J.A. Penrose

@jess-penrose

Good questions. I would personally try to sketch out the general character arc of the entire trilogy, but keep it rather general at this point. Enough so you know where you’re headed and where you’ll be building off of this first book, but not so much that you’re getting bogged down in details.

With regards to this outline, I would…[Read more]

@jess-penrose Glad to hear you’ve been finding this so helpful. 🙂 Those are good thoughts. Often we are unwilling to change until we’re forced to change, which is why it’s crucial to have a relevant plot in our stories that will do the work of forcing changes in the protagonist.

@jess-penrose Yep–that works! The physical problem doesn’t need to happen to the protagonist as long as it still affects the protagonist.

@jess-penrose By “not require atonement of itself,” do you mean that we shouldn’t commit injustice in order to bring about justice? Or do you mean something else? I’m a bit confused on what you mean by that.

@jess-penrose I like the irony of the MC realizing that he deserves justice as well. Is there a way you could bring about a physical component for the MC’s poetic justice as well? That seems to be the main thing you’re missing.

I like the nuanced version of #4 here–it resolves the potential issues I was seeing with it in the other topic.

@jess-penrose I like the irony of the MC realizing that he deserves justice as well. Is there a way you could bring about a physical component for the MC’s poetic justice as well? That seems to be the main thing you’re missing. I like the nuanced version of #4 here as well–it resolves the potential issues I was seeing with it in the other topic.

@jess-penrose I like the irony of the MC realizing that he deserves justice as well. Is there a way you could bring about a physical component for the MC’s poetic justice as well? That seems to be the main thing you’re missing. I like the nuanced version of #4 here as well–it resolves the potential issues I was seeing with it in the other topic. 🙂

@jess-penrose Yes–it’s very freeing as an author to know that you can write about meaningful topics in a powerful way in a way that isn’t preachy to the audience. Hold that goal and that anti-goal in mind, and both should be powerful motivators for you to study and master themes!

Sorry I’m late on interacting with you all on this! The KP staff had a work retreat this weekend and I fell behind on keeping up with these…

@dragon-snapper

My biggest recommendation would be to consider the different ways Christians might honestly answer that focusing question in the way they live their lives. While most Christians may know…[Read more]

@jess-penrose Great motives! Sounds like you’ll especially enjoy one of the last lessons in the course on how to write explicitly Christian fiction in particular. Most of the course will focus on how to write meaningful stories from a Christian perspective effectively, but that lesson will particularly focus on writing in the “Christian fiction…[Read more]

Late to the party, but welcome to the site, @jess-penrose! Glad to have you here with us. 🙂

@jess-penrose Ah, I haven’t read Children of Hurin yet. Maybe I’ll do that this summer. Is it good?
What? You learn elvish at school!!!!!! Mmmmm…now I’m jealous.
It’s…ah well, I’m not really sure which form. It’s from the Hobbit. I translated the inscription and pretty much just memorized the alphabet. I can’t speak it, though. I think I’ll…[Read more]

@jess-penrose I’m really late her, but I just wanted to say hi and I’ve enjoyed this thread. 🙂

@jess-penrose – I agree! Acoustic is just lovely. Haha! It’s okay, I tend to ask a lot of questions 😉 All of the music types you like sound wonderful!

I’ve never heard of Idea of the North. I will have to check them out!

*high-fives all blue-lovin’ people*

@lifeofkatie 7 years! Nice! I’ve only been playing for 3ish, but I love it so much. I’ve been playing with my teen band for church, and just started picking up lessons again.
Fingerstyle is so beautiful. It’s so fun to play it. Do you read tablature or do you read music for the guitar? I especially enjoy just messing around on the guitar and…[Read more]

@Jess-Penrose WHY HELLO MY COUSIN.

Note to everyone else: Jess is my actual real life cousin, in case you wondered.

@jess-penrose Yes. Virtual chairs and phones. They’re even more valuable than the real ones. 😛
Oh dear…you lost me at the first question.
Who’s Glaurung, may I ask?

It’s cool that you taught yourself elvish. I can write in ancient dwarvish.

@Jess-Penrose DID SOMEONE SAY MBTI. 😮 XD
AHEM. Yes. Well… in summary, I love Myers Briggs because I think people are downright fascinating and I love the insight it gives you into people’s minds. I love it just for that, but it’s also really helpful with characterization if you understand it properly. And hey! I’m an INFP as well. *grins*…[Read more]

@jess-penrose – 😀 Blue’s the best! Thank you!! I prefer acoustic style (I really like songs that heave less instruments so you can really hear all of the notes on either the guitar or piano…whatever the main instrument is) or a cappella – 🙂 What’s your favorite style?

@dragon-snapper – Wow! I love all of the instruments that you play! That’s…[Read more]

I’m back to planning if anyone wants to join me! @dragon-snapper @jess-penrose @winter-rose @graciegirl @kate-flournoy

@kate-flournoy If you happen to pop on I’d love to brainstorm with you about my fifth chapter.