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Thursday, November 19, 2015
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First Rough Draft of Raising Jesus is Complete!
I'm so happy to share with you that the first rough draft of Raising Jesus is completed!
It was ten years ago when the dream and vision for this work began. I spent the first year, stalling. The next year and a half writing monthly three thousand word vignettes for the historical fiction.
Then I spent a year enjoying having a new baby to love, before I resumed my work by taking online courses in Ancient Judaism and touring Israel.
Finally I have a rough draft, with a compelling story and plot that is ready to be fleshed out and polished for publication!
I'm equally thrilled to share with you this magnificent original Art by 15 year old Julia Thomas, a gifted friend from church.
She is not yet done, but I had SO much fun putting the image into a 3D book shape! This is just the beginning of a completed dream come true!
Tonight at midnight- just 31 minutes from the time I am typing this update, I will be an official NANOWRIMO WINNER!!!
I know you are wondering, "When will it be published?"
That depends on how long I take with revisions. I am hoping for a 2016 publication date.
Angela SchansSunday, November 8, 2015
RAISING JESUS Historical Fiction Reached 1/2 Way Point of first draft!
Today I am celebrating a HUGE mile marker!
I am half way through writing the first rough draft of "Raising Jesus."
To help me celebrate my wonderful and gifted friend and illustrator Julia Thomas has allowed me this sneak peak into her design for the cover image for this historical fiction.
What a joy it is for me to get to share this intimate part of the journey with you!
Today I passed the 25,000 word mark of the "National Write Your Novel in a Month" challenge to write out a 50,000 word rough draft.
I have MUCH more than 250,000 words in pre-writing I've created over the past 10 years but this is the first time I have take the courage to put the ideas into a consecutive order that with edits can be used for the actual book.
I'm very VERY thankful to be able to share my happy news with you today along with these images of the work in progress.
Thanks for reading!
Angela SchansWednesday, November 4, 2015
What Do the Brothers Of Jesus Have in Common?
I love that we can gain insight into the person of Jesus by studying the perspective of those who grew up with Jesus and knew him as both skeptical unbelievers and fiery converts and actual brothers!
If you want a fresh view for your Bible reading today, Read the Book of James and Jude, and realize that these books were written by the brothers of our Lord- Look for commonalities of perspective among these two men who were both raised by the same Mother Jesus was raise by, in the same place, amid the same community.
Fact Finder: The New Testament epistle of James was written by Jesus' actual brother James, as was the epistle of Jude written by Jesus' actual brother Jude.
Fact Found Here: http://www.keyway.ca/htm2003/20030514.htm
What commonalities do Jesus brothers have in the way they address the followers of Jesus?
James 1:1This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I am writing to the “twelve tribes”—Jewish believers scattered abroad.
Greetings!
Jude 1:1This letter is from Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James.
I am writing to all who have been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ.
2May God give you more and more mercy, peace, and love.
I find it fascinating that both of these younger brothers of Jesus refer to themselves as "a slave of Jesus Christ." (Christ - anointed one.)
Read the Book of James and Jude with the fresh perspective of, "Hey! These are the brothers of the Lord!" Try to find other commonalities that give us more insight into the person of Jesus and what they learned by growing up with him. In this way, we too can grow up with Christ!
Send me an email to let me know what you find at angela@angelaschans.com
Enter the subject: James and Jude. Your insights will help to build this Historical Fiction!
Angela Schans
Thanks for reading!
Angela Schans
If you want to stick close to me in this journey, please join my journal updates list below:
Sunday, November 1, 2015
FIRST DAY OF NANO WRIMO!
I've been working on this novel in one way or another for the past 10 years and have yet to create a complete first rough draft.
During a retreat this year I felt like the Lord POWERFULLY encouraged me to NOT DELAY in fulfilling the vow I made to Him to write this novel.
I told myself, then, that if I did not have a rough draft by November 1st, I would do it in November with this international program designed JUST exactly for writers like me who have been wanting to do it, but for what ever reason, did not until now.
I woke up this morning, November 1st around 2:10 am and thought, !!! This is the first day of Nano Wrimo! I have to get my 1,667 words in!
The idea with Nano Wrimo, is that you write a complete 50,000 word novel from beginning to end in the period of a month, no cheating.
So, Even though I had MANY starts to this novel- even an edited first chapter- I didn't use it. I stared over completely again.
The biggest thing about this morning's first effort, was that at the ver last moment before I started to write it, I changed my Point of View, and story structure.
Being intimidated with the project for so many years- and now, being under the gun to get the rough draft done in a short amount of time- I decided to use my MOST comfortable and natural writing style, a personal journal.
I am writing Raising Jesus as though I am Mary, before she was betrothed to Joseph.
I'm breaking all the rules, because having read multiple accounts that women then did not write, though I did come across one reference that said they did. I'm also defying the reality that writing materials were probably not handy, nor in the hands of poor young women to use at their leisure to keep their private thoughts in.
So that being said, I am thrilled! It was wonderful to be in the mind of Mary as I wrote my first chapter this early morning, and it's wonderful to know, that I can fulfill my vow to write this novel, and it's ok if I break all the rules of writing and genera as I do, because I can self publish it and share it with out needing the conventions of an agent or publisher and that is extremely liberating!
I plan to write this entire rough draft, and edit it for readability, intrigue, and grammar, but I will probably keep it as a hybrid historical fiction, because the important thing is that I write it, and to do that, I can only use what I've got, and that simply is an ability to journal daily thoughts for hours at a time, and a heart and a message and commission in Christ for this story that have consumed me for10 years.
Thank you for joining in my journey! I may update frequently, and I am NOT taking time to check for grammar or typos in this blog, nor will I burden my editor (mom) with that task, so this journal, is not written to impress you, but simply as a means to share my raw journey of writing Raising Jesus with you.
Please keep me in your prayers that I would WIN nano wrimo- that means complete my 50,000 word goal in a month- which would make for a MUCH smaller novel than i was planning on writing- but at least I will have a rough draft from beginning to end.
Below is a pasted snippet from today's writing.
"Please help me to sort through my feelings toward Joseph. And if it pleases You, please let me know if he loves me, or if Zebedee’s the one for me, do make that clear. Not my will, but Your will be done" - Mary's journal Raising Jesus (Day 1)
Thanks for reading!
Angela Schans
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