The Big Lie

" ... there have been several break-ins in your neighborhood and around the surrounding area. You need to protect your house and yourself."

I received that call one night and my heart started racing. The man claimed to be from local law enforcement, but I hadn't heard about any break-ins lately. I listened long enough to realize it was a sales call from a security company. A quick search on the Internet confirmed my suspicions -- it was a big lie.

The Lies Our Characters Believe
There's no doubt about: lies are bad. Once someone lies to you, it's hard to ever believe them again. But as writers, we can use lies to increase drama and build our character arc. I'm a member of My Book Therapy, an online writers group that provides both craft and emotional support for writers. If you're a member, you'll hear lots about the Dark Moment and the Big Lie. Here's the gist of those two concepts: When you start to develop your protagonist think about the darkest moment of their lives -- the moment that defines who they are and what they do. The result of that moment is the Big Lie, what they believe to be true based on that Dark Moment. It's why they act as they do.

For example, in It's a Wonderful Life, George Bailey taunts his little brother, Harry, and challenges him to slide across an icy pond. When Harry falls in to the pond, George saves him but loses his hearing. Because Harry almost drowns, George feels guilty. That was his Big Lie. That's why he continued to sacrifice his dreams to rescue others until he was shown how their lives would have been empty without him.

The Lies We Believe
There's also the types of lies we tell ourselves. I can't tell you how many times I look at the flashing cursor on my blank screen and think, "I have nothing to say" or "No one wants my opinion." But here's why we should continue to write: because God has put that urge to write into our heart. He gives us the words to say. 

And that's quite a responsibility, isn't it? But who are we to say that we're not worthy to do what God has called us to do? Philippians 1:6 says, "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." That means it is His work, not ours. He will complete it through us.

Have you used the Big Lie in your writing? Do you have your own Big Lie that keeps you from writing?

Spiritual Journeys of our Characters, Part 3 by Susan May Warren

We so appreciate Susan's willingness to visit us this fall with her series on our characters' inner journeys. This Manuscript Monday, she discusses the black moment and how it's pivotal in the character's inner journey. Enjoy!

Spiritual Journeys of our Characters, Part 3*
by Susan May Warren

Okay, I’m just going to say it, and I’m using my Mom tone. The Black Moment is the POINT of your story. Because without the Black Moment, there is no epiphany and no character change, and if you are writing a romance, it is Absolutely Required.

If you don’t have a black moment in your story, then you don’t have a story. Sorry if that hurts…BUT, we’re going to fix it, right?

Last week, I promised more on the black moment. Today, let’s talk about how to weave in the lie with the black moment for effective character change!

Step Five: The Black Moment

In this step, the lie rears its ugly head, and the hero is caught in the darkness. This is RIGHT BEFORE the epiphany, and in a great inspirational story, the emotional and plot black moment can be entwined with the spiritual black moment. This is when, after he’s tried to escape on his own, he realizes he can’t – that the lie is pulling him back in. So, he drops to his knees and lets the lie cascade over him.

The spiritual black moment is when the lie seems bigger than life, and inescapable.

Why do you need this? Because this is when the TRUTH will come in and set them free. (That’s the next step and we’ll get to that).

First, how do you use the LIE in the Black Moment?

Sometimes, I have the Black Moment Event and follow up with a reaction where they realize the impact of that Black Moment Event, and thus see the LIE, which is inescapable.

In a romance, I might put the LIE in after he’s hurt the heroine and they’ve “broken up” (and/or vice versa for the heroine). Or, I might push it back to the moment when his greatest fears come true, and he realizes he’s lost her for good.

A LIE might actually occur BEFORE the black moment event – where his lie CONTRIBUTES to the black moment.

Or, you could have the Black Moment Event, then the LIE, THEN have the romantic black moment, as a result of all three.

How to decide when to use the LIE? Look at the rhythm of your story – does the lie cause the Black Moment, or does the Black Moment cause the revelation of the Lie?

Step 6: The Aha! The truth that sets them free

At some point during the black moment, you need to interject some light. It’s wonderful if it is delivered in a metaphorical moment, but it’s also good via another voice of truth.

This is where the character recognizes what they've needed to see all along.

Next week, we’re going to talk about the LAST step in the journey, something I call Storming the Castle.

* From My Book Therapy, originally titled: Set Me Free

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Susie's latest book, Nightingale, released this week from Summerside.

Wolfgang Jager grew up in Iowa---but he's fighting on the "other" side in World War II. And Esther Lange is trapped by her own battles. When Wolfgang is captured and sent to a Wisconsin POW camp, he's relieved---until he's accused of murder! Can faith save him and the woman he loves?

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To learn more about Susan, visit her Web site.

Why I Love To Write by Rachel Hauck

Please welcome guest writer and good friend, Rachel Hauck. She leads worship at the ACFW conferences where Dawn and I lend our voices to the team. She’s here to share her reasons for writing.

A year or so ago my husband and I were walking our dogs around the neighborhood, chatting occasionally, being in that place of comfort and understanding with each other in silence.

I felt so at peace and at home with myself. Not only had God worked His love into my heart over the past years, but I loved my husband and our life together.

And I loved my job. Writing books.

“Writing is so deeply satisfying to me,” I said to my husband, pressing my hand over my middle. “Like, I’m perfectly content.”

Right after graduating college, I went with a friend to a beach house on the Gulf in north Florida. The day we drove in was beautiful, warm, clear, full of … emotion.

A swell of desire and longing filled me. I wanted to capture the moment, some way, but I didn’t know how. Write? Sing? Dance?

I had similar emotions often in those days. After seeing the coming-of-age college movie “St. Elmo’s Fire” I remember looking at my good friends thinking “I want to write about us like that some day.” We were in college, the same sorority, living a life of friendship similar to what I’d seen on the big screen. (Though not quite so … um … wild, shall I say?) But I wanted to capture our college emotions and friendship.

When I started writing, the restless longings ended. By the grace of God I’d met the desire of my heart He put there.

I love to work with words like an artist might like to work with clay or paint. I love to create a story and work with elements like conflict, goals and motivation. I love to create and solve problems.

It’s fun to mimic life. It’s awesome to present a piece of God in my stories and characters.

Writing is something that is just in me. I’ve had a lot of jobs I’ve loved and enjoyed, but nothing sits home with me like writing a book.

I don’t want fame or riches. I don’t envy celebrities or politicians, or winners of reality shows. Why? Because I’m doing what I was designed and called to do. I think I used to envy them because they were living their dream and I wasn’t.

For me, the dream was simple and clear cut. Writing. Others have a plurality of dreams. They love painting or nursing, or home schooling their children or coaching football. Writing is one aspect of their lives. They are living their dreams too.

If you love to write, it doesn’t have to be your only dream like mine, but a part of who you are. Either way, take time for your writing, your dreams. Set goals.

I love to write because when I do, I feel His pleasure in me.

Rachel Hauck is a multi-published author living in sunny central Florida with her husband, Tony, a pastor. They have two ornery pets. She is a graduate of Ohio State University and a huge Buckeyes football fan. Currently she is a book therapist as part of www.mybooktherapy.com, while continuing to write.