Devotion: Musings from a Dot in the Atlantic Ocean

by Sherma Webbe Clarke | @sdwc8181 

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
3 John 2 (NKJV)

Inspiration and Habits 

Some writers stick to a fixed schedule. First thing in the morning before the birds and children are moving around. Two o’clock at the same café every other afternoon. Ten o'clock to midnight every evening. Others write when inspiration prompts them, hastily recording their thoughts onto napkins, scraps of paper, or into electronic devices.

One famous writer visited Bermuda many times and considered the Island vital to his health and creativity. Between 1867 and 1910, Mark Twain (born Samuel Clemens) frequented the Island as an escape from his routine life in favor of the natural beauty and slower pace that he enjoyed during his residences here. His famous quote, “You can go to heaven if you want to; I’d rather stay in Bermuda,” floats around the Island like a longtail (white-tailed tropicbird) soaring over the ocean. I liked the idea of a connection between the Island and this revered literary figure, but the statement never settled well with me. As beautiful as Bermuda is, it can't compare to God’s heavenly paradise.

Digging into the context of the quotation, however, I discovered that Mark Twain’s intention is opposite to the message that is conveyed as popular understanding. Or misunderstanding. Whether convalescing at one of the local hotels or enjoying the eerie beauty of the Crystal Caves, Mr. Twain experienced a revival in his health after the doctors had pronounced their grim prognoses. As a man defying his ailments and infirmities, he declared to those who seemed poised to make funeral arrangements, “You can go to heaven if you want to; I’d rather stay in Bermuda.” In other words, “Don’t write me off yet; I’m not going anywhere.”

In one particular way, he was right about staying in Bermuda. Bronze statues of Mark Twain dot the Island, giving him a permanent presence, albeit in an immobile form. I recently worked in an office building that boasted a statue of the author at its entrance. His bronze likeness also sits on a bench at the hotel he frequented in the City of Hamilton.

What inspires you? 

As writers, we receive inspiration from many sources, and we pour these experiences into words, sentences, novels, a series. What inspires you? Is it a long, scenic walk? Camping by a lake? Or playing with your grandchildren? Jesus connected with people through stories crafted from situations in ordinary life. Seeds and sowers. A woman sweeping. Lost coins. Vineyards and grapes. A traveler who helps an unfortunate man without expecting a reward.

Some of us may not be as prolific as Mark Twain. And having multiple statues built in our honor? Probably a long shot. Maybe we have one book in us. One book that will fulfill our purpose. One book that will touch the heart of someone who will experience God’s love and grace through our story. As the words of a favorite hymn say, You may have this whole world; give me Jesus.


Let's chat: Where do you live? Has any particular place, close to home or far away, inspired you on your writing journey? I'd love to hear about it!

About Sherma . . . 

Sherma is a contemporary fiction writer, amateur photographer, reading enthusiast, and wife who often takes her husband by the hand to explore nearby and far-flung areas of the globe. This wanderlust has its perks. She credits many of her story ideas to these adventures, which provide great opportunities for research for short stories and the novel series she is currently working on. Quiet, early-morning walks along the railroad trails on her home island of Bermuda provide inspiration when she is homebound.

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How Journaling Helps Me Jump-Start My Imagination

By Elizabeth Musser @EMusserAuthor 

 

 

A few years ago, I was asked by my Dutch publisher to write a novella for the Dutch ‘Week of the Christian Book’. (I wrote it in English—someone else translated it=). Christian bookstores throughout Holland put on this annual event where, for a week, any customer who purchases over 10 euros of merchandise in the store receives a free novella. The theme of animals was chosen for the year I was asked to write the novella.

I had never written a novella before and, being a rather long-winded novelist, felt the task a little daunting.

But as soon as I learned of the theme, I knew my story. It had been hidden in my journals for years, just waiting to find the light. 

I would write about our wonderful, neurotic mutt, Beau.

And so I did.

I told the story of an emotionally and physically scarred teen, Peter, who finds healing through his relationship with a rescue dog. Although the story was about Peter, I decided to tell it from both the mother’s and dog’s points of view.

In many ways, that story, Waiting for Peter, ‘wrote itself’ as I simply turned to the many journal entries I had penned throughout the years about our lovable mutt 

and all the lessons I had learned from life with Beau, especially lessons about how I should view my Master with the same love and devotion as Beau viewed me.

Keeping a journal is a great way to find inspiration for future stories. 

With Waiting for Peter, some of my journal entries found their way almost verbatim into the novella. Beau helped me through many hard times, and especially empty-nesting. So of course, the mother in Waiting for Peter finds solace during that season of her life too.

When writing The Dwelling Place, part of which takes place in Scotland, I reread all that I had written in my journal years earlier about the bustling, energetic city of Edinburgh and the rolling hills around Sir Walter Scott’s birthplace. As I reread my words, the emotions I felt while traveling through “the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Loman” came back in all their beauty.

Most recently, I returned from walking the first few legs of The Way, what’s known in French as Le Chemin de Saint Jacques de Compostelle. It’s a centuries-old pilgrimage that runs through France and Spain, ending in the city of Santiago in northwest Spain.

I hiked about thirty kilometers of hills and valleys all alone, partly as a spiritual journey, and partly as research for a new novel. Even though I was bone-tired after each day's hike, I faithfully recorded my experiences in the evenings. Now I am going back to those journal entries daily as I create scenes in the novel. You can be sure that some will reflect what I actually encountered along The Way.

On days like today, my journal helps me jump-start my imagination. 

It is also the place where my soul spills out, a recording of my personal psalms to the Lord with my joys and fears, my frustrations, and the excitement of something in Scripture jumping off the page and into my heart. I journal about life. Events, circumstances, soul talk. It’s all there.

So the next time you need a little nudge of inspiration, turn to your trusty journal. You do keep one, don’t you? 

PS As a bonus to the joys of writing Waiting for Peter, Beau’s photo appeared on the front cover (yep, that’s him above). And when I went to Holland for book signings, we took a hundred of Beau’s paw prints, stamped by Beau (with much difficulty) onto little stickers. Beau 'signed' his story which, by the way, is now available in English, too. I can almost hear his ‘woof’ of approval from where he is frolicking in doggie heaven.

About Elizabeth: 

ELIZABETH MUSSER writes ‘entertainment with a soul’ from her writing chalet—tool shed—outside Lyon, France. For over twenty-five years, Elizabeth and her husband, Paul, have been involved in missions work with One Collective, formerly International Teams. The Mussers have two sons, a daughter-in-law and three grandchildren.

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Can doubt play a positive role in your writing life?

If you’re a writer, you’ll have doubt. We all do. It comes with the territory.

What amazes me is that even the most successful writers go through it. I was listening to the most recent NovelMarketing podcast and Jim Rubart made mention of the fact that his latest novel – his 10th – has been hard. He’s wondered if he can actually write and doubting if he’s up to it. Jim’s an amazing author with half-a-library’s worth of books with his name on them, but he’s still saying he experiences doubt.

I’m going through another phase of doubt too. I’ve just had the rush and enormous excitement of signing a contract and working on my debut novel with my publisher. The edits. The cover design. The marketing ideas. It’s been amazing, and a sense of achievement. Recognition. Validation that the doubt was wrong.

Then it came time to pitch some more ideas. The doubt returned quickly. Very quickly. My feeling of success was still warm but the icy hand of doubt came back.

I tried to shake off the doubt – we all do, don’t we? – but then I wondered if there was another way to think about it.

So I was thinking about the role of doubt in a writer’s life. It’s often spoken about as a negative, and there are a gazillion blog posts about overcoming it so I, in typical contrarian fashion, wondered what sort of positive role it might play.

I didn’t want to write another blog post about “tips on getting rid of doubt”, so I thought about how doubt might actually help me.

1. Doubt makes me challenge what I write. Let’s face it, I’m the worst person to evaluate one of my own ideas – either in a positive or negative light. For me, when I doubt my story because I wonder if that plotline is derivative or just lame, it forces me to rethink it, and strengthen it. I doubt a character is likeable, so I examine him. It drives me to work harder to make him quirkier, more engaging and memorable.
2. Doubt helps me check my research and presentation – research or grammar. I doubt I’m right about the details, so I check the Chicago Manual of Style (my marketplace is in the US), and I get it right. I don’t presume, and therefore make silly mistakes. 
3. Doubt is a part of the fun. I don’t know if this idea is going to get over the line or not. It’s exciting while waiting (he says, knowing he often thinks otherwise in the middle of the wait). 
4. Doubt keeps me reliant on God. This is a big one when you’ve just had a success. When well-meaning people (who are clueless about the writing journey, let's be honest) start to tell you that you’ll retire on your “author money” in the next five minutes, that doubt over your next idea – and the thought that my first novel was just lightning in a bottle – keeps me leaning into God for whatever happens next. 

So that’s what I’ve learned about doubt and me. What role does doubt play in your writing life?

Unblocking the Block

By Rita Stella Galieh | @RitaSGalieh @ICFWriters 

That awful feeling managing to wake a writer in the dead of night. And no matter what day time work you're involved in, it's there in the back of your mind.

What to do? Write. Write. Write. But it's not what you want and will never 'pass muster'. And even worse, it's coming up to the end where you need a great climax and a satisfying conclusion.

Yes, all the ends are just about tied. But there is a need for something extra. Something to make the reader hang in there until the very end. Something so pleasing, they're glad they took precious time to read the book.

I hate to admit it, but I have often been in this very situation.. And at this very moment I am writing my thoughts, still hoping for a last minute reprieve when all will become clear. Of course I'm praying about it, but answers don't always pop into your head. That ten percent of inspiration is desperately needed. The other ninety per cent of hard slogging has made the story resonate .

UNBLOCKING

Just reread the whole draft. Maybe one more conflict needs to come between these protagonists, both who are drawn to each other, but not yet committed. No, not an accident. Maybe an argument? Serious enough to pull them farther apart? A possibility? Yes that'll do it

Now adding all the effects of a heated argument. However, they have just discovered despite their differences they still retain that attraction. And he is getting around her objections. Now I feel it's drawing to a satisfactory conclusion.

Great! It's been a mix of fun and frustration. That's what comes of being a 'Pantser" Still, following the characters as they reveal themselves is all about being a writer.

What do you other writers do when you admit your story needs a nice twist near its end? Or have you figured it out from the beginning? I thought I had already done that but my characters changed and pushed me in another more interesting direction. And that's where they led me without a plan for the conclusion. I do not enjoy a story- book or movie - where you have to guess the ending which leaves you wondering. Or maybe you do like that.

Indie Publisher, Rita Galieh, has written a trilogy of historical novels & also contributed to several US anthologies. She is now completing a third historical romance series. Besides her weekly blog, she can be found on www.ritastellapress.com
and Facebook.

Rita studied art at the National Art School then joined the family ceramics studio. After their marriage, she and her husband attended Emmaus Bible College, and were also involved with Christian Television on Sydney’s Channel Nine. Currently she co-presents Vantage Point, an Australia-wide Christian FM radio program. She enjoys giving her fun-filled presentations of ‘Etiquette of the Victorian Era’ in costume.

How to stay sane and meet your deadline - 3 ax sharpening tips for writers

I'm writing this post instead of working on my current WIP, book 2 of the Spirit Walker series for Pelican / Watershed. I'm currently 700 words short of 70K, aiming at about 80K when complete. My deadline is the end of February. 

This is totally do-able, unless (like me) you write at the speed of tortoise.

In that case, you have a legitimate excuse to freak out. (Pats you on the head and hands you a cookie.)

But, fear not! I have discovered some handy tips that will help us.

You remember the old story of two lumberjacks who were having a little manly-I-have-more-hair-on-my-chest-than-you tree felling competition? The smart one stops to sharpen his ax, the less smart one is delighted because he just keeps going and is obviously going to win. Until smarty gets back into action with a sharpened blade and annihilates his buddy's tree score completely. That didn't end too well for less-smarty.

This is how I've sharpened my writing ax over the past few weeks.

Get Organised (Unless you started out organised, in which case skip ahead to number 2.)

I've been using The Box (as pictured above) for a while now, but it got a little shabby and disarrayed and I ended up with little clumps of notecards in my handbag or in a pile next to my bed, or doubling up as bookmarks. Not really the best way of tracking a story. So I took an hour last week and made some new dividers. I also decided to keep all three of the books that I'm brooding on in there. This is useful as I can jot down thoughts and ideas even for those that are on the back-burner.

As you can see, I've kept it uber-simple. Each book gets four sections:

• Plot - one card with notes for each scene or major plot point.  
• People - characters in the story
• People Groups - racial, organisational, teams, families etc.
• Theme / message / verses / symbolism - story backbone, theme, any symbolic things that are included

Just having my notes sorted has done wonders for the spaghetti state of my brain.

Boring Manual Labour (Gardening, dishes, hanging laundry, vacuuming floors)

If you are stuck in your story, the best plot-laxative is to put aside your writing for a short while and do something practical that doesn't really need your brain to get involved. While you are up to your elbows in soap suds, your mind will be running free and spitting out ideas faster than you can say New York Times Bestseller. 

Read, Pray, Worship

Jesus has the best ideas. I write because He created me to be a writer and told me to get on with it. So when I'm stuck, where do you think is the best place to go? God has given us access to His glorious Holy Spirit oil to get our writing cogs unstuck. Sometimes I find the light-switch in the Bible, or when I'm talking to Him. Some of my most profound moments of inspiration have come during moments of loving Him and being loved in return. Those have happened on Sunday's in church, or in my car while driving, quietly at home in my room or even smack in the middle of a month-end grocery shop surrounded by people on their own missions.


Take time to sharpen your ax and watch the deadlines fall all around you. How do you manage deadlines and low inspiration?

Dianne J. Wilson writes novels from her hometown in East London, South Africa, where she lives with her husband and three daughters. She is neck-deep in 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.

Inspiration

by Marion Ueckermann

Story inspiration is to be found everywhere around us. As I was pondering what to blog about today, I was searching my Facebook page for a photograph of my dad. Skimming through some of the pictures I’ve uploaded to my Facebook profile, I was reminded of just how much of my life experiences and the people around me—my family, my friends—I’ve written into my stories. To mention a few, and I’m certain I haven’t listed everything in each book…

In my first novella, Helsinki Sunrise, I used my missionary 3D creative son as my muse, not only for my hero, Adam Carter—a missionary from Africa headed to Finland, just like my son had done—but also for my heroine, Eveliina Mikkola, who was a 3D Visual Effects Artist, as my son had been before he went into missions. The summer cottage we stayed in for ten days in the south-east of Finland became my storyworld, as did the blueberries we picked in the forest. Not forgetting the strawberries at the Helsinki market that made it into the last few pages. Hopefully in May 2017, we will visit my son who now lives in Helsinki. If we do, I will definitely pay a visit to my heart-shaped island on Lake Sahajärvi, some 20 minutes from where my son lives.

The idea for my Scottish/Australian opera singer heroine, Skye Hunter, in Glasgow Grace was inspired by my niece who lives in Melbourne, Australia. I couldn’t find a video of her singing opera, but here’s a link to one of her contemporary recordings, Talking to the Moon. If you follow the link, that’s her on the cover image. I wrote a scene in The Old Blacksmith’s Shop in Gretna Green in this story, a place my husband and I visited about twenty years ago.

Oslo Overtures was born from a line I heard on the radio one morning when the breakfast show host asked the question if women should be pilots. One woman phoned in and said, “No. If women were meant to fly, the skies would be pink.” That line, which I subsequently came to learn is commonly used, inspired my wingsuiter story set in Norway where the skies are often pink. Just do a Google search for Norway Pink Skies and see the beautiful images.

An elephant ride experience taken with hubby over a decade ago in Zambia on the banks of the Zambesi River formed the basis for a scene in my novella, Orphaned Hearts.

Part of The Other You was inspired by a magazine article I had read about a Stellenbosch wine farmer, Philip Jonker and the 2012 troubles in the Cape winelands. Not long after reading Philip’s story, my husband, son, and I visited his wine estate, Weltevrede—in the same family for over 100 years. I got to meet Philip and his wife—what amazing, godly people. I dedicated this book to them. I also used the wine cellar from another Stellenbosch wine estate as my storyworld for several scenes in the book.

While in Finland two years ago, we visited Lapland. I used so many of my experiences there in my Christmas novella, Poles Apart. These included amongst many other things, meeting the ‘real’ Santa Clause in his home village of Rovaniemi, the clock and staircase to his office, and jumping into the avanto (ice hole). The little cottage we stayed in once again became my storyworld. Why reinvent the wheel, when you’ve seen the wheel, touched it, lived it? This cottage image became my back cover for my print edition.

Spring’s Promise had graffiti similar to what we’d seen on the walls of the Shankill Road in Belfast, Northern Ireland making their way into the story.

I’ve three stories published so far in my Seven Suitors for Seven Sisters series. A Match for Magnolia is set in the beautiful Lake District in England, a place I fell in love with both times I visited. A Hero for Heather and A Husband for Holly take place in North Yorkshire, another place in England that stole my heart. I haven’t visited the two towns I set Heather and Holly’s stories in, Robin Hood’s Bay and Scarborough, but it’s on my to-do list for next year (an add on to the Finland trip I hope). In A Husband for Holly, my father was the inspiration behind the hero’s father, Douglas Steward, who suffered from Alzheimer’s.

My newest solo release, Melbourne Memories, drew on what I’d seen and done in Melbourne…a visit undertaken over a decade ago, too. Brighton Beach. Frankston Beach. The Yarra River. All places I saw, experienced, and enjoyed. There were so many other awesome places like the Great Ocean Road and the Twelve Apostles that couldn’t make it into this book. Hmm, I’ll definitely have to write another Australian novella.

Next month, Ginger & Brad’s House will release solo. Currently it’s in the sweet Frosting and Flurries box set.  Hubby and I had our first white Christmas in Finland two years ago. Little did I know when my son’s Finnish mother-in-law had me making my first gingerbread house (we did a manger scene)—a tradition I’ve vowed to continue every Christmas—that I’d write a novella using the making of a gingerbread house as a big part of the story. Ginger’s mother’s heart failure was taken from my own walk with my mom and her similar condition. And the Irish storyworld? The village, road, and house we lived in during our 18 month stay near Dublin, as well as the beautiful stone church we attended in a neighboring village.

But experiences and places visited have not been the only things to make it into my stories. I try to bring a family member’s name in, as well. I haven’t managed with all, but have with some.

• Helsinki Sunrise hero, Adam Carter  :  after my grandfather, Adam
• Helsinki Sunrise heroine, Eveliina Mikkola  :  her name was inspired from my son’s Finnish mother-in-law, Eeva-liisa, and the surname from her one son, Mikko.
• Oslo Overtures hero, Kyle Sheppard  :  after my youngest son, Kyle
• Spring’s Promise hero, Ryann Doyle  :  after my oldest son, Ryan
• The Other You hero’s late wife, Aimee  :  after my daughter-in-law, Amy
• Melbourne Memories hero’s stage name, The Phoenix  :  after my grandson, Phoenix

What inspires you in your writing? Or your reading?

Before I go, l'd like to wish all ICFW bloggers and readers a blessed Christmas. In the flurry of tinsel and food and puddings and wrapping paper and gift making or buying, never forget the reason for the season...Jesus. May you experience Him in amazing ways this Christmas and in the coming year.

MARION UECKERMANN's passion for writing was sparked when she moved to Ireland with her family. Her love of travel has influenced her contemporary inspirational romances set in novel places. Marion and her husband again live in South Africa, but with two gorgeous grandsons hanging their hats at the house next door, their empty nest's no longer so empty.

Visit Marion at www.marionueckermann.net

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