Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
writing inspiration
Saturday, May 8, 2010
meet matt
If you remember, I mentioned earlier that I had one character painting in my set that I hadn't done yet. Well, here he is, meet Matt. These picture, I will have to warn you, aren't perfect in color: while Matt does have black hair and green eyes, his skin is lighter and not so pink-y; his eyes are an acidic green, not the emerald you see here and his hair is probably a little longer, now that I reflect on it. But relatively accurate. All but the hair I can partially blame on the pictures, not me...
This is one amazing character, trust me on this one, okay? He'd make a pretty awesome best friend...
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Fantasy, Christianity, my novel, and God
As I've been writing my novel for nearly three years, more and more questions are starting to rise about content, fantasy, and Christianity. As a Christian, is it appropriate to read fantasy novels? Watch fantasy movies? And even create your own fantasy world or aspects of a fantasy alternate existence on this earth? Is this messing with what God has already created, or does he want us to create, to use our God-given abilities?
My brother Ned and I have argued over a lot of literature content, especially in fantasy novels. While neither he nor I have a problem with pointing sticks at eachother and screaming "EXPELLIARMUS!", there is a problem with this if it will give passerbys misconceptions of the type of Christians we are.
For example, for those of you who don't know, the Christian homeschool environment is often extremely anti-fantasy, especially anti-Potter and anti-Twilight. Whether this comes from their extreme popularity or the blatant fact that the Bible doesn't say anything about vampires, and where did these blood-sucking freaks come from anyway, or because the obsessions shown by many fans of these popular literature series, which can truly be quite chilling (ask most any teenage girl about Edward Cullen, or now that the New Moon movie is out, Jacob Black, and see their giggly, hyped responses. May I have a second to express my disgust that Edward got put on the back burner when New Moon came back?). But Christian homeschoolers, we collect all the anti-Potter and anti-Twilight comments we can, and real or false, put them together into a scary mash that's probably ten times worse than the books themselves.
I have read both Harry Potter and Twilight, and the parts that disgust me are not the magic or supernatural aspects of the books, but the completely human actions of the characters at time, regardless if magical ability is used in these impulses (Harry using Unforgivable Curses, Edward and Jacob having a verbal fight at the end of Eclipse, Bella's utter dependency on and adoration of Edward).
However, are the magical aspects of these novels bad? Are we, as humans, given by God the ability to create, or was this a result of sin? I desperately want to believe that God gave us this ability to create, an ability he and the Creator wants us to use.
I personally, think my classmates sum up some of these ideas better than anyone (have patience with how we talk, we're 15-17):
"...all fantasy of course comes from the imagination, which is confined to what is real. ...We can imagine dragons because we can see birds and think of them with fish scales and in very big sizes
it is actually all Gods creation, just with our minds (also made by God) stretching it around. So if that is true then yes, fantasy should be worthy of Christians and that is how we should defend it."
(FYI, this first sentence might just be my favorite quote of ALL TIME, and I really embarrased the poor guy by gushing over it in front of everyone.)
"But wait! I actually don't think that works because we can twist those good things of God's creation in to definite bad things."
"we may twist things, but God still created them first. For example, in The Lord of the Rings, the bad is merely corrupted good. Evil itself never has one single original idea, and I think the same holds true for the real world."
This brings up more questions. Is imagination and the fantasy created from it from God, or a twisted view of what God has created?
I, of course, thinking of my novel, brought this up, but as many learned adults can't figure this out, eight teenagers with very little research in our short time so far couldn't figure this out.
Still, the question remains. Is creating wrong? Take magic for example. God and Jesus, obviously, can do miracles, is creating people with magical abilities or superhuman powers upping us falsely to their level? Is Harry Potter's magic or Edward Cullen's superhuman speed taking away from God's ability, to have these (somewhat) human characters displaying acts that should be exclusive to Him? We were made in God's image, but is this too far into God's image? Should we be satisfied with the abilities he has given us, without creating supernatural fantasies?
J. R. R. Tolkien, the author of the famous Lord of the Rings fantasy, felt strongly that fantasy was absolutely okay. His poem, "Mythopoieia," was to promote the idea that fantasy was not a foolish waste of time. An expert:
The heart of Man is not compound of lies,
but draws some wisdom from the only Wise,
and still recalls him. Though now long estranged,
Man is not wholly lost nor wholly changed.
Dis-graced he may be, yet is not dethroned,
and keeps the rags of lordship once he owned,
his world-dominion by creative act:
not his to worship the great Artefact,
Man, Sub-creator, the refracted light
through whom is splintered from a single White
to many hues, and endlessly combined
in living shapes that move from mind to mind.
Though all the crannies of the world we filled
with Elves and Goblins, though we dared to build
Gods and their houses out of dark and light,
and sowed the seed of dragons, 'twas our right
(used or misused). The right has not decayed.
We make still by the law in which we're made.
It is obvious that Tolkien believes that fantasy is a thing that people should write and engage in. However, I initially believed that his poem was a lame, phony excuse for what he, and I, want to believe. My classmates were pretty vocal against this:
"wait what? why would it be phony? is it wrong to assume that we are creative like God is? God gave us the ability to create, why not exercise it?"
"...we are made in God's image, God creates, so we have the desire to cub create. We may occasionally create bad things, but that is because we are fallen; the creating is still part of what it means to be human."
"Are humans just supposed to stay stagnant and not do anything with the world God gave them?"
"Man is given a brain that was created to create new, whether it be simply theoretical or something that could become reality."
...wow, I love you guys.
Another point is the reasons for this desire to create. We are made in the image of the Creator; it is only natural that we should want to create, too. Also, as far as creation of fantasy comes, humans are entranced by what the can't have. Think for one second. Just how many teenage girls want to have a vampire boyfriend like Edward? In personality and appearance, he simply doesn't exist. And as for magic, we can't do it, and never will be able to. I can pick up a stick of wood and poke it at things, but I'm not going to be Stunning anyone anytime soon. Still, it doesn't stop me and my brother from yelling "Alohamora!" at locked doors, even though we fully believe that it won't work.
To me, it seems that creation of magical worlds isn't bad, as we are made in the image of the Creator, as long as we don't use our magical worlds to promote truly evil, unbiblical things that God would hate. I think he wants us to use or imaginations. Humans were the only beings in God's image, and we are the only ones who can create. And that, I believe, is the greatest difference.
My brother Ned and I have argued over a lot of literature content, especially in fantasy novels. While neither he nor I have a problem with pointing sticks at eachother and screaming "EXPELLIARMUS!", there is a problem with this if it will give passerbys misconceptions of the type of Christians we are.
For example, for those of you who don't know, the Christian homeschool environment is often extremely anti-fantasy, especially anti-Potter and anti-Twilight. Whether this comes from their extreme popularity or the blatant fact that the Bible doesn't say anything about vampires, and where did these blood-sucking freaks come from anyway, or because the obsessions shown by many fans of these popular literature series, which can truly be quite chilling (ask most any teenage girl about Edward Cullen, or now that the New Moon movie is out, Jacob Black, and see their giggly, hyped responses. May I have a second to express my disgust that Edward got put on the back burner when New Moon came back?). But Christian homeschoolers, we collect all the anti-Potter and anti-Twilight comments we can, and real or false, put them together into a scary mash that's probably ten times worse than the books themselves.
I have read both Harry Potter and Twilight, and the parts that disgust me are not the magic or supernatural aspects of the books, but the completely human actions of the characters at time, regardless if magical ability is used in these impulses (Harry using Unforgivable Curses, Edward and Jacob having a verbal fight at the end of Eclipse, Bella's utter dependency on and adoration of Edward).
However, are the magical aspects of these novels bad? Are we, as humans, given by God the ability to create, or was this a result of sin? I desperately want to believe that God gave us this ability to create, an ability he and the Creator wants us to use.
I personally, think my classmates sum up some of these ideas better than anyone (have patience with how we talk, we're 15-17):
"...all fantasy of course comes from the imagination, which is confined to what is real. ...We can imagine dragons because we can see birds and think of them with fish scales and in very big sizes
it is actually all Gods creation, just with our minds (also made by God) stretching it around. So if that is true then yes, fantasy should be worthy of Christians and that is how we should defend it."
(FYI, this first sentence might just be my favorite quote of ALL TIME, and I really embarrased the poor guy by gushing over it in front of everyone.)
"But wait! I actually don't think that works because we can twist those good things of God's creation in to definite bad things."
"we may twist things, but God still created them first. For example, in The Lord of the Rings, the bad is merely corrupted good. Evil itself never has one single original idea, and I think the same holds true for the real world."
This brings up more questions. Is imagination and the fantasy created from it from God, or a twisted view of what God has created?
I, of course, thinking of my novel, brought this up, but as many learned adults can't figure this out, eight teenagers with very little research in our short time so far couldn't figure this out.
Still, the question remains. Is creating wrong? Take magic for example. God and Jesus, obviously, can do miracles, is creating people with magical abilities or superhuman powers upping us falsely to their level? Is Harry Potter's magic or Edward Cullen's superhuman speed taking away from God's ability, to have these (somewhat) human characters displaying acts that should be exclusive to Him? We were made in God's image, but is this too far into God's image? Should we be satisfied with the abilities he has given us, without creating supernatural fantasies?
J. R. R. Tolkien, the author of the famous Lord of the Rings fantasy, felt strongly that fantasy was absolutely okay. His poem, "Mythopoieia," was to promote the idea that fantasy was not a foolish waste of time. An expert:
The heart of Man is not compound of lies,
but draws some wisdom from the only Wise,
and still recalls him. Though now long estranged,
Man is not wholly lost nor wholly changed.
Dis-graced he may be, yet is not dethroned,
and keeps the rags of lordship once he owned,
his world-dominion by creative act:
not his to worship the great Artefact,
Man, Sub-creator, the refracted light
through whom is splintered from a single White
to many hues, and endlessly combined
in living shapes that move from mind to mind.
Though all the crannies of the world we filled
with Elves and Goblins, though we dared to build
Gods and their houses out of dark and light,
and sowed the seed of dragons, 'twas our right
(used or misused). The right has not decayed.
We make still by the law in which we're made.
It is obvious that Tolkien believes that fantasy is a thing that people should write and engage in. However, I initially believed that his poem was a lame, phony excuse for what he, and I, want to believe. My classmates were pretty vocal against this:
"wait what? why would it be phony? is it wrong to assume that we are creative like God is? God gave us the ability to create, why not exercise it?"
"...we are made in God's image, God creates, so we have the desire to cub create. We may occasionally create bad things, but that is because we are fallen; the creating is still part of what it means to be human."
"Are humans just supposed to stay stagnant and not do anything with the world God gave them?"
"Man is given a brain that was created to create new, whether it be simply theoretical or something that could become reality."
...wow, I love you guys.
Another point is the reasons for this desire to create. We are made in the image of the Creator; it is only natural that we should want to create, too. Also, as far as creation of fantasy comes, humans are entranced by what the can't have. Think for one second. Just how many teenage girls want to have a vampire boyfriend like Edward? In personality and appearance, he simply doesn't exist. And as for magic, we can't do it, and never will be able to. I can pick up a stick of wood and poke it at things, but I'm not going to be Stunning anyone anytime soon. Still, it doesn't stop me and my brother from yelling "Alohamora!" at locked doors, even though we fully believe that it won't work.
To me, it seems that creation of magical worlds isn't bad, as we are made in the image of the Creator, as long as we don't use our magical worlds to promote truly evil, unbiblical things that God would hate. I think he wants us to use or imaginations. Humans were the only beings in God's image, and we are the only ones who can create. And that, I believe, is the greatest difference.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
It's PETER!
=) Do you think he looks right for a very major character?
Monday, December 21, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
What's up with Peter's face? Part 2
Here, here, here we go again. I'm gonna drive y'all crazy again, with even more drawings of what else? Peter's face?
Since I'm hopeless with the computer and can't seem to get the link to my first post about Peter, you can click on the "Peter" label on the side of the blog to access part 1.
Anyhooo.
These drawings represent everything from my second-ever drawing of Peter (number five; my first-ever I trashed after my brother told me he looked like a Jonas Brother or something. Peter hasn't had curly hair since.) to some done within the last week (number ten, for example. Yes, numbers ten and two were taken with my webcam). I have a few that aren't on here, but this represents quite a bit of Petery-ness!
I've numbered them; do say which is truly the one which you like, though I'm quite aware that you know nothing of the character! Also, bonus picture of one of my main characters---other than Peter--- in the middle. No, having her in Peter's pic does NOT indicate "something"... LOL! I was drawing a few of my main characters at the time, and cropped out the Classified Character(s).
Anyhow, just comment with the number of your favorites!
Saturday, December 12, 2009
um, wow, I'm actually alive
So I haven't posted in like, nearly months, but here's what I've been up to:
No pics, sad, because
1. I'm too lazy to upload them
2. I'm on my little laptop (the one my dad dug out of a drawer and got ready for me, yay) and that has like NO STUFF on it to upload.
Anyhow.
I've made most of my stays by now, I just have to try them on so I can position the eyelets for the shoulder straps. And then sew the eyelets for the shoulder straps. Though I don't expect any of that to happen soon...
I've also made a new skirt--- just like my favorite green one (which I've gotten to wear three times, yay for school-for-next-year interviews)--- it's a lovely plaid of a bunch of different dark-ish colors. I didn't have a lot of fabric, because I got it during the fabric adventure, which means it was a weird-shaped little piece (triangle) but it managed to work... I had to make the skirt an inch or two shorter than my last one, and make the waistband much thinner than my last one, and piece the back... but it ended up working. And it's nice and full enough, unlike...
...my other new skirt, which is NOT full enough for my taste! And the waistband is too small, which I suppose is what I get for trying to get a knee-length skirt out of less than a yard! I suppose I could make it into something else evetually...
And the book! I've gotten a few new fabulous ideas, and although I haven't worked out all the quirks (and probably never get them ALL) it's still going quite nicely! That is, when I actually get around to working on it! I'm an INKLING students (yay to those who know what that is) so the pre-christmas-break work is driving me crazy!
Oh dear, this is quite a long post. Horray for typing away while watching a Christmass-y movie with some of my siblings.
Ah well.
No pics, sad, because
1. I'm too lazy to upload them
2. I'm on my little laptop (the one my dad dug out of a drawer and got ready for me, yay) and that has like NO STUFF on it to upload.
Anyhow.
I've made most of my stays by now, I just have to try them on so I can position the eyelets for the shoulder straps. And then sew the eyelets for the shoulder straps. Though I don't expect any of that to happen soon...
I've also made a new skirt--- just like my favorite green one (which I've gotten to wear three times, yay for school-for-next-year interviews)--- it's a lovely plaid of a bunch of different dark-ish colors. I didn't have a lot of fabric, because I got it during the fabric adventure, which means it was a weird-shaped little piece (triangle) but it managed to work... I had to make the skirt an inch or two shorter than my last one, and make the waistband much thinner than my last one, and piece the back... but it ended up working. And it's nice and full enough, unlike...
...my other new skirt, which is NOT full enough for my taste! And the waistband is too small, which I suppose is what I get for trying to get a knee-length skirt out of less than a yard! I suppose I could make it into something else evetually...
And the book! I've gotten a few new fabulous ideas, and although I haven't worked out all the quirks (and probably never get them ALL) it's still going quite nicely! That is, when I actually get around to working on it! I'm an INKLING students (yay to those who know what that is) so the pre-christmas-break work is driving me crazy!
Oh dear, this is quite a long post. Horray for typing away while watching a Christmass-y movie with some of my siblings.
Ah well.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
What's up with Peter's face?
*Gasp* a post about my novel? Are you all about to faint from the shock? That I'm writing a post about my characters? Long story short, I have a major character named Peter. And I'm drawing my characters so I can get a feel for what they look like. OR NOT.... I was leafing through my drawings tonight (when I should have been working on a reflection essay, but tha'll be done tomorrow, cuz it isn't due until wednesday...) But anyway. Look at these pics of "Peter..." and see for yourself how fishy it is! 
So I can draw profiles, easy peasy. They turn out fairly nice... this pic pretty much shows what I've made out this character to be like from the side. 
....But look what happens when I try to draw from the front! Here's one drawing of Petey... (quite cropped because there is Very Distracting others around him... "Matt" is giving him bunny ears, hence another need for the crop =P ) And this is all fine and well, (well I don't like his expession) until you get to the next drawing....
...where, suddenly, he is a totally different person! Oh-so-different face! (Yes, cropped too; obviously my characters stick together as if they are Harry/Hermione/Ron.) But if I hadn't told you, would you know it was the same kid?
....But look what happens when I try to draw from the front! Here's one drawing of Petey... (quite cropped because there is Very Distracting others around him... "Matt" is giving him bunny ears, hence another need for the crop =P ) And this is all fine and well, (well I don't like his expession) until you get to the next drawing....
...where, suddenly, he is a totally different person! Oh-so-different face! (Yes, cropped too; obviously my characters stick together as if they are Harry/Hermione/Ron.) But if I hadn't told you, would you know it was the same kid?
...And then this. Excuse blurry-ness of picture (the original is pretty smudged anyway) and Peter's weird, mushy expression (which is Classified Infomation) but look! He's even more different from the first two!
And waaaaaaay different from his profile in all circumstances.
But do scroll back up (after reading this!) and notice that in each of the three frontal-faced pictures (especially the first two), his face shape is almost the same. So is it his eyes? It seems like I've done them differently each and every time. Or maybe it's that he has a different expression in each pic!
And the worst part is I don't know which to use! The first one looks like he's *kinda* an anime character, but he looks too guarded and old in the second, and in the third, too mushy and weird! I don't think any of them work. (FYI he's a highschool freshman and a little cocky when I write the book. Book characters must Look Their Part!) Should I just try to 'invent' another version of Peter?
=\
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)