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Archives for December 2014

How to Avoid Self-doubt

December 29, 2014 by AuthorAppleton 1 Comment

Sometimes the biggest challenge to writing is yourself. You can get in the way of your own accomplishments by doubting yourself and your ability to achieve. It is important that, if you want to accomplish your vision/dream, you understand how to overcome self-doubt.

There is no formula for avoiding self-doubt, but you can determine the causes and minimize them so as to maximize your potential.

Self-doubt is often caused by understanding or realizing your own limitations. Humility is also a factor. Often it is we who are artists that are our own worst critics. We want our work to be perfect. Writers, musicians, painters, etc. most of us struggle with this.

It has been accurately deduced that if artists are to produce enough work to generate any substantial income, we need to learn to accept when our work is ‘good enough.’ But what is not often realized is that there is a way of minimizing self-doubt and that will help clear your mind and focus your vision to realize the next steps you must take.

As an artist you must surround yourself with people who build you up. They may give you constructive criticism, but when it comes down to supporting your dreams, they are your cheerleaders. An artist questions his or herself often enough. The last thing we need is for those who are closest to us to give voice to what things they think we should fear to do.

So if you are an artist, recognize that you need to listen to people who encourage your dreams… and you need to minimize your interaction with those who do not. You are a dreamer, but you are looking for ways to achieve what you dream. You think outside-of-the-box, therefore do not fear to take a leap of faith where others never dared to go.

Question: Have you let others’ fears discourage you from achieving your dream?

Filed Under: writing

Should any character be both villain and hero?

December 22, 2014 by AuthorAppleton 2 Comments

Interesting things are happening in speculative fiction. New ideas are coming out and they must be analyzed to determine the validity of their argument. Today’s question: Can a fictional character be both hero and villain?

In the past I have not taken this concept seriously, but a couple of recent examples in film have made me consider this again and consider how to use this in my writing. The best example I have seen of this is in Disney’s Maleficent. Other stories have tried but most fail.

(Warning: the following material will give plot spoilers from the movie.) In Maleficent we find a startling re-imagining of Sleeping Beauty. Maleficent is not a witch. She is a fairy. A human-size fairy but a fairy nonetheless. She is pure in her heart and that purity is taken advantage of by a greedy lad who steals first her heart and later her wings. What follows is Maleficent’s transformation into a vindictive creature who places the infamous curse on Aurora. Yet Maleficent is fated it seems to watch Aurora grow up, and she, like the lonesome creature she is, ends up fully vesting herself in Aurora’s future. The ultimate and fantastic conclusion to this is that the villain seeks to undo her own curse, even throwing her life on the line to selflessly protect an innocent life.

I have seen a similar concept attempted before when Marvel showed the progression of Magneto from lone wolf to repentant ally. But Magneto’s story did not leave me fully convinced that he was ever truly a hero. Left to his own devices again (and without an enemy common to him and Professor Xavier) Magneto, I have no doubt, would fall into other dark paths.

Can a character be both hero and villain? I think so. Under the right circumstances.

If we look historically we can find some interesting examples of this. An obvious example is Saul who was blinded on the road to Damascus and thereafter was called Paul. He went from persecutor of the church of Christ to one of its most prominent leaders. A leader of the faithful and a godly man. But that sort of shift, the change from villain to hero, is made in the change of a heart. Radical conversion is one example of this, and another avenue for this shift is if the individual in question is like Maleficent. She began as a child, then her heart hardened, but another child softened it.

Question: When do you think it is ok for a villain to become the hero in fiction?

Filed Under: Fantasy, fiction, Movie Critic, writing Tagged With: Angelina Jolie, Disney, fairy, fantasy, hero, Magneto, Maleficent, Marvel, movie, Paul, Sleeping Beauty, villain

Angels: You Cannot Trust All of Them

December 15, 2014 by AuthorAppleton Leave a Comment

Angels have gained a level of reverence in western society. A reverence that remains even when many people do not reverence God, and this reverence for angels extends into Fantasy fiction. Yet the truth is, when it comes to angels, you can NOT trust all of them.

Worldview is pivotal in fiction. Let’s first acknowledge that a majority of the world’s population agrees that angels do exist. The three major faiths worldwide are Christianity, Muslim, and Judaism. All three concur on the existence of angels and their involvement in the affairs of mankind. And they agree that these angels are ministering spirits who act as agents for the All Mighty. But have we forgotten that a third of the angels fell with Satan?

There are strong implications from this that should impact the way writers approach fantasy and are including angels. The word of an angel should not be taken as the word of God himself if it contradicts God. Also, the Devil is the great Deceiver and his Fallen are as full of guile as he. An interesting Biblical reference for considering this is 2 Corinthians 11:14

In my novel Key of Living Fire I used my worldview to shape the story of a deceiving angel. Disguised as an angel of light this being deceived the heroine, leading her nearly to her death. When dealing with angels I want to show the reader that not all that appears good really is good. Instead we must use discernment to find the truth.

Question: How do you view angels? How do you see them used in fiction?

Filed Under: Fantasy Tagged With: angels, fiction, reverence, tradition

A Hard Decision

December 8, 2014 by AuthorAppleton 2 Comments

Last month I found a Bus RV conversion online. It met all the criteria in what I was looking to get to put my family on-the-road again. I committed to going down to Oklahoma and checking out the bus and then buying it. My plane ticket was purchased but…

Sometimes God closes doors for reasons that we never know, and sometimes we find out why he does later on.

My wife and I have an exciting announcement: we are having another baby Summer 2015. I am so excited to become a father again!

Prompted by this realization I went back over our finances and factored in setting aside the money for the baby, as well as the payment for the bus. There is also another factor that God wants me to stay open to but right now I cannot divulge. Unfortunately the financial figures for buying the bus just didn’t add up. (To my shame, because I should have factored the possibility of another baby in). I am convinced that God will be able to use us more effectively if we are debt-free, so I am trying hard to stick to that.

The pastor who owns the RV Bus was very gracious in his response when I called to let him know I had to back out from purchasing it. But calling him to say I was backing out was the most difficult decision I made this year. Please pray that God brings along the right buyer for his bus as it would be a tremendous blessing to his family.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

10 Favorite Christmas Movies: Let’s Share!

December 8, 2014 by AuthorAppleton Leave a Comment

Leading up to Christmas, my wife and I always look forward to watching Christmas movies. I have seen a lot of them, from older classics to modern ones. But a few titles really stand out to me and demonstrate the rich value of this season and how good Family-Focused fiction can be.

If I consider Christmas movies as pieces of art, here are my top picks and my reason behind each selection:

  1. It’s A Wonderful Life (Always my number one favorite because it reminds us that life is about the people we touch).
  2. Christmas in Connecticut (A humorous story. My wife first introduced me to this one and I love it!)
  3. A Christmas Carol (with Patrick Steward portraying Scrooge).
  4. Miracle on 34th Street (the 1947 version)
  5. Holiday Inn (I love old movies and this one is a worthy classic!)
  6. Home Alone (Can I just say LOL?)
  7. Christmas Shoes (A modern film that achieved a great feat: it is only the second film that brought me to tears).
  8. A Christmas Wish (This little-known film feels low-budget but has a unique story and humorous moments that carry it forward).
  9. The Original Christmas Classics (Rudolph, Frosty the Snowman, etc.)
  10. White Christmas (Another not-to-miss old classic).

Question: What are your favorite Christmas movies? Have you watched all the ones I listed?

Filed Under: Christmas Tagged With: a wonderful life, Christmas, Christmas Carol, Christmas movies, holidays, Home Alone, Miracle on 34th Street, White Christmas

Santa Claus: his proper place in Christmas?

December 1, 2014 by AuthorAppleton 2 Comments

“Ho! Ho! Ho!” Yep, that is the sound of old, jolly Saint Nick. Only presently he is commonly known as Santa Claus. He is a giver of bounteous gifts and delicacies. He lives in a castle, according to some tales. But is this his proper place in Christmas?

I found this painting titled “The Spirit of Christmas” and, honestly, I love it. The artist is Greg Olsen and he really captured the spirit of how Santa figures in Christmas for me. Here is the link to his full painting: The Spirit of Christmas.

Christmas is a beautiful time of recognizing the history behind the Christ child and of all those who followed later. The most famous being Saint Nicholas. The giving of gifts that reminds us of God’s gift to the world. The showing of compassion that follows the example of Christ. The beauty of the Christmas decorations and lights, reminding us that God created beauty and wants us to enjoy it.

The proper place of Santa Clause is at the feet of the Christ child. The myths that surround him need to be tailored to honor the true spirit of Christmas and to honor the Christian tradition for which Saint Nicholas stood. Santa Clause is a fantasy story, wonderfully imagined, but today he is commercialized with his values lost in the mountain of toys. Looking to the mood of Olsen’s painting should remind us of Santa’s true place in Christmas.

Question: What place does Santa Clause hold in your Christmas traditions?

Filed Under: Christianity, Christmas, Fantasy, fiction Tagged With: Christmas, fairy tales, fantasy, legend, myth, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Santa Claus

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