Writing Quirky Characters By Jodie Wolfe

I don't know about you, but I love reading books that have quirky characters. Not only do they make the book fun and exciting, it also provides a sense of realism. Hi! I'm Jodie Wolfe and I write stories where hope and quirky meet.

Why quirky you might ask. My characters have quirks because I do, and chances are, you do too. :) God designed us uniquely different. In can be something as simple as a character that has to separate her vegetables from everything else on her plate before she can eat.

 

Perhaps you have a hero like Dr. Henry Walton in the Indiana Jones movies who was afraid of snakes. It only took a single line and a scene for the viewer to understand his fear.

 

I have a book I'm working on called Hannah's Quest where my heroine is deathly scared of chickens. Why chickens? It plays a crucial part in her back story.

 

Not everything has to be linked to a character's past. It could be something that makes them unique. A hero who whistles when he's unsure of himself. A heroine who likes to drink pickle juice from the jar.

 

My heroine, Jules Montgomery in my new book Taming Julia doesn't feel right if she isn't wearing a weapon. Here's a glimpse of the opening page:

 

Matrimony News, February 6, 1875 edition

Minister bachelor aged 27, height 5 feet 10 inches seeks genteel, honest and first-rate homemaker with a desire to serve God. Must be willing to marry by proxy and arrive in Burrton Springs, Kansas by May 1.

~*~

Burrton Springs, Kansas, Saturday, May 1, 1875

Dear Lord, please don’t let that creature be my new wife. Drew Montgomery swiped the sweat trickling a path down his neck and shoved the new hat back on his head. He squinted, taking in the lone passenger stepping from the stagecoach. At least, he thought it was a woman. He shielded his eyes from the sun, taking in the britches.

Britches? A gun belt strapped to a slim waist. He gulped. A rifle rested on her shoulder, and she wore a Stetson situated low on her brow. The figure shifted sideways, and Drew groaned, fearing his proxy mail-order bride had arrived by the look of all the curves. He squared his shoulders and crossed the street.

What ways can you bring some quirks to your characters to make them stand out?

My characters have quirks because I do... via @JodieAWolfe #SeriouslyWrite #amwriting

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Jodie Wolfe creates novels where hope and quirky meet. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Romance Writers of America (RWA), and COMPEL Training. She's been a semi-finalist and finalist in various writing contests. A former columnist for Home School Enrichment magazine, her articles can be found online at: Crosswalk, Christian Devotions, and Heirloom Audio. She's a contributor and co-founder of Stitches Thru Time blog. When not writing she enjoys spending time with her husband in Pennsylvania, reading, walking, and being a Grammie. Learn more at www.jodiewolfe.com.

Taming Julia:

In 1875, Kansas bachelor Drew Montgomery's sole desire is to serve God, but his congregation's ultimatum that he marry or leave, forces him to advertise for a wife by proxy.

Jules Walker strides into Drew's life wearing breeches and toting a gun and saddle--more cowboy than bride. After years on the trail, she's not exactly wife material, but she longs for home and family, and will do anything to ensure Drew never discovers what she really is.

Purchase Link for Taming Julia:

https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Julia-Jodie-Wolfe-ebook/dp/B083L8MDD5/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=taming+julia&qid=1578503989&sr=8-1

Working Through Dry Times by Jodie Wolfe

Up until a little over a year ago, I'd always heard about the infamous 'writer's block' although I'd never truly experienced it. I was used to sitting down and for the most part, the words flowed freely. But then… I got hit with multiple waves of stress levels coming from several different areas in my life. It was the kind of stress that didn't let up throughout that time period. Each day I could feel the chipping away at my confidence level concerning my writing ability. Doubts flooded in making it difficult to move forward. I felt as dry spiritually, physically, emotionally, and creatively as someone who crossed the Sahara Dessert with only a trickle of water to sustain them each day.

What got me through this difficult time? At first I just squared my shoulders to take the situations head-on, but when I got slammed with continual blasts of stress and criticism I found that wasn't enough. I prayed but didn't seem to be making any headway. I no sooner felt like I was making progress only to get punched again from a different direction. To be honest, I could identify with the man that Jesus mentioned in the story of the Good Samaritan.

A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him up, and fled, leaving him half dead. - Luke 10:30 (HCSB)

I was bruised and wounded.

What got me out of the slump? Continuing to pray and placing everything in God's hands over and over again. I humbled myself and asked others to pray for me. I didn't always give them details of the situations but simply mentioned my need to be covered in prayer. My husband stood by me throughout the whole ordeal offering encouragement and prayer support. I delved into a Bible study and scheduled time away. I made a specific choice to let go of bitterness and not allow hurt to rob me of God's joy. I determined not to stress about the lack of words but instead trust that when it was time to write again, the Lord would provide.

It's taken a long while, but I'm finally on the 'other' side. I honestly don't know why God had me go through all the stress of this past year. But I rely on the fact that I can trust Him. I choose to walk in His joy, not in bitterness… and the words are beginning to flow again.

What do you do when you're faced with times of writer's block? How do you work through it?

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Jodie Wolfe creates novels where hope and quirky meet. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Romance Writers of America (RWA) and has been a semi-finalist and finalist in various writing contests. A former columnist for Home School Enrichment magazine, her articles can be found online at: Crosswalk, Christian Devotions, and Heirloom Audio. She's a contributor for Putting on the New and Stitches Thru Time blogs. When not writing she enjoys spending time with her husband in Pennsylvania, reading, walking, and being a Grammie. Learn more at www.jodiewolfe.com.

To Claim Her Heart

 

In 1893, on the eve of the great race for land, Benjamin David prays for God to guide him to his 'Promised Land. Finding property and preaching to the lost are his only ways of honoring his deceased fiancée. He hasn't counted on Elmer (Elsie) Smith claiming the same plot and refusing to leave. Not only is she a burr in his side, but she is full of the homesteading know-how he is sadly lacking.

Obtaining a claim in the Cherokee Strip Land Run is Elsie Smith's only hope for survival, and not just any plot, she has a specific one in mind. The land's not only a way to honor her pa and his life, but also to provide a livelihood for herself. She's willing to put in whatever it takes to get that piece of property, and Elsie's determined to keep it.

Her bitterness is what protects her, and she has no intentions of allowing that preacher to lay claim to her land . . . or her heart.

Links:

Website: https://www.jodiewolfe.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jodie-Wolfe-553400191384913

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JodieAWolfe

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/JodieAWolfe

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15220520.Jodie_Wolfe

In God's Waiting Room by Jodie Wolfe

One of the hardest parts about writing is waiting: waiting for news about a contest entry, waiting for news from an agent or editor, waiting for that first release, waiting for ... Well, you get the picture. Jodie Wolfe is here today to give us some tips about what to do during all that time of "waiting." -- Sandy

Jodie: Hurry up and wait. My husband and I once joked that this was the slogan of the Army. We were stationed in Germany at the time and had a young baby, which meant a lot of check-ups those first months. We had 'scheduled' appointment times, but it didn't mean we saw the doctor then. Often other pressing needs or patients trumped when our son actually got seen. We learned to be patient because we didn't have much choice.

What's a writer to do during a waiting season...especially if it's a really long one? I've been on 'wait' mode since I recommitted my writing to the Lord in 2009. I'd love to tell you I have a contract waiting in the wings or am published or multi-published by now but so far it hasn't happened.

I firmly believe waiting has a purpose. In this time when the answer is 'not yet' God refines us and our talent. He knows the right season for us to become published authors. Until then, we need to immerse ourselves in Him and seek His direction.

You may be wondering what I've been doing in the past six years. Here are some things I've found helpful along the way.

1. Keep writing. I've written at least four novels and am starting on a fifth one. I also tried out for other various writing project opportunities as they presented themselves.

2. Enter contests. While these can sometimes be a double-edged sword, they also are helpful with improving our skills. It's how I ended up landing an agent. :)

3. Attend conferences. Learn as much about the craft of writing as possible and find ways to share it with others so you can encourage someone else.

4. Work on building social media platforms. I had been in a rut in this area until I attended a conference this summer which gave some hands-on ideas. I decided to put them into practice. In less than two months time I tripled my friends on Facebook - all because I tried something new.

5. Look for new areas to grow. After a conference workshop I decided to try my hand at writing a devotion and sent it off to be considered. What a joy and surprise to have it accepted and posted online a few weeks ago.

6. Keep seeking the Lord. I believe God has big things in store for me and for you. Seek His face daily and ask for His direction for your writing. Come to the point where He is more important than seeing your name in print.

Keep your eyes on the goal of following the call God has placed on your life. Look for each step He leads you on, to reach the place He wants you to be. He's rooting for you and so am I. God bless!

So what are you waiting for? Where are you in that writing stage, and have you found that the waiting ever ends, even if you're published?

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Jodie got bitten by the writing bug as a young girl after reading and watching Little House on the Prairie. She loves writing stories about feisty heroines and strong, godly heroes. The power of story to influence lives and change hearts is what motivates her to weave tales that tell of the Savior’s faithfulness and forgiveness. Jodie is a columnist for Home School Enrichment magazine and had a devotion featured on Christian Devotions. She achieved semi-finalist status in the 2013 ACFW Genesis Contest and 3rd place in the 2015 Novel Beginnings at St. David's Christian Writer's Conference. She's represented by Linda S. Glaz of the Hartline Literary Agency.

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