Tool # 27: Reveal traits of character.

Show character-istics through scenes, details, and dialogue.

After over a month's hiatus, I am featuring another chapter from Roy Peter Clark's book,"Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies For Every Writer," published by Little, Brown and Company. You can find a copy here.

A story in USA Today described a teenage surfer in Hawaii who lost her arm in a shark attack. It began like this:

Bethany Hamilton has always been a compassionate child. But since the 14-year-old Hawaiian surfing sensation lost her left arm in a shark attack on Halloween, her compassion has deepened.

This opening fell flat, I think, because of the adjective "compassionate". Too often, writers turn abstractions into adjectives to define character.

A little later, Roy goes on to say:

The reader who encounters character adjectives screams silently for examples, for evidence: "Don't just tell me, Ms. Writer, that Super Surfer Girl is compassionate. Show me." And, to her credit, she does.

Jill Lieberman describes how Bethany Hamilton, from her hospital bed, "tearfully insisted" that the fifteen-hundred-pound tiger shark that attacked her "not be harmed.". . .

And in December, Hamilton touched more hearts when, on a media tour of New York City, she suddenly removed her ski jacket and gave it to a homeless girl sitting on a subway grate in Times Square. Wearing only a tank top, Hamilton then cancelled a shopping spree, saying she already has too many things.

Now I see. That girl really is compassionate.

Put your new tool to work in Roy's WORKSHOP:

Sit with a notebook ready in a public place: a mall, a cafeteria, a sports stadium. Watch people's behavior, appearance, and speech. Write down the character adjectives that come to mind: obnoxious, affectionate, caring, confused. Now write down the specific details that led you to those conclusions.

Do you enjoy people watching?  Where is your favorite spot?

PPBF: Young Mozart

Now that the A to Z Blogging Challenge is finished, it's now back to PPBF!

Welcome again to Perfect Picture Book Fridays, where we review picture books which we deem worthy of mention.  This concept was created by Susanna Hill, and is a helpful resource for librarians, teachers and parents.  For a list of all books reviewed so far, along with activities to complement them, click here.

Source

Author/Illustrator: Rachel Isadora
Publisher: Viking (The Penguin Group)
Date: 1997

Ages: 5-9

Themes: musicians, Mozart, gifted children

Front Flap: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart learned to write music before he could write words. By the age of five, he had taught himself to play the violin, and soon he was playing before the crowned heads of Europe. By the time Wolfgang was seven, he could compose music while he played it, and by the age of twenty-one, after touring for many years through Europe, he had completed almost three hundred works. He was the greatest composer of his time, and many believe the greatest who ever lived.

First Lines: Wolfgang climbed up onto the chair in front of the clavier. He was too small to reach the keys, so he had to kneel. Nannerl, Wolfgang's older sister, listened as little three-year-old Wolfgang tried to play the piece she had just finished. When a note sounded right, Wolfgang laughed. But when a note sounded wrong, he burst out crying.

Why I like this book: Isadora has told the story of Mozart's childhood in a simple but engaging way, so that even younger listeners/readers can enjoy it.  Her colorful illustrations reflect European life centuries ago, but the scenes are ones any child can relate to.

Here are some links to complement "Young Mozart":

For younger children here, and here.

For older children here.


Enjoy a bit of "A Little Night Music"  here:

PPBF: Not So Very Long Ago

...Life in a small country village

Finally, after over a month's hiatus, I am ready to resume Perfect Picture Book Fridays . . . yeah!  So, here we go:

Source

Author and Illustrator: Philippe Fix
Publisher: Dutton Children's Books
Date: 1987

Ages: 6-10

Themes: European Village, Country living, 19th century

First paragraph: "Not so very long ago, peddlers roamed the countryside for months at a stretch. In summer and winter, rain and snow, they went from town to town, selling their wares throughout their usual districts. They also passed messages from family to family along the route, the way postmen now deliver letters.

Jacket flap: ". . . With loving and accurate attention, Philippe Fix has recreated the setting of a rural European town about a hundred years ago, introducing more than twenty different artisans and tradespeople. He explores the village through text and art by following two children, a brother and a sister, while they attend school, run errands and shop for their mother, and visit their grandparents' farm.

Why I like this book: The illustrations are incredible. What detail! It takes some time to take in all the little scenes on its pages. The story itself is engaging, as it tells the reader all about life in the European countryside, from a boy and girls point of view. Anyone who loves European history and culture will love this book, and children will be fascinated with the different way folks lived in that day.  I liked it so much, that I bought a used copy for myself as a resource as I write historic non-fiction!



Although I could not find anything specific pertaining to Europe, here are some 19th Century Museum websites for photos and more information:


Historic Village

Conner Prairie

Genesee Country Village and Museum

And, for more great book ideas, categorized by subject for use by teachers, librarians, and parents, see Susanna Hill's Perfect Picture Book list...truly an amazing resource!

A to Z Challenge Wrap-Up

Although I did not make as many connections as last year, I'm glad I decided to join the A to Z Challenge again this year. . . twenty-six posts during the month of April (except Sundays).

Last year, each post was on an entirely different topic....with photos. I honestly don't know how I did it! To see them, go to this link.


I'M GLAD I PARTICIPATED!

This year, since I absolutely LOVED "Les Mis" (saw it twice), I decided to concentrate on different characters and facets of the production for the Challenge. I found so many spiritual applications for life in the almost-completely-sung movie. The main theme of Les Misérables? Redemption! Hard to miss, no matter who you are...

To see my posts, if you missed them, click here.

Photo Source

The A to Z Challenge helped me to hone my writing, and discover my passion: interpreting life through Biblical glasses. It could be a movie, or an event, a piece of literature or a "day in the life of". Many things spark my thinking.


LOOKING BACK

To be honest, looking back at the A to Z Blogging Challenge, I was frustrated to find very few people reading and commenting on at least five blogs a day. And very few commented back. Not sure if there is any way to resolve that. I did like the idea of labeling our links with a code that reflected the subject matter. I did not do that, only because, although I blogged about Les Misérables, my posts generally are varied.

I did not find any "kindred spirits" to follow, because I faithfully made my way down the list of links, beginning with mine, commenting on at least five a day. I think if I would have specifically chosen writer's or traveler's blogs, I would have found a few. So, I suggest that next year, we be allowed to choose categories, as long as we visit and comment on at least five.

Last year, almost 75 folks chose to follow me. This year, there were about 20.  I do not fault anyone for that, nor am I discouraged. For one, choosing to follow a blog is a personal thing. My blog posts and topics do not resonate with everyone. Why clutter your inbox or feed with posts that do not interest you, just to be nice to me?

I was encouraged by everyone's comments, tho', which was a highlight for me. There were only one or two blogs on which I could not comment, because I had no idea what to say. By the way, I am very thankful you requested the label of AC for those blogs which were "adult content". I purposely avoided those.


STILL DECIDING ABOUT NEXT YEAR

I was faithful to follow the rules, and I did benefit from the Challenge. It kept me writing on schedule. But, because few read and commented on my blog (I'm very thankful for those who did!), and because it distracts me from my writing of articles and children's/Middle Grade books, I have not decided if I will participate next year.


BUT, TRY IT FOR YOURSELF. . . SO MANY REASONS TO JOIN IN 2014!

All that said, I do not want to discourage my readers. If this is your first time with the Challenge, or, you have never tried the Challenge, I definitely suggest you do. It gets you writing, and helps you find your strengths and passions.


THANKS TO THE TEAM!

I do admire and want to thank all the faithful folks who worked so hard to monitor the A to Z Challenge this year. . . Kudos to you!!

Find the list of the co-hosts here.  And visit their blogs!

Les Misérables: Z is for Zest and Zeal!

Can You Hear the People Sing??

"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."  1 Corinthians 2:9

Photo Source

My heart wants to jump out of my chest each time I watch the final scene, taking in the words of the zealously and zestfully rendered song. Here are a few of the words:


Do you hear the people sing
Lost in the valley of the night
It is the music of a people
Who are climbing to the light

They will live again in freedom
In the garden of the Lord
We will walk behind the plowshare
We will put away the sword
The chain will be broken
And all men will have their reward!

Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Somewhere beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?
Do you hear the people sing?
Say, do you hear the distant drums?
It is the future that we bring
When tomorrow comes!


I see the last scene as truly a "finale."  A time when we have triumphantly "crossed the barricade"of death, and come into the "garden of the Lord" or Heaven.

Sometimes, as a child of God, living in obedience to God is an uphill battle. A fight. Against the forces of evil, and the power of sin. But, I am not a slave to sin anymore. And, even better, God has promised a home in heaven for those that follow Him. And what a place it will be! No more pain and sorrow.

Can anyone be sure to go to Heaven when his or her life on earth is finished? Yes! Read Jesus' words below. They point the way. . .

     "Don't let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions. If it weren' t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also. Where I go, you know, and you know the way.

     Thomas says to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me."  John 14:1-6

For similar view of Les Misérables by a Friend who is an eloquent Biblical scholar, please click here.

Listen to the finale of "Can You Hear the People Sing?"

Do you have that hope of Heaven?

Les Misérables: Y is for Youthful Yearnings

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life."   Proverbs 13:12 

We've all had longings or yearnings during our lives, especially when we were young. Having the whole world before us, we could dream about what could be.  But, there's another sort of yearning which we see in three female characters (is it always the women who dream?)

Young Cosette dreams of a better life, free from bondage. She longs for her mother's touch.

Photo Source

Castle on a Cloud

"There is a lady all in white
Holds me and sings a lullaby
She's nice to see
And she's soft to touch
She says, 'Cosette, I love you very much.'

I know a place where no one's lost
I know a place where no one cries
Crying at all is not allowed
Not in my castle on a cloud."

Fontaine also yearns for love. A man who will love her for herself, not for what she can give him. She expresses that longing in the well-known song:

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I Dreamed a Dream

"I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high
And life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving.

I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I'm living
So different now from what it seemed
Now life has killed
The dream I dreamed."

Eponine yearned for a different sort of life. A normal life. A life with Marius. Of course, they are worlds apart, but just for a moment, she believes in her dreams.

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On My Own

". . . On my own
Pretending he's beside me.

All alone I walk with him till morning. . .

And I know it's only in my mind
That I'm talking to myself and not to him
And although I know that he is blind
Still I say there's a way for us. . .

But everyday I'm learning
All my life I've only been pretending
Without me his world will go on turning
A world that's full of happiness that I have never known. . . "

Here is the "On My Own" performance:

Did you know that God knows and cares so much, that He keeps track of our tears?



You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle.  Are they not in your book?  Psalms 56:8

Is it a comfort to know God sees your need?

Les Misérables: X is for X-cellence...in Every Way!

The Oscars: Can You Hear the People Sing?  I Dreamed a Dream that They Won All!  Am I On My Own in this?  Les Mis should have won more Oscar Awards!

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At first, I was discontented. Well, okay, miserable. Only three awards out of eight possible? C'mon! Couldn't the judges see the talent, energy, and pathos that went into the production?

Although we don't watch the Oscars, I was curious to see how my favorite film of the year fared against the others. Best supporting actress? Of course! Best sound mixing? I agree. Best Makeup and Hairstyling? I can see that, too. But, I wanted them to win all. Then I settled down and realized two things: 1. there are other deserving actors/actresses, and 2. political correctness played a part in the judges decisions. I'm positive of that. Yes, even, and especially, in Hollywood!

So, I leave you with the musical performance of Les Misérables cast...now that deserved an Oscar of its own! 

Performance at the Oscars 2013

Of course, only God deserves our ultimate praise and worship, but, as we do our best in our work and life, we reflect God's excellence:

"Praise him (God) for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness."  Psalms 150: 2

Do you think Les Mis deserved more awards at the Oscars?