Out of the Heart - Guarding Your Heart and Writing the Bigger Story

"But the words you speak come from the heart..." - Matthew 15:18 (NLT)

Lately, I've been feeling a bit weary when it comes to writing. I'll be honest. I still love it. It still fills me with hope and excitement and anticipation. But it feels me with other things do. Fear. Worry. Anxiety. My proposal is out there in the world right now, and while that should make my heart flitter with opportunity, it also scares me in a way I don't know that it's ever scared me before. After five years of writing and my fair share of "no's," I find myself braced for other sorts of possibilities... rejection. Even the feeling of failure. Not pretty things to talk about, but things all writers eventually deal with.

In addition to the fear that so often creeps into the writing life, our world is full of negative stories. All it takes is one glance at what's trending on your Facebook account or a few seconds of the news to hear all sorts of maddening things. Ebola. Terrorism. Kidnapping. All sorts of should-I-or-shouldn't-I scenarios begin to arise as we try to make decisions about what is safe and what is not, what is being overly cautious and what is necessary.

Too much time spent on social media can certainly exasperate this problem, can it not? I am a firm believer in standing in the gap for our friends and praying for one another's needs, let me be clear. But on the flip side, some people seem to use Facebook to exclusively share horrible news stories. After just a few minutes on Facebook, sometimes I find myself feeling burdened, depressed, or even a little panicky.

Why does this seem to happen to us so easily? And what is the answer? To go even further, how can this tendency affect our writing?

Photo by winnond, at freedigitalphotos.net

I believe that, as all youth pastors have at one point or another said, what goes in comes out. Put very simply, we feed our minds, hearts, and spirits every day. Some days-- perhaps most days-- we are not conscious about what we are feeding ourselves. But when we get that I-ate-too-much-ice-cream feeling after reading some shocking news story or imagining the worst possible scenario happening to our books, there is a reason for the feeling. We have fed ourselves the wrong things.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not suggesting we stick our heads in the sand and pretend the world is perfect. The world is far from perfect. We are far from perfect. People get sick and need healing. Jobs are lost sometimes. Evil people can seem to be so loud. And at times, the unexpected happens. We must be diligent and disciplined, compassionate and actively interceding for those around us.

But we were never called to fix the world. We were never called to be God. We were called to release our trust to Him.

How can we manage to do that when the world seems so very chaotic and maddening?

It's vital that we set boundaries in our lives and remain intentional about what we "feed" ourselves. Our thought lives, our imagination, and our hearts so readily stray from the goodness of God that we must pull ourselves back to Him, as a watering pail pulled from the bottom of the well. He is our living water. He is the answer, not only for our needs, but also for the needs of those in our world. But if we run 'round and 'round the well frantically with our hands atop our heads, we will never help anyone, including ourselves.

In practical terms, this may mean limiting Facebook time so you can spend more time reading the Bible, or watching only a few minutes of news per day. If you're a particularly creative person whose mind goes wild when you hear about health epidemics or terrorism, you may need to become especially diligent about cutting off your imagination before it breeds fear and panic.

Above all else, guard your heart. As Proverbs tell us, it is the wellspring of life.

The really cool part is, the mouth (or in our case, keyboard) speaks from what is in the heart. So if you're feeding your heart a bunch of awful stuff, it only makes sense you may find yourself struggling with your writing. But on the other hand, if you are filling your heart with living water, it's going to flow into your stories in a way only God can orchestrate.

If you want to write the kind of story that changes lives, first let God change your own. If you want your writing to be a ministry, recognize that means praying over your stories and future readers, and guarding your own heart. What is inside you will naturally flow out. And that's one of the coolest, highest callings of the writing life.

It is oh-so-easy to sit down at the computer drained, neglecting devotions and our prayer lives. But God has called us to so much more-- to create with Him from a pure heart.

I challenge you today to do something bold. Consider yourself a minister to your readers, even if you don't have any yet. Imagine what they'd look like if they were standing in your living room, in need of advice, encouragement, and maybe even a laugh. Would you offer them more than what you're doing now? Would it be worth protecting your heart for them?

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Ashley Clark writes romance with southern grace. She's dreamed of being a writer ever since the thumbprint-cookie-days of library story hour. Ashley has an M.A. in English and enjoys teaching literature courses at her local university. She's an active member of ACFW and runs their newcomer's loop. When she's not writing, Ashley's usually busy rescuing stray animals and finding charming new towns. You can find Ashley on her personal blog, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. She is represented by Karen Solem.

Writing with Thing 1 and Thing 2

There’s been a whole lot of talk lately about goals for the New Year, ‘words’ to plan our 2013, and new objectives to move forward in our writing careers.

And I have nothing but good things to say about planning, making goals, and sticking to them. In fact, there are plenty of times with other AlleyCats and unnamed Seekers have to offer me a swift kick in the pants to get back on track :-)

But underneath all the planning and projections, there are two little things called ‘motivation’ and ‘intention’ that provide a foundation for all of the above.

They're alot like Thing 1 and Thing 2 out of Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat J

These two ‘things’ drive our wild and wacky world of writing in one direction or the other.
They are the incentive behind our creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. One is our ‘drive’ and the other is our purpose.

To put it simply, one is the heart of our writing…and the other is the head J

And you can’t have one without the other.

So, what am I talking about here?

Why do you write?

When we evaluate our writing worlds, what is our Thing One and Thing Two?



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We all have them, whether we know it or not.  The two things that stir up our emotions and propel us forward with our stories - the pulse and purpose behind our novels.

What are your PRIMARY ones? Your main reasons? When you let your Thing One and Thing Two out of their boxes, what do you find?

There are several possible answers and none of them are wrong. I'm going to start with a few of the most "superficial" (which I do not mean in a negative way here), and then move to those that are hitting more at the core of who we are.

1.       If your motivation is to gain recognition, then your intention might be to write the next bestseller.

There is NOTHING wrong with either of these. Some writers write just for the sheer joy of seeing their names in print and holding their stories in the hands.  The prestige and attention associated with your name in print can be the catalyst to keep your writing more and more. But the 'next bestseller' will only last so long. Will this motivation or intention be enough to sustain you for the long haul?

2.       If your motivation is to entertain, then your intention might be to tell a good story and hone your craft.

       NOTHING wrong with this one either. Reading is a fabulous escape and can be a wonderful journey. And we all want to read books that are well written, but keep in mind that reviewers are not always friendly -and everyone has an opinion. Setting all your eggs in this basket can end in some big time disappointment and insecurity.

3.       If your motivation is to earn money, then your intention might be to write quickly and often.

       Again, nothing wrong with this one either. It’s called a job and serves a vital purpose. But remember, the majority of authors out there also hold some sort of second job, or have a working spouse, because there are few authors who are paid enough (or write at such a level of recognition) to solely write for a living.

However, I want to talk to you about two more 'things' we might not focus on as much. Two that I think really hits the mark for most of us who write with a Christian focus.

4.       If your motivation is out of sheer joy in the writing journey, then your intention is to…write.

       That’s all. You find deep and satisfying pleasure in storycrafting. But I believe this internal satisfaction comes from a much deeper place…

5.       If your motivation is to glorify God, then your intention will be to craft stories that point to Jesus in some way or other.

In all honesty, I think we are called to write. It’s more than just something we ‘want’ to do, but something God stirs within us in an indescribable sort of way. We find joy in the journey and we find our desire fueled by creativity, because of the work Christ is doing in our souls. We're compelled to share it in the way He's gifted us... writing.

When our Thing 1 and Thing 2 come from that perspective, our goals, plans, and objectives are clear. Our writing has the best motivation paired with the best purpose.

Why? Because the end-result goes beyond us and touches the core of other human beings. We're writing for the One, first and foremost, and that motivation and intention ripples out to others through our lives and the written word.

Have you ever noticed how Jesus transforms whoever he sets-his-mind out to meet?

His directness and influence change some rough fishermen into history-altering apostles, a adulteress-Samaritan into an amazed disciple, and a self-righteous murderer into a Word-wielding missionary. He left the blind seeing, the deaf hearing, the lame leaping, and the dead breathing. His sheer presence changed the dynamics of all those around him.

And His Spirit lives in US! Whoa.

So what happens when HE influences our stories? When His love penetrates the fabric of our tales and permeates throughout our characters’ lives? When his grace builds the binding of our books and beats at the heart of our stories’ themes?

http://www.goodfreephotos.com

Comfort.

Transformation.

Healing.

Faith.

Miracles???

And it doesn’t have to be super-obvious. In fact, some of the best moments happen in the everydayness of things.

Most of the time, in our real lives, people see Jesus in us when we don’t say a word, then they begin asking questions which leads to a discussion about our primary Calling..Jesus.
If our motivation is to glorify him through the joy of writing so that He will influence the readers through our stories, then…it will happen. Because our priorities are in order - and He finds pleasure in celebrating with His kids.

The recognition is nice. Entertainment is fun.  Earning money is certainly helpful.

But when it’s time to clean up at the end of your day, your year, or your life, what will matter most?

The story Christ is telling through you, because when his love is theme of your life, then it will automatically come out in your writing too.

And the possibilities of what He can do with our Thing 1 and Thing 2???

It’s out of this world J

So, what is your motivation for writing? Do you know what it is? If you have a Christian focus, how do you hope Christ is shown in your writing?

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Pepper Basham writes Blue Ridge Mountain Romance peppered with grace and humor. She's a pastor's wife, mom of five, and full-time speech-language pathologist who loves working with kids on the Autism Spectrum. She's constantly in search of more time in a day, a good laugh, a friendly hug, a piece of chocolate, great jazz, and a new story. She's stays in awe of God's goodness in calling her to write and His faith in her to be able to do it in the middle of her chaotic life. Obviously He has a whole lot more faith in her than she does. She lives in Tennessee with her family and monster-dog, Sampson.

Writing When It Hurts

Writing a novel is alot like the cliffs notes of a book.

All the important stuff - but in a condensed version.

There has been a lot of tough stuff going on for a lot of people lately, and I've been thinking about how our stories parallel life in so many ways.

As writers, we help people understand one of life’s basic truths.

They are not alone because bad stuff happens to everyone.

Whether in this century or the last, we could quote what the preacher said yesterday. “Manure happens.”

Definitely.

Was he talking about gardening? Cattle farming?

Nope – he was talking about ‘the fruit of the Spirit’.
Anyone else lost by that correlation?
 Let me explain:

Life is full of stuff- good, bad, amazing, horrible, shocking, transforming…stuff, but the stuff that has a tendency to ‘grow’ us the most, is the strategically placed trials God allows into our lives.
The manure, so to speak.
God cultivates kindness, goodness, gentleness, patience (I always cringe when I type that word) – through our suffering. We grow.

(The picture to the right is of quadraplegic, painter, singer, speaker and Christian author Joni Erekson Tada)

As writers, this news shouldn't surprise us. We throw manure at our characters from the first chapter to the last. Piles of it.
Why?
Conflict makes a good story, of course – but suffering builds character.

Trouble has a way of refining us, digging to our core and showing what we’re really made of and who it is we truly trust. And ya know what?

I’ve learned that it’s okay to ask why.
It’s okay to scream to heaven and wonder what He’s doing up there.
It’s okay to show your weaknesses, pout, and shudder from the fear of what might happen next.

God isn’t surprised by any of our reactions. He made us. He knows.

So the question isn’t really ‘why does bad stuff happen’, but ‘how do we grow from the bad stuff that does happen?”

Perspective changes everything. The lens through which we view our circumstances directs our thoughts, emotions, and reactions. Our POV, if you will.

I know we’ve shared a lot on this site about our dear Alley Cat, Krista, but her journey for the past year with her daughter, Annabelle, has been an example of perspective and faith. I’m sure she’d tell you that there were plenty of times when she felt like screaming to high heaven, when she questioned why, when her heart cried ‘how long’, but within the weak moments, God grew elements of strength that the rest of us may not have yet.

I don’t know how you deal with the bumps and bristles of life, but I’ve found comfort in the fact that there is purpose in them. When trials and hurts come into our lives, we usually respond in various ways. Here are a few of the positive ones:

1.       We slow down
2.       We reflect
3.       We gain perspective
4.       We find the light
5.       We grow from the moment

Besides the spiritual aspect of growing more like our Creator, we grow in other ways too. As writers, working through our own wounds, trials, and disappointments adds spine to our stories in ways other things never could.

I can assure you that the way I describe the emotions involving death is a lot different than before I lost one of my best friends in October (my grandmother)

But...I don't want or need to experience first-hand all the heartaches I put my poor characters through to write about them - I will say though, the deeper our pain, the deeper our growth, and from those deep wells of emotion we can write.

Great things usually come out of struggles. In fact, look at this nation! Today we celebrate Independence Day - a day carved in American history after years of conflict and pain.  Would we have a day like this to celebrate or be as proud Americans as we are, if we hadn't fought for this liberty? If it hadn't cost us something?

Writing can be great therapy. By putting our thoughts, feelings, wounds, and praises on paper, it slows us down so we can reflect on them. As Christians, it gives us time to gain a proper perspective and find the light of God’s grace in the middle of the pain. Out of our writing, reflection, and soul searching, we grow more like Jesus.

(And the best thing about it is that HE is with us all the way. He sends His hands and feet, through other Believers, to comfort us and give us strength)

Did you know that more writing time was spent on the last week of Christ’s life than any other part of the gospels? For example, the book of John is flying along chatper by chapter and then…boom – we slow down once Jesus rides into Jerusalem. The pacing is slower. There are more descriptives. God is drawing attention to an important part of the story, helping us experience it with the disciples.

It’s a powerful writing tool. When your character is struggling, emphasize the moment by slowing down the pace. If God used it, then it must be a good one J

What else do we learn from suffering and the Bible? Well, it’s what any good novel shows.  A main character struggling through adversity and growing from it in the end. The Bible is peppered with examples. Wounds, adversity, poor choices, calamity, persecution, temptation… for both heroes in the faith and the every day ‘women at the well’, there is a story of growth through pain.

Hmmm…..sounds like life.

Manure happens.
We grow from it – as people and as writers.

I wrote a poem after a miscarriage because conversations just weren’t powerful enough.
I started a novel born out of pain and it became a beautiful way for me to deal with a deep wound from my childhood. Cathartic.

If nothing ever happens from my words in print, it was enough to write them for my healing heart.

You see, if you haven’t figured it out by now – writing is more than just a hobby, it’s a calling. We take emotionless words on a page and bring them to life for broken hearts? And sometimes the reader who needs them the most, is the one who wrote them.

You are not alone. Your words are not empty.

Take up your pen….and write.

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pics courtesy of http://www.personal.psu.edu/set5099/blogs/english_202c_technical_writing/technical-description.html
http://alwaysnewmistakes.wordpress.com/2008/02/10/the-one-thing-every-entrepreneur-needs-to-have-hope/

Writing Through the Tough Seasons

Today's been one of those days.  Oh, I'm sure you know exactly what I mean.  In this case it involved missing kitties.  After finding them, we had to find the trail of...well, never mind...that they left around the house.  The dishes are overflowing the sink (and the counters).  My son put some food items into his diaper.  Everyone's been a bit on edge today.

We've all had those days.

On those days writing can be our refuge.  Or at worst we throw a few words on paper and call it a day.

But what about the other kinds of days.  These days last weeks or months.

disability
         job loss
                   grieving
                            an accident
                                           news that turns your world upside down.

The most difficult season of my own life was when my father died eight years ago.  I could go on and on about the spiritual lessons I have learned.  Yet I believe trials and deep losses can strengthen our writing in several ways.

1) Adds to the believability of your characters: 


Its no secret that the best fiction kicks it up a notch continually in terms of drama.  Each of our characters faces some sort of trial or loss.  As I go through difficult things, I believe it adds new dimensions to my characters as they go through losses.  The characters that stick with us have a depth that is only added to by what we go through in our own life.

Mary DeMuth has a series on her blog where readers share their "thin places" something Mary has done masterfully through her own novels.  Consider journaling at a personal level during these rough seasons and allow God to use it for something more.  The times when I am most real and vulnerable are often the times when God uses my writing the most.  In my brokenness, His strength is most revealed.

2) Gives us a greater understanding of our characters and a greater sympathy for their plight.


As you meet others down the road who have gone through similar circumstances, don't you find yourself feeling a closeness with them?  I am a private person, but when I hear about someone who is going through the death of a parent, I feel led to reach out and send them a note.

Empathy led to my current story idea as I sobbed my way through a documentary on those in a cult.  As we plummet the depths of our character's emotions, all the trials we have gone through can bubble up through the character as we empathize with their plight as a writer.  If we cannot feel deeply for our character's struggles, who will?

3) Trials leave us famished in our own flesh.  These times cause us to crawl on our knees to the God who sees all.  They leave us with a gnawing hunger to feast on God's every word.  


As he fills us as only He can through these difficult seasons, we have more to pour out for our brothers and sisters.  This overflows into our fiction allowing our words to be used to minister to someone else's heart.

Have you ever read a book where the words seemed to leap off the page?  You felt that it was written just for you, to encourage, to teach, to convict?


In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  Though you have not seen Him, you love Him.  Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. -1 Peter 1:6-9 (ESV)  


Do you feel the difficult times you have gone through have helped your writing?