Character Sketch of a Pirate Hero

by Elva Cobb Martin

Portrait of Pirate Hero Captain Lucas "Bloodstone" Barrett

This is actually Scottish actor Gerard Butler in his role as Attila. 

                Character Sketch

Career: Buccaneer captain/privateer/pirate and new Christian, educated by tutor father

Description models: Gerard Butler, Errol Flynn, Robert Taylor, Johnny Depp

Age: 25

Height/hair/coloring: 6' 4" tall,  long dark hair often in plaits; tanned
    by long days in the tropical sun on deck of his ship, the Blue Heron.

Build: lithe, muscular

Eyes: startling green that shoot sparks when angry (like the bloodstone   gem from which he got his nickname)

Strengths: leadership skills, master of the sea and sailing ships, physical prowess, swordsmanship, takes up for underdog, hates slavery, hard worker, determined to live our his new found Christian faith.

Weaknesses: inability to forgive master of his indentured parents and what happened to them, and wanting to wreck revenge on Spain for the Inquisition and his parent's capture.

History: Lucas was born in England of a noble mother who married a tutor and was then disowned by her wealthy family. The family came to Charles Town as indentured servants when Lucas was 10. Their papers were bought by Sir Roger Poole, Sr., who mistreated them. The parents were captured by the Spanish while being sent on a ship to the Poole's sugar plantation in Jamaica. Lucas ran away and joined the British navy and gained much knowledge about sailing and leading men. As the story opens, he has his own merchant ship which he also uses for privateering when it suits him. He has recently been led to the Lord by Rev. Ethan Wentworth and his wife Hannah when they begged passage on his ship from England to Charles Town.

Spiritual
As a new Christian Lucas has battles to fight with his old nature and with forgiveness to those who have wronged him or his parents. He is respected by most of his crew. He will find his faith greatly tested as the story progresses.

Do you have other traits to add to a hero's character sketch? Next time we may take a look at a villain's character sketch.

Thanks for stopping by. Do leave a comment and I hope you'll  share the blog on Twitter and FB, if you liked it.

Elva Cobb Martin

What Is Christian Fiction? Is It Alive and Well? PART 2

by Elva Cobb Martin

Can We Define Christian Fiction--in more ways than one?

Novelist and sought after conference leader Ron Benrey in his Complete Idiots' Guide for Writing Christian Fiction lists a spiritual content spectrum for Christian fiction.  

At the high end: The Conversion Scene—you tell a story that shows conversion.

The Middle Ground: Show Jesus at Work—in the lives of your characters or theme.

At the very Least: You show progress in a lead character’s Christian walk.

A few years ago Literary Agent Karen Ball did a three-part blog and survey on “What Makes a Christian Book “Christian?” She posted the results as follows:

■ Written from a Christian worldview

■ Story offers hope

■ Core of the story shows importance of faith in Christ

Worldview is often defined as the core values that determine a person’s outlook on life and, for a writer, how and what they write.

Christy award-winning author and mentor, Rosey Dow, in her novel-writing course, says worldview can be determined by the answers to three brief questions:

1) How did we get here and who are we?

2) What went wrong?

3) What can fix it?

The Christian worldview short answers would be:

1) God created the world and made us in His image.

2) Adam and Eve sinned and brought condemnation upon all mankind.

3) Sin must be punished but God loved mankind so much He sent Jesus Christ as our substitute to take our punishment so we could be forgiven.

The World’s Other Views 

                                                                

I think it is significant as a writer to understand the basic non-Christian worldviews that some of our characters/villains may need to exemplify.

I’ve ran across a text in the Bible where worldviews other than God’s POV are described as three types of non-Christians.

We see these worldviews played out in multiplied popular novels, movies, and television programs, as well as life in general and in politics.

How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?

(Proverbs 1:22 NIV)

 The simple naively think they can live any way they want without negative consequences.

 The mockers are the defiant and cynical freethinkers who see no place for God in their philosophies of life.

Fools is a term the Bible uses for those who reject the idea that there is a divine being and that such a being, if he does exist, has any interest in the affairs of humankind.

In many powerful stories we see a contrast of characters who have a Christian/loving worldview with characters who embody, overcome, or suffer defeat with a secular/selfish worldview. Scarlet O’Hara and Melanie in Gone with the Wind come to mind. The contrast is what makes the story and the characters unforgettable.

How would you define Christian fiction? How important is worldview? What stories, books, movies, television programs come to your mind that exemplify various worldviews? We look forward to your comments.

Next Time Part 3: How Alive or Well Is Christian Fiction?

Elva Cobb Martin is president of the South Carolina Chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is a former school teacher and a graduate of Anderson University and Erskine College. Decision, Charisma, and Home Life have published her articles. She is currently polishing her second novel, an historical inspirational romance. A mother finally promoted to grandmother, Elva and her husband Dwayne, and a mini-dachshund Lucy reside in Anderson, South Carolina. Connect with her on her web site www.elvamartin.com, on Twitter @Elvacobbmartin and on Face book.