Following a Dream

Yesterday I actually began the writing journey. I wrote about a half page and continued with my characterization planning. My hope is to finish work on my characters this week and be able to start full-time writing by next week.

I came across this quote in a book I am currently reading. It's taken from Maid to Match by Deeanne Gist.

                        "This is your dream. Your chance. You mustn't squander it."

I am choosing to follow my dream and calling to become a writer. I choose not to squander the gift that God has given me. I choose to take that chance.

God Confidence vs. Self-Confidence

I have a confession to make. I have been dragging my heels when it comes to actually jumping in and starting to write my novel about lighthouses. I don't know exactly why. I still am very excited about it, and I know that it is something that God is calling me to do. There are many ideas rolling around in my head, just waiting to be put down on paper. But somehow between the desire and knowledge that this is God's will of me, fear and self-doubt have stepped in and taken root.

I have been praying about it, trying to move forward. This week I have chosen to devote to put the housework on hold, and work on my writing. I find it easy to get distracted with email, or researching ACFW, or other blogs and websites. It becomes hard to discipline myself.

I wondered if it was a struggle with self-confidence, something I deal with from time to time. Do I still have what it takes to write Christian fiction? Even though I have the main idea of the direction for my book, I have been unable to actually get started. It isn't so much writer's block as fear of taking that first step.

This morning in my devotions I read a chapter in Marlene Bagnull's Write His Answer - Encouragement for Christian Writers. She said, "If a crisis of confidence is holding you back from the work you know you have been called to do, it's time to acknowledge that it's not self-confidence you need, but God-confidence."

So today, I am choosing to walk in God-confidence when it comes to my writing.

"This is my work, and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29 - TLB)

"I am with you; that is all you need. My power shows up best in weak people." (2 Corinthians 12:9 - TLB)

"When I am weak, then I am strong - the less I have, the more I depend on him." (2 Corinthians 12:10 - TLB)

"Stir into flame the strength and boldness that is in you." (2 Timothy 1:6 - TLB)


Today in Our Daily Bread (June 29, 2010) it had this quote. "We are Christ's "letters of recommendation" to all who read our lives. My prayer is that God uses my writing to be His letter of recommendation so that others see Him through the words I write.

A Place to Write

It has taken a lot of work, but I finally have an area set aside for my writing. With the advent of branching out in regards to my writing, my husband and I decided that it is important for me to have a specific space for accomplishing these goals. Somewhere that I am able to spread things out and don't need to keep packing it up when it's time for a meal. In other words, a place other than the kitchen table, which is where I had been writing.

This week my husband and I have been working heavily on cleaning up the house and attic. We have had a dumpster for the week, which had been used for the old shingles and boards from having our roof replaced last weekend. There was still plenty of room left in the dumpster so we were encouraged to fill it up as much as possible. My husband worked on sorting through the attic. I worked on things in the house, in particular a computer desk we have in our dining room.

I now have all my writing books transferred to its shelves, as well as a couple lighthouse figurines that I was given. I hung scriptures to inspire and encourage me. I have framed photos of the lighthouse where my book is set, that a dear friend had made for me. So now all I need is the inspiration and time to start writing. I can hardly wait.

Gotta Write

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky. 

     "The Love of God" by Frederick M. Lehman, 1917

I was impressed by this portion of the song, "The Love of God" when we sang it in our church on Sunday morning. God continues to stir in me the desire to write the story that He has placed in my heart - to share it with those I meet. I pray too that I live it out in my day to day life as well.

I am so enjoying reading a new book entitled Love on a Dime by Cara Lynn James. It is set in 1899 and the main heroine is a writer of 'dime novels' (as they were once called). It fascinates me to read a story where the main character is a writer. Lilly Westbrook has a desire to follow God by being faithful in her writing career. So too is the cry of my heart - faithfully following God by writing for Him.

Characters on the Move

Do you remember the line from Chronicles of Narnia, "Aslan is on the move." I guess that line is on my mind since last night my husband and I saw the new movie trailer for Voyage of the Dawn Treader which will be out in theaters in December of this year. Aslan in definitely a memorable character, and a key ingredient within each of the stories.

My writing time has been a bit more sporadic this week than I had hoped it would be. However, I did have one good afternoon where I was able to sit down and further plan out my heroine. She still is a bit two-dimensional, and not fully discovered as of yet, but she is getting closer to living and breathing (so to speak).

In the process of figuring out details of this heroine, I realized details from her parent's lives that have helped to shape and mold her. Their lives are intertwined. I am excited to see what will play out in the days ahead.

I Am a Writer!

"Be strong and courageous and get to work. Don't be frightened by the size of the task, for the Lord my God is with you; he will not forsake you. He will see to it that everything is finished correctly." 1 Chronicles 28:20 TLB

I have very slowly been working my way through a Bible study for writers entitled Write His Answer by Marlene Bagnull. The above scripture was part of the devotional I read this morning. It spoke to me on several levels. King David said them to his son Solomon, as he gave him the blueprints for building God's temple. Perhaps Solomon was feeling overwhelmed by the mantle that his father was placing on his young shoulders.

I recently have started fully embracing the idea that I am a writer. It is something that has been a part of me for many, many years. It is just who God made me. I admit that I am often excited about the prospects before me, but also at times afraid.  Questions and uncertainties can plague me from time to time. But I choose to rest in the words of this verse - to be strong, courageous, and unafraid. I trust God to work in my writing and to use it for His purposes. May I be faithful in following Him in all areas of my life. 

Story Weaver

I continue to be captivated with the idea of being a story weaver. So many people enjoy hearing, reading, seeing, learning about a good story. It seems that God has designed in us the desire to enjoy and be touched by stories. Jesus continually told stories to those he met each day. As I faithfully pursue the call of God on my life to write His story, I look forward to the stories that he desires for me to weave and share with others.