By Roxanne Hicks
When a younger writer, I hesitated to plunge my characters into perilous events. Like a doting mother, I dressed everyone in clean clothing and admonished them to stay out of the mud. Scandalous outings, unscrupulous friends, and disgusting habits were a taboo.
A writing coach asked me, “Where is the excitement or conflict in your story if your characters can’t get dirty, risk scandal, or suffer pain?”
Right. I then noticed all great people throughout history struggled with issues. King David in Psalm 142:5-7 declares, “I cried out to You, O Lord; I said, ‘You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living. Give heed to my cry. For I am brought low; Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me. Bring my soul out of prison. I will give credit to your name. The righteous surround me, for You will deal bountifully with me.”
King David committed adultery, as a youth killed a giant, battled family turmoil, and witnessed the acts of murder and rebellion amongst his children. Yet he is celebrated as one of the great heroes of Christian history. He lived a full life, but he also made mistakes. A lot of mistakes.
Anguish is another subject I am uncomfortable writing about. Like everyone else, I don’t do pain well. Before my husband retired, he suffered a nasty industrial accident which put him in the hospital for three weeks and rehab for six months.
I traveled to the hospital, seventy miles away, every other day, spending one night with my husband, and then returning to spend a night at home. During this period of turmoil, a deranged neighbor shot and killed my dog in our yard. He took her body and disposed of it. Six months passed before I uncovered the truth. This person had a long history of abuse and violence.
My dog, a gift from our son as he departed for college––the last of our children to leave home––––instantly became a replacement child for my empty nest. The situation doesn’t need much more explanation. I suffered harsh and devastating pain.
My husband recovered and returned to a normal life. His doctors had warned me he might not. He did, and I praise the Lord for it. Though I prayed daily and searched for hundreds of miles, I never found my dog.
Through the pain, as I cried on the shoulder of my heavenly father, I found a wonderful, precious fellowship with Him which cannot be shared without the presence of suffering. This discovery grew beautiful and priceless.
Why not allow the characters I create to walk through this type of pain? Why not give this type of discovery to them? I’ve experienced it firsthand. After all, if willing, we walk out of the storm and into a lovely field of sunshine and flowers.
The lesson I learned? Throw dirt on those beautiful characters. Drag him through scandal. Strip her of dignity and rights for a period of time. Let them both walk through the pits of despair. Challenge them to a breaking point, and then crank up the pain one more notch. Make that wonderful character suffer. When she finds her way out of the Valley of the Shadow of Death, what a beautiful day awaits her. You’ll also have a story which fans will pay money to read.
(As a side note––The man who killed by sweet dog died of kidney failure two years to the date he took her from me. Although I look at this as retribution from the Lord, I take no delight in revenge. What comforts me is the scripture I located during this time of struggle which reassures me I WILL see my fur-baby again in heaven.)
Writing from childhood, Roxanne Hicks was first published in 1987 with a short outdoor story. She’s written numerous short stories and ten novels. Her novels include five historical fiction, four romantic suspense, and one children’s chapter book. Roxanne’s romantic suspense novel Rescuing the Warrior was released in November. Visit her website at https://www.roxannedeehicks.com/.
Comments 9
Thanks for the sensitive and to-the-point message. It’s been said for a very long time that the best artists are those who have experienced suffering. I always thought that was a bit pessimistic, but after reading your article I realize that my own experiences, good, less good, as well as mentally and emotionally disastrous flavor everything I do. It’s probably why my characters face so many internal, as well as external threats and conflicts. Thanks for putting it in perspective, and I am so sorry about your dog. I still mourn two horses and several dogs who were my best friends through the toughest times of my life. When I read some of the K9 mysteries out there in the Christian and Clean Fiction market, they bring back such positive and varied memories.
Thank you for your kind comments. I lost a dear horse, too, to colic not so long ago. She got into green wild plums before I got lock her out of that particular field. I would love to hear about your dog friends. They are all so sweet. Our back pasture is so full of our deceased pets.
“Throw dirt on those beautiful characters”!!! Yes. That’s the way to write for Jesus. As Christian authors we have the honor to show what it means to overcome. Sorry to hear about your dog, and glad that you took comfort in the Word. Great blog post. May your stories be blessed!
Thank you, Nicole, for your sweet reply. Blessings back to you, sweet sister!
As a “soft heart,” I needed to hear this message for my characters’ sakes! I am sorry about your dog.
Thank you.
Thank you, Liz. Yes, it’s hard to rough up our ‘babies’, isn’t it! I didn’t like bullies being mean to my kids when they were little, and my characters aren’t any different! Thanks for the kind words about my dog. Take care.
So true. Conflict keeps a story moving. My heroine struggles to trust men due to her overbearing and insensitive father. I grew up having similar daddy issues. My hero had his family’s name and honor slandered due to someone else’s lies. And his personal reputation faces scrutiny for his chivalry. Because what he perceives as the right thing doesn’t set well with noble society. All this this contributes to a personal struggle of self worth. Something my editorial mind struggles with as I battle through edits and rewriting. Write what you know. 🙂
Thank you, Amber. But, most of all, enjoy! Let me know when your book is released!
You’re welcome! And thank you! You’re so sweet. My manuscript has been in the possession of a publisher for review since last summer, so I’m bound to hear something anytime soon regarding their decision. I’m either going through them or the self-publishing route via a Patreon serial release to raise the necessary self-publishing funding.