Welcome to the 2013 A to Z Challenge!
This year, I’m
focusing on two themes: Emotions and
grammar,
depending on which
letter we’re on each day.
Today’s an emotion day! Or, perhaps, more accurately, an EMOTIONAL
day, ‘cause it’s over.
This is the end. The
letter Z. The Omega.
And just like last year, I am
tired. Beyond tired. So much so, I can barely think. So have a little patience with my very last A
to Z Challenge post. Okay, here goes…
__________
Z is for Zeal: fervor of a person, cause, or object; eager
desire or endeavor; enthusiastic diligence; ardor
Yesterday, I wrote about yearning and how to effectively
convey a character’s yearning, no matter how despicable, in such a way as to
make the reader not only sympathize with him, but empathize, as well, even
going so far as to want the same thing.
One of the best attributes a character—and his author—can
employ to indoctrinate the reader in this way is with zeal. A character, and again, his author, must
utilize their confidence and utter conviction in whatever cause or yearning
they are fighting for.
Of course, zeal requires knowledge, but knowledge without understanding
can come off as madness. Just look at
the very definition of a zealot—one who is excessively
enthusiastic, a fanatic. It’s what we
call those crazies who protest war by bombing the innocent.
So while your characters, and you, as their creator, should
express a certain amount of zeal in order to impress your reader with the
characters’ cause, make sure you not only believe it, no matter how awful it
is, but understand it, as well. Readers
can detect a writer who simply phones it in.
With that said, I hope you have enjoyed my A to Z Challenge
series. I think it will probably be my
last one. Thanks to all of you who
dropped by for a visit and left a comment.
You are the reason I saw it through to the end. I will be back tomorrow for another IWSG entry and next week for my A to Z Reflections post.
Until then...Goodbye and God bless!
Woo! We made it to the end of the challenge. Hard to believe really. It went so fast!
ReplyDeleteThis challenge took Zeal to complete. Congrats on getting to the end.
ReplyDeleteI found it a lot tougher doing the challenge this year. Well done, enjoyed your posts.
ReplyDeletemood
Moody Writing
#atozchallenge
A great month of posts, Nancy. And a month of great posts. Well done. Go take a nap!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on finishing. I really enjoyed your posts. I'm glad it's done too even though I didn't do it.
ReplyDeleteDon't write a madman unless that's your intent!
ReplyDeleteYou did it - just IWSG tomorrow and then you can collapse.
Great job on your theme, Nancy. I know it took a lot out of you. But, I believe you have some fun stuff coming up that should help you relax!
ReplyDeleteOh, and I giveth to youeth the Zombie Rabbit Award. More details on today's Z post.
Heather
I, too, am glad the challenge is over. It's been fun but I'll be glad to get back to my usual blogging schedule - with zeal!
ReplyDeleteZealot now reminds me of "Toy Story". Where Woody is trying to get out of the claw machine and all the little aliens are clamoring around him Such a great movie.
ReplyDeleteYup, don't phone it in. :D Happy Z, Nancy!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your list very much, Nancy. I especially liked that it was connected to your novel. Nice job.
ReplyDeleteWell done and congrats on finishing the A to Z Challenge! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat Z word & post!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on getting it done, it was a HUGE accomplishment!
visiting from A~Z
www.wearinglemon.blogspot.com
survival of the fittest!! now you can go to arizona in peace. zealous peace :D
ReplyDeleteI am tired too. But we did it. We made it through AtoZ!
ReplyDeleteRhonda from Laugh Quotes
Congratulations in completing the A to Z Challenge.
ReplyDeleteYvonne
A to Z AMBASSADOR.
Nancy, you were awesome this Challenge. I loved all your topics and even shared at least one with you (Yearning). I really hope you recharge and change your mind by next April. I would miss reading your material.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to your reflections post.