Deep Thoughts and Paolini

This post was almost completely a rant from my journal about Christopher Paolini's Inheritance, which I found at Good Will for $2.50 and just recently finished. But, fortunately for you, I chilled out and starting thinking some rather deep thoughts.

Inheritance was much too long. He's a good writer, he has a brilliant capacity for language and customs and well, basically a whole world structure but at some point you have to cut to the freaking point. (AHEM, i promise I'm not ranting...)

I loved the first book, Eragon, the best - partly for the story and partly because Paolini was such a hero to me. He was fifteen when he wrote it, he was homeschooled and he pursued his dreams. 

Terrible movie but still <3
~photo courtesy of~

That book was a nudge for me to take a step in my journey of writing. It became a part of me. Which seems strange, even to me, sometimes. It's not my favorite series, he did a lot of things that I didn't like. He did some things I did enjoy, like how he killed Galbatorix and how he did not kill Murtagh. <3 I have emotional attachment to the broken, disturbed characters, can't help it... I like Eragon too but I always wanted to know about Mr. Murtagh. 

But now that it's over I'm wondering if I'll ever read the series again. For some reason, I seriously doubt it, unless I have serious time to kill. 

(This is where I started thinking deep thoughts...) Burying yourself so completely in a series is a huge leap of faith. In a way, you're giving yourself up into the author's hands and trusting them to take care of you. 

I think there's such a thing as Reader's Abuse. Don't get me wrong, making your reader feel strong emotion is good - it's a testament to your writing skill and rather necessary for a story if you want to make a connection. But you should also give them a good reason to feel it. 

For instance, I find some emotions easier to capture than others but that doesn't mean my stories should be shock full of despair and tear-jerkers. It doesn't mean I shouldn't write tear-jerkers or despair, just that it shouldn't overwhelm whatever story I'm trying to communicate. 

The manipulation of words is a powerful thing. Words are the closest thing we have to magic! And as all good wizards know, magic is not to be trifled with. It is a Gift and should be used with care. Likewise, language is a Gift we should wield with special care. Words plant ideas, they carry power and they are bearers of emotion. 

I wish all words could be Truth. I just hope that what I write is at least a picture of Truth. One day, I'm going to meet my Heavenly Father and there in heaven... all words will be Truth. Exciting thought. :) 

But while I'm still here, I'm trying to live up to his expectations. And I want my words to mean something... not just be empty emotions. 

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. 

~Psalm 19:14

(This is another inspiration that prompted this blog post :D http://capturingshadows.blogspot.com/2012/02/price-of-truth.html)