This morning on the way to work, I heard a song on the radio that I'd heard before but never really paid much attention. I realized today that the point was, wherever you're at in life or whatever you're doing, as long as you're doing it for the Lord, then yes, it matters. It made me think about my writing.
For years, I have said that my main point is to use the talent God has given me. In my mind, using what He gave me and writing for Him were one in the same. And yet, I often felt a void anyway. I often felt as though what I was doing was pointless. I'd write and write and write and use my God-given talent, yet feel as though it was worthless because I didn't necessarily see it going anywhere. I didn't always see anybody who really cared or anyone who was touched by my words. So I'd complain to God and beg Him to show me where He wanted me to go with my writing. I'd always believed that since I was using my talent, that it meant I was writing for God. Therefore, the lack of direction was frustrating.
This morning, it hit me. There's a different between simply using my gift and using it for the Lord. A picture formed in my mind of a child creating a crude drawing with crayons just for her daddy. Running to him with the finished product, her face beams with pride as she presents her masterpiece of scribbles. And even if Daddy doesn't know what the picture is supposed to be, his heart swells with love and he adores the fact that his daughter has drawn something just for him. Have her efforts been in vain just because the masses will not see her artwork? Of course not! Was her usage of artistic expression pointless because she drew only for her Daddy and no one else? By no means! At the same time, would she have been honoring her Daddy if she had drawn a picture then threw it away because no one would care anyway? Of course not!
New light has been shed on my writing. Perhaps my focus was out of focus all along. Perhaps using a talent God gave me for others shouldn't have been the point. What I need to do is use the talent He gave me for Him. Period. If He so chooses to bless others with what I write, then so be it. But my satisfaction must come from simply knowing I have presented my best to God - not from how many people like what I wrote. Does that mean I shouldn't ever write for anyone else? No - I may still gain joy from seeing someone who is touched by my writing or someone who truly enjoys something I've written for them. But, more importantly, my writing is a part of me being a living sacrifice to God. Presenting my work to Him first and foremost is the only thing that will truly fulfill my desires.
7/15/11
6/16/11
Writing
Words are but puzzle pieces, shaken up, spread out, turned around and strewn across the table - the very essence of an impossible task. But when taking the time to lay out each piece with care, study it and set it in its proper place, a picture of beauty is soon revealed.
Writing is nothing more than creative placement of words, and nothing less than craftsmanship.
6/1/11
God's Pace
Over this past holiday weekend, I had three days to stay at home and not think about work. I had free time, I had nap time, I had time to spend outdoors in the gorgeous sunshine. And when Tuesday rolled around and I rolled out of bed, I found that I had not worked on any of my writing projects.
Without fail, this kind of "discovery" always brings with it a bit of guilt and disappointment. Where was my inspiration? Where was my enthusiasm? Motivation? Enjoyment? I live and breathe writing. Why couldn't I take that blessed free time and actually get some good writing done?
After I quit chiding myself, I realized that even though writing is a huge part of who I am, a vacation is sometimes required even from that. Some people may be blessed with the kind of brains that they can write and write and write every waking moment. Me? Not so much. When I'm inspired, I can write on and on and on, but when I'm not, I often come to a complete stop - or almost.
Once my guilt is out of the way, I'm able to think a little more clearly on the timing itself. What am I writing for? For whom am I writing? And for whose time frame? All pleasure aside, my goal is to write for God, since He's the one who gave me the talent and passion in the first place. So He is the "what" and "who." That in itself answers the third question, because if I'm writing for Him, then it's obviously His time frame, not mine.
I'm an impatient person, I'll admit. So when I have weekends like this past one, where I feel I have accomplished so little, I have to sit back and remember why I'm writing. God has a completely different time frame than I do. I can't even imagine what time must look to the Creator of the universe. That said, when He wants me to write, I have confidence that He will provide the inspiration to get it done. He won't sit there and let me feel guilty for falling behind or taking too long - He will prompt me and inspire me so that I can continue His work. Even the short stories, poems and fictional pieces that no one will ever see are counted because they, in themselves, provide inspiration or creativity for the bigger projects. God knows that. He knows what inspires me. And He also knows when I need a break.
I may not like taking breaks, and I may think I need to write every waking hour - but God knows better than I do. And when I go at His pace, the pieces fall together much more nicely.
Without fail, this kind of "discovery" always brings with it a bit of guilt and disappointment. Where was my inspiration? Where was my enthusiasm? Motivation? Enjoyment? I live and breathe writing. Why couldn't I take that blessed free time and actually get some good writing done?
After I quit chiding myself, I realized that even though writing is a huge part of who I am, a vacation is sometimes required even from that. Some people may be blessed with the kind of brains that they can write and write and write every waking moment. Me? Not so much. When I'm inspired, I can write on and on and on, but when I'm not, I often come to a complete stop - or almost.
Once my guilt is out of the way, I'm able to think a little more clearly on the timing itself. What am I writing for? For whom am I writing? And for whose time frame? All pleasure aside, my goal is to write for God, since He's the one who gave me the talent and passion in the first place. So He is the "what" and "who." That in itself answers the third question, because if I'm writing for Him, then it's obviously His time frame, not mine.
I'm an impatient person, I'll admit. So when I have weekends like this past one, where I feel I have accomplished so little, I have to sit back and remember why I'm writing. God has a completely different time frame than I do. I can't even imagine what time must look to the Creator of the universe. That said, when He wants me to write, I have confidence that He will provide the inspiration to get it done. He won't sit there and let me feel guilty for falling behind or taking too long - He will prompt me and inspire me so that I can continue His work. Even the short stories, poems and fictional pieces that no one will ever see are counted because they, in themselves, provide inspiration or creativity for the bigger projects. God knows that. He knows what inspires me. And He also knows when I need a break.
I may not like taking breaks, and I may think I need to write every waking hour - but God knows better than I do. And when I go at His pace, the pieces fall together much more nicely.
5/25/11
A Never-Ending Story
Something fun I started several years ago with a friend, was writing a blog of which she and I were both the authors. We had begun a story of sorts, from childhood, playing the roles of characters who had grand adventures. What started out as play times in our backyards developed into letters as we grew older and moved apart. Then, as we both spent more time on the computer, the letters became emails and the emails finally became our blog. Even now, as adults, we take turns, each writing the next segment(s) of our story, and each having our own set of characters to control. The grand adventure continues, and even though sometimes reality might be slightly stretched, the characters themselves are as real as they come... for they all reflect part of who she and I are.
As a writer, keeping up with that blog has been a wonderful exercise. Good character development is a must, if said character is going to continue through the story. Plot development is a must, if only to keep both my friend and I on the same page (no pun intended) as to what's happening with the story. The blog is a perfect place to practice different ways to bring in suspense, seeing if either she or I can follow the clues well enough to know what the other is planning, or if we end up completely surprised by the other's choice in turn of events. All of these things help sharpen my skills as a writer, and... I have an awful lot of fun, too.
Another thing that's great about the blog is that I never have to say goodbye to my characters. Because the story goes on, "The End" simply never happens. When I write a book, I fall in love with the characters. They take on lives of their own, and control the pages - sometimes I feel as though I'm just along for the ride. I love watching them grow, struggle, triumph and interact with each other. But in all my books, the final page always comes, and my beloved characters end up on the shelf - to be loved by others, for sure, but the end is always bittersweet for the writer.
In my friend's and my story blog, the characters live on. Oh, once in a while a character must be laid to rest, but never until we're good and ready to let go. As I write my books and see characters come and go, I always have that blog to fall back on and interact with others I love as well. At the risk of sounding corny, it's almost like a little haven where my writing imagination can not only soar to new heights, but it is a safe place where I can experiment and improve my skills without fear of public criticism.
If you're a writer who needs a creative boost, characters that never leave or new ways to experiment, try a story that never ends, whether by yourself or with a fellow writer. Don't let it be the only thing you write, but let it be that one safe place you can fall back on. It's fun, it keeps the creative juices flowing, and it can be as public or private as you want.
As a writer, keeping up with that blog has been a wonderful exercise. Good character development is a must, if said character is going to continue through the story. Plot development is a must, if only to keep both my friend and I on the same page (no pun intended) as to what's happening with the story. The blog is a perfect place to practice different ways to bring in suspense, seeing if either she or I can follow the clues well enough to know what the other is planning, or if we end up completely surprised by the other's choice in turn of events. All of these things help sharpen my skills as a writer, and... I have an awful lot of fun, too.
Another thing that's great about the blog is that I never have to say goodbye to my characters. Because the story goes on, "The End" simply never happens. When I write a book, I fall in love with the characters. They take on lives of their own, and control the pages - sometimes I feel as though I'm just along for the ride. I love watching them grow, struggle, triumph and interact with each other. But in all my books, the final page always comes, and my beloved characters end up on the shelf - to be loved by others, for sure, but the end is always bittersweet for the writer.
In my friend's and my story blog, the characters live on. Oh, once in a while a character must be laid to rest, but never until we're good and ready to let go. As I write my books and see characters come and go, I always have that blog to fall back on and interact with others I love as well. At the risk of sounding corny, it's almost like a little haven where my writing imagination can not only soar to new heights, but it is a safe place where I can experiment and improve my skills without fear of public criticism.
If you're a writer who needs a creative boost, characters that never leave or new ways to experiment, try a story that never ends, whether by yourself or with a fellow writer. Don't let it be the only thing you write, but let it be that one safe place you can fall back on. It's fun, it keeps the creative juices flowing, and it can be as public or private as you want.
5/22/11
Goals
So far this year, I've thought about goals more than any time else. Maybe it's because we often talk about goals at my Taekwondo classes and it's sometimes the theme of the month. Or maybe it's because my goals have shifted or changed directions lately. Still, goals have always been a difficult thing for me. For without a goal, I cannot fail. Yet without a goal, I lose forward momentum.
I think that's one of the things that has held me back in my writing as of late. Oh, I've still been writing and haven't come anywhere near to ceasing - but it has been much slower. My desire has been there but motivation has not. Ideas have been there, but the will has not. Perhaps it is not a lack of inspiration as I have blamed, but rather a lack of goals.
Recently, I sent out the first query letter in a very long time. It felt good. That one small act has motivated me to finish not only the work about which I queried, but other works too. The goal of having another book published has given me a fresh outlook, new ideas and enthusiasm.
Without goals, forward momentum ceases.
For me, goals can sometimes be intimidating. Sometimes it's easier not to have goals so that I'll never face the possibility of failure. But at the same time, if I never try, I'll never know how far I could have gone. The trick is knowing which goals are attainable and which goals should wait.
My goals for the near future are to finish three of my large writing projects. That is attainable. My next goal? To see them in print. Whether it's by a traditional publisher or self-publishing, that remains to be seen. But no matter, I am confident that I will see them in print if I maintain these two simple goals. After that? Who knows? But without these goals in mind, I'd never move forward.
I think that's one of the things that has held me back in my writing as of late. Oh, I've still been writing and haven't come anywhere near to ceasing - but it has been much slower. My desire has been there but motivation has not. Ideas have been there, but the will has not. Perhaps it is not a lack of inspiration as I have blamed, but rather a lack of goals.
Recently, I sent out the first query letter in a very long time. It felt good. That one small act has motivated me to finish not only the work about which I queried, but other works too. The goal of having another book published has given me a fresh outlook, new ideas and enthusiasm.
Without goals, forward momentum ceases.
For me, goals can sometimes be intimidating. Sometimes it's easier not to have goals so that I'll never face the possibility of failure. But at the same time, if I never try, I'll never know how far I could have gone. The trick is knowing which goals are attainable and which goals should wait.
My goals for the near future are to finish three of my large writing projects. That is attainable. My next goal? To see them in print. Whether it's by a traditional publisher or self-publishing, that remains to be seen. But no matter, I am confident that I will see them in print if I maintain these two simple goals. After that? Who knows? But without these goals in mind, I'd never move forward.
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