Variety is the Spice of Life

                                                                                   

All of you together are the one body of Christ, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it.

1 Corinthians 12:27 TLB

I sit among six tables of gourmet popcorn, salivating at their tantalizing scents. Our Missions Team did a fundraiser and today I got the bags grouped for pickup and distribution.

I’m thinking about how the flavors of popcorn relate to writing, and how variety is necessary to fill up all the appetites of readers. Some like Cinnamon Candy Apple. Some prefer Parmesan Garlic. Others might seek out Snickerdoodle or Kettle Corn, while some play it safe with Movie Theater or Cheddar.* It’s a good thing a lot of people are sharing their words in order to satiate the audience. And the flavor of the day may not be the big seller tomorrow – we all need options!

Exercise:

1. Respond to someone who says, “There’s nothing left to write – everything’s already been said.”
2. Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-7. What is the goal of the gifts we’ve been given? (1 Corinthians 12:7)
3. Look at 1 Corinthians 12:8-11. What are the various ways we express these gifts through the written word?
4. Sift through 1 Corinthians 12:12-25. What are two goals for believers? (1 Corinthians 12:25)
5. Look in The Writer’s Market. List ten different types of articles to submit.
6. Pick one of those categories and jot down four angles to approach your subject.
7. Take one angle and write a paragraph to expand on it.
8. Go back to The Writer’s Market and look at the guidelines. Does your paragraph lend itself to one predominantly? Format it to their specifications. Add illustrations and examples.
9. Let it rest.
10. Edit and submit.

Let’s have a popcorn party and celebrate your work.

Pop some popcorn and let it remind you that you are an essential part of the body of writers. The words you use reflect the One you follow and impart “wise counsel, clear understanding, simple trust, healing the sick, miraculous acts, proclamation, distinguishing between spirits, tongues, (and) interpretation of tongues.” (1 Corinthians 12:8-10 MSG)

Your perspective is needed and helps us navigate life.

Did I mention popcorn is my comfort food? May the words you send out to your audience be seasoned with comfort and grace.

What flavor do you add to the world of words?

Reference:

*Flavors mentioned with thanks to What’s Poppin, NY!

Over 140 of Sally Ferguson’s devotionals have been published in Pathways to God (Warner Press). She’s also written for Light From The Word, Chautauqua Mirror, Just Between Us, Adult Span Curriculum, Thriving Family, Upgrade with Dawn and ezinearticles.com. Prose Contest Winner at 2017 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference.

Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.

Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.

Visit Sally’s blog at sallyferguson.net