The Writer’s Oath: A Year without Whining

When I bought The Art of War for Writers a few years ago it was because I’d entered a sort of manic stage in my writing life. I was bound and determined that would be the year I finally broke out as a writer, and I wanted to have every tool at my disposal to do so. I was familiar with The Art of War, and Jim is a writer whom I really admire and respect, so I couldn’t wait to see how he adapted Sun Tzu’s methods for writing.

I made it a point to read one chapter each night before bed so I could mull the words over in my sleep. To say it gave me a lot of food for thought is an understatement. However, of all the advice offered, one piece has stuck with me the most: Whining will not help you win the battle for publication.

Why? Because Whining (and it’s favorite companion, Worry) warps the imagination and steals our joy as writers. Instead of focusing on our own work, we obsess over the work of others. It’s a classic case of the “Have’s vs. The Have Not’s.”

I know this because these are both activities I’m an expert at. There was a period of time not too long ago when I would go into bookstores, take a book of the shelf, start reading it and then ask “How is it this book got published and no one will look at mine? My writing is way better than this!” I’d particularly complain when I’d hear an announcement about a celebrity or reality star releasing a children’s book

“Of course their book would get picked up! They’re famous!” I’d tell my family and friends. “They cheated, cut in line some how. Did they even write it, or did they just offer an idea and a name for some ghost writer to do all the work?”

Chapter 7 of The Art of War for Writers gathers its focus from Christina Katz, author of Get Known Before the Book Deal. Jim wisely chose to include a statement from Katz’ book for writers to sign that would change all that. It pledged that the writer would keep all grousing to oneself for the course of a year. It took me all of a minute to decide this was something I needed to do.

I decided to modify the oath a little to state I would not grouse at all for a year — not to others, and certainly not to myself. Wanting it to be official, I opened up my word processor, selected a certificate template, typed in my statement, and hung the signed copy over my desk. That was two years ago.

Looking back, I am amazed at the change I’ve noticed in my perspective. I still have my off days, but instead of feelings of jealousy and ineptitude, I’ve been able to truly rejoice when I learn a friend’s book has been picked up. It has also spurred me on to continue improving my craft through reading and, more importantly, writing, thus preparing me for the day my name is finally called.

It’s the start of a new year, which means many of us are making new goals for ourselves. I’ve decided to resign my Writer’s Oath, renewing the contract for another year so to speak. I’d like to invite you to do the same.

Let’s make 2012 the year we as writers put aside all that which will drain our creative energy in exchange for that which will inspire us. Let us start this year with a fresh and unsullied purpose.

My friends, may this year bring you much inspiration, joy, and a bountiful harvest for your labors.

Happy New Year!

A Prayer for the Discouraged Writer

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my savior and my God. Ps 42:5

Lord,

There are moments I feel as if I have it all wrong; that I am not meant to write this story — or any for that matter. I feel weak, helpless, and that all the hours I’ve spent at the keyboard, the weeks I’ve poured into research and study, all of it will come to nothing.

Yet, even in these moments I sense you here beside me whispering to my heart gentle words of encouragement. It is in these evenings of frustration you remind me I wasn’t meant to tackle this task on my own; that you yourself are the one guiding my pen for your glory and that you will perfect this work in your time.

Signed

A writer seeking perfection

One last note on Thankfulness

I had lofty goals when I started my 30 Days of Thankfulness in Writing Challenge. Sure I have more than thirty things to be thankful for, but not all of them ended up meriting me writing a full entry about them. Add to that the many topics I’ve covered in the past year and I found myself stumped as to what to do next.

Do I continue trying to write pieces about what I’m thankful about for the sake of fulfilling my conceived requirement? Or do I take this as a learning opportunity and see it not as a failure but a reminder that writing isn’t about filling quotas, it’s about conveying heartfelt messages designed to instruct, encourage, and edify others?

Like every writer, I set my notes aside for a few days to let my mind mull them over while I worked on something different. And as is usually the case for me, my answer came in the middle of the night.

So as I end the month of November there is one more thing I want to share about my writing life that I am thankful for, and that is I’ve learned something very important about my writing life: Chiefly that even with as hectic of a schedule as I have I can make time to write, and to write well when I put my mind to it. I’ve posted more to my blog in this past month than I have all year. I just submitted two new articles for publication and received payment for a piece that was already published. I also have two more articles in the works that I’m really excited about. I also finished writing a book this year and have an idea for another.

At this time last year I was questioning who I was as a writer. I had more rejections to my name than anything else. I was frustrated. I was floundering. And I was ready to quit.

Fortunately I have a best friend and a family who wouldn’t hear of it. They pushed me to keep trying new things.  They encouraged me to keep learning everything I could, and they continue to cheer me on even now.

I didn’t reach my 30 posts for the month, but this challenge caused me to look at my writing life through a lens of thankfulness. Instead of seeing failures, I see where I’ve succeeded. It has also served as a catalyst to reignite my desire to write for the sheer enjoyment of it.

Yes, writing is a job. It requires sacrifice, dedication, nerves of steel, and a little bit of insanity. I haven’t reached my full potential yet, but I know I’m on my way. But writing is also an incredible and rewarding pastime. It takes the imagination and makes it real. It’s active, never passive. And going into the new year that’s exactly what I intend to be.

When looking at my world through that perspective I would call this month’s experiment a true success.

30 Days of Thankfulness in Writing — Day 15: Pitter Patter Go the Raindrops…

I woke up at 4:30 this morning to rain pounding against my window. It was far too early to get up, so I just laid there waiting for it to lull me back to sleep for another couple of hours. With the exception of a few breaks it hasn’t let up much since. Rain is one of my favorite sounds in the world, which is probably a good thing because it pretty much falls from November through May where I live.

My brother (who I meet every Tuesday and Thursday for coffee and a walk) and I decided that we would continue this activity rain or shine through the winter, so I packed some extra clothes to change into when I got to work and drove to the meeting point looking for songs my wipers could move in sync with. Fortunately, we caught one of the breaks and were able to enjoy our weekly ritual without getting drenched and because we had the time, paused a little longer at the duck pond than normal.

There were two females wood ducks we enjoyed watching in particular. As one would beat her wings to catch up with her friend, the other would do the same to stay just ahead. They zigged. They zagged. And I wished I had a camcorder to record their game of tag. After a while the lagger decided to do a little diving. Down she went and my brother and I watched and waited for her to bob back to the surface. One minute. Two minutes. The ripples had completely disappeared when I finally asked where she went. Then plop the leader was gone.

We spent the next several minutes theorizing that some sort of creature had found its way into the pond and was grabbing them from below. It had been nearly ten minutes and all the other ducks were just bobbing along grabbing their breakfast, but our two little ladies were still missing.

Thank goodness for smart phones. We asked Siri (my brother just upgraded to an iPhone 4S) how long ducks can dive for and discovered that they can stay under for up to fifteen minutes. Sure enough we found our girls surfacing on the far side of the pond moments later and they immediately started up on whatever topic ducks converse about again.

What does any of this have to do with thankfulness? Absolutely everything! I am amazed by creation every time I step outside my door. I'm thankful for the symphony created by each raindrop as it hits the leaves, the roof of my apartment, and the surface of the duck pond. I'm thankful for how effortlessly and gracefully the ducks move (and that there really was no hideous beast lurking in the muck). I'm thankful for the intoxicating aroma of damp earth and foliage when mixed together. And most of all, I'm thankful that I was born with not one, but five senses to enjoy it all with. 

30 Days of Thankfulness in Writing — Day 14: Lessons in Time Management

I’ve been told busy people are organized people. To which I respond, “You’ve obviously never seen my desk during production week!”

I can understand the concept. I find I’m the most productive when I have an over-full plate. I don’t know if it’s the writer in me that thrills at the looming countdown of an approaching deadline, or if it’s a holdover from my school days when I naturally put everything off until the night before it was due. Whatever the case, I’ve found that if I have the time available to me, I’m downright lazy! I waste time playing games I don’t even like. I revisit websites that I’ve already read every story on. I even flip through Netflix selections just to kill time. I justify it all by saying I’m just tired and need a break to clear my mind — which to an extent is true.

Thanksgiving week is here. Visitors are on their way. I have my contributions to prepare for our big family dinner. I also have my writing to keep up with (somebody please remind me why we plan events like NaNoWrMo at the beginning of the holiday season?), and I’m also in the middle of a major deadline at work.

I’m prying my eyes open to write this because I’ve just come off a 12-hour day of non-stop editing and too much coffee. The perk was that after everyone else went home for the night, I got to crank up my “.Doc Playlist” while preparing articles for the art director to layout. It reminded me of being in college when I wasn’t just taking a full course load of British and American Lit, Linguistics, Creative Writing, and Lit Crit, I was somehow working a fulltime editorial job, as well.

I listened to this same playlist into the wee hours of many a morning, fretting over papers that weren’t being written and wondering when I’d finally get to go to bed — or if I would ever have a real life. But those two years were also my most productive in terms of creative writing. Even when I had the downtime my brain was churning out more story ideas than it has in any time since.

It’s exhausting being busy. But looking back over today and my past I can also see truth in the statement that busy people are organized people. When juggling multiple jobs the only way to successfully complete anything is to properly manage your time. During weeks like these I always formulate a plan of attack so I don’t forget to do anything. And believe it or not, it somehow all gets done. Properly.

As my workload has increased, I have also once again seen my creativity revived. I’m writing more, and I’m enjoying every minute of it. Being busy also means I get to enjoy the downtime that much more when I finally hit SAVE on that last file for the night.

Now that is really something to be thankful for.

30 Days of Thankfulness in Writing – Day 13: Peanut Butter and Ketchup Sandwiches

Last night I had time enough after walking through the door to hang up my coat, stash my laptop, and replace some scattered books to their respective shelves before the doorbell rang. At the door were two young guests, both under the age of seven, who would be spending the evening with me while their mom and dad had a much-needed date night.

As a single woman, my apartment isn’t exactly a child’s paradise, but whenever the two munchkins come to visit they end up having more than a good time. If it wasn’t for my downstairs neighbors having two little ones themselves, I’d wonder what they thought of the shrieks, giggles, and occasional booms coming from overhead.

One of their favorite things to talk about when here is how they are standing over someone else’ home. Everyone else they know lives in a real house, so the concept of an apartment building is still novel to them. “Am I standing on a light bulb, Edifur?” “We have to tiptoe so we don’t wake up the baby, right?” And with every little sound of a door closing or someone moving outside I get asked, “What was that? Are they coming here? Is it mommy and daddy already?”

If you haven’t already guessed, my honorary munchkins are more than a little inquisitive. I always try to find funny ways to answer their silly questions, but I also try to answer their serious ponderings as honestly, and simply as I can. Don’t ask me why, but for some reason last night they were asking me about Golden Dragons and Vampire Bats. They’re also storytellers (a family trait). They love regaling me with tales about something that happened — usually repeatedly with more and more laughs each time — and I do my best to act just as surprised the tenth time as I did the first.

After playing tickle monster, letting them beat me at Wii Sports (which was surprisingly difficult for my competitive nature to handle), and teaching them how to play checkers (they saw my crystal chessboard in the “library” room and wanted to play with it), I decided it was time to settled down on the couch with a book. Bed time had come and gone, and I didn’t want the Munchkins to turn into Munsters. 

I ended up selecting Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. It’s a little old for them, but I really enjoy the series and I thought Percy’s perspective would keep them entertained. Of course the things I found charmingly goofy they found to be pure genius. A crazy girl named Nancy Bobofit who loves peanut butter and ketchup sandwiches? A teacher who sprouts bat wings and then explodes into a pile of sand? If my neighbors hadn’t been wondering what was going on in the apartment of the “quiet girl who’s never home” before, they were now.  (By the way, Viv, I take full responsibility if they start calling Nana Grandma Nancy Bobofit or if they asked for an odd breakfast this morning!)

Last night served as a much needed reminder  to me that it’s the simple things that leave the biggest impact. The world is still fresh and full of possibilities to a four- and five-year old. Life is all about adventure and excitement. It’s something that’s easy to forget when slogging through each day trying to figure out how to make ends meet.

So, as I get back to writing today I’ve decided I need to find my own Nancy Bobofit and maybe some peanut butter and ketchup sandwiches....

30 Days of Thankfulness in Writing – Day 12: Little Writing Moments

It’s easy to focus on the negative in the world around us. In observation of a month many dedicate to counting their blessings, I’ve started a 30-day challenge in which I’ll focus on one aspect of my writing life for which I am thankful. I’d love to have you join by sharing about something that has blessed your own writing life in the comments section below. - Jen

Every writer dreams of the day she will make her living at full-time writing. She imagines sitting at a desk with no distractions, and eternally hot and full coffee cup nearby, signed portraits of her heroes overhead, and surrounded by her books while she cranks out page after page of beautiful prose. Come to think of it, even “full-time” writers dream of that. 

The reality is, life is full of distractions. Bills pile up. Family members need extra care. Jobs demand more hours. And if we’re not careful our writing begins collecting dust, and our attitudes can turn sour real quick.

That’s one of the reasons I started the 30 Days of Thankfulness in Writing Challenge. I’ve had a lot more demands on my time since taking over as the Youth Leader at my church this past August. It was meant to be temporary until the leadership found a replacement for the former youth pastor, but as the months tick by I’m beginning to see it turn into a long-term ministry. I love doing everything I’m doing. I’m certainly learning a lot about myself in the process, but I was watching weeks tick by with only a single update to my blog and very little added to my other writing. So I started doing what every frustrated writer does: I complained to my journal.

That’s when I realized it wasn’t my situation that needed fixing. It was my attitude. I’m able to do what so many people only dream of doing: make a real difference in other people’s lives. Did it really matter so much that I couldn’t write for hours on end? Did I ever really do that when I had the time available to me? The uncomfortable answer to both was, No. 

This writing challenge has served two purposes for me: It’s changed my perspective on writing and it has kick started my activity again. Not only have I discovered that it is possible to lead a busy life and write on a daily basis (the number of posts this month is proof of that), it has gotten my creativity flowing again. I have more ideas and new topics to write about now than I have all year.

It’s also taught me something else. Every little writing moment can result in a major writing breakthrough. You just have to approach it with the right attitude.

30 Days of Thankfulness in Writing – Day 11: Writer’s Block

It’s easy to focus on the negative in the world around us. In observation of a month many dedicate to counting their blessings, I’ve started a 30-day challenge in which I’ll focus on one aspect of my writing life for which I am thankful. I’d love to have you join by sharing about something that has blessed your own writing life in the comments section below. - Jen

I can’t believe I’m writing this, and I know I’m going to have a few people think, “This girl has finally lost it!” but I am actually thankful for Writer’s Block. I don’t so much care for the frustration I feel while staring at a blank page or the irritation I experience as I toss aside one half-formed idea after another, but I am grateful for what it represents.

It’s getting colder, which means people are starting to experience sandpaper in the throat and damaged plumbing in the nose. I’m one of those individuals. Yeah it’s an inconvenience and a pain getting sick, but I recognize that it’s not my body’s intention to ruin my fun. It’s telling me something isn’t quite right.

Over the past few weeks I’ve come to look at Writer’s Block as more of the Writer’s Immune System rather than as the problem itself. I’ve found that in doing so I am better able to evaluate what’s going on with my writing instead of wasting energy fuming at my fickle “muse.” Perhaps I’m trying to force my protagonist to act out of character. Maybe the scene I’m working on really has no place in the overall story and needs to be cut. Or it could be there is something going on in my real life that I need to resolve before I can continue forward in my fictional world.

We see commercial after commercial touting medication that will alleviate the symptoms of colds and allergies. We also see post after post, and even books that show us how to conquer the bane of a writer’s existence.  What would happen if instead we looked at it from another point of view?

Just as a cold is our body’s way of telling us to slow down so it can fight off an infection, Writer’s Block can serve as an opportunity to re-evaluate what we’re doing — to revise, remove, and find resolution — so we can continue on, this time in the right direction.

When viewed from this angle, Writer’s Block ceases to be a curse and becomes a blessing instead.

30 Days of Thankfulness in Writing – Day 10: Mom & Dad

It’s easy to focus on the negative in the world around us. In observation of a month many dedicate to counting their blessings, I’ve started a 30-day challenge in which I’ll focus on one aspect of my writing life for which I am thankful. I’d love to have you join by sharing about something that has blessed your own writing life in the comments section below. - Jen

I really have my parents to thank for me becoming an active writer. After burning myself out my junior year of college my dad put me to work helping him at the family business. And I have learned more than just how to be a writer and editor as a result.

See, dad’s been in publishing in some form or other since I was a kid. First he moderated an electronic bulletin board back in the mid-80s, and he produced a small Atari Computer-related newsletter that eventually grew into a magazine. He eventually went to work for Atari’s in-house publication but found himself unexpectedly unemployed in the spring of 1992 when the company closed down its home computing department. After that he was approached by his former printer back in Oregon who ultimately ended up investing in my dad and helped him start Model Railroad News in 1995.

Working for a train magazine was never something I aspired to while growing up. To be fair, writing wasn’t on the agenda either. But here I was in the midst of a major life crisis and dad had a problem of his own, his long-time editor had decided to change everything about his life — including his family — and left without giving any notice. Needing something to do, I offered to help out with some simple projects until dad found a replacement, which we did more quickly than we expected. He was a retired teacher, a self-professed train nut, and an avid storyteller and writer. The one stipulation was that I stick around to do some of the editorial slog work. I had to keep busy somehow, so I agreed and found myself employed as an editorial assistant.

I learned more about War Bonnets and the Galloping Goose (nothing to do with birds or horses!), 3-bay hoppers and tank cars, and other railroad-related facts than I ever wanted to know. I also learned a lot about our nation’s history as a result. (Few people these days realize just how big a role the railroad played in the development of the United States.) Starting out, my main job was writing new product announcements for various manufacturers, which taught me the importance of conveying information in a clear and concise manner. I also began honing my editing skills by helping with the final copy edit of each issue. In the spring of 2002 I left the science world behind and signed up as and English and Writing major. My life as a writer began.

As with any job there are perks and pitfalls when it comes to working for a family-run business — for one, it’s always the main topic at family gatherings — but what I was learning in school complemented what I was doing at work, and vice versa. By the time I graduated two years later I had something most of my peers did not: actual work experience in my field of study. However, doing research I found most of the openings were looking for five years of experience, so I committed to working for the family for another three years.

Life happens and come January those three years will have stretched into eight, giving me my 10-year pin at LampLight Publishing. I have worked my way up the ladder to a Managing Editor position and get to torture my younger sister who became my editorial assistant to help pay her way through college.  Yes, there have been arguments and plenty of head butting along the way, but there have also been some incredible blessings. I’ve been able to continue my education through writing programs such as The Christian Writers Guild. I’ve been given time off to attend Writers Conferences. I’m able to take occasional personal days just because I want to write. And I’ve been able to be really involved in youth ministry, which I absolutely love with all my heart.

I’ll be the first to admit I don’t always like the subject matter of my job. There are also days I worry people won’t take me seriously because my parents sign my paycheck. (My Senior Editors have all been unrelated and taskmasters in their own right, by the by.) However, if it weren’t for this job I would never have dared to dream I could make my way through the world with a pen, a notebook, and an eye for details. 

As is true of many small business these days, things are really tight for our little publishing company, but we continue to press on, chugging up the hill like the Brave Little Steam Engine facing this economic downturn with determination one breath at a time (sorry, couldn’t resist). And my parents continue to encourage me to pursue the things in life I love most.

So mom and dad, in case I’ve never truly expressed my gratitude before, thanks! Thanks for giving me an experience not many parents can offer to their children. And thanks for helping me find where my true talents lie.

30 Days of Thankfulness in Writing – Day 9: Words of Affirmation

It’s been said there are five love languages — the manner in which one communicates her feelings for another — and that each of us tend to gravitate towards one or another. There is an entire series of books dedicated to the subject, and a website as well, to help individuals determine their native “tongue.” I stumbled on the site earlier this year after hearing about it from other people and decided to take the quiz out of curiosity. I wasn’t all that surprised by the results. According to the quiz, my most prominent way of expressing love was through words of affirmation. Nothing builds me up or tears me down as quickly as what a person says to me, and in turn nothing conveys how I feel towards others so much as what comes out of my mouth.

I firmly believe there is no more powerful tool nor as deadly a weapon as the WORD. Give me sticks and stones (not really), but don’t cut me down with your mouth.

It was for this reason I decided early on that when I wrote the purpose would be to build and encourage others. Whether I’m writing fiction, an article, or just a letter, I try to ask myself: What is my purpose in writing? What is my motive?

It’s also the reason you’ll find inspirational quotes scattered around my office and apartment. They spur me on when I’m tired. The cheer me up when I’m ready to chuck my manuscript in a furnace five times hotter than Nebuchadnezzar’s. And they push me to try harder in areas I’m struggling with.

Some of the quotes are from books I’ve read or by writers I admire. But my favorites by far are the words of affirmation from friends and family.

I am blessed to have an amazing support group. No matter how many times I scrap a chapter, they’re rooting me on. I have people who I’ve barely (or never) met send notes thanking me for something they say I did that touched their lives in some way. I have encouragement cards that are several years old and they still bring tears to my eyes and send tingles up my arms when I re-read them. Words of affirmation are truly the gift that keeps on giving.

Today, and every day for that matter, I am thankful for every sincere word (even if it hurt to hear it at the time) that has been spoken or written to me. Each has made a difference, and each has helped shape the women I’ve become.

30 Days of Thankfulness in Writing – Day 8: Veterans

I was sitting in the Denver airport waiting for my flight home. I’d been attending a writers conference and a call had come in at 2 that morning telling me my dad’s stepbrother, a severely disabled vet, had suddenly passed away. I remember trying to read Deceived by James Scott Bell when a very tall, dark-haired soldier walked into my gate area.

My first thought was: He’s from my hometown National Guard unit! I need to go over and say thank you! Then I was hit by a fit of shyness and thought, he’ll think I’m trying to flirt with him and he’s probably got a wife and daughter waiting for him at home.  So I stayed in my seat as he sat down across from me.

I couldn’t help glance at him over the top of my book from time to time. There was just something about him that had nothing to do with how handsome he looked in his uniform. I even caught him looking at me a couple of times with a curious expression on his face, though I was pretty sure it was because of the giant eye on the cover of my book.

Then our gate changed. All of us marched together, bags in hand, from one waiting area to another. The soldier was now sitting to my right and just behind along the window, and after a phone call with my mom I gave up even pretending to read anymore. That’s when I decided to throw away my Starbucks cup and finally noticed the name on his jacket: Ash.

Daniel. The little boy who ran to my aid in second grade when I got stung by a bee while on the monkey bars and fell. He wouldn’t let anyone near me but the Teacher’s Aid. Daniel, my brother’s superior officer in Civil Air Patrol during High School. I hadn’t seen him in years, but some random fluke put his luggage through another airport and him in Denver at the same time I was waiting to fly home. Even crazier was he remembered me.

Our gate changed a third time. We spent the remainder of our delay standing in a waiting area the size of a tuna can talking, me about my writing and youth activities, he about cars and his service. (I remember he kept instinctively moving me so I wouldn’t get trampled by others.) He was on leave for a month before heading back to Afghanistan. It was his third deployment, but he was considering volunteering for a fourth because he’s single and it would mean a husband and father wouldn’t have to go.

I’ve had several friends leave for active duty in the years since 9-11. I’ve been blessed in that every single one of them has returned and been physically whole. I also have numerous family members who have served. Some made it home but suffered the effects of war physically and mentally. Others gave their last breath. Each of them had the same attitude as Daniel. For them not serving was never an option. It was an honor and a privilege to guard and protect not just their loved ones, but strangers as well.

Daniel and I lost track of each other after landing. Two years passed and I wondered about his whereabouts from time to time.  This summer while at a retirement party for one of his former Civil Air Patrol Senior Officers, my brother ran into him again and put us in touch with each other. We went out for a couple of drinks and ended talking into the wee hours of the morning about life. He’s Stateside again, but still active and plans to serve long-term. The fierce determination and protective instinct I saw in his eyes on the playground that day as kids is still clearly visible in his eyes.

So to Daniel, my friends and family, and every other veteran who has ever served: Thank you! Thank you for setting your safety aside to protect ordinary people like me.

To the families who have waited for loved ones to come home, and for those who are still waiting, I honor your sacrifice today, as well.

30 Days of Thankfulness in Writing – Day 7: No Writing Wednesdays

It’s easy to focus on the negative in the world around us. In observation of a month many dedicate to counting their blessings, I’ve started a 30-day challenge in which I’ll focus on one aspect of my writing life for which I am thankful. I’d love to have you join by sharing about something that has blessed your own writing life in the comments section below. - Jen

Wednesdays are the hardest day of the week for me to get any real writing done. My day starts with me heading out the door at 7 to meet with a couple of the high school students from my youth group. After that I spend the next eight hours sitting at a desk. If I’m lucky, I run home for 30 minutes to grab a quick bite to eat and then it’s off to Youth Group, which I am currently leading. Come 9 o’clock I’m usually pretty brain dead. Once I walk through the door all I want to do is put on my jammies and zone out for a little while before conking out.

Wednesdays are also the most rewarding day of the week. I get to spend a good portion of my day interacting with an amazing group of young men and women. It’s such an incredible blessing having the opportunity to be a part of their lives — to be trusted with their confidences.  And it’s not just on Wednesdays I have that blessing either. They contact me all throughout the week with updates, questions, and prayer requests.

Occasionally a group of them will call me up on the weekend and want to hang out outside of youth activities. We’ve spent Saturdays at a park climbing over the jungle gyms. We’ve followed long dusty trails along rapid flowing creeks. We’ve spent afternoons combing through new book titles. We’ve also gotten more than a few stares from Toys ‘R Us employees. (OK. I suppose it does look odd for a 29 year old to get THAT excited about a new Lego set, but can you blame me?) And as I type this, I got a text inviting me to one of my student’s 16th birthday parties this weekend. I don’t know if that makes me cool, or just really odd.

All of this is a roundabout way of saying I am thankful for my youth. Their excitement is infectious. It inspires me. And so much of what I write in my fiction has stemmed from my interactions from them. Rarely a week goes by without them asking about my work in progress. They think it’s so cool that their youth leader is trying to get a book published that is targeted to their age group. (You’d think there wasn’t anything available for them, but it’s also a huge ego boost for me when I’m wrestling with a stubborn scene.)

Best of all are Wednesdays like yesterday where I had the privilege of witnessing the spiritual awakening and rebirth of a 12-year-old girl. The image of the peace and joy shining from her eyes will stick with me for a long time.

I have a quote by Thoreau above my desk that reads: How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live.

No Writing Wednesdays are the perfect reminder of that.

30 Days of Thankfulness in Writing – Day 6: Rejection

It’s easy to focus on the negative in the world around us. In observation of a month many dedicate to counting their blessings, I’ve started a 30-day challenge in which I’ll focus on one aspect of my writing life for which I am thankful. I’d love to have you join by sharing about something that has blessed your own writing life in the comments section below. - Jen

I’ll never forget the day I finished the first draft of my first book. I was elated. I was inspired. I was ready to take on the world. I combed through my Writer’s Market searching for the ideal agent to represent me. I spent hours crafting my first query letters. I checked and rechecked names and addresses to make sure I had everything right. Then I dropped an entire stack into the mail and waited for one of them to ask to see more pages.

Every single one of the letters came back with the dreaded canned rejection. I’d never felt like more of a failure in my life.

Fast-forward seven years. Today I can honestly say I am truly thankful for those rejections. I learned more from that experience than I ever did in a classroom. Because of those rejections I learned that just because a particular project isn’t accepted doesn’t mean I am incapable of writing anything of value. Those impersonal notes showed me how much I still had to learn about the craft of writing. I discovered the wisdom of sitting at the feet of those who had already gone through the early learning stages and could offer advice in how to avoid making the same mistakes.

Most importantly, I found that I have the drive and the desire to continue moving forward. That even without a book deal I can write, and do enjoy even the most infuriating aspects of it.

I am so thankful that story never made it into print. It would have been a disaster. Now I have gained experience where before I had none. I have a better idea of what it is I hope to accomplish with my writing. And I’m using these skills to dust off and rewrite the story I started so many years ago.

I have no guarantee it will be picked up this time either, but I know now that I can handle the rejections. I can also look for new lessons to be learned from those short, cryptic responses.

30 Days of Thankfulness in Writing – Day 5: Improvising

It’s easy to focus on the negative in the world around us. In observation of a month many dedicate to counting their blessings, I’ve started a 30-day challenge in which I’ll focus on one aspect of my writing life for which I am thankful. I’d love to have you join by sharing about something that has blessed your own writing life in the comments section below. - Jen

Technically it’s the 8th day of the month, but between traveling for a few days and then forgetting my laptop power adapter, it makes it a little difficult to post. So rather than combining days I’ll stick with my original 30-day plan. What does it matter if I go into December? November doesn’t hold the license on Thankfulness any more than February holds the patent on Love, right? Which brings me to another aspect of my writing life I am thankful for: improvising.

Let’s face it — the best-laid plans always have an Achilles Heel, especially when technology is involved. Aside from losing my power cord, my car decided to go on the fritz even though I’d just gotten the all clear from my mechanic. And when visiting with family to celebrate a major milestone it is often frowned upon to hole oneself up to reach a daily word count. (Not to mention you also miss out on creating memories.)

Not writing wasn’t so big a deal. I had ideas and I’d jot them down in my notebook for later, but when it came to handling the car problems I wondered more than once, “What would one of my characters do in this situation?” I ask myself that question a lot when I find myself in a sticky situation. Would they panic? Would they cross their arms, sit down, and quit all together? Or would they come up with something entirely unexpected?

The answer was unequivocally, the latter. My characters would improvise. When a goal is blocked in fiction our characters don’t just give up. We’d stop writing (or reading) if they did. Instead they find a way AROUND the obstacle and then get back on track as quickly as possible. No matter what happens, what delays they face, they never take their eyes off their final goal or destination.

I recently started re-reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. It’s about a shepherd boy looking for his personal legend — a treasure he kept dreaming about. In one leg of his journey he joins a caravan to reach the Great Pyramids. There are plenty of obstacles to face along the way but as one of the camel drivers tells him, “Once you get into the desert, there is no going back. And when you can’t go back, you have to worry only about the best way of moving forward.”

Life is a lot like the desert. Especially the writing life. The way forward is rarely straight and direct. There are plenty of rocks to go around, pitfalls to be avoided, and thieves in the night to watch for (I’m looking at you, Facebook!). Sometimes life forces us to improvise. Like our characters, we can’t sit still. There’s no story to tell in that.  So I’m taking a cue from my favorite literary friends and will find a new way around these funky little obstacles. I’ll continue moving forward.

30 Days of Thankfulness in Writing – Day 4: Pen & Paper

It’s easy to focus on the negative in the world around us. In observation of a month many dedicate to counting their blessings, I’ve started a 30-day challenge in which I’ll focus on one aspect of my writing life for which I am thankful. I’d love to have you join by sharing about something that has blessed your own writing life in the comments section below. - Jen

It’s probably a no brainer, but today I am thankful for pen and paper. They’re both cheap and easy to come by, but there was a time (and it some places it may still be the case) where they were considered precious commodities. Not only did you have to have the money to spend on them, you needed an education to properly utilize them.

I’ve been blessed with both. I always have a notepad of some sort and a pen with me. Yes, I also own an older iPhone and have the ability to record voice memos or use the notepad feature, but I just love watching the ink bleed onto the page and I am less apt to edit myself while drafting a project.

For example, last night I spent an hour staring at my screen trying to think of what to write next in my story. I had the pieces outlined, I knew where the story needed to go, but I just couldn’t get the thoughts in my head to translate into words in my document. This in turn led me to turning my wireless back on and I ended up perusing through my news feeds “hoping my jumbled thoughts would work themselves out in the meantime.” Not very productive in terms of reaching my daily word count, obviously, so I closed the laptop and grabbed my nearest notepad.

Then this morning I packed up my car for a weekend visit to see my sisters. Joining me are my two brothers and sister-in-law. I of course have my laptop with me, but I put two notebooks and three pens into my bag (this doesn’t include the ones I have in my purse). The first thing my brother asked when I picked him up was if I had any paper and a pen with me so he could leave a note for his roommates. Cue the “Did you really just ask me that?” look.

As technology continues to progress I sometimes wonder if we’ll come to a point where we don’t utilize these simple tools anymore. If it does we’ll be losing an incredible art form. Fortunately, that day is not to day, nor is it tomorrow. So I’ll continue to stock up on pens and paper and admire the unique way my ideas seem to flow so freely when I have crisp white sheets and ink in hand.

30 Days of Thankfulness in Writing – Day 3: Morning Walks

It’s easy to focus on the negative in the world around us. In observation of a month many dedicate to counting their blessings, I’ve started a 30-day challenge in which I’ll focus on one aspect of my writing life for which I am thankful. I’d love to have you join by sharing about something that has blessed your own writing life in the comments section below.
 -Jen

While at Youth Group last night one of the high school students shared with me that one of her family members was about to go in for a major operation. He has diabetes and has to have his second leg removed. It’s no surprise that I immediately started wiggling toes and trying to imagine what it would be like to be unable to walk on my own. It took all of a second for me to decide I would probably go insane. It’s hard enough having to constantly read labels to make sure I don’t accidentally poison myself with gluten.

I love going for walks. It’s a simple exercise that allows me to clear my mind, work through conflicts, process story ideas, and it’s amazing getting to see the scenery changing around me on a weekly basis. It also gives me a chance to spend time talking with the people I love without the distraction of texts, e-mail, or phone calls. (Our walks are technology-free zones so we can have 30 minutes to completely unplug.) As I write this I’m just starting to warm up from my trek through the local park. It was 40 degrees out and raining, but as long as I was moving I didn’t really seem to notice.

So today I’m thankful for the ability to exercise — to stretch my arms and legs, and flex my cold fingers and toes.

I’m thankful that I can see the flaming reds and yellows and oranges clinging to branches and covering the ground.

I’m thankful I can hear the geese and ducks arguing with each other while standing on a bridge watching from above.

I’m thankful for the heat I felt seeping through my coffee cup into my mitten-clad hands. For the rich taste that warmed me as I took each sip.

I’m even thankful I could smell that pile a careless dog walker “didn’t notice” their pet left in the middle of the pathway.

It’s so easy to take the little things for granted, but when I stopped to consider them this morning I realized how big an impact each one has on my life. I also realized that without these amazing yet simple abilities my job as a writer would be a much more challenging task.

30 Days of Thankfulness in Writing – Day 2: Mentors

It’s easy to focus on the negative in the world around us. In observation of a month many dedicate to counting their blessings, I’ve started a 30-day challenge in which I’ll focus on one aspect of my writing life for which I am thankful. I’d love to have you join by sharing about something that has blessed your own writing life in the comments section below. - Jen

An editor I used to work with once said that if you wanted a bigger piece of pie, you had to make the pie bigger first. In other words, if you want to see more benefit from your efforts, you need to be willing to work with others to expand the territory. At the time he was talking about a couple of manufacturers who were squabbling over who had the rights to a certain bit of emerging technology, but what he said works for writing as well. The publishing world can appear cutthroat to outsiders. There are only so many book slots available in bookstores a year (though e-publishing is changing that), agents only take on so many new clients, and editors are a precious commodity. Once you get your start, if you want to make a living at writing your work really has to sell.

Then there’s the pie. When it comes to readers, there are only so many pieces to go around and those tastes are constantly changing. What is hot and fresh one day may be considered old and moldy the next.  Yet despite the survival of the fittest mantra we have pounded into our heads from an early age, I have rarely met a published writer who was unwilling to share a bit of insight with an aspiring writer. In my experience at least, it’s always been the exact opposite.

And that’s what I am thankful for today: the writers who have become my mentors. Some I have never met face to face, we’ve only worked together via electronic communication; others I’ve had the privilege to sit under for a spell. Each of them recognizes their time is a mere blink and wants to make sure there are other well-trained storytellers to take their place when they set their pen down for the final time. They don’t just lock themselves in their writer’s caves and turn out books — they dedicate a portion of their already busy lives to teaching.

These writers remind me of the ancient story keepers who took on apprentices and trained them until they could recite from memory the histories, fables, and tales of their culture. The main difference is my mentors taught me the rules of writing, how to avoid pitfalls they encountered, and they also encouraged me to find my own voice.

So to my mentors Norm Rohr, Douglas Hirt, John Perrodin, Suzanne Eller, Jim Bell, Jerry Jenkins, and all the others who have taken the time to pass on their valuable knowledge to the next generation: Thank you for working to make the pie a little bigger for all of us.

30 Days of Thankfulness in Writing – Day 1: Professors

During the past few years I’ve seen several of my friends embark on a 30-day Thankfulness challenge for the month of November. The idea is to post on their Facebook page one item each day for which they are thankful. I was so intrigued by this that I decided that this year I would attempt to update my blog every day with something or someone that has been a blessing in my writing life. I’d love to have you join me by visiting each day and perhaps posting something for which you are thankful for in the comments section below.

Today I am thankful for four college professors I had who saw a talent in me they decided to foster by pushing me harder than I at times thought fair.

I am thankful for Rick Thompson who saw in a ridiculous and very short story an ability to engage the imagination and create a world he thought children would love to explore. It is because of him I first started dreaming of becoming a real writer.

I am thankful for Luis Perotti, a World Lit professor who realized I just needed someone to sit down and explain a few simple mechanics in order to really excel in writing, and who opened a whole new world for me as a result. I only had one class with him, but he always stopped me in the hall when he saw me to catch up with me and see how my education (and writing) were progressing.

I am thankful for Mada Morgan who introduced me to the joys of writer’s manuals and gifted me with my first Moleskine notebook upon graduation. She also taught me the fundamentals of rhetoric and editing, and worked alongside some fellow students and me as an advisor while we created a departmental e-zine and two annual writing competitions for English & Writing majors.

And I am thankful for Craig Wright who never allowed his students to use five words where one would suffice. Who taught me the difference between having a well-rounded vocabulary and flipping through a thesaurus. I am thankful for all the times he forced me to cut a story in half, then in half, and then in half again until I finally discovered that in order to write one must first have a story to tell.

I am thankful for these four individuals because they are the beginning of my story. It is through their efforts, their patience, and their guidance that my eyes were opened to see the first archway in my three-act play, and it is because of their encouragement that I had the faith to step through it.

Using music and words to stir the soul

There are few things that stir my soul the way music does. I love how the arrangement of melodies and harmonies can capture the essence of the human spirit; how a few simple cords can inspire one to climb to new heights or descend to the lowest of depths, all in the space of a moment. If you looked at my iTunes library, you’d find I’m particularly drawn to instrumental music, and I don’t mean strictly “Classical.” Although there are no words, each piece paints a vivid picture that speaks specifically to me. 

As with reading and writing, my parents introduced me to music at a very early age. It was rare something wasn’t playing at home or in the car. My siblings and I grew up taking pieces by Beethoven, Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky, Gershwin, and numerous others and creating plays to go with what we heard. We climbed endless staircases made of couch cushions battling to “Mars” from Holst’s “The Planets.” (Luke Skywalker’s famous battle with Darth Vader was the inspiration for that one.) When it was time to clean up, we often danced about the living room like little cleaning fairies to “The Nutcracker Suite.” And there were more than a few café scenes done to “An American in Paris.” 

It wasn’t just classical music that played in the house, though. My dad loved artists like Vangelis, Ray Lynch, and Jean-Michel Jarre, whose works were the soundtracks to many space-themed adventures. My mom grew up with Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, and Frank Sinatra. So I suppose it doesn’t come as such of a surprise that when I’m writing I have appropriately themed music playing in the background. For example, when I’m writing a reflective scene I tend to have my soft reflection playlist going which has music from movies and video games mixed in. There are also Techno and Electronic albums I turn to when editing. And when I need a pick me up, I love listening to music that really should be played on an old turntable rather than my laptop.

I think one of the things that has always fascinated me so much about music is that though there are relatively few notes available, men and women are still able to create art that is so incredibly varied. Each piece is like a snowflake; you can spot similarity to others, but it is also a uniquely individual thing. Somehow the composer is able to capture and express a specific emotion that I can completely relate with, and yet at the same time when I’m listening to the music it feels so incredibly personal — as if I’m the only one who can ever truly understand its meaning.

That feeling is something I want to happen with my writing. When a reader sits down with me I want them to see the similarities and the differences of past experiences. I want them to feel as if the story was written specifically for them — as if it’s a secret only the reader and I can share in. Like music, there are only so many stories to be told (really, everything has been done before), but like the snowflake it can also be unique. And like the music playing in the background as I write this, it can be used to stir the soul.

Finding purpose as a Writer

My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses to the King; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer. (Ps 45:1)

One of my first writing mentors told me every writer should have a mission, a purpose for writing other than for self-enjoyment. He encouraged me to create a mission statement, and he also directed my attention to the above verse saying it would be a good motto for me. “What is my purpose in writing?” is something I ask myself every time I sit down. I might have various ideas, but the underlying principle is always the same: to build up and encourage others.

I was three when I first dedicated my life to Christ, but it wasn’t until the end of high school that I really had any idea what that might mean. All I really knew was that from the time I was small I wanted God to use me to bless the lives of others. At first I thought that might be through medicine and missions and I threw myself into that field whole-heartedly. Over time I came to realize I was really more interested in caring for the emotional and spiritual well being of others. I could splint and bandage and try to make people more comfortable all day, but my greatest joy came through building relationships and encouraging others.

When I finally decided to pursue writing as a profession I realized that being a writer was so much more than being someone who scribbles words on a page. It is an identity. And I wanted nothing more than for that identity to be centered in Christ. As the years have progressed I’ve noticed something about my writing: everything I do has God’s fingerprints on it. My words echo his love, reflect his creativity, and in some way retell the story he spoke into existence on the day of creation. What nobler theme could the heart be stirred by?

Not everything I write will be for the “Christian” market. In fact, that’s a term I’m not overly fond of personally because it sounds so isolationist. If we have an important story to tell, shouldn’t it be for everyone to hear? That is my mission, to write in such a way that it blesses the lives of others and somehow points them back to my King, no matter where they are in life. And better yet, I never have to get in their face to do so.

What is your purpose? What is your theme? If you haven’t found it yet I’d like to encourage you to take a break from your writing and do a little soul searching. Once you’ve found it you may discover that it adds an entirely new perspective and joy to who you are as a writer.