Me? Contribute to a Writers’ Blog?

It’s been eight years since I dove into National Novel Writing Month (Nanowrimo). Since that time, I’ve published short stories, contributed to blog posts, and created my own website. I’ve written seven books—each one a little more polished than the previous as I learn the craft. But I still feel new to this business of writing.

During the first ACFW-IN meetings I ever attended in 2013, one of the officers voiced a plea for writers to contribute to the Hoosier Ink blog. No way, I thought. I’m too inexperienced. I’m not published. What could I possibly contribute?

This year, I became one of the officers! It was kind of expected that I should contribute to Hoosier Ink. I thought, I’m still too inexperienced. I’m barely published. What can I contribute? Others in this organization know far more than I do.

Notice the difference in the italics above. While I may question my worth to the organization, no way, is no longer part of my vocabulary.

God directs us in every stage of our development. With the talents He’s given me, I’ve been obedient to teach school, lead worship in church, and direct a nonprofit agency. Currently, I’m a writer. He has walked beside me in life, guiding me in the roles of  daughter, sister, wife, mom, and now grandma.

I become a blessing to others as I depend on Him. Since He has sent me on this roller coaster adventure of writing, I’ve discovered that I can create a blog post out of any slice-of-life episode and offer Light to readers. Not only that, I can take the same blog post and relate it in such a way as to create a completely different article and use it somewhere else, offering another ray of Light.

For example, I wrote a spiritual metaphor, Wound Therapy, on my personal blog. I compared the medical steps taken in cleansing and repairing deep puncture wounds to God’s ministrations when we are deeply wounded in spirit. How could I relate Wound Therapy to a post for writers in Hoosier Ink? No problem! Within the Wound Therapy post is the message to writers that anything can be used to communicate Truth.

Truth? Why I just completed a third article on the concept of Truth for another blog! See how this goes?

Those of you who feel you have little to contribute, rethink your possibilities. You are members of ACFW. God directs your lives in a thousand different ways from mine. He’s taught you lessons that you could pass along to me and others. 

Hoosier Ink has several blog post openings throughout the month. We don’t feel pressure to fill every slot for thirty days a month, but two or three times a week would be nice. If you’re a beginner like I am, committing to a monthly post is fantastic practice. I’ve gained a lot of confidence and a bit more skill. If you are way beyond my experience in the writing life, we need your wisdom.

Like a dog nosing her sleepy puppies to get up and move, the Holy Spirit had been nudging me toward writing for Hoosier Ink for a year or more before I obeyed.

Maybe God is already prompting you toward contributing more of your talent via this blog site.

If He is, may you be   quicker to obey than I was! Be a blessing. Let your Light shine.

Linda Sammaritan writes realistic fiction, mostly for kids ages ten to fourteen. She is currently working on a middle grade trilogy, World Without Sound, based on her own experiences growing up with a deaf sister.

Linda had always figured she’d teach middle-graders until school authorities presented her with a retirement wheelchair at the overripe age of eighty-five. However, God changed those plans when He gave her a growing passion for writing fiction. In May of 2016, she blew goodbye kisses to her students and dedicated her work hours to learning the craft. She still visits the school and teaches creative writing workshops.

Where Linda can be found on the web: 

www.lindasammaritan.com

 www.scriblerians.com

 www.thescriblerians.wordpress.com

 www.puttingonthenew.

 www.facebook.com/lindasammaritan 

 www.twitter.com/LindaSammaritan