Thank you for writing this well-crafted and important article. So many of us Christian writers get lost in the balancing act of depicting authentic evil vs. an authentic redemptive story where the hero must find a way to overcome their internal villains as well as the external ones vested in his or her downfall. I think you’ve hit on a…[Read more]

I just wanted to let some of y’all (Texas slang for “you guys and gals”) that Kaytlin Philips has a pretty good monitored Forum type blog site at:
https://www.writers-vision.com/

…if any of you want to try signing up there (yes, it’s free too).

They have writing games and contests, challenges, and writing topics too.

Spread the…[Read more]

There used to be a tradition of studying the masters when it comes to art.  I think some of the same principles apply to studying authors who do fight scenes well.

One of the authors I think does this in a spectacular way is Louis L’Amour. [Yes, the western writer]  What many do not know is that the man wrote many of his c…[Read more]

Sour expression – She made a face that could pickle a cucumber.

Dim-witted – If brains were gunpowder, he wouldn’t have enough to blow his nose.

His ears are so close together, a single thought can barely pass through the narrow hallway between them.

Cold – She had the warmth of a snow pea.

His heart is so…[Read more]

Oh, girl!  This question is probably going to get me in so much trouble for my answers…but, here goes…

Insults:

Fool – That guy is two sandwiches shy of a picnic.

Ugly – She had a face that could curdle milk.

Smelly – That smells like the south end of a northbound mule.

Too Young – I have cheese older than he…[Read more]

There can be a number of factors related to what may

Sometimes a poetic allusion can be obscure or not be as accessible from culture to culture.  This may be related to limited exposure through education, or background.  Some professors in colleges and universities may go off and do their own thing, or pluck out s…[Read more]

First off, I have a few questions that may seem unrelated, but I will tie them back in after asking.

What kinds of books have you been reading for fun, lately?

What kinds of books have you been reading for research (story related) lately?

What kinds of TV or movies have you been binging on lately, if…[Read more]

Scripture illuminates scripture.

I think too often we miss the central issue of what Peter was saying:

He is pointing to the importance of having a beautiful soul and not just superficial and showing dress and outward adornments.

Some people may be coiffed to the nines, have a sharply cut and tailored suit, golden cuff links, a $200 haircut, clean shaven, with…[Read more]

Interesting…

I’d just have to call it “hard-cased heartburn”…😉

They do this because the kids know that the first to tell their version too often becomes the lens of…[Read more]

Many of you may think I am being hard on Lona.  I figure she is tough enough to have a debate where she and I both have some passion without letting that debate sour into true animosity for one another.  I have no such ill will toward Lona (@lonathecat), even though I may make her uncomfortable in my probing into her b…[Read more]

I do compare versions regularly.  Check out the online Blue Letter Bible which has a selector giving access to all versions including the Textus Receptus and KJV.

Each verse has a Bibles link that shows a linear comparison of verses in each of the prominent translations.  There is also an Interlinear which is c…[Read more]

Here is the passage containing an example of a deaconess:

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deaconess of the church at Cen’chre-ae, that you may receive her in the Lord as befits the saints, and help her in whatever she may require from you, for she has been a helper of many and of myself as well. [Romans…[Read more]

Here’s what makes me wonder about these things:

Typically one who considers themselves to be “woke” or a political “progressive” has a victim mentality worldview where they believe anyone who disagrees with them is “persecuting” them.  This seems to be manifesting in you, so I wonder about the lens through which you view the…[Read more]

I am probably about 30 years older than most of you guys and gals.  I was born during the Vietnam war, back when the modern perversities had not taken as much hold on American culture, though there were the drug culture elements beginning the moral decline.  Most of us still went to church and honored God’s day by…[Read more]

I deliberately wait several days between responding to this thread to ensure that I don’t just respond in the heat of an argument, but that I think through what I say and how to approach this topic.  It is planned pacing and there have been some very deliberate statements that I have made because I sensed where this…[Read more]

When Jesus uses an illustration to make an analogous point even on a slightly different topic, it does not invalidate the standalone validity of the parallel illustration.  I am fully aware of the four gospels being synoptic and complementary showing the same historical accounts with different…[Read more]

That is very encouraging.  I am becoming increasingly alarmed by the serious attention given to the “transhumanism” movement that is taking over our youth cultures who are abandoning faith and moral and foundational traditions that have stabilized communities. These “self-defined progressives” are instead becoming…[Read more]

I think you are still misunderstanding the word strength.  A man can be disabled, yet still defend his household.  Some retired military men who may be disabled by their military service still know how to secure and protect a perimeter.  Singel moms do a good job, but they are still inadequate in teaching a young boy ev…[Read more]

That is a good question:

One thing I would say is that if “making progress” impedes your time of prayer, worship, and fellowship with the Lord, then it needs to be relegated back to a subordinate role.  God says to set no other “gods” before Him, so His proper place should be given in your time, focus and energies.  S…[Read more]

Actually, I disagree with you.

Jesus often used one rational truth to illuminate another point in context.  Doing so does not invalidate the point but uses two contexts to make clear what issue He was addressing.

In Matthew 12, in the same way, Jesus, when charged with casting out devils by the power of Beelzebub, Jesus…[Read more]

Story Ember did a podcast on POVs that might be good to check out.

SE Podcast #40: The Power of Point of View

Welcome to the Story Embers Forum.  Feel free to poke around and use the dropdown in the top far-right corner to see what’s going on in the forum under recent activity.

My name is Brian.  I’m kinda one of the older ones out here.  Not “Gandalf” old or anything, but not “Pippin, Merry or Frodo” young either.  Sort of mor…[Read more]

I have.  Make sure and take lots of pictures, making note of when the photos were taken and as much as you can remember about the feelings, atmosphere, and evocative aromas, giving yourself a full sensory experience to go with the photos so that you can recreate and experience the places you have been to more fully when you finally…[Read more]

Thank you for tagging me! 🙂
we are about to go on a vacation, so I may be late getting to respond.  I hope that is okay.

I have been stuck for a bit.  I have a scene where there are twenty members in a traveling party who are strangers to each other, and only a few of them have given their names.  I am not sure how to…[Read more]

Just curious, how is it that only girls answered this question.

Perhaps, because us guys thought it was about “Beta” males. 😆

“Mama’s boy” has a derogative connotation.  Kind of like saying a guy is a “sissy”.

We can love our mom’s but not be diminished by that.  The idea is men have an idea of what honor is and what r…[Read more]

Here is a possible re-write for the first entry.  I think you should keep the concept, however, add a little more depth and reasoning to what Drastan may be thinking.  The line can read flat and does not seem to have much purpose other than observational data in its original casting.

Original text:

Drastan was d…[Read more]

Noah has raised some good points, but I would like to add that the creativity God has given to you is a precious gift and has a place within God’s plan.

It is not an either or thing.  It’s not an:”If I serve God, do I have to give up my enjoyment of creativity?”

God wants things in perspective and in proper,…[Read more]

It is not only novel writers that need input, but we need the voice of readers here too.  You are a gifted creative.  Do not think just because your preferences are not in story writing, that they are in any way less than.  Poetry and music are essential art forms that are powerful ways to ex…[Read more]

I’m Brian.  Like Erynne said, we are the “good kind” of crazy around here.

Scripture says (Titus 2:14 & 1 Peter 2:9) we are a “peculiar people” and I am totally embracing that. 😁

My mom loved reading Christian historical romances, but her wayward son (me) currently writes fantasy, sci-fi, and some biblical historical…[Read more]

I wish you would stay.  I understand life gets busy.  I understand that there may be other sites you wish to explore.
But I want you to know that there are writers, young and older, from many different places and backgrounds who may need to hear what you alone can share or say.  Each of us needs encouragement.  God has giv…[Read more]

Welcome to the jungle…er…castle…er…mystical lands of Middle Earth…Narnia…
Welcome to the Forums!  So glad you could join us and give us the “brotherly” scoop on Miss Cathy… [wink, wink]
Hi Cathy! @this-is-not-an-alien

Your sister is absolutely precious!  We do love her here!
Looking forward to getting to know you too a…[Read more]

What if the grandmother is knitting something unusual?  That could break a stereotype.

Here’s an example:  What if she knits burial shrouds for the local funeral parlor.  She uses her skill to give people a certain dignity in death.  Say she knits an ornate face covering that softens the impact of their deathly repose.

A ste…[Read more]

Yeah, I get it.  But the idea that anything but God can give life is where I diverge.  I have always hated zombie stories because it seems to imply a life after death that is wholly given credit to “devils”.  The only thing I might could concede is animated dead flesh with another entity in possession of the body.  But…[Read more]

Are the other characters (non-Kragvora) human?  I would think the lethality of the venom would increase with the dosage.  If a small dosage is lethal, then the victim would be dead before the venom had a chance to permeate its circulatory system or infect tissues.  There are a variety of factors as far as effects that wo…[Read more]

There is a great deal of wisdom in your words.

Too often people who fear for the future are imagining dreadful scenarios where God is not present.

Amen, my brother!  I look forward to hearing more about the story as you develop it.

Perhaps I just noticed the parallels because of the biblical study I have been doing.  I do know that the primary purpose of prophecy is not so much that God merely is wanting us to know the future, but especially that He wants us to know that He holds the future and has full knowledge of it so that we can trust Him as…[Read more]

Wow, Joshua!

I love this. It does seem to have some real-world parallels, using a very creative fantasy palate.  I have read of some real-world psychopathic scientists that are actively involved in chimeric genetic abominations aimed at “redesigning” the human genome to “enhance humanity” into their psychotic view of the next stage…[Read more]

Hi Joshua,

So the Kragvora are both humanoid and…

Are they part insect as well with a carapace or is the formation of some other substance like a tortoiseshell or some reptilian spine/scales.

Where does their mental collective reside?  At they Borg-like and assimilate their knowledge in some remote collective brain that they…[Read more]