Chapter 2 of my novel, Jesus of the Mississippi, is finally completed. HURRAH! It's Miller time.

No, I'm just kidding. I don't drink. I can't afford it. Anyways, one of the biggest problems I had with this particular chapter (besides the lack of time to actually write it) was figuring out how to develop the Jesus character. This chapter was heavy on dialogue, which is one of my favorite ways to develop a character. Rather then just having a third person, me, tell the reader what the character's motives are, I can let the character himself speak to the reader through dialogue.

But the question that dogged me was what would he say to a crooked televangelist like Leo Rogers, whom he meets. Since the Jesus character is a symbol of eternal goodness and Rogers is a symbol of human evil, I created this little list of comparisons between the two men.

Jesus:
1. Always finds something good about everybody, no matter how bad the person is.
2. Does not fear anything, even pain or death.
3. Rather then criticize, he questions people about everything until the point of sheer annoyance. Kind of like Socrates.
4. Always finds the good, no matter how bad the situation.
5. Hates material wealth.
6. Never brags about his achievements.
7. Never curses.
8. He is what he is. Never puts up a front.

Leo Rogers
1. Always finds the worst in people, no matter how good they are.
2. Fears things he does not understand, like feminism and liberalism.
3. Quick to criticize people.
4. Very pessimistic.
5. Loves material wealth.
6. Loves to boast about himself.
7. Always curses.
8. Good on television. Bad in real life.

With this list of characteristics on my mind, it was very easy for me to write up a three-page conversation between these men. Conflict is one of the best elements of dialogue, and when you have contrasting characteristics written down, then you can easily use you imagination to how the two conflicting characters would argue with each other.

I'm leaving for now. Be back in 10 years when I finally finish Chapter 3.