Biggest Struggle in Writing?

When I think upon this question, there are several struggles that immediately flood my mind. Time, noise, discipline, and many others pop up in an instant, but the biggest struggle I have, the one that bothers me the most, is writing characters who say and do things that I would never say or do, but it is a necessary part of writing. Stories and characters would not be realistic if every character has the values of the writer creating them.

When I wrote Pretty Boy, I wanted to tackle racial issues, so I created a scenario where my main character's step-dad is prejudice. It was difficult to write scenes where he uses the "N" word because I hate that word, but I had to make the scenes realistic, and let's face it...people still in this day and time use that word. To me it's a curse word, and that is what I teach my children about it. As I was writing it, I was praying that people would not think that I feel anything like that character about those issues, but I had to push those thoughts aside and continue writing for the sake of realism. I also worried that some may be offended by the use of the word, but I wouldn't have been able to relay the message I was giving had I not used the word. I mean, seriously, how well would it have gone over if I created a prejudice character, but never allowed the reader to see how he shows his prejudice.

I still hope in the back of my mind, almost a year after its release, that readers will not presume that the writer was relaying her personal feelings through that character, but I have learned along the way, that realism in a story is vital, and that means that there will be times when I have to create characters who do not see things the way I do. I have to trust that readers can see that as well.

Even Though I am Gone

 

Just thought I'd share a song I wrote a few years back when a friend unexpectedly lost her spouse.

 

 

 

“Even Though I am Gone”

 

Tears roll down your face as you watch me leave this place.

I always said, “I’ll be there for you.”

My spirit just took flight.  You sit and cry all night.

I promise I’ll still be there for you!

Even though I am gone, you are never alone.

Just remember I’m right there next to you.

And when you feel sad, lonely, or mad,

Just remember I’m right there next to you.

 

My heart will never leave.  Grab a picture of me and cleave.

I promise I Will be there for you.

Just look up to the sky, and feel me by your side.

I promise I will be there for you.

Even though I am gone, you are never alone.

 Just remember I’m right there next to you.

And when you feel sad, lonely, or mad,

Just remember I’m right there next to you.

 

Standing in a crowded room, you feel overcome with gloom.

I promise I Am still there with you.

Alone at night you cry, how you never said, “goodbye”.

I promise I see the tears that you cry.

Even though I am gone, you are never alone.

Just remember I’m right there next to you.

And when you feel sad, lonely, or mad,

Just remember I’m right there next to you. 

 

                                                                                         Schledia Benefield

Back cover invitation for Wildflowers:

Have you ever feared what may be hiding deep within you? 

 Darkness often skulks in the blood of unsuspecting victims, but Aster McGrath is acutely aware of the violence coursing through his veins. After all, he is the son of a murderer, and everyone in the town of Bayville, Mississippi says he will end up just like his father.

 When Susan Blackman moves into... town, Aster has already embraced his brutal nature, but her gentle spirit draws him in and slowly melts the icy exterior of his heart. Taming his savagery, she professes her love, but will the good within him be able to overcome the evil lurking deep inside? Or will the fiend break free of its fetters and seek blood?

What Makes a Book a Classic?

     When I consider what makes a book a classic, my thoughts immediately drift to books that have stood the test of time. The great works of Jane Austen, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway, and the solitary work of Harper Lee have all stood the test of time. Despite the age of their works, they still manage to find their way into the hearts of many readers picking them up for the first time. They leave you with a sense of knowing the characters and caring about what happens to them. Some of their works (such as C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia) still entertain young readers and guide them into imaginative worlds. I was in my thirties the first time I flipped through the pages of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird; the issues of racism and prejudice grasped my heartstrings, and pulled me into her realistic world.  The subject matter she tackled still resides in my heart to this day.

     On a personal level, I feel that the style of writing by such authors is more to my taste. I enjoy well developed, well-rounded characters. It is more difficult in modern days to find stories that do not immediately jump into action before allowing you to know your characters when calamity comes into their lives. Of course, I am not saying that you cannot have bits and pieces of action while developing a character. I am also fully aware that there is a large audience in search of books with fast paced plots. For my taste, I appreciate an author taking time to steadily develop their characters and plot line.

     When I think of a modern work that fills both shoes for me, I think of The Gateway Chronicles by K. B. Hoyle. Hoyle introduces us to her characters and does a magnificent job developing them before rushing into action in the first book in her fantasy series, which allows her to create a cycle of trials, tribulations, and conflicts in the books that followed and the ones that are still being drafted. I appreciated that about her, and I admire her for it. I truly cared about everything Darcy and her friends were facing because I felt that I knew them.  I also believe that her works will stand the test of time and one day be considered classics.

http://terriglong.com/blog/2013/01/classic-reads-a-case-for-plurality-newclassicreads/

 

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A New Year, A New Journey

As I bring in the new year, I am also beginning a new journey. My newest work, Wildflowers, is soon to be released through Three Keys Publishing. The cover art is presently being worked on, and I am beyond excited to see the finished work! The photographer is amazing and the models are gorgeous.

My hopes are to eventually be able to write full-time and travel for speaking engagements and signings.

What are your hopes for the new year? Have you stepped onto a new path for the new year?