A to Z Challenge: Z is for Zealous

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!

A to Z Challenge: Z is for The Omega

Welcome to Day 26 of the 2012 A to Z Challenge

Z is for The Omega:  the omega Ω is the very last letter in the Greek alphabet.  It signifies the last, the end, or the ultimate limit.  (Wikipedia)

As a child raised in the Roman Catholic Church, I remember hearing the phrase during Mass, “I am the first and the last, the alpha and the omega.”  For some reason, this always stuck with me.  And so, as we come to the end of the A to Z Challenge, I can’t help but think about this:  the omega, the end. 

I wasn’t going to participate in this challenge.  It just seemed like too much work, and don’t get me wrong, it was, but I’m not sorry I did it.  The challenge pushed me to do something I didn’t really want to do, but somehow found the strength to do anyway.  And best of all, it brought with it many new followers and those for me to follow, as well. 

It wasn’t always smooth sailing, and I do have a gripe or two or twenty to complain about on May 7^th during the Reflection Post, but for the most part, it was a good thing.  It took a lot of planning to figure out what I was going to write and get my own posts up, but mostly it was endless hours spent trolling through nearly 1800 blogs.  I figure I probably hit well over 600.  I didn’t connect with all, of course, but I found a lot of truly fascinating people.  Can’t say many returned the favor, but what’re ya gonna do?  It is what it is.  But as I write this last post, I can’t help but feel relieved, because…

I.  AM.  EXHAUSTED!

So…are you as wiped out by the A to Z Challenge as I am?  Did you manage to post all 26 days?  Will you do it again next year?

Thanks so much for joining me during this incredible Challenge.  I may be taking a short break while I dive into my next novel, I’m not sure.  But if I do, I won’t be far, and I’ll still be dropping by your place. 

By the way, don’t be shocked to see a new look to my blog coming soon, that is if I’m brave enough to implement it.  My publisher has suggested I brand myself and this will be a part of that.  The content won’t change though.  I’m still the same as I’ve always been, still learning, still making friends, still reading all my favorite blogs.