Tag: calling to write

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Guest Posts

A Rookie’s Best Advice

In the short time since I published my first book (10/10/2020), I’ve been asked many times what advice I would give to those with a book idea of their own. Although this rookie is happy to answer what I can about the mechanics and business of being a writer, I would only be telling a half-truth if I stopped there. 

Over the last 6 years that I’ve been attending my local writer’s and mastermind groups, poking around conferences and expos, taking e-courses, dog-earing craft books, listening to podcasts, and “friend-stalking” the authors I want to be like when I grow up, I’ve learned a great deal. But stretch me as those things have, that learning curve is slight compared to the foundational education that I believe someone whom God calls to pick up a pen must acquire. 

Am I referring to a college degree? No- don’t have one; nor did I go to Bible School. I haven’t held an official staff position (paid or volunteer) at my church. I’ve never even taught a Sunday School class or led a small group. But when it comes to being an author, I don’t suffer for a second from “Imposter Syndrome”. Here’s why: 

I believe that in order to have words worthy of writing down, you must first authentically learn them through life experience. Persevering through the trials, failures, and heartaches that come our way equip us with wisdom worth writing about. And hang with me; I’m not referring to non-fiction writers alone. This is coming from the author of a children’s picture book. Fiction can be one of the greatest ways to impart truth. The Author of Life was, is, and forever will be the greatest storyteller of all time. Jesus Christ himself taught through parables and stories. 

Through his words and deeds, he equipped us to be overcomers, then sent the Holy Spirit to counsel us along our way. And like anything worthwhile, I am convinced that the journey of becoming an effective writer (one who is doing Kingdom work, producing fruit that will last) starts at His feet. And what drives us there more effectively than trials?

I write fables. My debut book illustrates what it looks like to love the difficult people in your life. And although it’s catchy and cute, I’m told that it can preach- But honestly, to no one more than myself. 

What I didn’t expect was the way in which I would be tested on my own words through the process of publishing this book. I’ll have a more definitive opinion down the publishing road, but I have a hunch that perhaps this is the reality of the author journey. How often I have been exhorted by the words of the little woodland creatures in this series! Simple truths, much easier taught than lived out, require the work of the Holy Spirit in our yielded lives.

So whether or not you have a degree, business experience, an impressive platform, or are just getting started—f you have a desire to write, here is my best advice:

First, practically speaking, be patient. Avoiding embarrassing or costly mistakes. Having a professional product in the end is worth the investment of your time and dollars. 

Next, silence the voice that questions your ability or whether or not you “qualify” to be an author. God never chooses those whom we would view as the obvious pick now does he?

Finally, sit humbly at his feet and gain a heart of wisdom as you negotiate your own set of trials and victories. What he is teaching you, though often through a painful process, is likely the reason the desire to write has been planted within you. 

Listen for His voice if you want to find yours. Then write. Write for the joy of it. Write because it makes you laugh, or cry, or feel inspired. Most of all, write because when you do, you feel the unparalleled warmth of his smile.

Shelleen Weaver is a poet, former Miss Teen of Pennsylvania, a singer/songwriter/recording artist of the CRW # 1 hit song, Enraptured, a speaker, wife, and mom. And completely, utterly, a child at heart. She’s the author of Love Bird, the first of the Fruit Fables series, which grew out of the bedtime stories and original lullabies she told and sang to her children when they were young. Shelleen lives with her husband and three children in gorgeous Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. More at ShelleenWeaver.com

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Devotions for Writers

Confidence in Your Call

devotions

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

Luke 1:26-27 NIV

I’ve often wondered at the disparity between Mary’s response to the angel, Gabriel, and Zechariah’s (husband of Mary’s relative, Elizabeth). Both were approached by Gabriel, both seemingly gave the same answer, yet they experienced vastly different results. Let’s take a closer look.

Mary was troubled. (Luke 1:26-38)

  • The angel said, “Do not be afraid. Give Him the name Jesus.”
  • Mary said, “How will this be?”
  • Gabriel confirmed it by announcing Elizabeth’s pregnancy (which was also a miracle).
  • Mary said, “I am willing.”

Zechariah was gripped with fear. (Luke 1:5-25)

  • The angel said, “Do not be afraid. Name him John. Give him no wine or fermented drink.”
  • Zechariah said, “How can I be sure of this?”
  • Gabriel said, “You didn’t believe and so will be silent.”

Same angel. Two distinct outcomes.

Have you ever noticed a lack of faith in your calling also steals your words? You stare at the blank page and doubt every positive feedback you ever received. However, when you have confidence in your call, the words flow onto the page. Maybe the discrepancy between Mary and Zechariah wasn’t in the words they used, but in their attitude:

Mary believed. Luke 1:45

Zechariah doubted. Luke 1:20

How can you take stock in your call to write?

Exercise:

  1. Remember Who is doing the calling. If it’s a whim, it will fall by the wayside. If it’s the Lord, it won’t leave you alone.
  2. Remember why you were called. Do you have a burden for a special group of people? Do you have life experiences and passion that affirm it?
  3. Remember the nudge. Did a passage of scripture, a poem or an article confirm it? Write it down. Keep it handy for reference.

Look back at the stories of Mary and Zechariah. They both are noted for prophesying, but the metamorphosis surrounds when it happened. For Mary, it was before The Babe was born, and for Zechariah, it was after. Let’s choose to step out in faith that the Lord will deliver on His promise and birth a new work in our lives. Find your confidence in the One who calls you.

Will you believe or will you doubt?

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 www.sallyferguson.net

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Guest Posts

Finding a Deeper Purpose as a Writer

I’m wondering about what motivates people to start writing. After all, it’s not the easiest thing to do, and more often than not, it doesn’t pay all that well. But some people tend to have this innate love for the language that permeates their whole life. 

I’m endlessly fascinated by etymology, word choice, exotic idioms, and how language serves as source code for reality and how we use it to explore our inner and outer worlds. But is there anything besides playing around with linguistic concepts or enjoying a masterfully crafted novel?

What is the deeper purpose that motivates you to do what you do? If you feel there is none, it’s high time to start looking for it. 

It’s not only about projects and deadlines (and money)

It’s easy to get lured into the chamber of words with its promise of independence, remote work, and completing exciting projects. However, once you start writing, you realize that even though you enjoy what you do, there are a lot of tasks you do purely for the monetary gain.

Then there are nagging deadlines that push you to get your work done in a timely fashion. I’m not against paying your bills or submitting work on time, but I think it’s much better to treat writing not as a job, but rather as a calling that you’re passionate about because it can change people’s lives.

What was the last thing you’ve read that completely shifted your mindset and pulled you in a different direction? Are you a source of this kind of prose for your readers? 

The impact you make doesn’t even have to be so momentous. Maybe you specialize in providing useful information on a specific topic, or your aim is to put a smile on someone’s face when they need it the most. Whatever it is, keep this guiding principle in mind when you sit down to write another page.

Why did you decide to become a writer in the first place?

It’s crucial to have a reason behind your writing efforts. As Nietzsche said, “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” This is absolutely true when applied to the writing life.

Why do you want to write? Does it serve as a means for accomplishing one of your major goals? Do you want to steer the political conversation in a different direction? Is there a cause that more people should know about? 

By tying the craft of writing to a deeper mission, you elevate yourself to a higher realm of meaning. Now it’s not only about smashing your quota, boosting traffic on your blog, or finding ways to increase your income. It’s about how you show up in the world and what kind of impact you want to make. 

This turns you into a much more powerful individual and lets you enjoy the process of writing so much more. Remember that it’s not about the destination or some kind of an accolade that you’re after. It’s about serving your readers and enjoying every step of the way. 

Look deep inside to add spice to your writing life

There are hidden depths to you that you rarely acknowledge or pay attention to. These hidden motivations nudge you in the right direction, but you choose to ignore them because that’s more comfortable. 

To get a better understanding of what you’re after, decide to sit down with a piece of paper and muse on things that give your life meaning. It might be something completely unrelated to your current writing projects, like chamber music, the medieval culture of Japan, or saving the oceans. These eclectic sources of inspiration give uniqueness to your writing style.  

Instead of trying to suppress them, it’s time to give voice to them. It’s time to live your life in a more conscious, passionate way and be grateful for every day you have. If you can make this shift in your mindset, your whole writing life will become more enjoyable. 

So take out your journal and think about ideas discussed in this post. They will help you find a deeper purpose as a writer.

Rafal Reyzer is a full-time blogger, freelance writer, and web content editor. He started RafalReyzer.com to provide readers with great tools and strategies they can use to achieve freedom from 9-5 through online creativity. His site is a useful source of knowledge for bloggers, publishers, content enthusiasts, and freelancers who want to start their own sites, become independent, earn more money, and create beautiful things.

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Guest Posts

The Comparison Trap: Eight Ways to Avoid It

Sometimes I look at the work of other authors and feel my abilities fall short. It doesn’t matter that God’s call is unmistakable, it’s still too easy to wonder if he can really use what I do. But it doesn’t matter if I am not as talented, or intelligent, or educated as other writers. God wants me to use what he’s given me for his purposes and the blessing of others.

Since you might struggle like I do, I’d like to share some steps you can take to avoid becoming ensnared by the dreaded comparison trap. 

Just Show Up: You win half the battle when you just sit yourself down before your computer or pad and pencil. “Lord, help me here. I feel dry and dull and I don’t know how to do this.” Then just dive in and start writing, no matter how terrible your efforts seem. The enemy of your soul likes nothing better than to discourage you and “just showing up” is an act of spiritual warfare.

Practice gratitude: The Lord is good and gives so many good things. Gratitude shifts your focus from the gift to the giver and opens your heart to receive more from him. Thank him for the gift he’s given you, for what he helps you to write, and the results that come from it. Gratitude is an act of worship. And just as importantly, thank the Lord for those other authors and what he’s given them.

Adjust your focus: It’s not about you. Keep your eyes on the Lord. If you worry about what you can produce, if you can impress, if people will like you or read what you’ve written, you’ve fallen into the pride trap. With a humble heart, offer up your gift and efforts to God, eager to see what he will do with them. 

Examine Your Priorities: What’s important to you will drive your life and your writing and decide their final outcomes. Success as a Christians writer depends on your greatest priority: intimate relationship and fellowship with your heavenly Father. That’s when the rivers of living water that Jesus promised can flow out of you through your writing to the spiritually thirsty. 

Look at the heart: As human beings, we are drawn to the outward appearance. It’s not about if you write as well as the next person but if your heart is lined up with God and his purposes. It’s when you are worried about producing or performing, trying to measure up, or “meet your quota” that writer’s block attacks.

Relinquish control and trust God: Your talents were never yours to begin with, so turn over the controls. God wants to use you and your writing to expand his kingdom. Ask him who your target audience should be and what and how he wants you to write to them. As you write with his help, ask the Holy Spirit to minister to the hearts of your readers. He can take just a few sentences from your article or a paragraph from your book and use it to change a life that will then touch others and echo through eternity.

Refine and grow your skills: Although it’s not about how talented or smart you are, working towards improving your skills is a necessity. Studies show it takes at least 10,000 hours of doing something to master it. Read books on writing, attend seminars and conferences, complete writing exercises designed to develop your proficiency. Network with and learn from other writers with more experience. Study the classics and see how those authors did it. 

Never give up: Someone once said that the one way to ensure something never happens is to give up. You are employing your talents for the Lord and for his kingdom, and he calls you to faithfulness. He never gives up on you so don’t you quit either. 

This is not about competition, about seeing who can be the most successful or productive. That’s the world’s mindset. It’s about joyfully working together to bring God glory. Falling prey to the comparison trap hinders your own creativity. But remembering it’s all about God and the needs of others will free you to be all he meant you to be as an individual and as an artist.

Cheryl Weber is located in beautiful Lancaster County PA and enjoys writing fiction, devotionals, and the occasional humor piece. She has ministered in a dozen different nations in missions and as staff of the School of Writing with Youth With a Mission. In the fall of 2017, she served as a journalist for a medical team working with YWAM Ship’s ministry in Papua New Guinea. Just a few of her stories from that trip can be found on her website at:  https://cheryllynneweber.com/cheryls-recent-adventures/

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My Writing Journey

Newbie with Some Credit

Where am I in my writing journey, you ask? Well, I’m a little more than two years into what I’ve called “re-entering” the writing world after a nearly ten year hiatus. And I’m happy to say that while I’ve still got a long way to go before I meet my biggest personal goals, I’ve made a lot more progress than I initially thought possible in this short time period.

I’ve become comfortable with my blog and Facebook writer page, despite the almost paralyzing trepidation and confusion I felt when I first realized I needed to make these things a reality. I post and engage regularly with readers and writers from all over the country and different parts of the world, and found that I enjoy doing these things much more than I ever thought I would. I’m also pleasantly surprised at how blogging and posting regularly has helped me maintain discipline as a writer. My handful of followers can always be counted on to give me a boost of confidence when I need it most, or help me out when I have questions that only other writers seem to know the answers to.

Highlights in my day include those emails with lists of open calls for submissions. I click on them excitedly, wondering what writing opportunities await and drumming up ideas as I scroll through the links. Knowing that there is a market for subjects I’m writing about – from mental health to genre fiction — keeps me encouraged. The favorite posts on my Facebook feed are those from writer pages posting similar opportunities or encouraging writers of all experience levels to share their work or boast about their good news or accomplishments.

Now I’m at the point where I actually have a few publishing credits to brag about, and each acceptance email or kind word from a reader is validation that tells me I’m on the right path. I can finally say with confidence that yes, I am good at something. I can thank someone for a compliment without feeling guilty or embarrassed. I can tell others I’m a writer without feeling like an imposter.

But the best part about writing is the opportunity to encourage others. When I write about mental health, I think about myself back in the days when I was experiencing full blown depression or anxiety, and I hope I can bring comfort and light to someone who may be experiencing the same thing. And when I share my writing milestones, I hope I’m encouraging other writers too.

Stacy Alderman has recently had her writing published by Heart and Humanity, HrStryBlg.com, and Hometown Odyssey. She has completed two correspondence courses with The Institute of Children’s Literature and self-published two novels in 2016. You can find her on Facebook and WordPress at Quirky, Confused, & Curvy.
When Stacy’s not writing or reading, she’s probably watching Penguins hockey or (thinking about) traveling. She lives with her husband and fur kid near Pittsburgh, PA.

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My Writing Journey

I Never Meant to Become a Writer

Once upon a time I was a frazzled mom of toddlers paging through a parenting magazine in a brief moment of solitude.  I ran across an ad for a correspondence course on writing for children and decided it was just what I needed to keep the gray matter active in between repeat episodes of Wee Sing tapes and readings of Goodnight Moon.

I was not one of those people who had been writing stories since I was three. I never dreamed of becoming a writer when I grew up. My favorite subjects were math and science, not English. I enrolled in the writing class for fun. That was all it was—or so I thought.

Working on the assignments I discovered that writing  touched something in my soul. I have always loved reading and making up stories in my head. Now I was seeing stories come to life on the page. By the time the class was over, I was hooked.

I dabbled in writing for the next fifteen years. A script here, a humor article there. I started a novel, but never got very far. Life kept getting in the way.

Fortunately I listened to my instructor’s advice and eventually found some critique partners that prodded me to write and dragged me off to a local writers’ group. I observed. I learned. I worked up the courage to be vulnerable and allow strangers to read my work.

But …

I considered writing to be no more than a hobby, and I did not consider myself to be a real, honest-to-goodness writer.

Eventually my youngest went off to college—which meant the seemingly unending stream of excuses for not getting around to writing had disappeared (along with a laptop, dorm-sized bedding, crates of clothes, and three guitars.)

Faced with this sudden shift in my reality, I decided it was time to get serious about my writing. I finished the manuscript I’d been puttering around with for years. Sent if off for professional feedback (yikes!), returned to the drawing board, and completely rewrote it. Since then I’ve completed a third and am working on a fourth.

Somewhere along the journey, I began calling myself a writer.

At first I felt like a pretender. Sure I was writing, but did that make me a writer? Doubt would creep in. Then I would hear the same encouraging message from the lips or keyboard of yet another writing professional:

If you write then you are a writer.

Even me, the math-nerd engineering major who never dreamed of writing.

Nowadays I am proud to call myself a writer. Because I have worked long and hard to hone my craft. Because I know how lonely and scary the road to becoming a serious writer can be. But mostly because I am surrounded by so many talented authors who are intentional about nurturing the love of writing in others. Like me.

I am a writer. Is it time you started calling yourself one, too?

Lisa E. Betz believes that everyone has a story to tell the world. She loves to encourage fellow writers to be intentional about their craft and courageous in sharing their words with others. Lisa shares her words through dramas, Bible studies, historical mysteries, and her blog about intentional living. You can find her on Facebook  LisaEBetzWriter and Twitter @LisaEBetz

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The Intentional Writer

Are You a Intentional Writer?

The intentional writer

Lots of people aspire to be writers. Not so many do the work to become one. The fact that you are visiting a writing website means you are serious enough to do something about your writing dream.

Good for you! Keep it up.

Writing, like any creative endeavor, can be a lonely, frustrating struggle. To move from daydreaming about being a writer to actually becoming one, you and I need to be intentional about what we do and why we do it.

Intentional: done with intention or on purpose; intended; deliberate

An intentional writer approaches writing with purpose

  • They know who they are in Christ.
  • They know writing is part of their calling .
  • They understand that they have a unique message and a unique voice—no matter how mundane the content or unglamorous the genre.
  • They ponder why they write and who they write for.
  • They choose to be courageous about putting their experiences and life-passions into words and then sharing those words with others.
  • They are wise stewards of their writing abilities, always learning, improving, and seeking new ways to share their words.

An intentional writer makes deliberate choices about things like:

  • Attitudes
  • Habits
  • Writing goals
  • How to spend their writing time
  • How they talk about themselves and their work
  • Every element of their craft, from overall theme to individual word choice.
  • When to follow the rules and when to break them
  • Pursuing critique partners who give helpful (and sometimes painful) feedback

An intentional writer knows success is not measured in dollars, fame, or total pages published.

  • They understand the ultimate goal of writing to honor God, whether that means writing an entertaining romance or a thought-provoking theology book.
  • They trust God to use their efforts to challenge, encourage, or otherwise touch people, wherever, whenever, and however he chooses.
  • They are generous with their writing and their knowledge, eager to encourage fellow writers.

Please don’t think this intentional stuff is way too serious for you.

Every aspiring writer can become an intentional writer. All it takes is a decision to be intentional about the how, why and what of your writing.

What one small step can you take to be more intentional about your writing today?

Lisa E. Betz believes that everyone has a story to tell the world. She loves to encourage fellow writers to be intentional about their craft and courageous in sharing their words with others. Lisa shares her words through dramas, Bible studies, historical mysteries, and her blog about intentional living. You can find her on Facebook  LisaEBetzWriter and Twitter @LisaEBetz

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Mastering Middle Grade

What a Retired Choir Director Taught Me About Writing

Do you ever sit in front of your keyboard, stare at the worn-out keys and wonder if anything you write will ever make a difference to anyone?

Sometimes I do.

I think everyone asks themselves this type of questions at some point. We all wonder if the tasks we do – whether related to writing or any role we play in life – will leave a lasting positive impression. We wonder whether we’re serving our purpose. 

These kinds of musings can anchor us down and drive worry, or they can inspire us to be the best we can be. I choose inspiration, so I want to tell you today about a recent celebration I was blessed to observe for someone who probably asked himself those very same questions.

We gathered in a small Oklahoma town to celebrate the 80th birthday of a man named Mr. Moore. Mr Moore taught choir for thirty years. Over those thirty years, he taught close to 900 students how to make music. My husband was one of them.

Music was Mr. Moore’s ministry, and through it, he taught his high schoolers life lessons. Some of the testimonials I heard over the weekend from my husband and his classmates included stories of Mr. Moore’s high expectations. He drove the kids to work hard because he believed excellence was within their grasp, if they would only reach for it. He taught them to have respect for themselves and others by demonstrating accountability for their mistakes. He played music for them, introducing their young ears to inspiring classical works from opera to spirituals to the Battle Hymn of the Republic. And He showed them how, with work and reverence, they could transform notes on a page into an expression of their souls.

From 1966 to 1996, this teacher taught 900 students in the public school system. A number of those students stayed in Oklahoma, but many of them left for destinations across the globe. Some of them went on to enjoy careers in music or music education, and sharing with the next generations what they’d learned from Mr. Moore. Those students reached an estimated audience of more than 42 million people.

Think about that.

Year by year, student by student, Mr. Moore planted little seeds of life in his classes that grew to reach 42 million souls. What started in 1966 as a small high school choir with 30 students became a legacy of love. At this reunion celebration, more than 600 of his former students returned to Oklahoma from around the country to celebrate him.

What does any of this have to do with writing for middle grade readers? I’ll tell you.

Sometimes sitting down to write is easy. The words flow, the critique groups are encouraging, and life is good. Right? But other times it’s difficult. Those times are when you wonder if anyone will ever read those words you wrestled to the page.

I’m not a betting person, but if I was, I’d wager Mr. Moore had similar types of days. I think there may have been rough moments when he wondered if any of his efforts mattered. Maybe he prayed for inspiration, guidance and wisdom before he walked into the classroom just like I pray for those same gifts before I touch the keyboard.

I guarantee you he didn’t teach because he expected a giant “thank you” party twenty-some odd years after his retirement. He taught music because he was called to teach it. He was faithful each day and was blessed to see some of the fruit of his efforts many years later.

We may think that we are shouting our words into the wind and that our efforts have little or no consequence. But even if only one person ever reads our work, that one person carries a piece of it with them to share with others. That can mushroom into a legacy you never dreamed possible. Just ask Mr. Moore.

Kell McKinney earned a B.A. in journalism from the University of Oklahoma and an M.S. in documentary studies from the University of North Texas. She’s a part-time copywriter, double-time mom and wife, and spends every free minute writing and/or hunting for her car keys. Connect with her on Twitter @Kell_McK or kellmckinney.com.

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Guest post archive

I Almost Quit Yesterday––Again by Carol Sparks

I quit writing about four times a year. Especially, when I look at the ages of my children, at the dust on our bookshelves, at the number of digits on our bank statement, and at my neighbors’ needs. It’s easy to think about how other people go hiking and watch TV shows. How they answer occupational questions easily. They enjoy regular paychecks. I wonder if I’ve confused enjoyment with calling, if fingers-tapping-keys is, for me, an avocation rather than an occupation.

It happened again yesterday. Funny, it doesn’t happen in the middle of hectic times. It happens when all is quiet. Quiet but desperate.

Desperate for…

  • financial security
  • earthly order through a clean house or an easy schedule
  • recognition—if not in the writing community then somewhere else.

Desperate for all sorts of things…except God.

You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land where there is no water.
-Psalm 63:1-2 NIV

One way or another, God highlights my derailed desperation in those times. Maybe it’s an encouraging comment on my blog, maybe it’s a pep-talk from my husband. Sometimes I read a verse like the one above. But often, it’s a scheduled writing time (that I don’t ignore).

Out of habit, obligation, pre-existing commitment…I don’t know why, but I sit down again. And here, in front of my computer, I meet God again.

I like a good praise chorus as much as anyone, but this—the fingers-tapping-keys—is where I worship most fully. With my Bible open on my left, I again read a section that’s been on my mind. I immerse myself in the Word then I put my words on the page in response; that’s worship.

I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.  -Psalm 63:3

Maybe the writer’s version would say, “Because your love is better than life, my written words will glorify you.”

If you think you might quit tomorrow…first, know you’re not alone. Then, try these two things before you close that laptop for good.

  1. Work toward worship. Dig into Scripture (Psalm 63 is a great place to start.) or turn on your favorite music. Read some poetry or go for a walk. Do whatever it takes for you, with your unique personality, to reconnect with the God Who called you to this work.

Worship is your truest work, what you were created to do. Worship is no avocation. Worship is the ultimate vocation of every Christ-follower.

  1. Reconnect with your calling. Sit down at the computer anyway. We are, after all, creatures of habit, and sometimes all it takes is the resumption of the habit. When I haven’t written anything in a couple of days, I begin to forget what it feels like, how it fuels me. If merely writing isn’t enough, put aside your current project and write the kind of piece that first drew you to writing.

I hadn’t ridden a bicycle in fourteen years when our family decided to ride the Creeper Trail near Abington, Virginia. I felt awkward trying out bikes in the rental shop, but when we strapped on our helmets and mounted those bikes at the top of the mountain, all the experience of riding flooded back into my hands and feet as well as my mind. I made the eleven-mile descent without wrecking once.

So sit back down at your computer. Write what you love to write even though you have no place to publish it. Let the experience flood back into your extremities and feel the exhilaration of doing something you were made to do! (Not that I was made to mountain bike. My analogy doesn’t go that far.)

When you lean into your calling, you’re practicing another kind of worship.

In those times when I feel desperate, I realize I’ve drifted away from mindful worship in the everyday rhythms of life, and it affects my writing more than anything else. Before I can face that looming deadline, I must face my Savior in worship. Only then does the commitment to writing return, and I know I won’t quit.

At least not today.

Bio.

Carole Sparks doesn’t spend as much time writing (or worshipping) as she would like. There’s this thing called “the rest of life”…maybe you know what she means. Still, you can catch up with her most days on Twitter or her blog.