Forgiveness For Authors and their Stories

If this is your first time participating in these Active Engagement Prompts. Please read more about them here.

Forgiveness is a powerful tool. I have learned that unforgiveness is a poison that will hurt you from the inside out. Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself to let go of the past. If something is holding you back, you can’t move forward to do what God has called you to do.

Unforgiveness is tricky. It can hide in you and you wouldn’t even know about it. You need the Holy Spirit to reveal it to you. Which is why your daily time with the Lord is important. If you see hate, anger, contempt, jealousy, bitterness for someone in your heart, it’s a good sign that you need to forgive. (Galatians 5:19-21, Galatians 6:7 ) Read more here…

In this prompt, I want you to think about forgiveness in a different way. I want to show you how unforgiveness can hide in abstract ways.

Have you ever been disappointed at the plot or ending in a Book, Series, Movie, or Comic? What about poor decisions the character(s) has made? Has the ending or the plot of the story disappointed you so much that you vowed never to think, talk, or mention such story again?

Have Fun! Be Creative!

Questions to think about?

Think about what the Word has to say about forgiving and letting go. Did the Holy Spirit whisper something in your heart about your situation?
What is it about these decisions the writers or executives made that ruined your experience and enjoyment of the story or the world they have created?
Are you still able to enjoy the story knowing what you know?
Did you learn the reasons behind their decision?
If so, what were the internal or external reasons for their decisions? For example:
- Internal: Plot or story related.
- External: Casting, or executives interference.
Have you forgiven all involved? Why or why not?
Do you see a need to forgive?
Dig deeper. Explore why this story and this fictional world means so much to you. Why does this fictional character mean so much to you? What does it say about you? Can you connect parallels of the story, plot, character to your life or someone you know?
Did you feel the writers and executives betray the character, plot, or narrative?
Do you feel a character betrayed you?
Did you feel the narrative or plot deviated from its established lore? (The narrative or plot did not make sense base on what I know of this story.)

If you find while writing your entry, the Holy Spirit is leading you to personal issues, then write about that. Write what is on your heart. Write where God leads you? God might be trying to tell you something.

What is God trying to reveal to you?
What does the Word of God have to say about the situation you are writing about?

Remember, your entry is for you. And you don’t have to share any of it. So, when writing, don’t try to write base on what people are going to read. If you want to share it, only share the parts you want.

Optional choices

Maybe you don’t hold unforgiveness towards the show for a decision the writers chose. Maybe you just dislike the ending or the direction of the plot. Or the decisions the characters made. Write about that.

What story is it? Is it from a Book, Series, Movie, or Comic, Etc.
Did a character make a decision that shock you? Do you feel betrayed by their actions?
Do the choices the character make agree with the established lore? Or what you understand about them?
Why do you dislike the choices made?
How could the story, plot, or narrative have been better? Remember the writers are the authors. It was their choice. (For the most part)
Did their choices feel like a betrayal to you or the fans?

Remember, the writers and authors (for the most part) are the ones that write what happens within the story. And you should respect the authors’ choices. Sometimes, networks, force the writers to make changes to the story. Maybe to be fresh, or because of other reasons?

Do you agree or disagree with this?
Are there exceptions?
Do you think network interference or money played a roll in the changes to the story?

Has there been a premise in a story that provokes anger? Or has a social injustice. Or controversial subject? If you have an idea other than those above, just substitute it below.

What is the story about? Is it from a Book, Series, Movie, or Comic, Etc.
What ideas, premises, or concepts does the story have?
What social injustices or controversial subjects are in these stories?
How does the narrative address these social injustices or controversial subjects?
What is your opinion about how the social injustices or controversial subjects are perceived in the story by the characters, the government, and the public?
In what way (or how) does the narrative handle or deal with the social injustices or controversial subjects.
What is the message the author(s) are trying to tell?
How does the concepts in the story make you feel? Do you agree or disagree?
Are the good guys or the bad guys, right? Do they have a point? Maybe their views are twisted?
Are there different ways the bad or good guys can handle and solve their issues, concerns or problems? Is there a different solution?
Do you agree or disagree with the ideas presented in the story?
What does God and the bible say about it?