tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-157298062024-03-07T23:01:14.695-05:00Scope for Imagination"Once upon a blog...."J. M. Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440202479543351250noreply@blogger.comBlogger147125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15729806.post-43900159743471666602014-05-18T16:38:00.001-05:002014-05-18T16:38:35.592-05:00Teaser for book 2 of The Dark Lighting Trilogy (The Jagged Edge of Lighting):
“Just then, I noticed a cluster of the noobs ogling me. “What’s up with them?” I asked my friends in an undertone.Alan shrugged. “I think they’re working on a project or something.”“What kind of project?” I asked warily. The intense kid with glasses—I still didn’t know his name—was looking back and forth between me and a large piece of poster board with a bunch of photographs and writing on J. M. Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440202479543351250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15729806.post-32700589056184031472013-06-24T20:21:00.000-05:002013-06-24T20:21:05.523-05:00Day 4Day 04:Your first stories/characters.
Errrr...like, very first? Back in childhood? I'm not sure I can remember back that far...
I do recall that I liked to write about a lot of fairy-tale/fantasy type stuff.
There was a story called "The Crystal Heart" I wrote when I was about eleven, maybe? I don't recall the character's names but the girl was J. M. Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440202479543351250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15729806.post-89724206948929025572013-06-23T23:10:00.003-05:002013-06-23T23:10:43.660-05:00Day 3Day 03: How do you come up with character names?
Ooh, this is a good one.
So, I have a few different methods.
The first is, I like to use the names of people I've known or read about. For example, in the Dark Lightning Trilogy, I used a lot of my college friends' names kind of mishmashed together. I think about the kind of people I've known with certain names; J. M. Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440202479543351250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15729806.post-59746875865478928822013-06-23T00:52:00.000-05:002013-06-23T00:52:30.246-05:00Day 2Day 02 : How many characters do you have? Do you prefer males or
females?
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Hmm, how many characters? I have no idea. I mean...I'd say there's around 20 characters with names and dialogue just in Tall, Dark Streak of Lightning alone.
As for my preference, I prefer to write from a female J. M. Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440202479543351250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15729806.post-65834346091723197292013-06-21T22:28:00.001-05:002013-06-21T22:31:54.934-05:0030 Day Writer's ChallengeSo I've decided to get back in the habit of using this blog by doing a 30 day questionnaire about my writing.
As a bonus, I get to pretend I'm participating in the world's longest interview. ;)
So anyway, on to question #1:
Day 01: Your favorite writing project/universe that you've worked
with.
Though this is tough, I'm leaning towards The Dark Lightning Trilogy. That J. M. Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440202479543351250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15729806.post-30465501362411352232013-06-02T13:38:00.001-05:002013-06-02T13:38:30.867-05:00So I'm back on blogger now.
I admit, it's been a long while.
I was using a few other social networking sites to connect with people, but I think this is the best place to sort house all my more "authorly stuff."
But I'd just like to apologize for not updating my reading list in over a year.
I still don't know how often I'll be using this; I may try to start posting thoughts regularly again. &J. M. Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440202479543351250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15729806.post-56424677710443057522013-03-29T16:13:00.003-05:002013-03-29T16:13:32.006-05:00No Means Maybe No...<!--[if gte mso 9]>
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J. M. Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440202479543351250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15729806.post-34005652165031864342012-02-15T00:20:00.001-05:002012-02-15T14:27:28.619-05:00Dear Elizabeth Gaskell,
Please forgive any impudence or impropriety on my part for writing you. I realize this letter is terribly late, and will never reach you, but all the same I feel it must be written.
I have just today finished your wonderful novel, "North and South." I cannot tell you how profoundly moved I am by it. At first, it was just the romance between Margaret Hale and John Thornton thatJ. M. Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440202479543351250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15729806.post-41415263891147812032011-09-16T16:13:00.000-05:002011-09-16T16:13:54.387-05:00Only Switchfoot Knows How I FeelIt's less than two weeks before Switchfoot, my favorite band of all time, releases their new album, Vice Verses.
From what I've heard, read, and gleaned, I'm pretty sure I'll be playing it non-stop the moment I own it. And yeah, I'll probably blog about it too.
Over the years, I've made no secret of the fact that their lyrics speak to me and hit me where I am. I have a whole J. M. Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440202479543351250noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15729806.post-87927449235394008112011-07-26T23:31:00.000-05:002011-07-26T23:31:39.514-05:00Tall, Dark Streak of Lightning
Anyone interested in reading the first 1200 words of the novel I've been working on for the last seven years or so??? This is what I'm submitting to the next level of weBook's page-to-fame contest, where people vote on whether what you have written makes you want it elevated, so you can read more...maybe even see it get published. I'd love to know what you think, so I can gauge J. M. Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440202479543351250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15729806.post-76732124110858386122011-05-10T21:01:00.000-05:002011-05-10T21:01:16.431-05:00Redemption, Reformation, and a RevolutionDear American Church:
If you want to know why your attendance is dropping, I’d love to tell you, at least from my own personal experience. Because I’m pretty close to walking out on you myself.
Here’s the thing. I’ve been a Christian since I was very young. I’ve been going to church all my life. And now here I am in my early thirties, and I’m about to throw in the towel.J. M. Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440202479543351250noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15729806.post-44249397422665143902011-04-03T17:11:00.000-05:002011-04-03T17:11:49.810-05:00The Last JobI know I haven't written anything in a while...I've been working on some other novelish projects as well as watching copious amounts of television and finally, getting a new job.
But that is not what I'm writing to tell you about. I'm having a bit of a geek-out moment because last night I found out I won this little writing contest. It's just a little competition on an author's J. M. Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440202479543351250noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15729806.post-90238698678418364522011-02-13T01:16:00.000-05:002011-02-13T01:16:52.001-05:00Happy Freakin’ February 14th<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>J. M. Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440202479543351250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15729806.post-59696944193070812752011-01-24T02:38:00.000-05:002011-01-24T02:38:38.023-05:00Football, Fanatics, and Family<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>J. M. Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440202479543351250noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15729806.post-19403869408257209342010-12-31T17:43:00.002-05:002010-12-31T20:34:58.416-05:002010 in Review
Or, It was a Helluva Year, Wasn’t It?
Well, it’s the end of one year and the beginning of another. Whenever I get to the end of December, I start to feel weird—restless, introspective, and vaguely unsatisfied. Lots of people get reflective and zealous about the New Year, and I am prone to self-reflection throughout the year, so the New Year is like a double dose. I look back onJ. M. Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440202479543351250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15729806.post-87293198758353839512010-11-29T22:37:00.000-05:002010-11-29T22:37:31.778-05:00"Home" for the HolidaysThree states in one year...that's got to be something of a record, even for a Richards. Here I am, back in Washington state (but in a new town, Federal Way) and living with my parents again. But this time I have the whole downstairs to myself. Also, we are staying in this nice house for several months until next summer, by which hopefully I will be on my way to Ireland--Lord J. M. Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440202479543351250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15729806.post-79787928154803700912010-11-09T15:02:00.000-05:002011-09-14T14:47:52.525-05:00Swallow Darkness WholeIf you want to know the truth, it's been a rough year for me. And my family. Not because of huge, disastrous events and misfortunes. It's nothing huge or traumatic, but without going into detail--for me, it's been a year of feeling mostly displaced and under strain. No, it hasn't been all darkness and gloom; there have been bright spots. Like the camp I worked at J. M. Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440202479543351250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15729806.post-8031286678240826762010-11-03T14:06:00.001-05:002010-11-03T21:41:05.604-05:00Eye of the BeholderSo, I may be something of a TV addict, but the fact is, I have to watch most of my shows through the internet. I have a television, but I don't get any channels on it, not even basic networks. I'm not up on the latest commercials (boohoo) or news tidbits.
So when I remembered hearing about a show featuring Melissa McCarthy, who I love from her Samantha Who? and "Gilmore Girl" roles, J. M. Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440202479543351250noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15729806.post-27785762335030688672010-10-22T14:06:00.001-05:002010-10-22T20:43:23.188-05:00Of Movies & Miracles
As I write this, I am in between my two jobs for the day and on my twelfth straight day of working. Thankfully, I have the whole weekend off, but if I am loopy & have bad grammar in this post, at least you'll know why. I just wanted to bring some extra attention to this really cool story that in the midst of all my other craziness I was able to J. M. Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440202479543351250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15729806.post-41232457476110803162010-10-06T12:08:00.001-05:002010-10-06T21:27:25.994-05:00Glee, Sorrow, and SearchingOr, Further Thoughts on Grace & Love
This week's episode of Glee centered around religion and spirituality, which naturally caught my attention even more than a typical episode. My heartstrings got tugged in a lot of conflicting directions as the characters wrestled with faith and their differing beliefs. Glee didn't go out of its way to answer any big theological questionsJ. M. Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440202479543351250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15729806.post-12874889212835481172010-10-03T19:27:00.001-05:002010-10-03T21:48:05.676-05:00Vitamin "G" DeficiencyThis morning, I was all set to write a really angry post. I mean, I had my soapbox all dusted and ready. I was working on a title, and I even had a subtitle ready. (Something scathing, too, like "Silence, Ye Brood of Vipers.")
I mean, it's been one of those weeks. Just by reading articles and posting links, I have gotten into some interesting discussions/arguments. And ifJ. M. Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440202479543351250noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15729806.post-70415936674676478822010-09-18T23:32:00.001-05:002010-09-19T16:25:19.635-05:00The Wood Between the WorldsIn C. S. Lewis' book "The Magician's Nephew" he describes how Narnia first came to be, and who the first people from our world were to see it. But before the main characters Diggory and Polly get there, they travel to an in-between place, which Lewis called 'The Wood Between the Worlds.' In that place, both children find themselves drowsy and forgetful. They lose all sense of J. M. Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440202479543351250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15729806.post-59489733798926491282010-08-01T19:34:00.000-05:002010-08-01T19:34:44.669-05:00Third Culture KidBy now many of my few but faithful readers will likely have heard the news that I have been accepted as a missionary to Ireland with World Harvest Mission. This was the result of not only a long application process and years of interest, but a recent trip to Philadelphia for a conference at WHM headquarters called "A&O" week.
A&O stands for "Assessment and Orientation." The J. M. Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440202479543351250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15729806.post-57433284585600802332010-07-14T01:02:00.001-05:002010-08-28T21:12:23.915-05:00...And it Vexes Me So....Okay. So. I realize I touched on this topic on my blog a few weeks back (and I've written on it before), but I think I need to revisit the subject. I hate to beat a dead horse, but sometimes I get going on a topic and I just can't quit. Apparently, according to an inventory I took tonight, it's partly because of my secondary spiritual gift of exhortation.
So, here is J. M. Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440202479543351250noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15729806.post-44553390594975126072010-05-21T13:15:00.001-05:002010-05-21T13:21:26.968-05:00Mourning Little Deaths
In my life, in my thirty one years, I’ve seen a lot of change. Perhaps not as much as someone who lived thirty years before me, but enough all the same.
I’m not just talking about changes in technology and society, either. God knows there have been many of those—the changes to computers alone in my lifetime have been drastic and unpredictable. There have been changes in musicJ. M. Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440202479543351250noreply@blogger.com5