Grab a Cup of Coffee

Today was an interesting day on my writing journey. I realized yesterday that I've been writing too much for other people lately. This sounds contradictory, since writers are supposed to write for readers, but it makes sense, really. What I'm trying to say is that I'm such a people pleaser sometimes that I was having trouble getting anything written because I was so worried about people liking it. I wanted my critique group to enjoy it so much that I was afraid to just let go and write for fear that it wouldn't be good enough.

Then I was reminded that I started writing as a way to tell myself a story. I remembered how much I used to enjoy sitting on the couch with a notebook when I was a teenager and just writing, writing, writing. There was no pressure then. There were just ideas and empty time and pages to be filled. I loved writing and it wasn't something I had to put on my to-do list.

I think it's good that I'm maturing in my writing. I think it's good that I'm trying to slow down and pay attention to how each scene advances the plot. I also think that I should remember that this started out as something fun. I think God will be more glorified by it if I enjoy being creative and reflecting His image with my creativity.

So go grab a cup of coffee, your computer, or maybe even a notebook for old times sake. Get your chapter's basic plot in your head and then tell yourself a story. Write for fun. You'll be surprised at how much more natural your story sounds when you're enjoying it. =)

Overflowing Lessons

Isn't it amazing how God teaches you lessons sometimes that go right along with what you're writing? My last post about "being a firefly" has been a theme in my life lately, and it's something my main character is dealing with as well.

I love that God can teach me something that will overflow into my story. I realized at this year's ACFW conference that if I try to manufacture a story with Spiritual elements, it will sound manufactured. I have to let what God is doing in my own life spill over into the story.

Besides the firefly issue, I've also been learning a lot about what God's forgiveness really means. It's so easy for me to talk about how God forgives completely and people should be given second, third, fourth, and fifth chances, but sometimes it's hard to put into practice. Sometimes cynicism gets in the way. How senseless it would be for warriors in a battle to "shoot their own wounded". How often do I do that with other Christians while I claim to be trying to be realistic? I should be incredibly hopeful in what Christ can do in other people's lives. He changed mine, after all.

I can't wait to see how this ends up in my manuscript. =) Know what I mean?

Being a Firefly

Something I've been learning lately is the importance of living my faith among *gasp* other Christians. It seems at times like it's easy to have different life standards than those around us who aren't believers, because we can use our relationship with Jesus as an explanation for how we live. With other Christians, though it's different. There are those who agree with us. They're not the ones who challenge us. It's the Christians who think that certain things that we disagree with are acceptable. It's difficult sometimes to be bold in our convictions when another Christian does not share them and may even think they're silly. You know those verses about being a light in the darkness? Well, this is where being a "firefly" comes in.

You can't really see fireflies in the daytime, you know.

And even though they're gorgeous in the dark...

We need fireflies to shine brightly in the purple dusk, too.