Jesus Freaks for Writers discussion

This is a place where you can think out loud about your stories, ask for advice, or just chat about what you're writing. Have fun!

Okay, besides the Reality Series....I am working on a new series that involves the 144, 000 in Revelations. What are your thoughts on that particular part in Revelations when it talks about them?

I am here for advice! So, in November, I going to write a novel for NaNoWriMo. I just have one problem: morals. My morals are high to the point that my first kiss will be with my husband on my wedding day. That being said, as awkward as it sounds, I'm not sure if my characters in my story should kiss or not. Would it be compromising my morals? Or does it matter since it's only a book?

Melanie: it's been so long since I've read Revelation, I honestly can't remember... I'll have to read up on that and get back to you!!

Catherine: that is a very touchy subject, and I don't want to say one way or the other. You should just go with what you think is right, if it makes you uncomfortable to write about them kissing, you probably shouldn't! In your shoes, I would pray about it

Thanks Lena, I will. :)

I completely understand where you're coming from Catherine! I have the same standard for myself, and as an author, I don't want to write anything that conflicts with my morals. Thus far, I haven't written any pre-marital kisses. (Or at least pre-tying, but that's complicated and is pretty much the same thing in that culture)

However, you have to take into consideration what your characters' culture and beliefs are on the subject. I have one couple in a book I'm plotting that I think are going to kiss before marriage, but for them, it makes sense, based on their culture, beliefs, and situation. And, as Lena suggests, pray about it.

Personally, I don't feel it is wrong to kiss before marriage, but it can open a door down the wrong path. A lot of my decision to save my first kiss for my wedding is that I know that I will probably travel down that road very easily. Excessive kissing is, of course, not acceptable, but I don't think that's what you plan to do.

Again, pray about it. Examine your characters, your story, and their situation, and don't write anything you don't feel comfortable writing. If there's anything worse in fiction than an unnecessary kiss, it's an unnecessary kiss that the author didn't feel comfortable writing.

A lot of stories require us to write stuff we're a little uncomfortable with. Take for example: say I'm writing a prodigal son story and it requires a little bit of pre-marital sex. I don't believe in that, but in order to move the story, I will have to at least mention it.
Personally, I'm fine with kissing before marriage. Sex is the only thing that we're really told not to do. (Some people feel differently.) But there might be a story where I write about characters who don't kiss at all before marriage.
Just follow what your heart; if it's filled with God, it's probably right. :)

Thanks to you all. I think I know which direction to go now. :)

I agree with Brianna and Kendra. If it fits the characters to wait, have them wait. I did that with two of my books. But it also fit the characters.

I think it depends a lot on why, and whether it's portrayed as being something good

I'd like some advice on a name. I just had an idea for a story last night, and one of the characters was named Crisalis or Chrisalys. Do you think that that's too close to Chrysalis? Should I change it, or do you think it's okay the way it is?

Hi Sj,

I think Crisalis is too close to Chrysalis--it's the first thing I thought of when I read it. If chrysalises (I think I spelled that right) are important to your story or the character in some way then the name isn't a problem, but if you're trying to avoid the connection then I wouldn't go with that name.

I agree with Daniel, but I do think it is a very beautiful name!!!

Ok. Yeah, Chrysalises aren't a big part of the story at all. I just thought it was a cool name. I'll change it
Thank you Daniel and Lena!

Glad to help!

No problem, Sj! Best of luck on the story.

Interesting topics in this thread. If your conviction is to wait until marriage that does not mean it *has* to be your character's conviction. If you want your character to set an example of your conviction, then have them live it. Think about it, and try to explain your conviction in the most simple terms you can, then try to put your character in situations where they can explain the conviction through actions, not words.

My current plot-hiccup is that I'm pondering whether or not to reveal the main villain (writing a mystery), or have the heroes find one more 'puppet' who leads them to the real villain pulling the strings.

So far, the story has 19 chapters and 50,000 words. It's posted on fanfic.net and no one has guessed the villain yet.

That's exciting! Personally, I love stories with plot twists, but it's really up to you, how you want it to be

I've already had the heroes work track down multiple villains to find out that they were hired by others. There's two villains left to be revealed. My plan is to either send the heroes after the puppet master, but have them find the other villain first, or send them after the other villain, so that they can work as a smoke screen for 'the real villain'... Decisions, decisions....

Wow! Both sound pretty awesome!

I'm mildly afraid my readers will be frustrated by yet another smokescreen. But they'd probably be excited if an arch foe were to show up *just* when the heroes start to get close to the 'not bad'.

*big bad*. Thank you, Autocorrect.

Well, be sure to keep us posted!! :)

Will do.

Anyone else have a plot they'd like to discuss?

Well, I have a question for all of you. Do you think fantasy or fiction is a better genre to write? I'm currently going with fantasy because there are not many fantasy books out there that are actually good. I want to write a good one but still make it feel realistic. (If you know what I mean).

Personally I love fantasy, and that's what I write, but I think it depends on what you're comfortable with, and where your imagination takes you. :)

I love fantasy, because I love worldbuilding. But you can still world build with "normal" kinds of fiction.

Write whatever kind of story you want to write, and feel like you are capable of writing. (I fail miserably when I try to write mysteries, though I love them.) I love fantasy, but I also love sci-fi and historical fiction, and there are some contemporary fiction books that I like. You can even mix genres. That can be tremendous fun.

There are quite a few good fantasy stories that I can think of like Resistance, DragonSpell and its sequels, The Ankulen, The Chronicles of Prydain, and of course The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings.

Romance is my weakness. Whenever I try to include romance in my stories, it comes out awkward and messy.

If you were in my head you wouldn't ever leave. These rampant thoughts won't let anyone escape. They're scattered all over the ground, the sky, the in between. It's a trap. I'm stuck in a never-ending maze. These walls are all the same. Nothing ever does change. Day in, day out, all night long. Makes you go just a bit insane. I can't explain and when I do, no one gets it or has a clue. It's like I'm stuck up in my head. Lost all alone while I'm really just sitting on my bed. Walls all around me, closing in. My focus is shot. How I wish it were not. It's on the other side I just can't reach. There is no cure to this madness. It simply comes and goes. There's no telling when the walls will let me in. Let me in so I can stop the rush and focus on what I need to get done. By now this is probably just a lot of nonsense rambling but all of this is true. I wish I could explain it so I'd know what I should do.

Sometimes I wonder if people see what I am writing—if they are seeing what I'm trying to convey in a scene/story. I don't know but that's usually the number one reason I hit the delete button.

Writer's shouldn't be aloud to have delete buttons. lol

-Sydney

Sydney wrote: "Sometimes I wonder if people see what I am writing—if they are seeing what I'm trying to convey in a scene/story. I don't know but that's usually the number one reason I hit the delete button.

Wr..."

*NEVER* hit delete. Move it to an "outtakes folder", or you could ask a writing buddy to have a look and tell you what they think. Writing buddies can be invaluable.

Mojoboy31 wrote: "*NEVER* hit delete. Move it to an "outtakes folder", or you could ask a writing buddy to have a look and tell you what they think. Writing buddies can be invaluable."

Similarly, my dad told me to save each draft as a new document. That way, everything is saved. You never know what you might want to put back in. I've only deleted silly stuff, like when part of my fantasy became a bunch of "Blink" references (tremendous fun to write), but even that I took a screenshot of to post on Facebook. :)

But, you know, stories are a two-way thing. We put what we can into it, and readers take what they can out of it. And even if it isn't exactly the same, it's okay. Readers like "scope for imagination." We can only do our best. We're only human.

Yes, indeed. You never know what you'll want to put back in.
Blink references, eh?

Indeed. They are. My goal is to make it as clear as possible, then try to strengthen it after.

I probably delete more than I ought to, which can be frustrating when I want to go back and read them. At least I don't delete complete documents anymore just because I've written myself into a corner ... (And by delete, I mean highlight the entire document and start writing something else in its place so that the old story is irrecoverable. I don't recommend this to anyone.)

ooof! Yeah, don't ever do that.... lol...

I have some older stories that need *so much* editing it's ridiculous, but the ideas behind them were good ones, and even if they can't ever be "fixed", I can always mine them for characters or twists if I have to.

Some of my stories are so bad I can barely edit them. They're too embarrassing. lol

I haven't gotten far enough on any of my stories for them to be bad..... #procrastination

Mojoboy31 wrote: "Blink references, eh?"

Yes, I'm quite Whovian, and when statues showed up, I couldn't resist. I put it on my author Facebook page, so it's public. Here's the link.

https://www.facebook.com/376392442478...

Hahaha!!! That's brilliant!! You should put that in the back of your book, as a blooper!! ;D

Brianna wrote: "Some of my stories are so bad I can barely edit them. They're too embarrassing. lol"

Ugh, me too! :) Some of the ones I wrote I think "hey, what happened to that idea I had..." and so I go dig it out of wherever it got put when I stopped writing it. Then I cringe the whole time I read it and bury it again when I finish...

Lots of good ideas here!

Back to a later subject between fantasy and fiction I love fantasy!

One of the greatest reasons I chose fantasy to write in is because of what was mentioned above. There is hardly anything good in "fantasy" and a desperate need for some good clean fantasy for the fans.

Yes!! They certainly don't make fantasy like they used to! Lord of the Rings... *sigh*

Indeed

Melanie wrote: "Okay, besides the Reality Series....I am working on a new series that involves the 144, 000 in Revelations. What are your thoughts on that particular part in Revelations when it talks about them?"

This part of Revelation is a rich source for writing. I often think on it, and have had dreams about it -- one in particular provided insight on their hiding place in the wilderness. Perhaps I may yet get to write about that. One must think of the logistics of bringing so many together into the 'church' in the first place, and then, the campaign of persecution by the dragon. There is also the preparation of the hiding place: the work and maintenance -- all in secret. Finally, there is the ultimate failure of the dragon that ends in its army being swallowed by the earth. Remember, too, that there are 12000 from each tribe sealed in the forehead. But, here's the kicker: some of those tribes no longer officially exist. Who, then, are the sealed?

Tamara wrote: "Well, I have a question for all of you. Do you think fantasy or fiction is a better genre to write? I'm currently going with fantasy because there are not many fantasy books out there that are actu..."

My one fantasy novel, The Faerie Dusters, is actually also part science fiction. The faeries fly, and have wings of a sort, but the effect is produced by a suit that is powered by gold. I think the two genres work well together, and may be used as a foundation for other genres as well -- romance, historic, etc.

Jason wrote: "Lots of good ideas here!

Back to a later subject between fantasy and fiction I love fantasy!

One of the greatest reasons I chose fantasy to write in is because of what was mentioned above. There ..."

True enough. One of my dissatisfactions with modern fantasy is that it is so dominated by demonic pretensions. Witches, and Jinns, and demons have all become so tired-blooded. Normally, I write apologetics, but in the one fantasy sci-fi I've done so far, it was my intent from the beginning to bring God back into the mix. A step up, if you will, from the usual ilk.

I would like to broach a new topic for discussion. It is a topic of some interest to me -- a writing collective, where many members, in a single endeavor, bring to bear all their individual talents. I bring this up because I have more writing ideas than my age and ability will permit me to resolve. As an example: I began a novel entitled 'Friends'. It is meant to be a book of around twelve chapters where each chapter is the recollection of one of Jesus' friends and/or apostles. I am half-way through the first chapter, which is the reminiscence of Lazarus.

Any thoughts here? Is this something that might be coordinated through our moderators?

D.L. wrote: "Jason wrote: "Lots of good ideas here!

Back to a later subject between fantasy and fiction I love fantasy!

One of the greatest reasons I chose fantasy to write in is because of what was mentioned..."


That is an excellent idea. I have done the same thing, more or less. My novel that I am working on, Arise to Fall, is by no means supposed to be "Spiritually accurate" per-say but I have several biblical principles in the book and introduce that fact that in this world everything was created and is governed by one true God.


As far as you idea on collaborating D.L I have always liked the idea of collaborating with other authors to come up with a book. I think it would work good and have heard of it being done a few times.

I myself am at the point where I have at least 10-15 books waiting to be polished, written, set up and published. So I have a long road ahead of me in this endeavor as well. Fortunately I think it's doable for me, especially come the middle of next year or later I should have more time on my hands.

D.L. wrote: "I would like to broach a new topic for discussion. It is a topic of some interest to me -- a writing collective, where many members, in a single endeavor, bring to bear all their individual talents..."

That sounds like a neat idea! At this point I don't think we'd take that on for the group, but feel free to contact anyone you think may be interested!