Five Minute Friday: Story

Well, here's the latest Five Minute Friday attempt at writing for five minutes--unedited, unvarnished.  Today's topic is

Story


I have a story I've been working on for a number of years.  I really like the plot.  I really, really like the characters.  Maybe that's the problem.  Maybe I like them a little too much.  Maybe they're all in black hats and white hats.

Who is like that?

Have I ever known anyone who was, in every single circumstance, entirely noble and good?  Of course not.

So why am I writing my characters that way?  Why is my hero noble and perfect and . . .

Oh.

Perfect.


So, there's part of the problem.  There is no problem, no inner conflict.  The exterior conflict--the plot--is just window dressing for the real story:  the inner conflict of the characters.  That's the part that rocks the reader, the element that resonates, haunts, inspires.

And my hero, as much as I like him, doesn't do any of those things.  He could.  After all, he's come through so much in his personal life, none of which was his fault.  Would he not have stumbled along the way?  What would he have done?

What is his story?

Sigh.

Please excuse me.  There's someone I need to get to know again.  Warts and all.

End Story


So, there it is.  Check out other musings on "story" over with Lisa-Jo Baker's Gypsy Mama.

Five Minute Friday: Risk

Happy Friday!  We're writing along with GypsyMama's Five Minute Friday today.  That means we'll put pen to paper, er, bits to blog, and write, unedited, on today's topic.  Here we go!

Risk

Gulp.  They say that Hell's the place where you get what you asked for (who said that anyway?), and, sometimes it seems that way.

A new opportunity has come along.  On an intellectual level, and an occasional level, I welcomed it.  But now, it's here and it's real and it's daunting.  Scratch that--it's terrifying.

What's so scary?

Well, other people will be depending on me and I'm afraid of letting them down--of not being good enough.  I'm afraid of criticism.  I'm afraid of . . .  I.

Well.  There's the problem:  I.  I'm not so sure about "I."

What am I sure about?  Well, I'm sure about Him.  Do I believe he put me in this place??  Yes, I really do.

Then it's time to put my faith where my mouth is, so to speak.  It's time to pray.  Past time.

I'm a little slow, Lord, please continue your patience with me.  You promised that, while your yoke is heavy, your burden is light.  Is that because I should count on you to do the heavy lifting?  Thank you for this opportunity to serve you with the gifts you've given me.  Help me to lead as you would have me lead so that everything I do in your name be for your glory.


I feel lighter already.  Now, let's get to work!


End Risk


Read more Five Minute Friday thoughts on risk at

Five Minute Friday: See

Around here we join Gypsy Mama and write for five minutes on Fridays--unedited, uninhibited, unvarnished.  Here's today's entry:

See.

Five Minute Friday: Opportunity

Around here we quick-write for five minutes on Fridays--unedited, uninhibited, unpolished:

Opportunity?

Gulp.

It's been such a busy week that I had not really had time to think about the opportunity that has dropped in my lap.

I wanted it.  I asked for it.  Now I am terrified because of it.

I am terrified that I will not live up to my expectations for the task.  I am terrified that I will not live up to anyone else's expectations for the task.

I am worried sick about it--worried enough to pray about it.

Oh, yes.  That is where I should have started.

Pray.

Lead me, Lord, in Your Name.

Direct me, Lord, that whatever I do be to Your Glory.

Humble me, Lord--well, I am quaking in my proverbial boots; job accomplished.

Teach me, Lord, what You would have me learn from this opportunity and to do this opportunity.

Thank you, Lord, for this opportunity.  May I glorify You so that those affected by my actions may be drawn closer to you.

Grant me peace, Lord.

Grant me joy, Lord.

Grant me wisdom, Lord, that everything I do be

In Your Name and for Your Glory.

Thank you, Lord.

Five Minute Friday: Perspective

Around here we play along with Gypsy Mama's Five Minute Friday meme and write for five minutes--unedited.  Today's topic is perspective, so here we go:

Perspective

I've always been encouraged to see things from a different perspective:  walk a mile in the other person's shoes, see things the way God sees them.

But, mostly, I seem to wander around in an idiocentric myopia--so focused on my beloved goals and "things I need to do" that I forget to take care of the people around me.

I'm more faithful to "feeding" my blogs that to feeding my husband.  In my defense, however, he's a better cook than I am.

I'd rather read one hundred pages than hear a human voice speak one hundred words.

I'd rather trade one hundred emails than have one hundred conversations.

Hm.  Light bulb moment.

I keep people at arm's length.  I don't like synchronous communication.

Why?

Control?  Certainly.  I can wait to respond until I've formulated a proper-to-me response.

Fear?  Yup.  What if I do or say something mortifying?

Excuses?  Oh, yeah.  I'm positively swimming in them.

Remedy?


Feet.  Face.  Ears.

Go to people I love.  Face them; be present in the moment with them.  Listen to them.

That's more terrifying than anything I can imagine.

Do it anyway.

The birds may have a great view from the sky, but it's only a view.  To accomplish anything, they have to come back to earth.

Do it.

Do.  It.

Today.

Five Minute Friday: Identity

Around here we write for five minutes on Friday--unedited, unplanned.  Here's today's effort:



Who am I?

I am a mother, a sister, a wife, a disciple, a writer, a teacher, a singer--

But each of those is an action, something I do to "earn" membership in that category.

Who am I?

I am lazy; I am an overachiever on the things I enjoy.

I am easily dissuaded when obstacles crop up, but I can be determined when I think something's important.

I am solitary in a crowded world.

And I really like it.

Inside my head, it's quiet and peaceful, most of the time, while the world bangs and clangs along without really getting anywhere.

I am tired.

I am worn.

I am hopeful.

I am planning for tomorrow, next week, and next year.

I am.

Me.


See more Five Minute Friday musings at TheGypsyMama:

Five Minute Friday: Real

Around here we free-write for five minutes on Friday.  Here's the unvarnished result:

Real.

As in reality.

As in the stuff that happens every day.

As in the concrete block that weighs down my dreams either sending them crashing to the ground, or preventing them from floating out into the exosphere for sheer lack of planning.

Reality can be so disheartening, so concrete, so real.

Reality can be so grounding, so concrete, so real.

The possibilities of life are myriad, swirling, dizzying midway lights from the merry-go-round on a balmy spring evening.

Reality is the stuff that happens every day.

Make it purposeful.

Make it

Real.

Read other musings about real over at Gypsy Mama's: