Inkblots 1

A few weeks ago in our writing club, the Inkblots, we were discussing how our beliefs come out in our writing. To illustrate, we did a survey of sorts so we could compare our answers with our writing. Here are my questions.

1. What do you think is the most important virtue in a man?
Standing up for what he thinks is right.

This is evident in my novel – Torn Heart – with both men and women. After all, part of a rebellion means the people are rising in order to to uphold their own beliefs, correct?

2. What do you think is the most important virtue in a woman?
Friendliness – willingness to accept everybody

I think this comes through in Torn Heart as well. The main character, Jacha, doesn’t know how kind people can be until she settles in to spy at a country farm. The people there, the mistress especially, all instantly accept her for who she is and welcome her into their home.

3. What offense are you slowest to forgive?
Slandering me (talking bad about me behind my back)

I can’t think of any example of this in Torn Heart. Betraying isn’t exactly the same thing as slandering.

4. What offense are you fastest to forgive?
Um…maybe some kind of physical injury.

This was a hard one to answer, but I don’t think this is portrayed in my story, either. At one point, one of the villains wounds Jacha and it helps her see that his side is the wrong side. However, he wounded her deliberately, and in the above question, I meant an accidental wound.

5. What kind of story do you like to write the most? (Not genre, but theme)
Friendship/Character growth
Torn Heart is definitely all about character growth! Jacha starts the book as a wary, timid animal out for herself, and ends the book…well….you’ll see for yourself if I get it published.

So this didn’t work out perfectly – I didn’t get all affirmative answers – but the opinions in my head about virtues and story themes at least worked out right. It worked enough to illustrate the point: that because I’m a Christian, my Christian views should come out in my writing. If they don’t, it will be a clue to me that I need to spend more time in the Bible instead of my fantasy books.


March 5, 2010