Keep Calm and Write On…The Writer's Life

To begin again…

I'm sure, since I haven't posted in quite some time now, some of you think that perhaps I have quit writing altogether. I have written since my last post, but admittedly, very little. I don't know that I can even say what has been holding me back, but I do know that I must begin again. God has called me to write, and I cannot quit.

Quitting is just not an option. But instead of stubbornly saying, "I won't quit", I choose to say, " I will persevere in this call to write!"

The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong won't. - Henry Ward Beecher

It helps to know that there are those in my life who believe that God has given me this charge and this gift to write.  I want to thank you for encouraging me to step fully into this calling. You know who you are. 

And yet, I still...

• struggle to call myself a writer.
• struggle with the writing process.
• struggle to step into this calling.
• struggle with the question, 'Am I equipped for this?' 
• struggle with the fact that, yes, sometimes writing is just hard work!

"Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something that this thing must be attained."  - Marie Curie

I am in agreement with this quote by Marie Curie in that I do believe I am gifted for this writing journey…therefore I cannot just quit. I must press on. But my confidence comes in knowing that, because God has called me to this, He will provide the means, the strength, and the way to make it happen. Frankly, I am relieved to know that I don't have to rely on my own strength in this endeavor.  

It would seem that most writers have struggled with doubts about who they are and even seem reluctant to say, "I am a writer."  There is comfort in knowing that I am not alone in my struggle.  Here is just a sampling of quotes I have collected from successful writers who understand the struggle.

Every Writer I know has trouble writing. -Joseph Heller, author

I am irritated by my own writing. I am like a violinist whose ear is true, but whose fingers refuse to reproduce precisely the sound he hears within.- Gustave Flaubert

Writing is easy; all you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until the drops of blood form on your forehead. -Gene Fowler 

Prose is architecture, not interior decoration. - Ernest Hemingway 

I can't write five words but that I change seven. - Dorothy Parker

And then there's the quote from Jerry B. Jenkins, of Left Behind fame. In his book to writers, Writing For The Soul, he was asked the question, "Why write if you don't like writing?"

It's not that I hate going to the keyboard, but I put it off, dreading the encounter, especially getting started. Then the story draws me in, and I'm off and running. I don't know anyone who sits at the computer with a grin thinking, This is the most fun I've had all day. I'd rather do this than play.  

 That's me! I put it off. The getting started part…yeah…I get it. It's like there is this invisible force field around the keys of my computer holding me off. It's like…do-do-do-do...There is a fifth dimension, beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call the Twilight Zone  Writing Zone.  That's it! Thank you, Rod Serling!! 

Created with Keep-Calm-O-Matic, Gay Idle

But seriously…there are so many other things I have on the to-do list. Even the laundry is calling my name…wooing me away from the keyboard. What?!! I don't even enjoy doing laundry! Who does?    

But here's the thing. I am a writer. I have made the decision to pursue this writing life. The pursuit of anything worthwhile is often fraught with obstacles along the path. But I am committed to this path, so write I must!

I believe this writing gig to be one of the instruments through which God will fulfill the greater calling He has placed on my life.



When God calls us to something, it never means the road will be an easy one. (Tweet this). But I know that with surrender to Him comes peace and joy. And that, my friends, will be worth all the struggle! 

What about you? Have you been called to something that seems insurmountable? I'd love to hear what you are doing to overcome the obstacles. Join in the discussion in the comment section below. 

"Now to Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us,"

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Write…Giving Wings to the Words of My Heart

The Dance...

Words dance on the screen as my fingers tap away at the keyboard.

The words form as the synapses fire away in my brain, pouring out onto the page.

Much like the motion of the dancer as the music dictates the direction of her flowing body.

Others join in the dance, feeling the rhythm and flow of the dancer's soul...

The Song...

Heart, head, and fingers intermingle, spilling out onto the page.

Melodious words flowing from fingertips and floating into the fathomless space.

The resulting sweet sound…heard by heart

... resonating within the soul of the 'hearer'. 

The Arrow…

Words in my head are like arrows in the quiver. 

Arrows are not meant to remain in the quiver…that safe place where nothing can come against it.

An arrow, and so our words, are to be released into the world. 

Soaring straight for its intended target. Accompanied by a prayer for grace. Intent upon impact. 

The impact reverberating throughout space and time.

Forever leaving its mark on the world. 

…and so I write.

The words of the mouth are deep waters, 

but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.~Proverbs 18:4

You might also like this related post...One Word…Write



I'm linking up with Lisa-Jo and the Five Minute Friday writers. Join us…

Hop over to Five Minute Friday and find out what it's all about. Better yet…join the fun!!

Write! That's All He Said...Five Minute Friday

Oh how I have missed my Five Minute Friday's. I've been traveling and busy working on two different book launch teams and have neglected this activity that has become a discipline...the catalyst to get my fingers to the keyboard and spill words out onto the page from the depths of my heart. All based on one word...just one word from Lisa-Jo and hundreds of bloggers all over the country and beyond get their creative thinking caps on and type for five minutes(or longer...as is usually the case with me), whatever comes to mind based on that one word.

I've been so overwhelmingly busy with...well...LIFE, that I thought I might not do another FMF post until late October or maybe even November. Then I happened onto Lisa-Jo's post for today, and the word prompt was WRITE.  This word has a very special meaning to me so I could not ignore it this week and WRITE I must!

So here goes...
 Write

Go...

As I have shared in a previous post, God gave me a word in 2008. Yes...I heard one, single, solitary word. Over and over and over...in as close to being a real hear-it-out-loud voice as I have ever heard. I knew that this was God's voice telling me to write. I just had no idea what it was He wanted me to write. Here is the entry in my journal around the time I was hearing this from God...

February 3, 2008
Write. Write…Write! This one word has been playing over and over to me for weeks now, maybe even months. Almost audibly. I hear the word. I believe god is telling me to write. I have shared this with Rod, Lyndsay, and my ladies bible study. Now I feel accountable, but I still don't know WHAT I am supposed to write. 

 And here is a little of what was going on in my mind at this time…

Ok God...I get it! I'm supposed to write, but could you clue me in on exactly what I'm supposed to write about.? Oh yeah...and I'm not exactly a writer ...sooooo, I'm gonna need a little help here. I'm scared. What if I write the wrong thing or worse yet, what if it stinks?  What if I write something and nobody reads it? Or they read it and hate it?  Is this supposed to be a book or a project?  My testimony? I'm not ready to share all of my life with the world.  Our son Brad had just experienced his second traumatic brain incident and we were in the process of going with him through all of the speech, occupational and physical therapies. Was I supposed to write about that?  It was all still too real and raw to share with the world at large. No...not that...not yet.  

So...I began to journal, somewhat sporadically. I figured if God wanted me to write I needed to walk in obedience to His voice and write...something...anything, until He gave me something a little more concrete with which to work. Then in October of that year I began this blog. It was a very slow process as I had no idea what I was doing. I am a sporadic blogger...not good in the blogging world.  You don't build a better blog unless you actually...blog. 

God has brought me a long way from that day in February of 2008. Sometimes God gives us a 'word' or a vision but it might be years before it is ready to be set into place...to see it come to fruition.(Click to tweet)  Look how long it took Joseph to step into his calling! You can read about all he had to go through to be ready to be the instrument God used to save his nation and the lives of his own brothers who had left him for dead so many years before (1 Samuel 17:51). 

God uses all those things in our lives...the good, the bad and the ugly to work out His good and perfect will in our lives when we are walking in the path He has set before us. Even when we have no idea where that path might lead or even what it will look like.  When He says go...go. When He says do...do! When He says WRITE...I'm going to write!

Since hearing that word from God...WRITE...I have had the privilege of being a contributing writer in two books. The first one you can find on my sidebar...Bloom Where You're Planted by Anne Milam. The second book's working title is, God Must Think I'm Superwoman: The High Calling of Parenting Your Child with Special Needs, Westbow Publishing. That book is at the editor's as I write this...and the chapter that I wrote for that book is what I believe God called me to write so many years ago.  I believe that, because the enemy has been working hard to deter the process of it's publishing. 

 I continue to write because I believe God has called me to this thing. I will probably never be  a well known writer but I'm okay with that because I believe God will use the words that He has given me to further the work of His kingdom here on earth. I believe He has and will continue to use me to encourage, enlighten and engage my readers in seeing every part of the culture and world in which we live through the lens and filter of God's Word. And that is enough for me! 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. 

                                                                                       Romans 8:28

Now it's your turn...

1. Write for 5 minutes flat - no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.

2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. 

Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community...