Mother than he was himself.

     "My son, my son," said Aslan. "I know. Grief is great...."

   I started to cry as I read this, because it reminded me that God really, truly cares. He doesn't just care about us, He cares about the things we care about (as long as they are not sinful, of course). This passage was a moment of truth, real truth, for me. I saw that He knew my heartache, even knew my rebellion, and still loved me. I had been looking at His giant claws, expecting them to rain wrath on me for my rebellious spirit, but all the time He knew my pain and was aching to comfort me, He just wasn't able to until I let Him. It didn't all end there, but my regression from rebellion had begun.

   This is why I believe vagueness doesn't help anyone. We are up against so much, from Harry Potter to Twilight; people who read fantasy are just not hearing the truth.We can reach people though fiction, even fantasy. So why would we not? To create a bestseller? Oh, yes, I'm sure that's what Jesus would have done. (Excuse the sarcasm, bear with me.)

     There is nothing wrong with writing for entertainment. But why not use the gift God has given you to encourage and point people to Him and Him alone? I challenge you to write with godly purpose. It will be rewarded.

Post Tenebras Lux!
-ST

The Search Continues

2009-11-27T18:56:00.002-05:00

     Happy late Thanksgiving, guys, gals, and Elves! I hope you had a great one! I sure did.

     After ten days of consideration, I have decided to continue my search for an agent. The decision has been gradual, but I believe it is better than getting an editor or working on another project. This time, though, I will be sending the manuscript to several agents at once.

     I have many hours of research ahead of me; I need to look into each agent to see if they are respectable and fair people who will not take advantage of a novice writer. To do this, I will e-mail a few of the authors and publishers who the agent has worked with and ask for their opinion of the agent. I did this with the previous agent, and it was time consuming enough with just that one. Now I need to do it for several agents!

     I do not know when I'll have the time to do this, as I am busily preparing for a certain holiday called... um... oh, yeah, CHRISTMAS! After the season is over, I expect to be able to resume my quest properly.

     So if you know of an agent that I should look into, let me know! :)

Post Tenebras Lux!
-ST

The SASE I Hoped I Would Never See Again

2009-11-17T11:45:00.000-05:00

     An ominous letter came in the mail today. Addressed to myself... by myself... with the return address of the agent in the left-hand corner. I think I literally gulped as I opened the envelope and unfolded the white sheet that was tucked inside.
     The letter got right to the point (unlike this post). The agent thanked me for sending my proposal, but said it was not what they were looking for.
     But there is more. The agent was very kind and said that my proposal was well done (thanks for your help, Dwarf!). The agent also commented that my writing skills are high (not to toot my own horn or anything...), but I need to work on the crafting of the story. All around, the note was very encouraging. I would pick this type of letter for any writer's first rejection notice.
     I am not as disappointed as I expected to be. For years I have been imagining what a rejection letter would feel like, so I think that has helped build a wall against becoming depressed. My family is super supportive. I have a God who still loves me like crazy. Basically, life is still awesome.
     I do have some decisions I need to make now. Do I continue to search for the right agent? Do I send the story to an editor? Do I put it aside and work on something else for a while? I definitely need to seek God's guidance at this point (as I should be always, anyway). I'll post when I know what I'm doing, of course.
     THANK YOU ALL FOR PRAYING!!! It didn't work out the way I had hoped, but that wasn't what I was praying for. Obviously, God has a different plan. Thank you, thank you, thank you guys and gals for keeping me in prayer and supporting me during this time. You are the best.

Post Tenebras Lux!
-ST

Writing Tips

2009-11-06T20:55:00.000-05:00

Many authors have offered writing tips that I have found to be especially helpful. I thought it may be a good idea to list a few that I have been taught and some that I have learned myself.

NEVER GIVE UP. Author Bruce Coville first taught me this. If you want to write, you must never give up. It will take work. It will take time. But you must not throw your hands into the air. Just keep on writing.
READ. I have learned from experience that reading is quite possibly the most important step toward writing something amazing. Fill your mind with the same thing you want to write about. There was a time when I thought that reading would only give my brain more material to copy and reincarnate into another story, but I have since learned that is not true. You learn and your creativity is fed by reading.
WRITE. Sigmund Brouwer says in his book Short Cuts, "Writing is like sports. Hit ten thousand slapshots in hockey, and you can't help but have a better slapshot. Write a couple thousand pages, and you'll improve. Guaranteed."
BE ORIGINAL. I found this quote from Bryan Davis on Wayne Thomas Batson's blog, and I think it makes a lot of sense: "Don't copy what has already been done-another form of Middle Earth, a new Narnia, or a Christian imitation of Harry Potter. Be bold. Write themes you're passionate about rather than what you think the market wants. Don't be afraid to make real heroes."
PRAY. God is the Creator of creativity. Think about that for a second. Because He is the Creator, He controls everything, even creativity. That means He can also give it. So pray, ask Him to grant you creative ideas. I have personally prayed for that, only to be stuck by an idea I never would have thought of myself, an idea that could only be a gift from God. Don't just pray about creativity, though. Pray about everything. He is more than capable to guide you and help you. The best part is that He wants to.

So there is my mini list of tips and tricks.

Post Tenebras Lux!
-ST

Book Review- Curse of the Spider King

2009-11-03T13:54:00.000-05:00

     What would you do if you discovered you were an Elven lord from another world? What if you were being hunted by beings who could take on the form of anyone, even your most trusted friends and family? What if you suddenly gained incredible power that could enable you to see the future, walk on air, or read thoughts? These are the exciting questions Curse of the Spider King asks.
   Hundreds of years ago, the mighty kingdom of the Elves was overtaken by the Spider King. Though the Elven Sentinels of Allyra fought valiantly, they were no match for the Spider King's forces, and the enemy succeeded in capturing the seven prophesied lords of Allyra, all of whom were still only babies.
     The surviving remnant of Elves were forced to flee underground to escape total annihilation by the Spider King. There they hid for centuries, until rumors spread that the Elven lords were still alive... but not in the world of Berinfell....

   Curse of the Spider King follows seven young teenagers- teenagers who think they are human. But there are others who know better. Some want to bring them home, back to their rightful place in Berinfell. Some want them dead. Who can be trusted? There is nowhere to hide. Will anyone escape the wrath of the Spider King?

I found Curse of the Spider King to be very intriguing. All around, it was a very good book that I would recommend to any teenager. My favorite thing about it is how the evil Wisps can only be slain using words that parallel the Scripture!

If this book sounds like something you would enjoy, click on the link on the side bar.

If you want more information on the authors of this book, here are the links to their blogs:
www.christopherhopper.com
www.enterthedoorwithin,blogspot.com

How to get a Book Endorsement

2009-10-30T13:56:00.006-04:00

     I am no expert on this matter, but someone pointed out to me that in my last post I did not say exactly how I was able to get a published author to read my manuscript. So, for those of you interested, I'm going to tell you the entire process.

   Ask.

     No joke! All I did was contact a handful of authors and ask them how an unpublished author is supposed to go about getting endorsements. A few replied, saying that I was doing it exactly the way it was supposed be done. By asking.

     One of the authors said, "Yes, can you email it to me?" I think I almost did a back-flip in my chair! Another one said, "Sorry, I can't. I'm too busy for that right now." I haven't heard from some of the others yet.

     I think that often readers come to see authors as untouchable "movie stars" of literature. I'm finding out that usually isn't true. Hey, they used to be dreamers, too, just like the rest of us writers! The authors I have come into contact with have been very cordial and helpful.

      Obviously, if you are looking for an endorsement, I would start by asking authors who are in the same genre as the story you have written. Don't go to Ted Dekker if you have an Amish romance (lol). The point is to find someone who will actually want to endorse your manuscript!

   Also, I doubt any author will read your manuscript if it isn't completely finished. Authors are busy people (take a look at your bookshelf). They probably don't have time to edit an unfinished story. Make sure your book is ready to give to the first agent or publisher that says, "I want this story!" Then you can ask an author to read it.

     Guess that's all I have for now. Like I said, I am no expert. In fact, this is my very first time down this particular stretch of road on my journey. But hopefully you have found my observances to be helpful.

Post Tenebras Lux!
-ST

Mountains and Valleys

2009-10-29T14:31:00.003-04:00

     It is incredible how God never fails. Seriously, it's just crazy that He is always faithful and never lets us down. Even in the little things He proves Himself.
     I'm telling you, this whole journey with my book has been a roller coaster ride. There have been so many times when, just when I begin to feel discouraged, something happens that pulls me to my feet again. Could be as simple as getting a phone call from a friend to tell me that they read my story and liked it. Simple as hearing that somebody wants to read my stuff. Simple encouragement that goes a long way.
     Funny thing is, the encouragement always comes exactly when I need it most. As soon as I begin to doubt myself, someone does or says something that touches my heart and makes me want to keep going. Isn't God amazing?
     I am not saying that God is going to make my book be a bestseller. I'm not even saying it will sell at all! But I do believe that He cares about the things I care about, simply because He loves me. He may have planned that I never become an author. That's ok. Right now, though, I am seeing His hand work in my situation. And I am amazed. I guess that could be the point of why He's doing it.
     So, what's the most recent bit of encouragement that's made me go, "wow?" Well... *drum roll* a published author who I respect is going to read my manuscript! Crazy thing? It was at one of those times when I was starting get anxious about what the agent is going to think of my proposal. I can hardly believe it!!!
     Wow. Wow, wow, wow, wow, WOW. God... You are cool!
     Basically, I've been praising God all day from the top of this mountain. Sure, a valley is bound to come sooner or later, but my God is faithful. As long as I am obeying Him and trusting His plan for me, I need not fear the future.

Post Tenebras Lux!
-ST

Saga of the Brother Knights- Part I

2009-10-20T20:13:00.002-04:00

McAllen Farm and the Mysterious Place

     Thomas McAllen struggled to lace up his stiff, second-hand boots with the dented toe. He tied the strings and took a few tentative steps. The boots would work for now.
     Putting his hands on his hips, Thomas took a deep breath, filling his lungs with crisp mountain air as he surveyed his grandmother’s farm.
     Gladys McAllen, Thomas’s grandmother, lived alone on the side of a small mountain in the Old South. She was a kind, but hard-working woman; the kind of grandma that looked like she could beat the tar out of you, but never did. Her mountain haven consisted of acres upon acres of untamed forest with a small farm nestled in the middle of the land.
     Chickens strutted around the farm and a few goats meandered in a large pen, the latter occasionally bleating and chewing their cud. The goat pen was next to the white barn that housed a horse named Willard Van Trapsdale III. Kittens pounced around rusty machinery, scurrying out of sight whenever Thomas happened upon them. There was a little garden at the back of Gladys’s farmhouse, filled with beats, zucchini, and other such vegetables that Thomas would rather avoid eating.
     The land basked in the easy silence of solitude. Every once in a great while a battered pick-up truck would rattle past the farm’s long, twisting driveway; but besides that, there was not any nearby traffic to speak of. One of the loudest sounds on the farm was the sharp crack of acorns impacting the barn’s tin roof on their way from the tree branches to the leaf-strewn ground.
     ‘The loudest noise,’ thought Thomas, ‘is the obnoxious barking of Grandma’s dumb old dog!’ Thomas winced against the dog’s thunderous howling. “Prince!” he barked back at the black canine. “Knock it off already! Seriously, do you have to murder my ear drums every time I walk outside the house?”
     The guard dog cocked his head and emitted a low hrmm that sounded exactly like a cranky old man. Prince sauntered away without another sound.
At the sound of laughter, Thomas turned to see his older brother, Derrik, treading up the hill from the barn. “Hey dog-whisperer,” Derrik teased. “I was beginning to wonder if you would ever get out of bed today.”
     Thomas stretched and replied, “Nothing wrong with taking advantage of our vacation to sleep in.”
     “True,” Derrik agreed. “Except when Grandma gives us permission to take the four-wheeler out for a spin.”
     “Are you serious?!” Thomas gasped excitedly. “She said we could drive it?”
     Derrik smiled. “Now you know why I’ve been anxious for you to get up.”
     Letting out a whoop so loud that it shook the mountains, Thomas raced down the slope that Derrik had just climbed. His old boots threatened to throw him off balance, so Thomas checked his speed on the rest of the steep incline.
     Grandma Gladys was at the bottom of the hill, carrying a bucket of chicken feed. From her mud-caked boots and her torn jeans to her auburn hair gathered in a short ponytail, she was every bit a farm girl. She rested a calloused fist on the side of her slim waist while she watched Thomas descend the hill with Derrik plodding behind.
     “Good aftahnoon, sleepah,” Gladys called to Thomas, her New England accent very pronounced as she substituted her “er’s” for “ah’s.”
     Knowing full well that it was not yet afternoon, Thomas ignored his grandmother’s teasing and slowed to a halt beside her, panting heavily.
     “Gonna drive the faw-wheelah up the trails?” Gladys asked with a grin.
     “Yeah!” Thomas exclaimed as he shifted in his uncomfortable boots. “Thanks for letting us, Grandma!”
     “Well, sure, you’ah welcome,” Gladys replied. “Just remembah that dinnah’s at five, so make suah you boys ah back heah by then, or else I’m gonna staht worrying ‘bout you.” Because she had resumed her walk toward the chicken coop, Gladys spoke over her shoulder.
     As Derrik came up behind him, Thomas whispered in a creepy tone, “And beware the Black Banshee!” Thomas laughed, but seeing Derrik’s serious face, he cut his joviality short and asked, “What?”
     Shaking his head mournfully, Derrik replied, “Tommy, the Black Banshee is real, you know.”
     Thomas was fooled for only a moment. “And so are dragons and unicorns! Come on, Rick, I know you way better than that! You can’t dupe me, dude.”
     “Maybe,” Derrik returned, giving Thomas a friendly punch on the arm. “But I can still outrun you! Last one to the four-wheeler is the last to ride!”

     The peaceful stillness of the forest behind McAllen Farm was broken by the roaring motor of a four-wheeler.
     Thomas clung to the small vehicle while rich fall colors rushed past in a blur. As he bounced down the path through the woods, Thomas was again amazed by the beauty of his grandmother’s mountain. He didn’t consider himself to be a city boy, but the beautiful forest and the quiet farm were definitely more rural surrounding than what he usually lived in. It made him silently thank God for His wonderful creation.
     A change in the foliage caught Thomas’s eye. He brought the four-wheeler to a halt, dismounted, and stepped into the forest.
     Just off the nearly overgrown path, beneath a shower of red, orange, and yellow leaves, stood a white gazebo. The wooden structure was elaborately carved with swirling patterns. A brass clock hung on the pillar farthest from the entrance. As Thomas climbed into the gazebo, he suddenly felt a heavy loneliness that seemed to haunt the mysterious place. Thomas cleared off the layer of leaves that blanketed a wooden two-person swing hanging on one side of the gazebo. He sat down and stared around him. It was even quieter than his grandmother’s farm, but not nearly as peaceful. A chill breeze made Thomas shiver in his sweatshirt, and an oppressive feeling came over him, as if an old anger was bearing down, seeking vengeance.
     Shaking his head, Thomas told himself he was crazy and glanced down at his watch. ‘4:45,’ he thought, ‘Better get back so I don’t miss pizza.’ Gladys was not much of a cook, but she knew how to do takeout.
Thomas climbed onto the four-wheeler and zoomed back down the path, leaving the eerie gazebo behind him. But he did not mean to forget about it; in fact, he resolved to question his grandmother about it at the first chance he got. After he showed Derrik, of course.

The Story Shall be Told....

2009-10-19T18:54:00.001-04:00

Just a quick "heads-up".... I plan to post the first installment of my blog saga tomorrow. Keep an eye out for it!
It is a little long, so I am apologizing beforehand for that. I do not like to read much on the computer, so... I'm sorry. I am hoping you will not mind as much as I do, or that you'll print it out to read in the bathroom (come on, I know we all do it!).

Post Tenebras Lux!
-ST

Vacation Writing

2009-10-18T11:40:00.000-04:00

     I love vacations. They are just all around great! I like getting ready to go on vacations, I like being on vacations, and I like coming home again after vacations. I wonder if there will be vacations in Heaven? :)
   The particular vacation that I just got back from was very relaxing. No internet access, that sort of thing. It drove me frantic, but it was good. It also afforded me the time to finish rewriting on my book! Wahoo!
     So, is the manuscript finally complete? Uh... well, not yet. I still need to check with my personal editors to see if they like it (a.k.a. my friends and family). And then I need to type all the chapter page numbers in the Content section at the beginning; a slow, tedious, but necessary process. Then, THEN the manuscript will be done.
     "Done" is a relative term. I doubt I'll ever be done done with it. I doubt any writer is ever completely done. *laughs*
     I was also able to concoct a new work while I was vacationing. I'm going to be beginning a new thing on this blog, hopefully it'll be happening soon. Every now and then, as I get time and ideas, I'll be posting a fictional saga. I have no idea how the story is going to work out... more than likely it will end up pretty crummy. But crummy isn't always bad, right? Especially if you're not writing it to publish.
    I figured that I can't have a blog about my writing journey and not have any of my writing on it. Like I said, I'm just doing it to give you a taste of my writing, not ever planning to publish, but I would love to hear your thoughts on the story. I am the type of writer who likes to criticize (sometimes a little too much), but that is because I like others to criticize my work. The worst thing you can say about one of my stories is, "It's good." Drives me bonkers. What is good??? Or are you just saying that because you don't want to hurt my feelings??? Good and fair criticism is invaluable, as I always say.
     Don't take me wrong; I am not looking for you guys to critique my saga thoroughly. I'm just saying that if you are compelled to, as I would probably be, then have at it. Who knows? I might find out a bad flaw in my writing style from one of you. I hope not, but you never know. *laughs*

Post Tenebras Lux!
-ST

The First Time

2009-10-07T21:27:00.003-04:00

     There is something special about holding your book proposal in your hand for the first time. The clean, white stack of papers is sitting on my desk at this very moment. I cannot help wondering, 'If this is how it feels just to have printed my book proposal, how much more amazing will it be when I actually hold my first published book?' I can hardly believe that I am looking at the proposal right now. It's real. It's happening. I am really sending it to an agent.
     I am praising God. It is only because of Him that I have gotten this far! This is all His doing, and I am bubbling with excitement over what He may accomplish through me and what He has already done. Thank You, God! Thank You, thank You for all this. I am so undeserving, but You have seen fit to bring glory to Your name through me. I'll never understand why, and all I can do is thank You.
     I will be sending the proposal out within a matter of days (I hope... you never know with my life). I am going on a vacation this upcoming week, so I am not certain when I will be able to post again. But the agent probably won't reply for at least a month, so don't worry about it too much (I know, you are all sitting there in suspense! *laughs*)
     So, besides sightseeing, what will I be doing while my proposal sits on the agent's desk? Biting my fingernails while staring hypnotically at the mailbox, of course! *Geloto* Just kidding. Seriously, I plan to finish editing the book. Yes, that is not done. I put it off to complete the proposal, and now I have to get on it. Shouldn't take too long. I need to rewrite some parts at the end, but if I work diligently, I should have it done very soon after my vacation.

Post Tenebras Lux!
-ST

Regretful Report

2009-10-02T08:50:00.001-04:00

     My thoughts after writing the last post: "Yeah, sure, I'll post when I send the book proposal out. I'm almost done. Probably be able to send it out tomorrow..." Ha! No such luck!
   I regret to report that, yet again, I sit here nearly a week later with the book proposal still unprinted. Time has slipped through my fingers once more, and I am shaking my fist in fury at it.
   There just seems to be always one more thing that needs to be fixed in the proposal. I am particularly struggling over the summary. Just when I think I've got it perfect... I find out different! One thing after another. Will I ever get this thing out?
   I have everything ready, I even have the envelope to send it in! But the proposal itself is still being... erm, edited (if you can edit a book proposal).
   So, I'm going to ask you to pray for me. I should have been asking you from the very beginning, but that's a different issue with pride and relying on my own strength.... Please pray that God will help me just be able to find the time and the brains to work through the proposal and get it out! Thanks, I really need it.

Post Tenebras Lux,
-ST

Update Time!

2009-09-26T15:49:00.001-04:00

     It's been a week since my last post already??? Bad, bad!
   I have completed my book proposal!!! At least, I just have to read over it, maybe fix a few things, and then it will be done. Truthfully, it should have been done a week ago, but am very distracted right now with the Alternate Reality Game that Wayne Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper are hosting on their forum, The Underground. *sigh* I am a terrible fantasy nut!
     Anyway, the proposal should be done by tomorrow, and when it is finished.... bra-ha-ha.... THEN the fun starts! I will send it to the agent and await their response. I know it's going to be terrible; I can hardly wait for books to be delivered from Amazon, and I'm supposed to wait for two months to hear if my very first book has been accepted or not?! Wonderful. :)
      I still haven't heard back from the publisher I contacted about the agent. I can tell you that I sure won't be looking into using them when the time comes to seek a publisher! Not if they're going to ignore people, no way.
Last thing: THANK YOU EVERYONE who has taken an interest in my blog!!! You are all wonderful encouragement and totally awesome!!! Thank you SO much!
     I'll post again when I have sent out the proposal.

Post Tenebras Lux!
-ST

You Might Be a Creative If...

2009-09-19T14:58:00.008-04:00

Just for fun, I want to share a blog post from one of my favorite authors, Wayne Thomas Batson. Mr. Batson is the writer of the Door Within Trilogy and the Isle of Swords pirate books. He is currently co-authoring a new fantasy series with Christopher Hopper; their first book, Curse of the Spider King, is due out next month. I hold Mr. Batson in high respect for his great imagination, kid-friendly characters and story lines (although older people may certainly enjoy his works), and especially his obvious love for God.

I found the below post on his blog and loved it. I hope you will, too! (And yes, I identify with most of the "ifs") Enjoy!

I've had a lot of time off of work lately. It began with my kids getting a stomach virus (that was fun). Then, my school system had parent conferences, so I had Friday off. We had Tuesday off for elections, and then an ice storm hits so Wednesday, I'm off again. Wednesday morning, lucky me, I spike a 103.1 fever and come down with the flu, so there goes the rest of the week. So, I've had a lot of time off. Besides doctor-ordered rest, guess what I did?

I fired up my computer, loaded up my 3D art program: Bryce 3D (by Daz Studios) and CREATED. I created my fool head off. I was picturing one of the settings for my new fantasy series and trying to make a 3D rendering of it, and you know what? I had SO much fun doing it! That got me thinking: I am a Creative. God made me that way. In fact, to one degree or another, I believe God made us all creative. God did, after all, make us in His image. And He is The Creator. Ever seen a sunset or the forest after an ice storm? Nuff said.

But I believe it's abundantly clear that God has given some people a special talent for creating--and not just the talent--but the DESIRE to create. These people are CREATIVES. I started thinking about the special kind of nutty-ness that defines us creatives. Think about it this way: sculptors, architects, painters, artists, musicians, writers, etc.--we spend days, weeks, months, even years creating something that our audience will devour or experience for a relatively short time. I just got reader mail from a 12 year old who read my whole Door Within Trilogy in a weekend. A WEEKEND. Those three books took me a total of FIFTEEN YEARS to write, and WHOOSH, he's done in two days. Look at some of the brilliant architecture in the world, esp. Europe. Breathtaking---absolutely breathtaking. And yet the tour bus drops off people to look at it for a few minutes...an hour, maybe, and off it goes. It's like your mom when she spends days working on Thanksgiving dinner only to have it gobbled* up in a brief feeding frenzy that would put a school of bull sharks to shame. WHOOSH, and it's over.

So, why do we creatives do it? Why spend so much passionate effort to create something so fleeting? I think the answer is multifaceted. Part of the answer, I've already mentioned: we were made to create. We create because we need to. It's in us and we need to let it out. We create because, if we didn't, part of us would go clinically insane. It's who we are. In his mega bestselling book, The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren talks about the importance of doing what "we were made to do." There is a satisfaction we feel when we create. If we didn't create, we'd walk around feeling like something was unfinished...and waiting.

But I think also, we create because we want to please others. Now, don't misunderstand me. My main goal in life is to please God. Jesus said the greatest command is to love God. But then what? Jesus said, love your neighbor. I believe that creativity in its many forms (art, music, fiction, etc.) shows love to out neighbor. People are encouraged, uplifted, inspired, provoked, and comforted by creativity. Why else do we hang paintings or matted photos in our homes? Why do we have little crafty knick-knacks on the shelf? Why do we feel moved when we hear a certain song? Art touches people. Imagine a world with an absence of creativity. What would that be like? Uhhggh. I don't like the looks of that picture either.

Our creative expression can be love and light to the world. And I don't just mean paintings of Jesus, praise hymns, and conversion stories. Nothing wrong with those things--all good. But any quality expression of our creativity. A painting of a sunset. A song about your wife. A good old adventure story. It all** shows love to the world. The only thing is that love and light have to be broadcast to other people. You can't hide a light under a basket. You can't keep your love to yourself. What good does that do? Sure, I can draw something and enjoy it myself. But why stop there. Maybe someone else would find joy in it as well.

But that's where another characteristic of the Creative can get in the way of our desire to create: we tend to be our own worst critics. Creative types tend to want their creation to be "just right." And that's a good thing to a degree. We don't want to publish a story that is poorly written. We don't want to record a song if the tune is discordant. But we cannot allow our own perfectionism or self-doubt to keep us from loving the world with our art! You might think that your work isn't good enough. But how will you ever know? If you don't have someone else experience your creative expression, how do you know if it's good? Sure, start small. Share it with one other person, a parent, a teacher, a trusted friend. But do share it. Get some feedback. Get some training. Practice. And then...share it some more!

I am convinced that RIGHT NOW, sitting in various places all over the world there are the following people: a) photographers and artist whose images *could* adorn galleries and homes and remind people of the greatness of God's creation. b) composers and songwriters whose melodies *might* lift thousands from the jaws of depression and give them hope. c) writers whose stories *could* change the lives of a generation. I have no doubt that there are thousands of such CREATIVES out there, but still dormant. And for every thousand of those whose works *might* have a sweeping impact, there are hundreds of thousands of people whose creativity *could* impact on a smaller, more local scale. Maybe the one kid at school who listens to your song, looks at your picture, or reads your story, maybe he was contemplating suicide…but won't go through with it because of your loving him though your creativity.

So, are you a CREATIVE? I bet you know if you are.

But just in case you don't, here's a little nonScientific/nonAuthoritative way of finding out. I put this in the format made famous by comedian Jeff Foxworthy and his "You might be a redneck if..."

So here is:

You might be a Creative if...***

1. You find yourself sizing people up for future characters.

2. You're watching a movie and think, "I could do better than that!"

3. You have rock-hard callouses on your fingers from clutching a drawing pencil, as well as, smudges all over the side of your pinky finger and palm.

4. You're left handed.

5. You just can't get that little melody out of your head.

6. You find yourself scrawling little story ideas on napkins, sticky notes, church bulletins, your arm, and...your little brother's arm.

7. You call your cell phone to leave yourself a story idea.

8. You can't wait for __________ to end so that you can go work on your story, song, etc.

9. You're angry because your computer's art program only works with 600 colors.

10. You find yourself laughing OUT LOUD at something you've written.

11. You nearly run off the road because you've got an idea that MUST be written down.

12. Your dream was so offbeat there just has to be a story in there somewhere.

13. The most wonderful thing you've ever seen is: a blank sheet of paper.

14. The most terrifying thing you've ever seen is: a blank sheet of paper.

AND FINALLY, you know you might be a CREATIVE if: You find yourself giggling like an idiot when you make something YOU KNOW IS GOOD.

I think it's time to take the basket off of our light. Don't you?

*pun intended.

**Like any good thing that God gives us, creativity can be misused. So art, music, fiction, etc. that leads people away from God, isn't cool.

***Official Disclaimer: If these things are not true of you, that does not necessarily mean you are NOT creative. These are just humorous reminders.
Posted by WayneThomasBatson

Writing the Book Proposal

2009-09-16T20:35:00.001-04:00

     A few days ago, I resent the e-mail to the second publisher asking about the agent. Let's hope they realize that I am serious for an answer this time. :)
     While I'm waiting for a response from the publisher, I have begun to write my book proposal. It is going to take more time than I thought! Apparently, there is a certain way to do this, according to Michael Hyatt (the CEO of Thomas Nelson, you'll remember). I am under the impression that the proposal does not need to be followed to the letter of the law, but since this is my very first one, I don't want to experiment too much. When I am a million dollar author, I won't worry about it as much, but until then.... (ha ha, a millionaire, right.In my dreams!)
     If you don't know, a book proposal is an overview of what you are presenting to the agent. It contains all the information, and I mean all. From the the manuscript length, to your selling ideas, to your biography, to a description of what your audience will look like. Yeah, a lot of work. And it doesn't help that every time I think about it, I get butterflies in my stomach!
     It is so close now. Soon I will know if I am to be an author. Very scary.
     I know that most first time authors get rejected. That's alright. God's plan will come about. If getting published is His plan, then whoopee!!! If not, then He knows best.
     Just this experience is getting me all hyped up. This whole process is my dream coming true.
   So, that is the short update.

     Post Tenebras Lux,
-ST

First Week Down... Who Knows How Many More To Go!

2009-09-12T15:49:00.004-04:00

This blog is officially a week old. Whew! It felt like a lot longer.

Ok, so, update: At Michael Hyatt's suggestion on his blog, I contacted several authors and publishers about an agent I found who looked promising. Basically, I asked them what they thought about the agent. Thus far, all the authors have responded, but only one of the publishers has gotten back to me, so I am waiting for the second response. Because everyone has told me only good things about this agent, I am not sure how long I will wait for a reply from the publisher. Although the silence makes me suspicious....

As far as the editing goes... eh heh, well, I've been a bit distracted this week. (Go ahead and give me a virtual slap) I have enough to send to the agent (I'm more than half way through), so that's probably why I've allowed myself to slack a little. Still, bad bad.

Right now, I'm in a stage of waiting and making decisions. The closer I get to really, seriously pursuing the agent, the more anxious I get. Is my story good enough? Am I skilled enough, learned enough, talented, or smart enough? For the world, well, I'm just not sure yet. Sometimes I'm sure I am going to knock the socks off of the agents, publishers, and bookstores. Other times, I am sure that no one will ever consider my manuscript. It's hard to remember that I'm accepted by God just as I am.

All I can say is, I'm glad God has my life all figured out, because I sure don't! It's much better to rely on Him to guide my paths than try to do it myself.

Post Tenebras Lux!

-ST

The Common Phrase

2009-09-08T14:37:00.009-04:00

     There are times when the unbelievable characteristics of God just hit you in a way that makes you go "WOW." When you are still and simply contemplating His awesomeness, doesn't it blow your mind? Fill you with a fire? Make you want to run and leap and laugh and cry and dance all at once? Sometimes the beauty of nature makes you stop and think about it, or sometimes it's something you read. God reveals Himself in marvelous ways, truly. I wrote the following during a moment of being in awe of Him. It isn't exactly a story, just my ponderings over something that has become so ordinary, we hardly ever think about it. I hope you are encouraged.

"God loves you." We hear that phrase a lot, but do we often stop and really muse over the meaning of those words? Think about it:

GOD... the One who created the entire universe; every star, every blade of grass, every little atom. The One who makes the sun rise and set. The One who holds everything together. The only One who gives life. (Gen.1:1)

LOVES... with an agape love that will never ever cease, no matter what happens, no matter what you do. His love is a constant stream that never fails. An endless song. A forever refuge. A Father's care. (1 Cor. 13:4-8)

YOU... though you have betrayed Him countless times. You have broken His commands, denied His truth, pushed Him away, fled, and tried to hide from Him. You are well versed in finding excuses for your sin. You do not deserve Him. (Rom. 3:23)

     "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God- through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Rom. 7: 24-25)
      GOD LOVES YOU! He actually loves you!!! Isn't that amazing??? GOD LOVES YOU so much, He gave you His Son, so that you don't have to be under sin's bonds! So you can be with Him forever! So you can really know Him!
      What are you waiting for? Don't you want to love Him back? He wants to be in your life, wants a deep relationship with you. Tell Him. Talk to Him. He Loves You.

-ST

My Journey so Far

2009-09-06T10:43:00.005-04:00

     This blogging is going to take some getting used to! As you will see, I am a random writer; depending on my mood, I can be as poetic as I was yesterday and then suddenly break out in slang... y'know what I'm sayin'? This is good for creating character voices, not so good for blogging. I'm going to have to find my middle ground....
     Anyway, as I said in my last post, I am in the process of publishing a book I have written. I can't give too many details about the book on this blog, for the obvious reason that they could be stolen. I'm sure you can understand why that would be a bad thing. I can say that it is Christian sci-fi/fantasy, and I guess the age group would be teens, although I think it is good for any age. The book stands at approximately 300 pages and over 100,000 words. I am in the process of the final editing, but the numbers shouldn't change drastically.
     So, where am I in the publishing process? Well, in between editing, I am searching for an agent. In order to be recognized by any large publisher, you have to have an agent. If you send in a manuscript just out of the blue, they will not even look at it. But finding an agent is almost as difficult as finding a publisher. Agents are besieged by author wannabes, and finding the right manuscript is like looking for that old needle in a haystack. But if the needle is solid gold, then it is worth the search. That is an agent's job; to find that gold needle.
     Agents don't have time to read every manuscript, so along with your book, you have to send in a query, which is basically a mini book proposal, from what I have gathered. The query tells the agent the basics of your book. So I will soon be whipping up one of those, too.
     I have found an agent who looks promising, and I expect to be sending in my book and query soon. It is incredible how God has been opening doors for me!
   My book was not originally written for publication. I wrote it for fun, to be read only by my friends and family. Everyone kept asking if I was going to publish, telling me it was really good. I just thought, "Yeah, well, that's just cuz you're my friends. You wouldn't really think it was good if it had been written by someone else!" Then one of my friends sent it to someone I had never met (and still haven't met, in fact)... and this person was captured by the story! It was the first time someone I didn't know had read something I'd written, someone who had no obligation to say they liked it, and they thought it was good. I was... well, flattered! If that person liked it, then maybe other people would, too. I finally began to consider publishing it.
     Since then, I have been slowly moving in that direction, but it wasn't until recently that it has begun to really come together. It is crazy how God seems to be letting all this happen. We'll see how it goes from here, but for now, I am going to keep pursuing getting this book published unless God tells me to knock it off.

-ST

I have a story to tell you....

2009-09-05T11:43:00.006-04:00

     Beginnings are incredible gifts. At first, they seem scary, and you are unsure where this new path will take you. But they also bring the thrill of adventure, the excited discovering of unknown places. What will happen? You don't know. All you can do is trust the One who does.
     This is where I am now. You are reading my first public blog post. Talk about a begining! This is a brand new journey I am about to embark on, and I am so happy to be able to share it with you.
     Who am I? I am a storyteller. At the moment, I have written a Christian sci-fi/fantasy book that I am seeking to publish. This is my first book ever, and I am traveling on unfamiliar grounds as I try to contact the right people and gather the right information. It has been a wild ride so far, and to be honest, sometimes it's scary. That is what this blog is about; a writer's journey into untraveled territory.
     Who am I? I am a child of the King of kings. Jesus Christ is my one and only Savior. He is my best Friend. I trust Him far more than anyone else. He is the Author of my faith, the Writer of the best-selling Book of all time, and the Source of my creativity. It is my wholehearted desire to bring Him glory in my life, because life is worthless without Him.
     I hope you will enjoy my journey along with me. I don't know how often I will be able to post, but I will when new things happen. Random writings will also appear, I'm sure; stories, thoughts, ravings.... :)
   Thank you so much for visiting my blog. I hope and pray that you will return.

-ST

Storyteller: A Writer's Journey

RUN!

Character Development Part 2

Scared Stiff

Character Development Part 1

The End is... Somewhere...

Where in the World has Storyteller Been?

Question!

Voyage

Square One… Again

God's Timing

Facebook Page

Writing Rants

Vote Verdicts!

Your Vote Needed!

.The Battle Surrendered - Part Eight.

'The Battle Surrendered - Part Seven'

*The Battle Surrendered - Part Six*

~The Battle Surrendered - Part Five~

"The Battle Surrendered - Part Four"

The Battle Surrendered - Part Three

TBS - Part 2!

TBS - Part One

A Bunch of Randomness

Interview with New Author, Jacob Parker!

Tell Me a Story

The End of America?

How Goes the Search?

Book Review- Hunter Brown and the Secret of the Shadow

The Next Step

Romance: How Much Is Too Much? (Part Three)

Romance: How Much Is Too Much? (Part Two)

Romance: How Much Is Too Much? (Part One)

A Crazy Week Deserves A Crazy Post

Book Review - Rise of the Dibor

Meandering Thoughs

Evil Time

Whoever Started this Christmas Thing

Christmas Rush

Saga of the Brother Knights - Part 2

The Truth about Clear Truth

The Search Continues

The SASE I Hoped I Would Never See Again

Writing Tips

Book Review- Curse of the Spider King

How to get a Book Endorsement

Mountains and Valleys

Saga of the Brother Knights- Part I

The Story Shall be Told....

Vacation Writing

The First Time

Regretful Report

Update Time!

You Might Be a Creative If...

Writing the Book Proposal

First Week Down... Who Knows How Many More To Go!

The Common Phrase

My Journey so Far

I have a story to tell you....

The Battle Surrendered - Part Six