Friday, August 1, 2014

Your Eternal Plotline by Kariss Lynch


Kariss Lynch

Friends, if you’re a little discouraged with what’s happening—or not happening—in your writing life, you’ve come to the right place. You’ll be blessed by today’s post. Author Kariss Lynch shares a part of her journey to publication and offers encouraging words for all of us.  ~ Dawn


Your Eternal Plotline
by Kariss Lynch

It all began in third grade with a story about fairies. They wore petals in their hair and boasted the most beautiful, delicate wings. From my head to the page, the words poured, and I loved it. I loved the creation of another world on paper. I loved that it came so easily. I loved characters that I knew so intimately, friends almost.

As I progressed in school, words continued to flow with more and more frequency. By the time I left home for college, the only logical path seemed to be writing. What began as exploration, passion, and a way to express myself and tell a story became a potential career path. But I considered it a pipe dream. For someday. Maybe. If everything worked out.

With the identification of publication as a potential path, writing not only became a source of refining and exploration but also a point of rejection. But rejection didn’t always center over my style or my talent. It sometimes centered around Christian content. Professors didn’t see how characters could have hope or how God could be good. Classmates considered Christian content less than sophisticated. And the rejection of something I loved, something I poured myself into cut deep.

Little did I know it was just the beginning. As rejections came more often, the sting began to lessen. I came to an unfortunate but true realization – rejection is part of this path just as sweet success is part of this path.

Just when I wanted to quit, I was challenged to keep going, to allow my faith to overcome my fear, and to watch and see what God would do. Little did I know, He was weaving those rejections into a journey marked by His faithfulness. He never showed me the whole picture. But He did walk me through each step and put up with my prayers and cries that all my work seemed futile. Man, did He have a plan.

While rejection may put a cramp in your writing, it doesn’t put a cramp in God’s. In fact, that rejection that you have experienced and will experience on this journey is just a conflict that the Lord spins for the good of the protagonist in His story. He is the Master Storyteller and yours was an eternal story written long before you were born.

And it’s not over yet. We see such a limited perspective. We are that character trapped in the throws of trying to get published. God sees much farther and is using this time to shape you. Don’t lose heart. Instead, channel what He teaches you in the midst of rejection and redirection into your writing. It makes for a richer story. The ending promises to be sweet.

Keep writing, my friend…



Tweetables:

While rejection may put a cramp in your writing, it doesn’t put a cramp in God’s. Click to tweet.

The rejection you have experienced and will experience on this journey is just a conflict that the Lord spins for the good of the protagonist in His story. Click to tweet.

God is the Master Storyteller and yours was an eternal story written long before you were born. Click to tweet.

Channel what God teaches you in the midst of rejection and redirection into your writing. It makes for a richer story. The ending promises to be sweet. Click to tweet.




SHAKEN is the story of Kaylan Richards, a young woman who leaves returning love, Nick Carmichael, and her comfortable life in Alabama and to serve in poverty-stricken Haiti. But when a devastating earthquake strikes the country, Kaylan is caught in the middle of the destruction questioning a God who said He was good. Can Nick’s love help Kaylan heal and show her the God who never abandoned her, or will tragedy shake even the most rooted faith?


Kariss Lynch writes contemporary fiction about characters with big dreams, hearts for adventure, and enduring hope. Shaken, her first book in the Heart of a Warrior series, released in February 2014. Her second novel, Shadowed, releases March 3, 2015. A former freelance writer, she now works as the writer for the communications ministry at a church in Dallas.

To learn more and connect with Kariss, please visit:

Website/Blog – karisslynch.com