Sindie's Blog

Wednesday, April 28, 2004

I heard a quote today on the radio that I felt was very true: "Whenever you're doing something worthwhile, you are going to have critics." How true that statement is indeed. I think about professional writers and how much criticism they receive from various groups. As popular as Pottermania is, there are groups out there who feel the books are bad for children to read, promote ideas of sexism, add to the over-marketing of products to make money, or are anti-Christian, believing that these books are teaching witchcraft. I have read reports and critiques on JKR's masterpieces that have been negative, and although I disagree with their assessment of these books, I sometimes do understand where they are coming from. If their arguments and believes are backed up well enough with plausible and coherent explanations for why they feel a certain way, then that makes it easier for me to understand their point of view. So, that in mind, I realize that whenever I receive criticism on my writing that it negative or at least somewhat negative, I realize that people will think how they want, believe what they will believe, and are entitled to their own opinions. At least they are being honest.

Also, I know that I should be my own worst critic. If I'm not happy with a new chapter I have written, then I know that it needs improvement. Judged by someone else's standards, a piece of writing always has room for improvement, so when is it finished? When I feel it's finished. When I feel it's the best I could do (at that given moment... I may come back later and change my mind...). When I write, I am writing for me. When you write, you should be writing for you. The reason anyone writes is for himself or herself, not for his or her audience. If you don't believe me, then perhaps you should re-evaluate just why you are writing. If you try to write something for someone else, then you will never be happy with it, because it is not truly your own. That story and its plot and its characters are not what and who you would create them to be. What's more is that if anything, we don't write the story as much as the story writes us. I know it sounds strange and perhaps even near impossible, but I have heard professional writers say time and again that it is their characters that demand to be written a certain way and to do certain things in the story, not the other way around. When the characters are able to do that, to provoke the writer to be the servant to them, then you know that you have created very real and very believable characters that have a life of their own (at least to you). Critics will say what they will, but if your characters are speaking to you, then I believe you have your own masterpiece.

posted by Sindie 8:54 AM

Monday, April 12, 2004

Easter is celebrated because it is the day that the Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead, thus proving that He is the Son of God and was and is our Savior. Now, I realize that there are many people out there who are not Christian and who do not believe in this miracle. They might practice other religions or not even believe in a higher power. That, I realize, is their choice, but at the same time, I do not appreciate it when non-Christian advertantly or inadvertantly blasts Christians for their beliefs. I had to read "Happy Zombie Day" on one of the mailing lists I'm on, and while I realize this was probably just meant to be a joke, I did not find it amusing in the least. The person who wrote this joked about how Easter is the day that the dead rise and walk again, thus the "Happy Zombie Day." Also, this person said that he/she was not Christian, so that the things he/she was saying were not blasphemous. Well, to me, as a Christian reading them, they are blasphemous, and this group is not a religion group, either, so in my most humble opinion, that statement was inappropriate. I am not one to preach to others and tell them what to do or what to believe, but it really hurts me as a Christian to read something like that. I pity those who simply refuse to believe Christ is their Savior, but in the end, it is really their loss. They chose not to believe of their own free will. I am not perfect, and I am a sinner, and it is only because Christ died for us that I am saved, nothing else. Without my faith in Him, I am nothing. It's too bad that there are still so many non-believers in the world.

posted by Sindie 2:28 PM

Thursday, April 01, 2004

Eh... damn race with myself. I sometimes feel like I keep running and running toward some unforeseen goal ahead, only to find myself frustrated that I haven't yet reached it and wondering when and if I ever will. See, I have been feeling uninspired lately. The only writing I've really managed to do has been my Harry Potter fanfic, and even that has taken a lot of prodding on my part. My original story has sat untouched for months now, and I'm beginning to wonder if I'll ever have the desire and/or inclination to finish it... or at least write the next chapter. I managed to pump three more or less worthless poems out of myself yesterday and today, but they are far from masterpieces, and I know it. I just had to try to write something, you know?

I suppose part of my problem is the fact that for the past two weeks, I've been under the weather. Speaking of weather, I am starting to wonder if it will ever stop raining. It's April now, so I realize that it's typical for early spring weather, but still, it's nearly as depressing as snow. Anyway, what I thought was a flu was actually the beginnings of hepatitis A. I have no idea what I ate that gave it to me, but I spent several days at home just resting and drinking lots of water. Luckily, I've improved a lot this week and am feeling nearly 100% again, but my mood still isn't great. Lord, I beg you, please give me some inspiration!

posted by Sindie 8:47 AM