Ironic timing for this. Just after doing one of the Blogging 101 exercises, I was forced to think a bit. It was shortly after I commented on a writing/personal blog linked here. (Speaking of which, you should definitely check the blog out. It seems to have lots of blogging potential.) She talks about her simple goal to just become a better person over the next few months. I even commented that by…
Ironic timing for this. Just after doing one of the Blogging 101 exercises, I was forced to think a bit. It was shortly after I commented on a writing/personal blog linked here. (Speaking of which, you should definitely check the blog out. It seems to have lots of blogging potential.)
She talks about her simple goal to just become a better person over the next few months. I even commented that by the intent to become a better person, she’s already on her way. But it made me think a bit over my personal life. I know the purpose for this blog. I know the purpose of my book. But do I know my own purpose right now? And do I really want to become a better person?
It may seem like an odd question. At least deep down, I think everyone wants to be a good person, even if we aren’t naturally good. But what am I doing to better myself today? That’s a lot of italics, I know, but roll with it for a little bit.
That’s a lot of italics, I know, but roll with it for a little bit.
I realize that I ought to be always trying to better myself. Obviously I will never become perfect, but if I know I have faults, I have to at least try to correct them. I think I had come to a point where I wanted to become a better writer and blogger, but not actually change myself. But now I think I will start giving it a try again.
So how does one change themselves? As I told the blogger who inspired this, it starts with the desire. But there is more to the story. We Christians have a saying regarding self-improvement. Paul says it in Philippians 4:8. It goes like this.
It is similar to the Buddhist eightfold path. In fact, I’ve even openly referred to it as the Christian eightfold path in front of friends. So when you are making a decision, you must think. Is it:
That’s a long list, I know. But it looks really cool in list form, so I thought I’d put it like that. Anyhow, I have made a determination. When I make a risky decision from now on, I will go through this verse, this eightfold path, in my mind. If even one thing cannot be checked off, I should at least rethink the decision.
Now, this does not mean that people cannot enjoy fighting or reading a good fantasy battle. If it is for good reason, such as protecting their family, friends or country, then it is admirable and praiseworthy. It does not have to fit all the requirements.
So, what are you doing to better yourself today?
Think about it.
If you are seeing this post, then I must inform you that I am, in fact, not here. This is a post from the past, sent to the future, to let you know that I am in Canada at this time. I am visiting my relatives in the great wild Yukon.
Ok, it’s not really the Yukon, it’s Ontario. Close enough. They still have Tim Hortons, which I’ll have you know makes the world’s greatest coffee and bagels.
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN.
For your information, I actually have used this image before. This is the kind of gold that comes out of this blog, and exactly why you should follow it.
This means I can’t actually reply to your comments or like your stuff for the next couple days. It also means I can’t participate in the Blogging 101 assignments. But. BUT. You should still keep tabs on this page. Why? Because I’ve scheduled a few awesome posts for you to enjoy in the meantime. This includes Faith Fridays (coming later today) and Short Story Saturdays and the regular awesomeness!! So keep up on all this!
Ciao
So I was challenged for the fourth day of Blogging 101 to make a post that adds some unfamiliar element to the blog while still reaching the main audience. I’ve come up with an idea, and here it goes. We’re talking about music in fantasy. If you know Lord of the Rings and Narnia, you know that the music score behind the film is one of the most important parts of the film. This is not on accident,…
So I was challenged for the fourth day of Blogging 101 to make a post that adds some unfamiliar element to the blog while still reaching the main audience. I’ve come up with an idea, and here it goes.
We’re talking about music in fantasy.
If you know Lord of the Rings and Narnia, you know that the music score behind the film is one of the most important parts of the film. This is not on accident, especially not with Lord of the Rings. Think about it.
The song itself has an emotional tinge to it. You probably have feelings of sadness listening even if you haven’t seen the movie. The lyrics and voice just work that way. But if you’re a Lord of the Rings fan, you can’t help but to have intense feelings suddenly be thrust upon you. The buildup to this scene just adds to the feels. So many feels…
Let’s go on to Narnia.
Did you really need them speaking or the words in the title to know what scene this was? Probably not. Why? Because FEELS, that’s why! Your emotion is so tied to a scene that you automatically remember the scene without seeing it. But why is it so spellbinding? Because music is a story without words. Like all stories, it has a beginning, a lead-up, a climax and an ending. This is why I suggest listening to instrumental music while writing. Like a rhythm, words must flow smoothly. Like a beat, your plot must build in intensity. And like all songs, your characters must change from what they were in the beginning. Thinking of your writing as a form of music tends to help me write, and maybe it’ll help you, too.
As Ashlin of the Dark Veil saga, coming 2016, says, “Everything is moving.” So it must always be.
Now, for my devoted Facebook fans who read this whole thing waiting for a piece of Dark Soldier info, here it is. We are currently working on getting the man who created this song below to write us a piece for the Dark Soldier book trailer. We’re pretty sure it’s going to be legendary.
A blog post for new readers. #blogging101 #fiction #reading #writing
Who am I? Why am I here? What do I want to accomplish? Why should you read this blog? In September of last year, I decided to push my limits and make a personal blog answering those questions. I wanted to tell people about life as a college student, an amateur writer, and as a Christian. It’s been almost a year since that first post. Now that I’m in Blogging 101, I’ve decided to come back to the…
Who am I? Why am I here? What do I want to accomplish? Why should you read this blog?
In September of last year, I decided to push my limits and make a personal blog answering those questions. I wanted to tell people about life as a college student, an amateur writer, and as a Christian.
It’s been almost a year since that first post. Now that I’m in Blogging 101, I’ve decided to come back to the basics. So let’s get started.
So, who am I? Well, I’m a young dude by the name of Gabriel Penn who really loves Jesus even more than his writing. And I really love writing. You have no idea. The people who read this blog regularly have some idea, but you new readers, oh… you’re in for a real ride with this blog. And for those who are wondering, my last name isn’t actually Penn. It’s a pen name. It’s one of the most glorious yet totally lame subtle jokes I have ever crafted in all of bad-joke-crafting history. And that’s saying a lot.
Why am I here? Because I believe that if you have a gift, you ought to share it with the world. All right, I’m not insanely epically talented, but it’s a gift. Like, if this gift were a car, it would be a Camry in the midst of a whole lot of Mustangs. But hey, it’s still a car, and it’s better than your own two feet. Especially for those who don’t have feet. But if you don’t have feet… how are you driving a car?
These are the great questions of life.
Also, I’m writing a novel, and I want to get the word out. Trust me, the word’s getting out. I reference it in some way in basically every other blog post. What I lack in Tolkienesque writing skills I make up for in persistence.
What do I want to accomplish? If nothing else, I would like to give people a bit of a break from the average and the everyday. I think that’s in some way what books and stories are all about. It’s about giving someone a step away from real life to teach them more about it. Apart from all the hubbub about novels and stories and writing tips, I want a blog that makes people think. The fact is that making another world is a great way to teach someone how to live in the current one. It’s like the Sims, but better.
Why should you read this blog? Well, you should read this blog because it has cool personal stories, even cooler written stories, stuff about my upcoming novel, occasional so-lame-its-funny humor, writing tricks I’ve picked up along my writing journey, and… that’s about it. Wow. That was so easy to summarize that it makes me a little sad inside.
In the continuing months, I plan to evolve the blog a little more. You’re going to be seeing more personal stories and intellectual thoughts alongside all the writing stuff. I don’t know how it’s going to work, but I’m going to take my road less traveled anyway.
Where no Gabriel Penn has gone before!
* ‘Star Trek’ theme sounding off into the distance *
Before I go too crazy, follow me if you have not already, give me a like, and comment your thoughts on all this!
“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.” — Maya Angelou
Making the link between anarchism and Christianity.
Let's play the next song....
Gabriel to Earth 