Sometimes You've Got to Be Brave

Last week, the Boy Scouts of America announced they were considering an end to their ban on gay scouts and leaders.  Later, they delayed making a decision on the topic until their national meeting in May.

As a long time supporter of gay rights, (and actually LGBTQIA rights-a newer term inclusive of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Questioning, Intersex and asexual people), this story caught my interest. Although controversial, It seems obvious to me that this antiquated policy should be put to rest.

After all, according to scouting.org the Scout Law is:

A Scout is:

Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful,

Friendly, Courteous, Kind,

Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty,

Brave, Clean, Reverent

When BSA teaches boys to be trustworthy and loyal, shouldn't those values apply to how they treat themselves? Shouldn't they be expected to be honest about who they are (or who their parents are) without fearing retribution from an organization that enforces those values?

See, there's another reason I am interested in this story.  In March, I will release the fourth book in The Soulkeepers Series which includes an important character who happens to be gay. When the plot line, which began in Weaving Destiny and continued through Return to Eden, came to fruition in an early draft of Soul Catcher, some people in my life warned me that the book could alienate a portion of my fan base. The world of the Soulkeepers is based on Christian mythology and, in fact, when I introduced Ethan in Return to Eden, I did get a few comments by readers who weren't happy I'd added a gay Soulkeeper even in a minor role.

I considered the feedback, considered changing the story as I had imagined it, or stopping the series after the third book, but in the end, I couldn't do it. The more I thought about Soul Catcher, the more I knew in my heart that the book wasn't about my character being gay, it was about my character being human. The Soulkeepers has always been about self-acceptance, tolerance, forgiveness, redemption--human qualities that bubble to the surface when a diverse group of teens have to fight for their lives in the battle between good and evil.

Writing the story I envisioned took bravery.  I had to follow my heart. I had to be true to my art and to myself. But isn't that what LGBT teens have to do on a daily basis?

I sincerely hope BSA makes the inclusive choice. It might be easier to maintain the status quo but  doing what's right is rarely the same as doing what's easy.

Sometimes you've got to be brave.

__________________

G.P. Ching is the author of The Soulkeepers Series, The Grounded Trilogy, and a variety of short fiction. She specializes in cross-genre paranormal stories, loves old cemeteries, and enjoys a good ghost tour. She lives in central Illinois with her husband, two children, a brittany spaniel named Riptide Jack, and a very demanding guinea pig. 

Indie Writer Resolutions for 2013

Happy New Year everyone. Here's wishing you the best in 2013!  

As 2012 comes to an end, I find myself thinking about the coming year. I don't know about you, but I expect great things from myself and my characters in 2013. To reach my personal goals, I've developed these top ten writing-life resolutions. 

10. I will write every day. (And editing does NOT count as writing)

9. I will not obsess over shiny new ideas before completing tried and true, almost finished novels.

8. I will not check sales figures more than once a day for any reason.

7. I will believe in myself and my writing.

6. I will allow myself time to read for pleasure.

5. I will give myself permission to write a crappy first draft and then further permission to rewrite that story as many times as needed. 

4. I will not be pressured to release a book before I believe it to be perfect and worthy of my fans.

3. I will continue to be thankful, every day, for every fan.

2. I will back up every version of my documents early and often in an organized way that makes them easy to recover.

1. I will try something new and stretch out of my comfort zone.

How will you turbo charge your Indie writing life in the new year? What are your resolutions?  

__________________

G.P. Ching is the author of The Soulkeepers Series, The Grounded Trilogy, and a variety of short fiction. She specializes in cross-genre paranormal stories, loves old cemeteries, and enjoys a good ghost tour. She lives in central Illinois with her husband, two children, a brittany spaniel named Riptide Jack and a very demanding guinea pig.