I Almost Quit Before I Started

This is not my intended blog. I had far greater expectations other than what I’m penning today. However, I feel the Lord is taking me in a different direction, and the blog I meant to post for today can wait until next month. Forgive me, if you think me preachy.

At the beginning of the year, physical problems prompted me to make the decision that I was not going to serve in leadership this year. “Enough is enough,” I told myself. “Dedicate yourself to writing and getting that book published. After all, isn’t that why God has brought you through years of preparation?”

Then, one of the other leadership members came under physical attack also then another. Reality hit hard. I knew I couldn't quit. It was at that point that I taped an Excel spreadsheet to my wall in my office that listed our ACFW Indiana chapter members. I taped it there so I would remember to pray daily for their needs.

The ingredient that most of us as writers put into our manuscripts is prayer. Our major goal is not to entertain although that has to be a huge component of what we do. We want to be instruments to spread the gospel with intricately woven messages that will draw the unbeliever to Christ and also to affirm the Christian in his or her walk.

I'm writing this entry on January 27. Reality hit hard again this week as we have learned that yet another Indiana writer is being attacked physically. This verse came to my mind. “Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs.” Psalm 84:5,6

Please remember to pray for your fellow Hoosier authors. Forgive my boldness, but I’m not asking you to only breathe a prayer (as we all do - nothing wrong with that) or grab God by the shirtsleeve as you’re running the hectic race (better to pray than not). I’m asking those of you who believe that Jesus is the healer (Jehovah Rapha) to put the writer’s pen down, focus in prayer in whatever way works for you, and battle for the physical well being of those we love in Indiana.

I almost quit before I started, but now I know why I didn’t.

Wishing You His Best,
Donna L. Rich ACFW Indiana President

Really, Why Do We Write?

Rick already posted on this topic as well, but this is more of a general take. Donald Maass asked this question a few years back in one of his classes and said that he'd not found a satisfactory answer. I've been mulling over it ever since then. The Edmund Hillary approach would be: well, because the words are there. But is that really it?

The question is really "what is the source of inspiration for ALL artists?" For me, the simple and straightforward answer is the Spirit of God...I think for non-believers though, the answer may be harder to comprehend. It seems to me that a major reason humans are inspired to create is that we were ourselves created. Sort of a round-about way of saying that God made us and intended that we would not only procreate but also create - goods, clothes, tools, homes, boats, paintings and stories. Unfortunately, we've also created our own gods, too.

It also struck me that God's preferred method of communication is the Word. Not to get into any discussion over graphe (written word) versus logos (wisdom/truth/etc)...but certainly the symbolism of Jesus as the Word is inescapable. Yes, God has communicated directly through the spoken word to many in history, but it is interesting that God then wrote it down. Certainly Moses could have remembered ten little rules and repeated them to the Israelites. But shortly thereafter, the Ten Commandments would have been something like this: 1. All paths lead to God so worship whatever god you want. 2. Idols are only a visible representation of an idea, so it's okay to bow down and worship them. 3. It's okay to use My Name in vain, I really didn't mean this one....

You get the point. God thought the Testimony so important that He inscribed the precious words Himself. And when Moses broke the first set, God kindly inscribed a second set as well. And does Scripture ever say that only the Ten Commandments were inscribed on the tablets? They were covered front and back per Exodus 32:15, and if you've ever seen an ancient potsherd or scroll, they could get an enormous amount of words in very small spaces!

God clearly values the written word. Words are indeed powerful, even in fiction. I never really thought "Christian fiction" was anything more than entertainment until I was doing the hair of another teenaged girl in my daughter's show choir. I was only half-listening to the general babble and banter until she told another girl to read Francine Rivers' books. Then she said, "I always supported abortion until I read Redeeming Love." Okay, I got the point then.

So write, because it's what we are supposed to do. "The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple." Ps. 119:130

And my our words always do just that.

Ronda Wells

Finding A Platform (And Other Arguments With Myself)

I recently read an article about the importance of having a platform and branding to attract a publisher and sell books. It had a lot of good things to say but this topic has always left me with a big question mark. I'm a fiction writer. I'm more of a jack-of-all trades than an expert at any one thing. This applies more to nonfiction authors, right? Someone who writes a book about finances has a built-in platform of financial expertise and can travel the country teaching people valuable lessons about managing money. But fiction authors write about all sorts of topics/themes and may not be an expert at any of them. In my first novel, Snow Angel, the theme is the classic redemption story of God's love. Duchess and the Dragon is finding your own faith and growing in that, Wind Dancer - spiritual warfare, Love's First Light - forgiveness and my latest book, Angel's Den, domestic violence. While writing and researching these books I learned a lot, but I don't feel qualified to get behind a microphone and claim to be an expert at any of these themes. (Never mind that pesky fear of public speaking). When it comes to branding myself and platforms I've always felt clueless. What am I an expert at? What knowledge or ability do I have that other people would like to learn?

It's at this point that many authors become writing coaches. I think this is great, and I try to help out aspiring authors as much as I can, but I don't think "teaching" is my gift. I function too much on gut instinct and don't know how to convey that as a teacher. What, if anything, do all my books have in common? Romance and history. I could build a platform around historical research and target history lovers. I've seen some pretty impressive websites that dive into world of the Regency period or have a Jane Austen look and feel but my books are set in different locations and time periods which would mean a separate website for each book. Not very practical and that narrows my playing field to history lovers. I've noticed that people either love history or couldn't care less.

Okay, what about romance? Love? Hook-ups? Hmmm. Now there is a huge topic and I am a big fan. When I look at the kinds of books/movies/TV shows I read and watch, I definitely find a lot of romance. And if I ask myself what my dream career would be second to writing, I think I would say matchmaker - that would be seriously fun! I love it when two people fall in love. Do I have a passion for romance and helping people find their mate? Yes! Yes, I do!

In asking myself a few questions, I have discovered a possible platform that I am really excited about. I'm not sure what it will look like yet, but my immediate response to articles on branding has gone from shoulder shrugging to an eagerness to start writing blog entries about finding love. That's a start and who knows where it might go from there? Sometimes we box ourselves in because we lack the faith and vision that God sees for us. In this area of finding my platform, that is exactly what I have been doing.

How about you? Are there any areas in your writing career that you've felt clueless about? Do you think fiction authors need a platform, branding, taglines, etc? I'm excited to hear your thoughts!

Jamie Carie

http://www.jamiecarie.com/

THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE

There are many Christian writers who have succeeded to reach a wide audience with weaving Biblical scripture and ideals throughout their wholesome novels. There are also many Christian writers who have successfully written mainstream novels from a Christian perspective, yet not so prominent in voicing spiritual issues.

I think most Christian writers would agree that both avenues are good and needed to reach the world today. One of my main concerns in writing fiction, is whether I am accomplishing God’s will through my writing or glorifying my own will. I often recite the saying of C.S. Lewis: “The World does not need more Christian writers, it needs more writers who are Christians.”

Three points to consider for writing as Christians:

The Lion—Be the Lion Writer who writes boldly and fiercely, not afraid of any obstacles (or adverbs) that comes in your path, but passionately keeping your eyes on the prize. The prize as being somebody in this world who is positively influenced by your writing and becomes a better person because of it.

The Witch—Don’t be devoured by the Witch, Satan, who wants you to think your writing isn’t good enough, Christian enough, or in vogue enough for one single person to read. Have enough faith to march on as a warrior for Christ and accomplish his mission for you while you’re on this earth.

The Wardrobe—Your writing is the Wardrobe, use guidance from God as your template for creating a beautiful Wardrobe. Anyone that reads your writing will have their own opinion of how your Wardrobe fits them. As long as you write with guidance from God (easily found through constant prayer), it will fit perfect on every reader. Some may think the Wardrobe you created fits horrible, but in God’s timing, it will fit them like comfy sweatpants after a big meal.

Marjorie DeVries

Get Physical

It’s January, which means it’s time to make new resolutions. Here’s mine: I’m going to get physical. That’s right. I’m going to get physical with my writing because according to Natalie Goldberg, writers have good figures and I want one!


Natalie Goldberg’s book, Writing Down the Bones, was recommended years ago by a writing buddy and it’s been my friend ever since. It’s one of those books I keep close by so I can reach for it when my writing tastes like stale bread. I smell its’ pages, pick a chapter (they’re all short) and focus on the lesson of that chapter. Reading this book has never failed to plunge my soul deeper into the minds of my characters so I feel, hear, smell and see their thoughts.

In Natalie’s chapter, “Writers Have Good Figures,” she says, “What people don’t realize is that writing is physical. It has to do with sight, smell, taste, feeling, with everything being alive and activated.”

I’ve heard many writing teachers recommend to get the story down first without stopping and then go back to edit the entire piece, bit by bit.

Here’s what Natalie says, “By not stopping you’ll physically break through your mental resistances and cut through the concept that writing is just about ideas and thinking. You are physically engaged with the pen, and your hand, connected to your arm, is pouring out the record of your senses. There is no separation between the mind and body; therefore, you can break through the mind barriers to writing through the physical act of writing, just as you can believe with your mind that that your hand won’t stop at the wood, so you can break a board in karate.”

Now I get it. If I stop every few sentences to add a comma, admire a phrase or add an action verb how can I stay focused on telling the story? Those interruptions will slow down the flow and diminish the energy which in turn will make my readers, well, I won’t have any readers.

This isn’t easy for me. I’m one of the worst offenders. I stop all the time to reread my work and chop, chop, chop before the story is finished. Heck, I cheat in my work out routine, too. I stop before the pain, fudge my repetitions and drool over the bag of chips in the pantry. But this year my goal is to let my writing energy flow without interruptions and hopefully I won’t feel the pain in making my daily quota and, when I succeed, I’m going to taste those chips in the pantry.

Natalie says that no matter how fat, thin, or flabby, writers have good figures because they’re always working out. “They are in tune, toned up, in rhythm with the hills, the highway, and can go for long stretches and many miles of paper. They move with grace in and out of many worlds.”

I believe her. I’m working toward that good figure right now. I’m headed for the hills swaying in rhythm to Jim Brickman’s song, “Devotion.” As I plod along to another world my fingers aren’t going to stop until I get there. So, the next time you see me, will you compliment me on my good writing figure?
Michelle Weidenbenner