To Get an "A"...

I just started Design 2.2, the fourth and final design class before I transfer to a larger college. Basically, we are given projects which include either drawings or models (or both), and are given the task of coming up with a professional, unique, and well thought out design that satisfies the problem. Here's the tricky part though; the grading scale is a great deal different that most other classes. For one thing, the scale is a lot tighter than your average grading scale.

A: 93-100
B: 85-92
C: 75-84
D: 70-74
F: 69 and Below

Not a whole lot of room to make mistakes. Now those 'low 90's' aren't A's anymore, they're B's. Tougher, to say the least. But look at why they're that way:

"In this class, a grade of "A" means that the project is truly exceptional, the design and presentation are professional, and that it is obvious that unusual effort and design attention were invested to produce them. A grade of "B" means that the project is more than professionally competent, that it clearly goes beyond the basic project requirements, and that extra attention was paid to the design and the presentation. A grade of "C" means that the design and presentation essentially satisfy the requirements and intent of the project. A grade of "D" means that there are serious mistakes, omissions, or craftsmanship problems with the project. A grade of "F" means that the project was not turned in or that the project was obviously not taken seriously"

Design 2.2 Syllabus

Basically, you only get an "A" if you go above and beyond. You just want to satisfy the requirements? Here's a nice "C" for you.

But here's the point; you can only achieve greatness in anything by pushing yourself and your work above the standard. 

Let's apply this to our walk with Christ. Our God doesn't ask us to sit in caves in the hills and never talk to anyone so we can live 'holy' lives; He asks us to get out there in the world around us and push the standards of what other people think we can do. We are to "Do Hard Things" for His glory. How can we further His kingdom if all we're trying to do is keep ourselves to just doing the basics? An remember, if all we're shooting for is a "C," it's far too easy to slip into the "D" range.

So, here's the question I've been asking myself: Am I an "A" Christian? Have I been striving to further God's kingdom? Or am I just a little "C" Christian, only worried about keeping to what is easy and comfortable?

I gotta say, I hadn't planned on making the connection from grades to Christ when I started writing this. I take no credit; God tapped on my heart and said, "Hey! This blog is about me, right? Not you. Now write about me."

So thank you, Lord, for Your promptings. May they be as helpful to others as they are to me.

In His Name,

Farjag

And the Answer is...

Unless a drastic and cataclysmic event that is currently totally unforeseen occurs...

I shall edit Freeborn and Freegiven.

It will require a good bit of work, and some deep digging in some places, but I think it is possible. As I've analyzed it over the past couple of days hours, I've realized what it really needs it a good haircut. There is a shaggy layer of unnecessary descriptions and explanations (at least in the beginning) that need to be peeled back. It's basically the traces of me wanting to tell the reader exactly what I see in my imagination. And while that is good, it often becomes overbearing. In Freeborn, it was all too easy to get bogged down in describing every little detail, because it was a fantasy; I was taking the reader somewhere they had never been before, and wanted to make sure they saw it exactly like I did. 

In Trust Hole, I got away from that (I think :P), mostly because describing every little detail didn't fit with the minimalist, dystopian world I had created. I described the key points of each location, and left the reader to fill in the gaps with their imaginations. 

So that's what needs doing on Freeborn. Consider:

Old-

Farjag picked the cooling hilt up with a pair of steel-forged tongs and swiftly placed them back in the glowing coals. The flickering flames lit up his distinctive features: dark brown eyes, short orange-brown hair, a determined look permanently chiseled into his face, and two thick angled black lines like tattoos under his cheekbones. He wore a leather apron over a loose white shirt and a tan muslin tunic, as well as dark brown breeches and knee-high boots. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, leaving his arms bare except for his hands, which were gloved in black leather. He was tall and rather lanky, but his bare arms showed an uncommon strength.

New-

Farjag picked the cooling hilt up with a pair of tongs and swiftly placed them back in the glowing coals. The flickering flames lit up his distinctive features: dark brown eyes, short orange-brown hair, a determined look permanently chiseled into his face, and two thick angled black lines like tattoos under his cheekbones. He wore a leather apron over his loose shirt and tunic, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His hands were gloved in thick leather to protect them from the hot metal he was working with. As a whole he was short but rather lanky, and his bare arms showed an uncommon strength.

Not much of a difference, but enough to make it count. So that's what I'm going to be spending my late night hours doing for the next couple weeks/months. Wish me luck!

Farjag

To Rewrite or Not...

That is the question...

I was reading through Freeborn and Freegiven the other day, editing typos and the like as I went, and occasionally changing the wording of something, or editing dialogue. And as I got deeper, and started to pay more attention, I realized there was a great deal lacking in the depth of prose I was using. In other words, it was too conversational. Even though I had avoided using boring words like "big" and kept away from run-on "then"'s, it was still severely lacking. This was a problem I had fixed on Feather and Fang during the last year, but I had written far less in that, and was still playing with the plot, so things were still in flux. To fix Freeborn would require a major overhaul. Not to mention there are still several plotholes and unoriginal situations that need attention.
So the question I am faced with is: "Do I edit, or rewrite?" Do I just keep on fixing what I have, or do I start over again, using the first as the skeleton to build on rather than the skin to reform?
One of my best friends and fellow writers has rewritten nearly every one of his major story ideas at least once or twice. I have seen him go through five iterations of a single plot idea, each different from the previous, until all that showed up in the final from the first was the premise. Characters changed, locations changed, plot arcs changed, climax and conclusion changed. And it was worth it. The final drafts are so much better than the first, though you couldn't have known that when you read the first.

So... should I rewrite? I honestly don't know yet. I am leaning more in that direction, since I had moderate success in rewriting Grey Warrior. (As much as could be expected with no plot line). My writing has improved greatly since then (as is obvious when comparing Freeborn and Trust Hole), and I have a solid plot, with several important additions I would be making if I was going to simply edit it.

What do ya'll think? Have you ever rewritten something completely? Or do you find extensive editing to be more up your alley? Leave a comment if you want to share, or hold a conversation with yourself! (It's helpful sometimes :) )

A yet undecided, Farjag

The Promise

Promise

Snowflakes softly fell
The night sky dark and cold
In Bethlehem all seems well
The wind is quiet and lulled

A tiny stable carved into the hill
The home of cows and sheep
A tiny baby lies quiet and still
Let the animals their silence keep

Upon the hills gathered round
Shepereds keep silent watch
Flocks of sheep dot the ground
Stars across the sky march

Then light came springing out
Beams of radiance shining forth
The sky splits open with a shout
Heaven beyond in all it's worth

Angels line the clouds
A choir of awesome majesty
Their holy voices raised aloud
Heaven's glorious pageantry

"A Savior has been born this night
A child of men born today
God Himself bringing light
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy!"

The Promise fulfilled
The Messiah on earth
Just as God had willed
Tonight is the Savior's birth

A question

Here's a question to those who read this blog (The few and proud!): What should I post about? What would you like to see me write about?

Whatever I write here, I want to be able to point it back to God, but I need something to write about first. And how to/how not to write posts get old real quick.

So any ideas? Leave a comment!

The Heart War

Inspired by Sunday's message...

The Heart War

Upon a battlefield colored red
Much blood has yet to be shed
The power of the enemy was broken long ago
But he continues to fight, a present and powerful foe

The heart is this battlefield red
Sin our enemy, not yet dead
Set free from that power in Christ's death
We must battle on until life's last breath

For how can we who died to sin
Still lie subject to it's evil grip within?
The law of Christ has set us free
Let us fight, can you not see?

The battle's already won
The victory's been done
The sword of the word, doubled edged and sharp
Is more powerful than any enemy's poisoned dart

Sin lies at our door, quite near at hand
And it's desire is for our embattled heartland
Stand strong you Christians bold!
The Holy Spirit has wrapped us in His fold

Walk in His power and might
He protects us from the dark of night
Sin has been thrown down
Won is the heart's sacred ground