The Catalyst of Your Story

Why do you write?

Are your stories really that important? They're just fiction, right?

Who do you write for anyway? Seems a self-centered task when you get so much joy out of writing stories from your head. Are you really writing for God...or are you just writing for you?

You may never get published...isn't it a waste of time?

I ask myself these questions often. And when I do, I tiptoe along the edge of doubt, scared that I will fall into a realization that this dream is simply a fabrication of my heart--an exciting way to convince myself that I am doing something bigger with my life than vacuuming and cooking dinner.

Up until last week, I fumbled in the dark, searching for light on God's truth in my calling. I struggled to commit to the hoped-for answers to the above questions.

On Flickr by Leucippus

      And then...

I discovered that writing really isn't my calling after all.

I sat in a workshop, exhausted from networking, trying to ignore the what-ifs of a writer's conference, and listened to a vibrant Karen Ball pour forth her wisdom:

There is one calling in life: "To reflect Christ to a broken world. "

 And a writer's task is to fulfill that calling by writing.

Wow. This really takes the writing and puts it in it's rightful place...as a means to get to Christ.

With this humbling perspective on our craft, literary agent, Karen Ball, facilitated discussion with one question more eloquent than the ones I pondered above....

What's your catalyst?

She opened the mic to the many authors in the room, and I heard fabulous stories about their catalysts which spurred their stories. I searched myself, allowing Karen's explanation to scare away the darkness of not knowing, and welcoming a wash of light in my very core.

She had explained that a Christian writer's catalyst is nothing less than God-inspired. That at the very core of Christian writers who have been given the task to write to fulfill our Great Calling, is God using a story that is uniquely their own. If God is at your core, then His whisper is your catalyst for your stories. You cannot simply walk away from that, but you must be a good steward of your passion initiated by God...AND WRITE!

On Flickr by ErinKPhoto

Tears poured down my face when the wash of light became a bright shine in my core, revealing my very catalyst for writing.

Ok. I'll share.

 Having grown up in a rich cultural heritage, one that can be all-consuming, defining not only my favorite foods and precious traditions, but also defining God within the realm of the culture, I finally had to break free and find God outside of the cultural box. A process over several years of searching and heart-ache and self-discovery.

And you know what? Every single one of my stories--no matter if they are set in Texas or Utah, the Amazon or Germany--illustrate a culture and a piercing through the boundaries of that culture with a universal truth about God.

My catalyst is finding God regardless of culture or man-made boundaries. I always knew I wrote about cultures for a reason, and I attributed it to my involvement in women's ministry and outreach. But I didn't realize it went further than that. I hadn't made it personal, until Karen made me search for it.

God has been inspiring specific stories based uniquely on me, without my knowledge of His reason, until now. How uniquely Him to work without my understanding, right?

The definition of catalyst is: In Chemistry, a substance that causes or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected. (from dictionary.com)

Think of the Holy Spirit as that substance...He is never affected, never changing...but causes or accelerates a reaction in the spirit of man.

On Flickr by Velo Steve

God is working through us, to gain reaction. God is breathing His everlasting, never- changing truth in our stories to cause a spiritual reaction in the reader...or even in ourselves. He stirs up passion within us, that accelerates our stories to reflect Christ to a broken world...our very calling.

In the workshop, we also focused on that passion which comes from our catalyst. Karen spurred on conversation among the group, and came up with these points:

• Passion to write should never come before our Family and Scripture. 

• Be leery of things that kill passion: Shame, expectations, guilt, worry, fear, busyness, discouragement (and stay in the Scriptures to combat these things!)

• Nurture that passion to grow in a God-ordained way: Spend time with like-minded people, read, get away from writing when you need to, worship.

Search yourself. Discover your own catalyst. Seek the very reason God has accelerated your story to change lives of those around you. And kindle that passion. God can use your writing in many ways: before, during, and after publishing. He may choose to use it to reach a large readership, or put it in front of an editor who might need your words to cross their desk--an example pointed out by Karen. There are endless ways God will use your words.

 Above all else, know that the very reason you formed those words in the first place is for Him. 

So. What's your catalyst?
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Angie Dicken first began writing fiction as a creative outlet during the monotonous days of diapers and temper tantrums. She is passionate to impress God's love on women regardless of their background or belief. This desire serves as a catalyst for Angie's fiction, which weaves salvation and grace themes across cultures. She is an ACFW member and CEO of a family of six.

 

 

On Being Mentored: Re-engaging Readers

Have you heard a speaker, read a book, watched a TV show or movie, or heard a song that stayed in your mind for days, even months later?  


A year later something sparked the memory and kindled a replay of your favorite portions? 

My response usually is: hum the tune, laugh out loud, or quote story lines--all of which solicit strange looks from those around me who haven't a clue why I physically responded. Hence the question from them, "What are you doing?"

I could melt back into my cubical, embarrassed, OR 


At this point--this golden moment--I could tell them what  bounced through my memory.

Unknowingly, I have become a sales person for the book, movie, et.al. 

I don't mind.  


Actually, I'm quite happy when a person asks, "What book are you talking about?" because I can influence them to read something I enjoyed.

An important step to quality writing is:  hook the reader.  True.  So true. BUT a hook is simply not good enough to keep a reader.

A hook invites the reader to, say, step aboard the boat.

The first page, back cover and front cover convinces the reader to stay in the boat for at least a moment or two.

Chapter one escorts them to the best seats.

The next chapters convince the reader not to jump overboard, instead focus on the spectacular view as the boat is cast off.

Remaining chapters entertain the reader on the journey. Inviting readers to sit next to a character through storm and gale, car accident, lost love, raid, Christmas dinner, etc

The last page safely escorts the reader back to the shore.

NOW what? Close the book? Let it collect dust? No! 


This is a crucial moment. Has the story begun to replay in the reader's mind?

A year from now will the hook pop in the reader's mind? (probably not)

--but a story line such as, "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." (from Princess Bride) is sure to spark the memory of the movie and call for more scenes to replay. Perhaps the person might say the line out loud or unintentionally flash their invisible sword. Caught by a curious co-worker or friend questions are asked until they too become engaged in a replay of the story.

What causes whole stories to replay in our minds?

Karen Ball taught a class at the ACFW conference this year. Her humor definitely was the hook. But great jokes alone wouldn't cause her students to replay the messages she wanted to deliver. 

Karen gave a short opener (saturated with great humor), asked exciting questions that forced the audience to come on board to hear her topic, moved about the room as she spoke (actively relating to her audience), called up a panel of experts to validate and share their journeys, (each with a humorous flare), asked more leading questions to keep the audience involved, and then wrapped up with an exciting conclusion, of course, soaked in jokes. No one wanted to leave. 

Then it happened--the crucial moment! 


After her class the words instantly replayed in my mind. I told my roommates about the class. I told new people I met in the halls about the class. The words replayed again the next day--and now two weeks later have replayed in my mind again and so I'm telling YOU. 


I have become a salesperson. Most likely one year from now I will recall the message from the Seat of the Pants class when information about the ACFW conference pops in my mailbox. I'll hope to take another class with Karen and bring a bigger pad of paper for notes.

My job is not simply to hook readers, or tell a great story, BUT to entice the reader to sit in the boat next to the characters, to become their shadow as they move about the boat and to experience their journey. 

Then-- 
the reader will re-engage themselves

 when something from their environment sparks a memory, 

and will replay the story in their mind, 

to experience the journey again.

And now while editing this post one last time, I remembered this same method was/is used by Jesus. He hooks his listeners, invites us to come on board to hear His Story, to sit next to Peter, Paul, etc, become their shadow as they move about the boat, experience their journey, and then tell others as we remember and relive.


What books have you relived in your thoughts?
What books caused you to spill enthusiasm to others?
How can you help your reader walk in the shadow of your characters? 

ACFW - Post conference tips

Hey guys,
Pepper here - and I just got in from the airport at almost midnight, so I cannot promise my words are gonna make a lot of sense this morning.

Needless to say, ACFW was a blast! Exhausting, overwhelming at times, inspiring almost all the time - but definitely a blast!

As people return home from such a high, I wanted to remind us of five important tips AFTER a conference like this:

1. It is well with your soul - It's often the case that after such a great experience, we come back and 'crash'. When you're around such like-minded and like-spirited people, it's easy to feel a rush of encouragement and support....then we return to our 'normal' lives and things can feel a little less exciting.

Or perhaps the conference didn't fulfill the dreams you'd been hoping for.

Remember, there is a perfect time and season for your talent to bloom. God's call, God's timing - our perseverance.

2. Be faithful - If you received requests, SEND THEM IN. Now, editors and agents don't expect them by tomorrow. Polish, refine...and give yourself a little bit of time - but try to get them in within a month of the conference. 'Showing up' is 3/4 of the success.

3. Rejoice in all things - Giving up your time, energy, and money to go to conference makes quite an impression on the people there. They realize it's no small feat to come. So rejoice in the contacts you made. Meeting people is my FAVORITE part!!!!! Especially getting to meet the Alley Cats and RUTH LOGAN HERNE!!! There are so many things to celebrate! Seekers, Alley friends (waving to them now), and SO MANY MORE!!!  We can rejoice in the encouragement we recieved, in the power behind the Word that we heard, spoke, and sang.

Nothing is too small - and as Jenny B Jones said in her devotional. God says "You got nothin'? I can work with that." - so He takes our small and makes it great for His glory. That's certainly worth celebrating.

4. Be thankful - Don't forget the 'thank you' notes. Whether by snail mail or email, get those out! And not only in material form, but ask God to cultivate a heart of gratitude in you (and me). The more we see every aspect of our lives as handpicked by a loving Father - the easier it is to be thankful. I've GOTTA get mine in the mail. I met marvelous people like Julie Gwin from B & H, Karen Ball, Sandra Bishop, Allen Arnold, Tamela Hancock Murray, Amanda Luedeke, Jeff Gerke AND SO MANY MORE, not to mention my fellow writers - who just encouraged me along the way. It's time to visit Hallmark ;-)

5. Friendships are the spine of any conference - Do not forget that at the bottom of it all, a writer's conference helps us develop lasting friendships. What a blessing to show up somewhere once a year and find kindred spirits - not only those who encourage your for a weekend in September - but friendships that spill over into days, months, and years afterwards. That is the heartbeat of a CHRISTIAN writer's conference because whether those opportunities come from writers, agents, or editors, it's all about cultivating relationships.

And rooming with crazy people like Casey Herringshaw, Mary Vee, and Carol Moncado...well...there are stories that will NEVER be told there ;-)

Not all relationships will end in a 'dream come true' as far as publishing, but God provided the opportunitiy for you to meet each person that you did!
My conference experience was a total SUCCESS because of the relationships I built, deepened, and celebrated at ACFW.

I'll share more about ACFW in my next post - but as you come down from the heights of the conference, remember that God has you  right where He wants you to be and He rejoices over you.

Next time? Maybe I'll write about Post Traumatic Pitch Disorder :-) My friend Karen and I thought we might be suffering from it. (And I'll have MANY MORE Pictures - some you can check out at Words Seasoned With Salt tomorrow)

Any tips you want to share?