My friend Gretchen over at Spec Fiction GEKE tagged me in a writing style blog hop. I am horrendously late in posting my responses (apologies, all), so without further ado:
What am I working on?
My current project is a fantasy (or speculative) fiction series set in a medieval time. The idea behind the series comes from Matthew 16:18: "And I say also to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell will not prevail against it."
I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. My writer mind started chewing on this verse. "What if I wanted to tell a story about this truth? What would it look like?" And slowly, my story was born. In it, 3 siblings, children of the one true king, represent the church. Only when the three become one will they be fully equipped as warriors, and able to storm the "gates of hell". And don't worry, this isn't some cheesy "Captain Planet" kind of oneness. It's meant to be a portrayal of the power God wants to unleash through His body, the church, to release the captives, and vanquish the evil in this world.
How does my work differ from others in it's genre?
I'm honestly not sure how to answer this question. I don't pretend to think that a story like this has never been done before. And I know several other speculative authors who strive to weave spiritual truth into their stories. So the type of book I am writing is not uncommon. But the Lord gave this story to me, to be told in my voice, with my heart. So, at the risk of sounding arrogant, what makes my work different is the fact that it's mine. :)
Why do I write what I do?
One of the reasons I love speculative fiction is because there is so much room to share spiritual truth- to write a powerful allegory- and have it be an amazing journey at the same time. When I read Ted Dekker's Circle Trilogy (Black, Red, & White)- it changed how I looked at speculative fiction. It was a great story. But it was so much more than just a story. It was truth! It was amazing, powerful, redemptive truth. And I thought, "I want to write like that. I want to tell a story filled with the truth of God's word in a way that will impact people long after the last page."
The other reason I write what I do is because God has called me to it. Some may consider that a "cop out" or an easy answer, but it's true. He continues to write this story through me. I hesitate to even call it "my book" because it's not. It's His.
How does your writing process work?
Um, not well. Haha! Seriously. I am a total pantster (for those non-writerly types who may be reading this, being a 'pantster' means I write by the seat of my pants). I will get a scene in my mind, write it down, take it as far as it goes, and stop. Again. And again. And again. You see the problem, of course. I end up with a bunch of "brilliant!" scenes which have no context, no depth, and no flow. So this girl is retraining herself to plot. Because random, "brilliant!" scenes tied loosely together do not a solid story make. Plot. Plot all the things! Haha!
I'm learning a lot from fellow authors who are wiser than I am, and always looking for a good writing craft book. I am also working hard at character building. You can sometimes get away with a plot-driven story, but not in speculative fiction.
Well- I hope you've enjoyed this little window into my writing world. :) I now invite you to:
Skip! On over to the blog of a fellow writer and friend. Martha Artyomenko is homeschooling mom and one of my heroes, who still makes time to write while raising 4 boys. :)
And please, do also Jump! To the blog of Nicole Deese- one of my favorite contemporary romance authors! If you haven't yet read her Letting Go series you are seriously missing out.
