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| Annette M. Irby |
Each of you must take responsibility
Our calling to write came with a mantle of responsibility. There's a temptation to sometimes see writing as a hobby we can “get to when we want.” But, the Lord calls us to take it
seriously. Still, it's not all hardships, is it? Check out the sometimes “fun” responsibilities we have as
writers:
~ Feed your
creativity. What inspires you? Movies? Reading? A walk on a late spring
day? Take the time to do that. This is your responsibility. No one either 1)
knows when your creativity needs refreshing and/or 2) can refresh your
creativity for you. But what fun! Enjoy this one.
~ Know your craft.
There are so many “no-no’s” in writing. Sometimes so much so that our words can
get stifled in the telling of our tales. After we know the rules, when we’ve proven
yourselves, we can break the rules. But we have to prove competence first. Get
your hands on the books and tools that will work for you. We can’t skimp on
this responsibility.
~ Read your genre.
We have to know our genre(s) well enough to determine if we’re meeting readers’
expectations. They pick up a Christian fantasy, you want to give them what they
want. It’s your responsibility to know your genre.
~ Know what’s out
there. Reading in your genre will also make you aware of what’s out there. When
you’re assembling your proposal, you’ll need this information. If you’ve
actually read the comps you’ll be able to compare your work with them
intelligibly rather than relying on summaries.
~ Commune with God
so you’ll have something to give your readers. Your relationship with God needs
tending, like a garden. We can’t get so busy with our to-do lists we neglect
spending one-to-one time with the Lord. As writers (just like in any position
in the body of Christ) we must serve from our overflow. It’s our responsibility
to get into a position to be filled up, then as we sit down to write, we work
from the overflow.
~ Love your reader.
As Christian writers, we are ministers. The most effective ministers love their
flock. Let’s be shepherds after God’s own heart, caring about our readers.
~ Pray for your
reader. Part of loving our readers is praying for them. Who else will if we
don’t? Ours is a unique perspective. The written word is powerful. God can use
us to change lives. What a privilege. If we pray for our readers, we’ll better
address those needs, point them in the right direction, encourage them, offer
hope.
Called to be a writer? Write! If God asked you today if
you’ve been responsible with your calling, taken it seriously, how would you
answer? There’s grace, both to cover us in our weaknesses as well as to empower
us for the future. Avail yourself of that grace.
Take responsibility to be your creative best!
~~~~~
Husband Material: 99¢ e-book
Wyatt Hansen has no
fears about commitment, but only three years have passed since his beloved wife
died, and he can't bring himself to break their annual dinner date—that is
until he meets restaurant owner, Lara Farr. Lara doesn't have time for romance;
she has a business to run. At least that's what she tells herself so she
doesn't have to admit that commitment scares her. But Lara's business is
failing, and it just may take a miracle—or marketing analyst, Wyatt Hansen—to
save it. Can Wyatt rescue Lara’s restaurant, help her overcome her fears, and
prove he is good husband material?
