The Sheepish Scribe

I should be an authority on characters. After all, my family is full of them! Those who know me are nodding and grinning. For those who don't, let's just say there's never a dull moment.

Having such a colorful cast of characters in real life, however, I'm finding to be a great asset as I begin to write fictional characters. I'm sure some of the family laundry will make it into my stories, but names will be changed to protect the 'innocent'. There may be occasion to tell of a character singeing his eyebrows off in a campfire, backing a horse into an electric fence, or bob sledding down a steep ravine in a runaway outhouse. But for the most part, I plan on drawing from the rich, colorful personalities around me rather than specific events. I'll try to keep the worst of the bones in the closet.

Watching people interact, how they use body language, facial expressions, the variety of laughter, all of these things come together to help explain who they are. I want my characters to be real; warts, bad breath and morning surliness 'real'. Heaven help me if I create cookie-cutter characters; the type of people we try to avoid in life, who are too perky, too pretty, and too perfect to stomach.

There's nobody like that in my family and I hope there will be nobody like that in my stories.

In my last post, I mention that my main character is a "Martha". Perhaps not everyone is familiar with that reference. The story of Martha and her sister, Mary, is told in the Bible in Luke 10:38-42.

Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me."

But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

I admire Mary. She glued herself to the feet of Christ and soaked up His presence. She served Him with her quiet devotion.

I like Martha. She is the one in this story who I can relate to. She fully recognized Jesus for who He was. (That is made clear in other passages.) She showed her devotion by doing, by preparing and serving the meal to Jesus. Was that wrong? No!

Jesus did not reprimand her for doing. He reprimanded her for whining. Dang. Those of us who serve the Lord by doing need to remember that. We need to serve and do without whining.

Literary characters are the intentional creation of an author. Right? That's what I used to think. However, as I delve into this uncertain world of writing fiction, now I'm not so sure.

I started with the idea of my character. She's a 'Martha' type of woman, taking charge, gettin' it done, and no-nonsense to the core. That's how I envisioned her. I got the first chapter of my story written and then, in a swirl of literary magic that would make Walt Disney proud, she has wrestled control away from me!

This character has taken on a life of her own. She is not content to be who I would have her be. She is, quite literally, stealing the show. How dare she! I had other plans for her! But there she is, larger than life, taking the reins and galloping off with my story.

And I just started chapter three...

"What's she doing?" Mindy craned her neck for a better look, ears perked forward to catch any sound.

"I can't tell from here." EweNika moved forward with Mindy shadowing her until they stood by the fence bordering the back yard.

"She's still not moving. She hasn't even looked up." Mindy cocked her black head sideways. "Listen, what's that sound?"

"It sounds like the big beetles clicking across the cement barn aisle, only faster." EweNika watched the shepherd's fingers skittering over the open, thin gray box on her lap.

"Do you think she's got beetles in that box?"

"Don't be silly!" EweNika pulled her ears back and looked down her regally arched nose at Mindy. "She hates the beetles, you know she stomps every one she finds."

Mindy gave her a sheepish look. "You're right, what was I thinking?"

"That box must be very heavy." EweNika watched the shepherd, sitting under the largest willow, hunched over the box. "She hasn't moved for an hour. It must be holding her down."

"Yes, she never sits still that long."

"I've noticed she's been spending less time around the pasture lately." EweNika shook herself, starting with her head and continuing down her body, sending the white wool dancing over her back. "It's nothing for us to worry about. It's just a box."

Mindy watched the younger ewe walk away before turning back to look at the shepherd. "I'm not so sure..."

Sheepish according to the Merriam-Webster on-line dictionary:

* Main Entry: sheep·ish
* Pronunciation: \shē-pish\
* Function: adjective
* Date: 13th century

1 : resembling a sheep in meekness, stupidity, or timidity
2 : affected by or showing embarrassment caused by consciousness of a fault

With all due respect to Merriam and Webster... they missed one!

3 : in need of the Shepherd, prone to stray

I chose this title for my blog based on definition #3. I'm prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love. Thankfully, He has never left me.

Scribe according to the Merriam-Webster on-line dictionary:

* Main Entry: scribe
* Pronunciation: \skrīb\
* Function: noun
* Date: 14th century

1 : a member of a learned class in ancient Israel through New Testament times
2 a : an official or public secretary or clerk b : a copier of manuscripts
3 : writer; specifically : journalist

My journey into writing fiction starts with this blog. May He bless my best efforts beyond what I am able.