Backstory 101~Natural Learning Curve of Relationships

After a long weekend that included this:


Here I am back behind my desk waiting to wow you with all things related to backstory.

Hey, stop yawning!

Last week we explored the reasons why backstory doesn't work when used in paragraphs or, gasp, entire pages. 1) It slows the story pacing before the story ever gets off the ground and 2) It ain't natural-like.

Okay, so we didn't really explore the second one, but we are today. One of the reasons backstory is frowned upon within the first three chapters is it does not follow the normal learning curve of a relationship.

When you meet someone new, what do you know about them? Right. Nothing. Wouldn't it be odd for this stranger to sit down and begin telling your their entire life story? Most of us would beat it out of there real quick.

In the natural curve of relationships, only after a period of time do you start to pick up on little comments the person makes that hint at a rough upbringing, or a nasty divorce, or whatever. The point is, it takes you a while to realize your new acquaintance has rough edges and/or problems. This is one of the reasons why dropping hints about your character in those first chapters is much more natural than dumping paragraphs of backstory, it reflects how we interrelate with people.

Write your story in this manner. As if the person reading is seeing your character for the first time. Then, through a series of narrative, events, and interactions with other characters, begin revealing your character's problems and the conflicts they will have to face to reach their goal.

Oh, and before I forget, last weeks winner is. . .Amber S. I had to work hard to overlook her tendency toward weird baaaa-rnyard humor, but I persevered and have to admit that I was moo-ved by her in depth answer to my questi-oink. Great Job, girlfriend!

For those of you who didn't win anything but really want another chance. . .try and guess where the sunset picture was taken. If you're happen to nail it, I'll give you Lisa's car. No wait. Just kidding there. What I meant was, I'll give you. . .well. . .directions how to get there? Yeah, that's it!

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Author Spotlight ~ George Schwartz, CFA

Investing with a Sense of Moral Responsibility
Taken from an article by George Schwartz, CFA, author of Good Returns

It would be difficult to determine exactly how many people who consider themselves pro-life also invest in the stock market. But my experience as a financial counselor and mutual fund manager indicates that many investors do worry that the corporations whose stocks they hold might be contributing to evils they oppose.

This is a realistic concern. Far more companies than might be imagined participate directly in abortion, embryo-destructive research, distribution of pornography, and other practices that diverge from the traditional Christian moral understanding and violate specific Church teachings. Still more subsidize, or in other ways promote, such challenges to life, families, and human well being.

However, it is possible for investors of conscience to avoid tainting their portfolios with ethically questionable holdings, and there is a strong moral case for the effort. It has to do with exactly what investing in the stock market involves.

A September 2008 article in Forbes Magazine reported that there were 173 ethically themed mutual funds, representing $172 billion in assets. Many of those have a religious orientation, some with actual denominational affiliations. A small number specifically include pro-life concerns among their investment criteria. Of those, I manage the largest group, the Ave Maria Mutual Funds, a family of five pro-life investment funds based on a concept which I call “Morally Responsible Investing.”

While Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) addresses a broad spectrum of economic, political and environmental issues, Morally Responsible Investing (MRI) focuses specifically on making investment decisions that embrace two key areas of concern. Overshadowing every other consideration is the sanctity of life — in other words, abortion.

The other leg upon which Morally Responsible Investing stands is the sanctity of marriage, and the most corrosive influence in husband-wife relationships subsidized by investment dollars is pornography.

There are some who argue that it’s impossible to avoid morally offensive investments, and that even if problematic stocks are identified, eliminating them from your portfolio will inevitably limit investment options and thus guarantee poor returns. Neither of these propositions is true.

Value and Diversification

The documented history of the Ave Maria Mutual Funds, for example, demonstrates that one need not sacrifice integrity for the sake of good returns. Indeed, we have achieved outstanding investment performance for our 25,000-plus shareholders. Most notable are our two 5-star-rated funds — the Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund (AVEDX) and the Ave Maria Growth Fund (AVEGX) — each of which is in the top ten percent of its category, as determined by the mutual fund rating service, Morningstar.

The key to such performance is thorough, careful, professional research that not only screens out companies with morally offensive policies and practices, but that identifies those that have good business characteristics and growth potential according to the well established principles of “Value Investing.” Practiced by such financial wizards as Warren Buffett, Value Investing consists of carefully analyzing all the things of worth in a company, adding them up, subtracting the liabilities, and comparing the result to the price-per-share at which the company is trading in the marketplace. If the company’s intrinsic business value is significantly greater than the market price of its shares, then that company is a logical investment candidate.

Another important factor is diversification of investments, which is generally recognized as an essential means of mitigating risk and maximizing returns over the long term. By allocating your investments over different asset classes and styles, you reduce risk and increase your probability of gain over a complete market cycle. Diversification is essential, whether you invest in mutual funds or individual stocks and bonds.

A Moral Imperative

Morally Responsible Investing, as I have practiced it, is more than a means of avoiding conflicts of conscience while seeking financial security. I believe it can make a positive contribution to the advance of the pro-life cause. While abortion was a marginal issue in the last election, polls tell us that there was a significant percentage of voters who saw it as a key concern, specifically those who attend church regularly, are active in their faith communities, and hold traditional moral views.

Such people can gain influence by being practical investors. We can identify companies that have both good investment merits and policies that are consistent with MRI principles, and then support them with our investment capital. In this way we can become an important shareholder bloc whose contentment corporate managers will recognize is in their best interest to ensure. Essentially, we will combine the desire for economic security with moral volition to achieve a Christian end.

If you sense that the arguments I put before you are true, then I urge you, as a matter of conscience, to consider what they imply for your own investing.

George P. Schwartz is a Chartered Financial Analyst and Registered Investment Advisor with special expertise in mutual funds. He is president of the Michigan-based Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc., a company he founded in 1980. Schwartz’s intimate knowledge of financial markets and deep personal commitment to the Catholic Faith led to his co-founding the Ave Maria Mutual Funds, along with Catholic entrepreneur and philanthropist, Tom Monaghan, and former Commissioner of Major League Baseball, Bowie Kuhn.

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Sunday Devotional

Max is a jealous dog.

No matter how much time and attention I give him, it’s never enough. If I’m on the phone, he sits at me feet and whines. If I’m on the computer, he nudges my hands with his cold little nose until I’m forced to either pet him or turn him out of the room. In which case, he sits at the door and scratches. If I pet Newly. . .heaven forbid I should pet Newly in Max’s presence. It absolutely drives him crazy to think that my love could be split between the two of them. I’m just grateful he likes the kids and I haven’t had to choose .

But all that clamoring for my attention got me thinking. The Lord is a jealous God. He flat out said it.

“You shall have no other gods before me.”

And yet, I do. At home, in the office, at play, God has not always been first in my life, even though He deserves all of my love, honor, and attention. I have allowed the god of sports, the god of wealth, the god of children. . .yes, children, to come before Him, and the list goes on.

Forgive me, Father, for letting other things come before You. Help me, oh Lord, to prioritize, and to keep You first in all things. May I always love You most.

Amen.

Exodus 20:1-6 (New International Version)

The Ten Commandments

1 And God spoke all these words:

2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

3 "You shall have no other gods before me.

4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.

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Winners!!

It's always so much fun to give away great books!! Congratulations to this week's lucky winner:

ellenmaze – Exposing Amber by Elizabeth Goddard
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ellenmaze, please use the button in the upper right side of this page to email me with your mailing address so I can forward your information to the authors. Then, sit back and wait for your book to arrive.

Thank you all so much for stopping by The Borrowed Book and thank you, Elizabeth Goddard, for your generosity in providing a book!

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Weekly Drawing

Entering our weekly drawing is easy:

1. Leave a comment on Fridays or...

2. Sign up to follow The Borrowed Book. Followers will automatically be entered for a chance to win that week's drawing!

This week, The Borrowed Book is giving away:

Exposing Amber by Elizabeth Goddard ~ This historian loves the past…unless it’s his own. Brandon Selman is struggling to reestablish his position and reputation as a competent museum director. Hampered by scandal from his last post, he is determined to stay on the straight and narrow. He especially will not allow himself to be taken in by any innocent-looking college student interns.

Amber McKinsey is excited to learn she’s been accepted as a summer intern for the Harrington museum. Working under Dr. Selman is just the opportunity she needs to determine the direction her future studies should take. But the reality is not the dream, and her own secrets threaten to undo her.

Then, a valuable artifact disappears and Amber is the likely suspect. How can Amber leave the shadows of the past behind when they follow her so closely? And could Brandon have misjudged a woman so badly again? Will either of them learn to trust or forgive before it’s too late?

Winners will be announced on Saturday, 08/7/10.

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Reader Excerpt ~ Exposing Amber by Elizabeth Goddard

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Brandon held his breath, struggling to remember his father’s words. Something about God making him trip over a good woman.

He eyed the young woman with raven hair—shiny and black like that of a thoroughbred—and eyes an unusual shade. Liquid gold with flecks of brown, though it was hard to be sure in the dimming light.

Striking.

An uneven rhythm thudded in his chest. That was new.

He’d not seen her jogging on the trails before today. Maybe Dad was right. She was beautiful, obviously loved to run, and. . .he didn’t work with her.

Feeling tongue-tied as a schoolboy, he wasn’t sure where to go from here.
Suddenly, he was hit with the strangest desire—he wished. . .he wished he could share the beauty of the eroded pinnacles that only appeared to look like ancient ruins in the moonlight. Asking her—a woman he’d only just met—if he could show her the sight was completely out of the question. And yet?

No—they were complete strangers. What could he say to her?

She appeared uncomfortable under his scrutiny. Uh-oh. He’d better say something and quick.

“I understand about disappointments and failures in the workplace, so I can certainly relate to how you’re feeling.”

She tilted her head just so. Cute. “You can?”

“Sure.” Now what did he say? He was quickly losing his ability to communicate. But how could he tell her the rest? His job had been his life and when he’d lost it because of a vindictive young protégé. . . Brandon took a step back, feeling like he was finally coming to his senses.

“It’s getting dark. I should probably go,” she said.

Curious, he cocked his head. “So, where do you work? If you don’t mind my asking.”

She kicked the dirt around, then looked up at him as though bashful. “I shouldn’t have said anything about my troubles. Really. I start at the museum store tomorrow. You should stop by some time.” She smiled then took off running. “My ankle’s feeling better,” she called, with a quick glance back at him.

A smoldering sensation filled his gut. She must be one of the new interns Jim had mentioned. Heaving long and hard, he started running again, but in the opposite direction. He’d catch the connecting loop to burn off his frustration.

Jim insisted they needed help, and though he was right, Brandon needed to focus on the mounting work ahead of him. It was an odd twist, bringing in help, only to have to divert energy into these individuals, guiding them in the disciplines, directing their futures. In Brandon’s mind, a volunteer intern was almost a contradiction.

He’d just as soon do the work himself at this point. But why had they put this young woman in the museum store? She’d been seriously disappointed.

Years ago he’d been a research paleontologist for a museum. But with a museum director father, collections had always held a draw for him, causing him to harbor the desire to follow his father. He’d forged a friendship with the director in the museum where he worked, who mentored him. Eventually, Brandon learned the process well enough to manage a small museum. When presented with the opportunity, he’d taken it. But then. . .disaster struck.

If it hadn’t been for the aid of a well-respected friend, Brandon wouldn’t have found his life again in the newly created Harrington Museum. Even though several years had passed, he wasn’t ready to open himself up again to risk or criticism.
No more protégés. . .

The words he’d spoken to Jim came back to him. He’d stand by them. Even if she was beautiful beyond words, and he’d come within a breath of asking her on a date. Lungs burning, Brandon slowed his run as the museum complex came into view. Only two cars remained—his black Jeep and Jim’s silver Lexus. He let himself in through the back, feeling the pain in his joints from the long run. After a quick stop in the men’s room to wash the sweat from his face and neck, he continued on to Jim’s office. Talking on the phone, Jim turned his back to Brandon, finishing the call.

Finally, Jim faced Brandon and flipped his phone shut. “Have a good run?”

“Not entirely. I ran into one of your new interns. Literally.”

Jim quirked a half grin then shuffled some papers. “Sounds like Providence.”

Dad would agree. “Did you personally interview them?”

“I reviewed applications and took the ones with recommendations from professors. The usual. Why? Is there a problem?”

Brandon rubbed his chin to cover his misgivings. Why was he so upset? “No, I just wished you would have talked to me before bringing on interns.”

Haven’t we already been through this? What’s done is done. Besides, it’s a menial task you relegated to me last year, remember?” A subtle smirk slid into Jim’s lips. “Though you didn’t accept them, your name is on the letter. You’re the director.”

Brandon heaved a sigh. He was making too much out of this.

“If it makes you feel any better, I’ll make sure you never see a volunteer or intern again this summer, all right?”

“An impossible promise, Jim.” Scratching the back of his neck, Brandon sagged, blowing out the last of his frustration.

“So what is it about this intern you ran into that has you upset?”

How could he tell Jim he’d wanted to see this woman again only to discover she was one of the museum’s interns?—a dangerous activity in which he refused to engage.

“Just ignore me.”

Brandon left Jim’s office, kicking himself for the knee-jerk reaction.

Guilt chiseled through him. If it weren’t for people willing to invest in him during his formative years as a young college student, where would he be today? He was more than obligated to pass on their generosity, despite his personal issues.

He grabbed his keys and exited the museum. Walking backward, he gazed up at the large letters. The Harrington Natural and Cultural Museum.

Everything was riding on his making this museum work. Everything. He’d been given a chance to prove himself.

An image of the young intern with dark hair flashed before his eyes, replacing that of the museum. He turned toward the Jeep and heard the telltale chirp of the lock’s disengagement. She was a striking beauty, really. Good thing he wasn’t one to easily fall for beautiful women.

The last thing he needed was an ever-present reminder of his past failures, lingering around the museum every day.

Elizabeth is giving away a copy of her book, Exposing Amber. Be sure to stop by The Borrowed Book on Friday for your chance to win!

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Author Interview ~ Elizabeth Goddard

Elizabeth Goddard is a 7th generation Texan who recently spent five years in beautiful Southern Oregon, which serves as a setting for some of her novels. She is now back in East Texas, living near her family. When she’s not writing, she’s busy home schooling her four children. Beth is the author of several novels and novellas. She’s actively involved in several writing organizations including American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and loves to mentor new writers.

When did you decide to be a writer?

Like many authors I’ve been writing since I was a child but it wasn’t until 2001 when I finally accepted God’s persistent call to write. It was that year that I met DiAnn Mills and joined the newly started American Christian Romance Writers. Of course, the name has been changed to protect the innocent and it’s now American Christian Fiction Writers.

At what point did you stop juggling suggestions and critiques and trust yourself (as a writer)?

Great question. I think that point finally came this year. I had three books and a novella to write and the rough draft of a bigger novel to complete. I realized that at some point the writing became strong enough that the decision of whether something is right or wrong is simply a matter of opinion and ultimately, it’s the editor who has to decide their preference. Still, I rely heavily on my writing partners for their suggestions.

Are you a disciplined writer or do you just write when you feel like it?

A little of both, but mostly I’m disciplined. I try to start writing every morning. But sometimes there are too many things weighing on my mind and I simply have to put things aside for that day. I’m especially disciplined when I have a deadline and allot myself a certain amount of words a day and a week. I give myself a personal deadline much earlier than the contracted deadline.

What kind of activities do you like to do that help you relax and step away from your deadlines for a bit?

I love to exercise—running on the treadmill and the elliptical. I hate doing housework, but I often do that when I’m procrastinating writing—the writing and the cleaning have a symbiotic relationship of sorts. Getting things accomplished really helps me to relax and the caveat is that I always come up with an idea for a new scene while doing something else. I don’t want to leave out that I enjoy playing games with my kids.

What is your favorite novel and what made it special?

You know that’s a tough question! I have several favorites by authors such as Stephen Lawhead, Francine Rivers, and Kathy Tyers to name a few. I’ll pick one here—I loved Francine Rivers’ Mark of the Lion series. It was a wonderful depiction of Roman times, but I also saw our own modern society reflected in Rome, which is both scary and enlightening. Mostly, I was very much convicted by her character, Hadassah—--she was relegated to position of a slave, yet she never stopped loving the people she served though they treated her poorly. She never stopped giving thanks to God or praying—a model servant of Christ. I aspire to become like her.

How do you think reading the work of others helps you as a writer?

For me, I find it somewhat freeing. In my own writing I begin to erect walls filled with rules and fitting my story into a certain style for a specific publisher and I don’t want to cross this or that line. But when I read someone else's work, I relax and realize that I’m free to be as creative as I want. What a great reminder!

Tell us a little about your latest release:

Exposing Amber released with Heartsong Presents this month. It’s about a college intern who works at a museum and falls in love with the director but they both have pasts they have to face before they can move on.

Where did you get your inspiration for Exposing Amber?

I love science—paleontology, archaeology, astronomy—you name it. I’ve always wanted to go on a fossil dig, but I figured I could at least write a story about one. When I found a museum connected with a fossil dig I knew that would make a great setting.

Which character is most like you?

I think Amber is much like I was when I was in college, unsure of what I really wanted to do with my life and future. She’s a little insecure too, at first, though some might not like that in her character, I think a lot of people suffer from that. The hope is that by the end of the story, she gains a sense of herself—who she is and where she wants to go.

Who is your favorite character and why?

Well if you’re referring to Exposing Amber, Amber has a side-kick, Muriel. She’s uninhibited and great fun. She also reminds me of myself.

Did you know how Exposing Amber would turn out? Were you surprised by any of the plot twists or characters?

I love it when that happens. In fact, in my upcoming mystery, THE CAMERA NEVER LIES, I wrote the entire story with another killer in mind, then I changed my mind in the end. I hope that doesn’t give too much away! In Exposing Amber, there were some things that changed because I visited a local museum and they gave me some new ideas. I knew it was the right thing to make the change. I don’t want to give too much away here, though.

What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story?

One message that surprised me in the story ( and yes, this could answer the above as well) was that we can’t hope to spread the message of Christ by keeping to ourselves, remaining in our comfortable Christian circles. My characters have both entered fields that aren’t Christ-friendly, but they continue forward following God’s direction.

What kinds of things have you done to market this book? Have you found anything that works particularly well?

I haven’t found the missing key to marketing, no. I’m simply answering blog interviews. I also plan to participate in the East Texas Book Fest to promote my books and a few other speaking engagements. I hope that works.

Tell us what new projects you’re working on.

I recently sent in a romantic suspense proposal for a category romance publisher and I’m working on a “big” book that I’m very excited about! But I can’t give away company secrets. LOL!

Thanks for being with us today, Beth!

Thanks you for the interview, Lisa. Keep up the good work.
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Want more? Be sure to stop by The Borrowed Book on Thursday for an excerpt from Exposing Amber by Elizabeth Goddard!

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