The WHY and WHERE of Writing. (And I'm not talking about laptops, coffee shops and bank deposits)

We all write for different reasons. I write mostly because I want my words to shift things inside of my readers. I want them to think differently after reading my books. I have a deep desire to see people made whole, restored and reconnected to the God who loves them.

The longer I spend time churning out work, the more I realize that my puny words alone can never accomplish any of this. Like a cake with no baking powder, my words minus Holy Spirit will fall flat every time. It may be edible, but it won't bring anyone back for seconds and it most certainly won't affect them for eternity.

With this in mind, I have discovered my new favourite writing spot... close to Father with my ear glued to His chest. I want to hear what moves His heart and I want to write those things. It is the only way to produce words that will make a difference.

So what does this mean practically? If I could go crawl up onto God's lap and plaster myself to Him, I would. But I'm stuck in an earth-suit, so for now I'll wallow in Word and Spirit. Listen and write and listen again. I'll co-author, not try write solo. And in all of this, if my readers get a glimpse of His heart towards them, I will have nailed it.

I'd love to hear from you. Why do you write? How do you listen and hear from God?

Dianne J. Wilson writes novels from her hometown in East London, South Africa, where she lives with her husband and three daughters. She has just signed a three book contract for a YA series, Spirit Walker, with Pelican / Watershed.

Finding Mia is available from Amazon, Pelican / Harbourlight, Barnes & Noble and other bookstores.

Shackles is available as a free ebook from Amazon & Smashwords.

Find her on Facebook, Twitter and her sporadic blog Doodles.

Listen!

By Janice L. Dick of Canada

Our pastor spoke last Sunday about prayer. He suggested that in large part, prayer is (or at least should be) listening.

I think that in order to write effectively, to make a difference in the lives of readers, we need to learn to listen. When I look around me, I fear our society has lost the elemental art of listening. It’s rare to see someone sitting alone without reading or keying on a smart phone. Groups of people at lunch will be having private conversations via handheld devices instead of listening to each other.

Right now at my writing desk, I can hear the resident birds having an argument in the snowball bush outside my window. I can hear geese forging their way across the autumn sky to warmer climes. Downstairs, my oldies station is airing the news, and soon I’ll hear my husband’s vehicle drive into the yard for supper.

All these sounds draw me from my self-imposed world of imagination and creativity, and reconnect me with reality. I want to connect with my readers in a real way, even if I’m writing fiction or fantasy. I want to help them feel comfortable in my story world or in the ideas of my non-fiction. My experiences color my writing, adding sensory details and credibility. I need grounding in the real world in order to pass this along to my readers.

As I listen to God, to others, to my own inner voice, I grow as a person and thereby also as a writer.

I believe I will set this as one of my goals for the new year: Learn to Listen!

UNFINISHED HOUSE--By Christine Lindsay

Psalm 127 says, Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.

This psalm goes on to say, It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors: For He gives to his beloved even in his sleep.

This verse always speaks with power. Either it encourages me to be confident that the work I am involved in is His will.

Or it makes me stop.

Is the work that I produce on my laptop for 8 to 10 hours a day really His will? Or am I 'building a house' He does not want?

Writing is like breathing to me. I'm willing to put in the long, long hours, the months, the years to hone my craft. It's been 8 years of seriously pursuing a ministry/career in Christian fiction, with a great many sacrifices along the way.

This is the norm for writers. It's common that once an author is published, the money they make is a pittance. There's certainly no job security. When one is published, the author is only as good as his or her last book. And the pressure to market themselves and their book takes away from the labor to produce another.

Yet, with all artists, the desire for wealth and fame is meaningless. It's the art that tugs on our hearts—the desire to use that art to glorify God. It's this that urges us to give and give and give to this labor.

My desire is to use the literary arts to help others 'see' God within the words and scenes I type on the page. I want them to understand something of what I glean from the Word of God. What He has taught me through my life’s tumultuous journeys to help others trust in Him.

But we live in a world where food must be put on the table, the roof over our heads must be financed. The gas bill must be paid. And I look at this verse in Psalms and I ask myself---Lord, am I doing what you want me to do with the labor of my hands?

I crave the confidence that He is leading me.

Is this stirring in my heart to write Christian fiction from God? Or my vain imagination? After all, I'm a writer, my imagination works overtime.

I don't know for sure. All I know is that the Lord only gives us one time around on this earthly life. I’d rather give myself this chance, and if I fail, and must take whatever day job I can find to make financial ends meet, then I will know I tried my best to reach my artistic dream.

And yet . . . every day, the Lord keeps nudging me forward. Don't stop, keep going. I'll provide.

Then I read the verse in Psalms again. . . . for He gives to his beloved even in his sleep . . . .

While I sleep my Heavenly Father is looking out for my earthly concerns. He sees the dreams within my mind. He inspires them.

Why do I fret?

If you'd like to read more by this Canadian author, Christine Lindsay, drop by clicking on her website, www.christinelindsaycom

Christine was born in Ireland, has lived across the entire country of Canada at various times in her life. Received the 2009 ACFW Genesis award for Historical, and in 2010 won 2nd place in the RWA Touched by Love contest for her historical romance SOFI'S BRIDGE. Christine is hard at work giving that novel its final polish.



This article will also be cross-posted on The Inkswell blog on Dina Sleiman's webpage, click here Inkswell

DEVOTION: Learn to Listen - Kathi Macias

…they held their peace and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him”  (Is. 36:21).

            One of the most difficult things for me to do is to keep my mouth shut (and I’m not just referring to overeating, though that may also be true on occasion). I’m a communicator, an exhorter, an encourager and a teacher—and sometimes I just like to hear myself talk.

            This self-absorption with expressing our own thoughts, opinions, and feelings is universal, whether or not you’re a communicator by gifting and calling, and I’ve spent enough time around people to know that I’m not the only one who suffers from “foot-in-mouth” disease. The Apostle Peter was famous for it, and there are countless other examples in the Scriptures that show how people got themselves into trouble by speaking first, thinking later. Mario Murillo describes people like that as those who “gargle with gun powder and then go around, shooting off their mouths.”

            The Bible is full of admonitions to be still, be quiet, listen, hear, hold your tongue and control your speech. Is there anything more difficult? The Book of James is replete with teaching on this very topic, which is why I find myself having to read and reread it so often.

            Years ago I served on a church staff, and one of my primary duties was that of biblical counseling. How naïve I was when I first began to serve in that position! Thankfully I at least had the understanding and humility to seek God before I started, but as I prayed for God to show me what to say to these people who came to me for help, I was stunned to discover that instead of telling me what to say, the Lord told me instead, “Learn to listen.”

            Listening is an art, and it takes time and practice to learn it. We live in a world of noise—some imposed on us by others, but much self-inflicted. It isn’t enough that we have radios and televisions and CD players blasting us at home; we take those same noisemakers with us in our cars, to the beach, to the park, to the mountains. It’s as if we’re afraid to “Be still and know that [God] is God” (Ps. 46:10). We are a people who claim to want peace and wisdom, and yet we refuse to do what is necessary to obtain them: to be still, to be quiet, and to listen.

            God had to teach me to listen—not just to those who came to me for counsel (what they were saying, as well as what they were NOT saying), but also to the Holy Spirit, as He whispered words of wisdom to my heart. Without first listening for God’s wisdom and direction, I would have nothing to offer anyone except my opinions and thoughts, worldly wisdom that profits nothing.

            And then there are the times we want to defend ourselves, to argue our position and prove ourselves right. Even as someone is expressing himself to us, we are forming our answers in our mind, ready to fire back a response the moment the other person takes a breath. The problem with that is that while we’re formulating our brilliant comeback, we can’t hear what God is speaking to us, and we end up wondering why our words only complicated the problem, rather than clarifying and resolving the situation.

            Sometimes God tells us to loudly and boldly proclaim His Word; as writers and communicators, and as believers and followers of Christ, we must do so. At other times He tells us to be still and listen. I personally find those listening times to be much more challenging and difficult to obey. But obey we must. When the King commands, “Do not answer him,” then may we put our hands over our mouths, open our ears and heart…and listen to the One who hung the Universe by His Word. Only then will we have anything worth saying to others.

Kathi Macias is an “occasional radio host” and an award-winning author of more than thirty books, including her popular international Extreme Devotion fiction series from New Hope Publishers.