Heroes According to Jane Austen - Part 1



http://thesecretunderstandingofthehearts.blogspot.com/2011/04/guestblog-juliet-archer-tampering-with.html

Oh! What are men compared to rocks and mountains?  - Pride and Prejudice       

 In honor of the bicentennial of Pride and Prejudice’s publication this year, I thought I’d talk about heroes. I know...SUCH a hardship, right? :-)

And from who better to draw inspiration, than the witty word-weaver, Jane Austen?

I love a well-written heroine, but not even the best heroine can outshine the perfect hero (for me), so I thought I’d start off our Valentine’s week with PART1  of  3 swoon-worthy posts ;-).

As we think of Austen's men, one thing to keep in mind is their very ‘humanness’. They are not perfect, sometimes their character flaws are quite obvious – but throughout the stories their imperfections are met with the perfect match in their heroines.
They are vulnerable and fallible - which makes them realistic.
That’s why we end up liking…or loving them. That's also why they are memorable.

Though there are more Austen heroes, for time’s sake I have chosen one example under each of the six categories. People may or may not agree with these categories, but I believe they cover most hero-types in novels or movies out there. (and some heroes are nice combos of two different types)

The Six Categories I've discovered are:

The Reluctant Hero

The Subtle Servant

The Good Guy

The Best Friend

The Reformed Rogue

The Anti-Hero

 Though many of you will prefer the latter two hero-types, I’m going to save those for Part 3 and discuss the ‘less popular’ two today. Please remember, less popular does not mean less important. In fact, The Subtle Servant is one of the most quietly beautiful hero-types out there. Our dear, Casey Herringshaw, has a beautiful example of one in her current WIP and my hero in book 3 of my Mitchell's Crossroads series is a Subtle Servant too.

So, let’s get on with the first two, shall we?

The Reluctant Hero

This is not to say these men do not want to be heroic. This type of character has the heart of a hero, but doesn’t always show those characteristics until situations or circumstances (or the right woman) force them into the fray. Unfortunately, this is often viewed as indecision or weakness of character. He doesn’t truly realize his ‘hero potential’ until he must become the lead man in the situation, or in the heart of the woman he loves. Insecurities may cloak his awareness of his own heroism, but he will rise to the occassion.

Edward Ferrars – The wrong thing for the right reason

One of Sense & Sensibilities quiet heroes is Edward Ferrars. Our first impression of him in the novel is this:

"He was too diffident to do justice to himself; but when his natural shyness was overcome, his behaviour gave every indication of an open, affectionate heart. His understanding was good, and his education had given it solid improvement.”

Everyone makes mistakes, right? But not everyone stands by their poor choices to honor their own promises. Though Edward's character appears weaker than his romantic counterpart, Eilnor Dashwood – and certainly less constant than his fellow hero, Colonel Brandon, Edward’s compassionate nature and anchor-to-duty becomes apparent when he is forced to take a stand – even against his supercilious mother and sister. And he does exhibit character growth. In the beginning of the novel, he has NO control over his life –and has allowed his mother and sister to make choices for him. By the end – and through poor choices and convenient circumstances- he becomes the owner and creator of his life. Elinor sees him as a hero - and he's a great match for her, because doesn't long for a raging romance, but a steady flame. She gets it in her perfect hero.

Not dark or dashing, but a good heart and someone who will choose to do the RIGHT thing, even if it hurts.

(Edmund Bertram from Mansfield Park would fit within this type, IMO)

Some movie and book examples of this type of hero are:

Mary Connealy’s heroes: Alex and Logan in the Sophie’s Daughters series.

Patrick O’Connor strikes me as a reluctant hero in Julie Lessman’s Christmas novel, A Light in the Window.

Ryan Reynolds’ character in The Proposal and maybe even Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings. Mr. Fantastic from The Fantastic 4 could fall into this category too.

The Subtle Servant  

This hero is also one that obtains less glory from ladies who prefer dark-and-brooding. This type of hero usually makes himself known in the subtle, small, and quiet ways – being available, observant, and faithful. In fact, being noticed is the furthest thing from his mind.

He may not charge onto the field on his steed, but he will seek out a heart-sore woman and carry her through the rain to shelter. He will rescue a ‘fallen’ woman from a life of destitution, he will provide a means of income for a ‘good’ man who has lost his inheritance, and he will hold on to love in an unassuming, yet strong-as-steel, sort of way.

I absolutely LOVE this type of hero – even though he’s not as popular. There is a quiet strength about him and an undeniable sense of faithfulness.

Colonel Brandon – is a sensitive and subdued man who suffered the loss of his lady-love when his parents refused the match – then his lady fell into the life of promiscuity and finally died, so he took her illegitimate child into his care. Now, after years in the army and unmarried, this sensitive man finds a ‘kindred’ spirit in the young Marianne Dashwood. Due to Marianne’s indifference to him, and the apparent age-gap, Colonel Brandon maintains a friendship with the family, and ready service to them, but does not pursue Marianne. Brandon’s acts of kindness are sprinkled throughout the story in quiet, and finally, grand ways – until Marianne sees him for the hero he truly is.

I think he is a reserved romantic, whereas Marianne is an overt one. The nice comparison between Colonel Brandon and his counterpart, Willoughby, is to show that the true test of love is in trial and time. Colonel Brandon succeeds on both counts.

Some examples of a Subtle Servant in movies and books are:

Red Shirt in Laura Frantz’s fantastic novel, Courting Morrow Little.

Wade Sawyer and Grant Cooper in Mary Connealy’s Montana Marriages series.

I think Griff from Laurie Alice Eakes novel Choices of the Heart might fit here too

Maybe Jack Buchanan from Liz Curtis Higgs amazing novel, Mine is the Light, might fall into this mix too.

  Okay - it's your turn.

Can you think of a book you’ve read…or one you are writing, where the hero matches either of these descriptions?

What about all you Austen fans out there? Do you have a soft-spot in your heart for any of the ‘quieter’ Austen heroes?

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Pepper Basham writes Blue Ridge Romances peppered with grace and humor. Though she dabbles in all types of genres, she enjoys focusing on historical and contemporary romances for now. She's a pastor's wife, mom of five, speech-language pathologist, and lover of jazz. She also remains in awe of God's kindness in providing His amazing love for her life, His unending mercy for her sins, and His awesome creation of chocolate for her mental health. You can find out more about Pepper at her personal blog Words Seasoned With Salt www.pepperbasham.com

Bringing the Bible to Life through Amazing Love with K. Dawn Byrd

Good morning, Alley Pals and visitors. Pepper here, and today, help me welcome author, K. Dawn Byrd for a little chat about writing, and more specifically about writing Biblical allegory. Dawn is author of over 10 books, and all of them have come out within the past 4 years. She works full time as a counselor and spends her free-time writing, hanging out with her sweet hubby, or riding on her Harley J

I was blessed to get to attend my first ACFW conference with Dawn in 2010. We roomed together - and she put up with me quite well.

Now, for you readers out there, Dawn is a fantastic resource regarding epublishing and writing in the ‘nooks and crannies’ of life. She’s also adept at writing in various genres (so we have another thing in common J)

She’s written nonfiction, YA, contemporary romance, historical, and suspense….but today, she’s going to specifically target her new release, Amazing Love – a modern day retelling of the Hosea/Gomer story.

Welcome to The Writers Alley, Dawn!

Let's talk about the joys and challenges of bringing a Biblical story to the modern day. Authors are lucky that Scripture is sometimes vague about the details in some stories. For example, my latest novel, Amazing Love, is a modern-day Hosea and Gomer story. We know from Scripture that Hosea marries a prostitute and that she is unfaithful. The fact that the Bible doesn't give much detail allowed my imagination to run wild about how my heroine would betray her preacher husband and the consequences she would suffer for her sin.

Amazing Love was such a joy to write. It ministered to my heart in so many ways. The reader take away is that God loves us unconditionally no matter what. Period. No matter how low we sink in sin, no matter how great our indiscretions, no matter how many tears we bring to God's eyes, He loves us with an everlasting love. That's not to say that He won't let us suffer the consequences for our actions. Amazing Joy was such a joy to write because it reminded of God's unfailing love for His children.

It really sounds like a great story. So now that you’ve been writing a while, what books on writing have been the most helpful to you and why?

It's not really a book, but I'll tell you about it anyway. Margie Lawson's on-line classes made more impact on me and my writing style that anything else I've ever studied. They're very affordable too!

Every writer has a different reason for writing. What’s yours?

I write because I can't stop. It's more than a hobby, it's a passion. It's the most fun I've ever had in my life!

 Sounds familiar. :-)

Thanks so much for being a part of The Alley today, Dawn, and sharing your excitement about your new book.

Okay, so Dawn is going to try and stop by today to answer some questions. Bring them on. Also, if you’ve read a book or books that have taken a Bible story and modernized it (or placed it somewhere else in history) what did you like about it?

If you could rewrite a Bible story, which would you choose?

Biblical retellings are more common than you think, and range from closely linked version to loose interpretations. C.S. Lewis paints a closer allegory of the story of Christ in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Liz Curtis Higgs brings the Old Testament to Scotland in her beautiful stories beginning with Thorn in My Heart and MY favorite, Mine is the Night.

What are your thoughts?

Make 'Em Laugh - Writing Humor in Fiction

Anyone here love to laugh?
Just stick me in the Mary Poppins’ scene where they have tea on the ceiling with Dick Van Dyke.
I love to laugh.
But laughing, and writing humor are two very different things.

Using a fantastic article from the latest edition of Writer’s Digest and combining it with some things I’ve learned along the way, I want us to look at the fine art of writing humor.

Now, I am no Mary Connealy, Deeanne Gist, or Janice Thompson – nor do I have the wit of fellow Alley Cats, Krista Phillips or Sarah Forgrave, but I know a funny scene when I read one.

Humor is about distorting reality or turning it on its head in some way. Kind of like those carnival fun-mirrors. The image might still be you, but it’s funny looking because your lips look like they’re up by your forehead or it appears that you’re eating your feet. Distorted. Funny.

Let’s look at some important tips to writing humor based on Leigh Anne Jasheway’s list from Ways to Improve your Writing By Thinking Like A Comedy Writer (Writer’s Digest, July/August 2011)

 Incongruity – “Incongruity is the main reason we laugh.” Its’ the whole idea of expecting one thing and the unexpected happens. What’s so funny about the Cliffs of Insanity swordplay scene in the move The Princess Bride? It’s unexpected. Two guys are trying to kill each other, all the while being so very polite, and complimenting each others’ skill in fighting.

It causes your brain to hiccup. Wait, that’s not what I expected.

That’s why I think that God has a sense of humor. The Bible is FILLED with incongruity.

A shepherd boy becomes a king.

A hot-headed fisherman becomes a mighty servant of God.

A donkey talks?

A man is swallowed by a great fish to get him back on God’s path

A man in a landlocked country is told to build an Ark

The CREATOR of the world is born as a baby

 Keep Them on Their Toes – basically it’s when the writer changes directions from the expected course. “Misdirection” – as Leigh Anne Jasheway refers to it.

This is particularly true when phrases we know are changed.  That’s why we get such a kick out of kids’ sayings. My daughter once looked out the window and said, “It’s raining hats and frogs.”

 Use Familiarity to your Advantage – the ‘running gag’, a situation, character, or phrase that the reader can always expect to bring the comic relief. We all can think of that particular character. The one who enters the scene and we grin, knowing they’ll provide a silly phrase, foible, or witty comment to make things a little funnier. Even in the epic movie, Lord of the Rings, we knew that Gimli (the dwarf for those of you who are not Tolkien-ites or elves) is going to provide us with some humor any time he is on the page or screen. In Pride and Prejudice, it’s Mrs. Bennet (among others).

 Employ the Power of Play – if you’re a little silly, have fun pets, or young kids, use them to provide the necessarily inspiration. To write funny, you need to have the internal tools to do it. Which means…. A playful spirit yourself. Leigh Anne says “Make sure your inner 5-year-old has a chance to play at least once a day, and even more often when you’re facing a deadline.”

Use the Power of 10 – Before deciding on a perfect title, character name, or plot point, make a list of 10 possibilities and pick the best one. Don’t stop with just one or two – go all the way to 10.  “It takes more writers approximately 10 attempts at a joke to create the funniest punch line.”

Expose Yourself – learn from other funny authors. Expose yourself to their work and discover the way they make you laugh.

How do we add humor?

Well, here are a few ways:

Through witty dialogue – male-female banter, sarcasm, overexaggerations, complete honesty (usually internal monologues J.

Using interesting or funny similies & metaphors. Shannon LAusch refers to this as Wordplay.

Situational Humor – where the situation is just plain funny.

Parody – a ‘spoof’ off of something else

Slapstick or physical humor – think Lucille Ball or Sandra Bullock-type comedy here (Three Stooges too, if any of you writers even know who those are ;-)

Here are a few examples:

Here are the first lines from Laura Jensen Walker’s book, Miss Invisible.

One size does not fit all

“Not women like me,” I muttered as I tried to wriggle the cotton peasant skirt over my double-wide-trailer hips in the cramped dressing room.

Or what about this wonderful clip from Liz Curtis Higgs latest masterpiece, Mine is the Night. (gentle humor)

Jack looked at her beneath the velvety blue sky, riding as close as he dared.

“I’ve been meaning to talk to you about your employment, Mrs. Kerr. I’m afraid I must dismiss you as my dressmaker.”

She pretended to be greatly offended. “Lord Buchanan! Is this how you repay my many hours of service?”

“Even worse, madam, I insist you marry me within the month.”

Elizabeth laughed softly. “I believe I was the one who proposed marriage.”

“So you did, my dear.”

Lorna Seilstad really shows some nice physical humor in her newest release, A Great Catch. Her heroine is a Lucille Ball act-alike.

In this scene, Emily Graham is trying to cut and eat a waffle, while her soon-to-be love interest, Carter, is at the table talking to her grandmother. Btw, Emily has a sprained wrist – so she only has good use of one hand.

Emily bit her lip and used the side of her fork to try to cut off  the corner (of her waffle). Ah. Success.

She glanced up and caught Carter grinning at her. Heat flooded her cheeks and she dropped her gaze back to her breakfast. Even without looking, she knew he was still watching. She’d show him she was a woman who could tackle anything – big or small.

Her grandmother thumbed through the ledger. “And Carter studied finance, Emily. Since your brother is busy running your father’s business, I’ve asked Carter to help me manage my assets.”

“But I thought – “ Emily jerked. The bite of waffle on the tip of her fork, drenched in strawberry syrup, went flying across the table.

Instinct alone propelled Carter to catch the chunk of waffle midair. The contents squished in his palm, and he grabbed his napkin from the table.

Fun, eh?

Okay – last example. How could I pass this up without putting in some of Mary Connealy humor?!?

From her book, Sharpshooter in Petticoats:

Mandy is trying to get her telescope from Tom Linscott, who just kidnapped her kids (so to speak) and has told Mandy that she’s marrying him (which in Mandy’s mind is still a matter of question).

Mandy said, “I’d like it now, please, Mr. Linscott.”

A far more earthly phrase full of dire threats and insults was pressing to escape from her lips. But the children were close at hand.

“Call me Tom.” Then Tom tilted his head and in the dark seemed to look down at Angela. “And you can call me Pa, little girl.”

“Pa!” Angela kicked her feet, which stuck out almost straight on both sides of the broad backed black Tom rode. Mandy could just barely see her little moccasins.

“Do not call him Pa!” Mandy could not sit idly by while that travesty occurred.

“Pa!” Catherine, on Mandy’s lap, twisted around and grinned up as if the order were a joke.

Jarrod’s legs were encased in that papoose-like pack on Tom’s back, but the little boy’s arms were free, and he waved them wildly and yelled, “Papa!”

“That’s right. I’m your pa. You might as well call me that right from the start.”

If one of our goals as writers is to grab the readers’ attention and hold on – then learning to write humor is a fantastic way to do that. Not all of us are humor writers, though, but even sprinkling it into more dramatic pieces can make your work stronger.

Your homework? Go play with some kids or pets. Look for the fun, imagination, and humor in the moments – and incorporate the joy into your writing.

Do you have any examples you want to post of your own writing humor?

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photos courtesy of www.writersdigest.com
http://www.alicia-logic.com/capspages/caps_viewall.asp?titleid=15

What's Up the Street For Next Week?

First things first –

BABY NEWS!!!

Another Alley Kitten joins the ranks of our growing litter. Author Cindy Wilson gave birth to Brooklyn Mae Thursday, June 16. Mom & baby are doing well – but Cindy and her family would love your prayers.

Well, we know how Cindy is going to be spending her ‘free’ time during summer now – but how about you? Do you have a summer reading list yet?

How are you doing with it? Are you ahead of schedule, staring at a book-free nightstand, or are you like most of us – where our pile of books bears a striking resemblance to the Tower of Babel?

Whatever the trip, The Alley Cats have a few books to add to your list. Here are some of their TOP recommendations:

Sherrinda: The Art of Romance by Kaye Dacus.

Julia: The Fine Art of Insincerity by Angela Hunt is a great women's fiction pick that was recently released.                                          

Casey: When Sparrows Fall by Meg Moseley

Mary: recommends Calvin and Hobbs--any one will do--to stir the thinking.

Krista: Save the Date by jenny b jones. It was fun and upbeat and I L.O.V.E.D it!

Sarah: Just Between You and Me by Jenny Jones.

Pepper: A Great Catch by Lorna Seilstad if you want a funny-bone tickler; Mine is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs if you want a beautiful romantic drama.

So, what’s the lineup this week?

Monday: Pepper still has no idea what she is going to post about. You could vote! Answering the Call – writing & other priorities; OR The Basics of Characterization OR A Few More Tips from BRMCWC.  AHHHH! Decisions.

Tuesday: Sherrinda is having just as hard a time as Pepper – so it’s a surprise post for the day.

Wednesday: Mary’s post draws from the ‘masters’ of writing all around us, On Being Mentored.

Thursday: You can delete words?!? What? Well, check out Casey’s  post It’s Not About the Over All Word Count Walking the line between being aware of our total novel length and being willing to delete 1K of words.

Friday: Stop by to see what fun Krista brings to our Friday.

So…what books would you recommend for a summer reading list?

What's one of your top five books you've read within the past year? Why was it so great?

And come join us for another week of great info...even for those of us who aren't sure yet :-)

And the WINNER of Driftwood Lane from Cindy's post on Friday is....

Pam Kellogg!!

Congratulations and happy reading!!

What's Up the Street For Next Week?

What do the Alley Cats do when they don’t know what to write?

They have a Grab Bag week!

That’s right. This week is a mix of writing, fun, romance, and laughter – but you won’t know what’s happening until you stop by.

Who are your hostesses this week?


Pepper, Sherrinda, Mary, Casey, and Krista

It’s a surprise week! Which means we’ll probably be surprised too! :-)

I can give you a hint about Thursday, though.

It has to do with Susan May Warren and The Frazier. Stop by to learn more.

Oh, and I'll treat you to this clue about Wednesday:  Genesis and pressing the enter key.  Gutsy.

What are some great Christian book coming out in March? Check out this list:

From Bethany House –

Judith Miller’s - A Bond Never Broken

Siri Mitchell’s, A Heart Most Worthy

Nancy Moser’s, An Unlikely Suitor (04-01-11)

Mary Connealy’s, Out of Control

From Waterbrook

Liz Curtis Higgs, Mine Is the Light

From Tyndale

C.J. Darlington’s, Bound By Guilt

Just to name a few…

There are so many more. Plenty to keep you busy all through March!

Any that you are particularly looking forward to reading?
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above pictures are from - http://blog.timesunion.com/kristi/20964/grab-bag-ideas/

A Vein of Hope

From the time we are little girls, twirling in our princess dresses, hope fills us that someday we will meet Prince Charming.
And it continues into the tumultuous teen years when our hearts seem too big for our bodies, and we crush on that ONE guy whose every look in our direction, every brush of the arm in a crowded high school hallway, every word spoken (even if it is “excuse me, I need to get to my locker”) sends us into a dreamy state of wonder. What did he mean by that? It must have meant something to make my insides flutter so. Surely he felt the same, right?

And we hope. 

We feel deep things, sitting for hours at a journal, or filling the back of notebooks with poetry that opens doorways into a bleeding heart—a young, ripening heart that clings to the hope of finding the love we read in English class, between Romeo and Juliet, Heathcliff and Catherine, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy.
When I think back on my sweet innocence of falling madly in love with THAT guy in high school...the one who probably didn't think of me unless I tripped up on my untied Keds right in front of his cool self...I see one huge constant of that era:

A vein of hope.

It may have been delusional on my end, but it kept the dream alive and helped me put up with all the junk of life.
If ever a book was written to elaborate this vein with a deeper God-driven intensity, to thrust it into the hearts of women, not just girls, it is my favorite historical romance, Thorn In My Heart by Liz Curtis Higgs, the first in her Lowlands of Scotland series.

I read it as a married woman, past all the stuff of love-sickness (I got my man :) ), but my soul was so rattled by the familiar hope of a woman in love in the story, it resonated to my very core.
Set in 18th century Scotland, Higgs creatively weaves the Rachel, Jacob, and Leah story through the lives of her characters, Rose, Jamie, and Leana. Rose is vibrant, beautiful, and young, catching the eye and heart of Jamie. Leana is plain, sensible, calm, but with a beautiful heart, a God-fearing spirit. Through Leana, the vein of hope is established, urging the reader to ache for her, and hope alongside her as she yearns for Jamie's affection and courtship, and then love, once a proxy marriage set up by her scheming father, binds her to him for at least 7 months to produce a baby or end in divorce, and then Jamie can marry her sister Rose, who he is in love with.
It is just after this proxy marriage that I would love to illustrate to you this theme of hope, even though it is ever present throughout the story.

From the very beginning, Leana doesn't stop clinging to hope, even with Jamie's harsh words and constant rebuke from the first moments of their honeymoon:

"My heart is spoken for. You may have the rest of me for seven days, but no longer."

How heart wrenching to know that the man you've married doesn't love you back, and is only fulfilling his duty on the honeymoon because of your father's request? The only practical hope Leana has is for an heir to be produced to lock their marriage in permanency, and according to Jamie, only in the short 7 day honeymoon.

We see Leana's heart's intentions when Jamie asks,

"What's all that rubbage?" 

as she brings a basket filled with 

herbs, her favorite scented soap, her best gown, and one good dress 

on their honeymoon, and Leana responds,

"Hope," she said simply, settling into her seat as he shook the reigns and their journey began. "'Tis a basket full of hope."

And from that first day of their honeymoon, the vein of hope woven through Leana's character tugs at the reader's heart, pulsating in and out of reach, as we catch glimpses of Jamie's teetering thoughts.
Slowly, ever so slowly, Jamie contributes to the vein of hope in the eye of the reader, as well as in Leana's presence, thus growing it to a substantial hook for the reader to cling to for the rest of the book.

In Jamie's POV:  

She was not a beauty. Her face was too long, her eyebrows thickly drawn...But in the dark of the night, when she'd smoothed her hands across his chest and whispered his name, all those unappealing details had flown out of his head. Leana. He'd spoken her name once, not meaning to. She'd wept without making a sound even as he cursed himself for being careless, for giving her false hope. Heaven knew she'd brought enough of that in her cone-lined basket.

Ah, but was it false hope to Leana? She had a mighty God and a pure heart, and the hope becomes more and more real during their honeymoon week:

Without hesitating, Jamie slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her against him to keep her from falling onto the muddy street. He held her only for a moment until she righted herself but long enough to flood his mind with vivid images. His resolution to make her bridal week a miserable one was crumbling like Neda's shortbread.

And beyond the honeymoon we catch glimpses of Jamie's inner turmoil when Rose mentions,  

"But you've looked at her." 

More than you know. More than I should. 

He kept his voice even. "No more than necessary, for politeness' sake. She is my wife, if only by law--"

There are moments of Jamie tripping up on the bounds of marriage in flirtatious bouts with Rose, even calling out her name in his marriage bed with Leana, but through the devastation this brings not only to the character, but the invested reader as well, Leana is steadfast in her grip on hope as she remains firmly rooted in God's love.

And isn't that the stuff of life, the thing you wish you knew as a teenager, striving at hopeful hints of love--that beyond all else, God is there for you, and in Him, your hope will be fulfilled someday, even if it doesn't look like what you expect it too? In her darkest moments, Leana turns to God:

Curled up in her bed, in a lonely corner of the house that creaked in the stiff breeze and groaned from the cold, Leana warmed herself with her prayers. "Almighty God, do you see me? Do you see my emptiness?" The wind moaned but did not speak. "Fill me with his child, Lord." She whispered into the dimly lit closet that was her refuge, her eye on the window that looked toward the heavens. "Let a son be growing beneath my heart. Maybe then Jamie will love me."

I don't want to spoil the ending to this amazing book by Higgs, it is just too good. ;) But as I think back on the romance of the book, why it intrigued me so, what it taught me about writing a successful and long-lasting story in the eye of the reader, I find that my heart was hooked along the long, swelling vein of hope internalized in the characters and eventually blooming into their journey.

Catch A Reader By The Hook

You’re standing in front of a shelve of deliciously tempting books inside Barnes and Noble or Books a Million…or even the library. The smell of imagination cooking between fresh print pricks your curiosity and you scan the rows looking for a title or cover to push you from temptation to commitment. Finally, something snags your attention and you draw the book from the shelf, the promise of a tantalizing visit to otherworlds tingling through your body. (okay, maybe I’m the only one who gets this feeling, but I also write fantasy so it works for me.


You slide your hand across the silken cover dancing with brilliant colors and a magical picture, finally flipping to the first page.

Once upon a time….


It was a dark and stormy night…


It is a truth universally acknowledged….

Either the book grips you in the first paragraph and delivers on its’ promises from the back cover, or you realize…this book is not for you.

So what makes a gripping first line…a first paragraph even?

Part of it has to do with personal preference, I know, but first lines have a tendency to draw us in, catch us, and then hook us like a fish in the water.

With this thought in mind, I’ve listed a few ‘first lines’ in books (old and new) as an example. See what you think.

“Scarlet O’Hara was not beautiful, but men seldom realized it when caught by her charm, as the Tarleton twins were.” – Gone With the Wind

“Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show.” David Copperfield

“I have just returned from a visit to my landlord – the solitary neighbour that I shall be troubled with.” – Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

“A gentle breeze from the north-east after a night of rain, and the washed sky over Malta had a particular quality in its light that sharpened the lines of the noble buildings, bringing out all the virtue of the stone; the air too was a delight to breathe, and the city of Valletta was as cheerful as though it were fortunate in love or as though it had suddenly heard good news.” – Treason’s Harbor by Patrick O’Brian

“Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.” – Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

“A long time ago, when all the grandfathers and grandmothers of today were little boys and little girls or very small babies, or perhaps not even born, Pa and Ma and Mary and Laura and Baby Carrie left their little house in the Big Woods of Wisconsin. They drove away and left it lonely and empty in the clearing among the big trees, and they never saw that little house again.” Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingals Wilder

“There is no lake at Camp Green Lake.” Holes by Louis Sachar

Now for some Christian Fiction examples How do they compete?


“Oh, to be a calculating woman!” Julie Lessman’s A Passion Denied

“Nice girl gone bad. That’s me: Claire Le Noyer.” Kissing Adrien by Siri Mitchell

“Nothing like running late to make a wonderful first impression.” Stand-In Groom by Kaye Dacus

“The day was gray and cold, mildly damp. Perfect for magic.” The Book of Names by D. Barkley Briggs

“Breathe not a word of my visit, Jean. not to a soul.” Thorn in my Heart by Liz Curtis Higgs

“Bran!” The shout rattled through the stone-flagged yard. “Bran! Get your sorry tail out here! We’re leaving!” Hood by Stephen Lawhead

“Dragon riding isn’t all it’s cracked up to be,” Ashley grumbled. Enoch’s Ghost by Bryan Davis.

“Belle Tanner pitched dirt right on Anthony’s handsome, worthless face.” The Husband Tree by Mary Connealy

“They were coming. They were coming! Christophe shoves his little sister, twelve-year old Emile, through a hidden door in the wall, quickly following her.” Love’s First Light by Jamie Carie

Now, interestingly enough, these examples have something in common: They are out to get your attention BUT they use different means to get it.

_ Some draw in the reader with ACTION. You enter the story in motion and are swept into the pages.

-  Some use INTRIGUE…something’s ‘not quite right’, so your curiousity is peaked.

- Some use HUMOR and brings you in with a smile.

- Others use the UNEXPECTED – something is stated (kind of like intrigue) which is out of the ordinary so to keep from teetering on the brink of confusion, the reader must read on.

-Finally some capture you with WORDS, magically descriptive, palpable words which ensnare the senses.

Any way you choose to write it, SOMETHING has to happen in that first paragraph which captures the readers attention to keep them reading…wanting more, inescapably attracted…

and then -

hopefully

You’ve caught yourself a reader.

The Big 4 - Genre Options in Christian Fiction

On Friday, Krista had a fantastic post about the differences between Inspirational Fiction and Christian Fiction. If you want to read about it, go here.



Genre is a tricky thing anyway, I think. There are SO MANY possibilities. And so many ways to mix them together. I’ve been trying to figure them out for a while now, so I wanted to share some of the basics I’ve learned.

Here is a list of the BIG FOUR genres in Christian Fiction, and I’ll try to break some of these down into subcategories.

One of the MOST popular genre in Christian circles is Historical Fiction. Usually the ‘line’ for historical is WWII or maybe even the 1950s. I say ‘historical’ a bit loosely because there are basically two different camps of historical writers.

- People who give great historical detail, including true historical events and even historical figures (such as Nancy Moser’s historical books)

- Others use a historical period as a backdrop for their stories, but use purely fictional characters throughout.

Romance can be a part of these stories, but it usually isn’t the MAIN part of the story. Not if it’s a pure historical. For those of you who write romance in a historical setting, then the next genre is for you ;-)

THE MOST POPULAR Genre in Christian fiction is ROMANCE. Which means, the stories are about love, but that’s about all they could have in common. There are so many subgenre, it’s one of the easiest for first-time writers to enter. MANY of my favorite authors fit into here, of course. Mary Connealy, Julie Lessman, Laura Frantz, Siri Mitchell, Deeanne Gist… you get the point :-)

Historical romance

Romantic Suspense

Prairie Romance

Amish Romance

Fantasy Romance

Romantic Comedy

Those are just a few of the possibilities. We could add various combinations to romance and get another sub-genre, but remember some (BASIC) rules apply to romance. Most publishers want the hero and heroine meeting in the first chapter. The relationship between the hero and heroine is the ‘heart’ of the story and usually the story takes place over a relatively short period of time. There can be some pretty important stereotypes placed on the hero and heroine as well – so researching is an important starting point. :-)

Another BIG Genre is Christian Contemporary Fiction – which is really the ‘catch all’ of novels set in a contemporary world. Christian Women’s Fiction is usually placed within this genre. Chick-lit and Mom-lit would have fit in here, or any character driven novel. Angela Hunt comes to mind and some of Deb Raney and DiAnn Mills novels as well.

The fourth BIG genre (and one of the newest) is Christian Suspense and Mystery. The ‘who done it’ stories as well as the ‘thrillers’. The three main subgenre here are:

Romantic mystery

Romantic suspense

Cozy Mystery – these are your ‘sweet’ mysteries, without the graphic violence.

(Legal suspense novels and the new Christian ‘thrillers’ are becoming a larger subgenre here – Steven James, as an example)

A few other subgenres are – Christian Biblical Fiction (The Centurion’s Wife, Abigail), SciFi & Fantasy, Westerns, Adventure (House of Wolves is a VERY good example here), and even Horror – I might be tempted to put some of Ted Dekker’s books here)

So, when it comes to you – what genre do you read? AND what genre do you write?

Can you narrow it down to a subgenre, or do you get stuck in the gray sometimes like me? I have a historical novel that has a strong romantic element, but the heroine’s journey is as strong by itself as the romantic journey. So what do I do? Is it historical or is it romance?

Do you guys ever get a little lost in the genre fog?