Character and Scene Development
Good Guys vs. the Bad Guys:

     There is no need to leave out women in the subtitle. Lorraine and Amos are the two protagonists I refer to in a number of these lessons, (ref: Story 1 and Story 2) but you can mold these ideas for the characters you are developing.
     Lots of run-of-the-mill material touted as Christian fiction has what I think are unrealistically good main characters, flawless people. Scenes and characters are honey sticky sweet. I suggest you beat up on your characters a bit.
     Sherry Neary did an excellent job of painting Lorrain as a person we can feel sorry for. She appears innocent from the outset and very likely not that much in control or responsible for her violent role. The violence against Lorrain, revealed at the end of the story, may account for the violence she commits.
     My main character, Amos, in The Fishing Hole is a good person, for the most part, at least from what I have told you in that short story. He is an innocent victim in the story, yet he is not perfect. I’ve included enough background on him in the telling that the reader knows he has had occasions to lose his temper. The fights of his youth were not in self-defense, but from verbal disputes that escalated.
     I did not dismiss those confrontations as mere boys-will-be-boys behavior, or immature behavior and rapid developing teen hormones. That excuse pales with the real prospect that teens are quite capable of inflicting serious injury, even involuntary manslaughter.

Dress Your Characters
Let clothing make a statement.

     I am not a fashion aficionado, an obvious fact in my writings. I’m not exactly blind or indifferent towards style either. Some authors, such as Sherry Neary, do a great job detailing style, brands and how these things should be coordinated. Others, like me, can do a better job if we glide over clothing and hairstyle. All authors, I think, can and probably should make at least some reference to clothing.
     Amos gives little thought to selecting jeans and a t-shirt. His choice served as a casual mention to the severity of the heat and humidity of the day and his out door activity. Lorraine’s attire befits a warm day and the business nature of her trip.
     The choice of clothing and even the fit confirms the era of each character and event.
     Amos, a Baby Boomer teen of the 1960s and early 70s, wore his hair long and his jeans tight. My use of skintight jeans on some of the young people in that era is symbolic of the naked innocence of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. However, my characters are not about to run around without any clothes. The flip side is that the rebellious fit reminisces the fall of Adam and Eve. Their shame stemmed from their self-aggrandizement and their struggle with responsible self-determination in the final stretch of formation towards adulthood.
     Worn and ill fitted clothing in other writings could depict poverty, low self-esteem or laxness in character. It could also signify a spirituality that is less concerned with worldliness.
     Gray, edging out of date, plain clothing on a gray day can accent a scene and a character’s sentiment for the moment, or life’s situation. Sandals, given the era and other factors, can depict a variety of moods and character description. Sandals are the norm in warm climates and classically associated with the Mid East in ancient times. Sandals became a generational statement in the 60s and 70s. They may be little more than a comfortable choice in warm weather today or in any age.
     Floppy hats on women in Church or at the races or ball game meant one thing in the 1930s and 40s. It is another thing on a cowboy of the 1800s or on a pimp today. Authors can take great advantage of accessories: a wide or narrow belt, purses, sunglasses, jewelry, cell phone and the list goes on. Put some attitude into the character’s use, wear or display of these things, the attention given or lack there of.

Responsibility and Consequence
Morals and behavior traits

     Preschoolers learn not to touch fire and flame because adults threaten to slap their hands if they do. Children a bit older learn to respect fire from the consequence they or a friend experienced. A teen or adult is a darn fool to handle fire irresponsibly, or possibly a criminal.
     Not everything in life is that clear.
     Lorrain’s decisions and responsibilities are greater because she is an adult. Conditions in her life cloud her ability to make a clear-cut moral decision; but at the same time, she is accountable for her decisions.
     Amos failed to inform his family circle of his outing in the story of the Fishing Hole. This minor indiscretion for an eighteen year old, quite able to take up and go fishing in his free time, is not to be held against him for the misfortune that befalls him. It could affect his well being later; but this is a cliffhanger.
     The sample stories supplied in this guide shows two victims. One victim had options for some of the things in her life leading up to events in the story of Lorraine. The other victim, Amos, had virtually little options in the event that led up to his precarious situation.
     Sometimes unfair and terrible things happen to good people. Gross injustices visit the vulnerable, though not fully innocent. Neary’s treatment of Lorain as victim and victimizer is brilliantly complex. It is easy for a self-righteous Pro-Life Christian to express indignation at any act of abortion until they come face to face with issues and situations Lorrain faces, or to discover some of these dysfunctional conditions might exist among our own relatives or immediate family. Neary’s treatment does not suggest an exception to abortion, rather a challenge for the conscience to dig deeper or to cover a wider spectrum of life issues.
     The same is said for the apathy of good moral people. Address the fear many of us have to face. These hard facts need serious treatment. Apahty enables exploitation and sexual molestation of minors in our families, neighborhoods, churches, schools and other respected social institutes.
     Lorraine is not an easy subject to read. This is not just a matter between Lorraine and Max. Another generation witnessed these deeds and may continue it to the next generation and the generation after than one.
     Authors do not have to sermonize or insert a moral instruction. Just write the story and make it available to readers.

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