Believe

Believe
Net's Notations Tuesdays
New Commitment Series

If I could find one, I’d put a scroll-work decoration above our fireplace which would read: Believe. And I may just leave it up all year. Believing is a theme in my life as a Christian.

I’ve been challenged in my writing life where believing is concerned. If I didn’t believe I’d make it as a writer, I’d have ditched the whole thing by now. If I didn’t believe in my God-given dreams, I’d have bailed out of this boat by now. Writers don’t tend to make a good hourly wage, ya know? *grin*

But I can’t help it. I love writing! From that first spark in junior high ‘til now, I’m committed.

‘Tis the season for believing. Here’s how we can apply the word believe to our writing:

Believe you’re going somewhere. God has you on your own individualized writing and publishing path. Don’t compare yourself to others, just trust His work as you move forward. And if there are days when all you can do is face forward in hope—do it!

Believe He’ll use you. God has a plan for you and your writing. If He’s called you to this, He means to use you. Follow Him. Wait on Him. Believe in His goodness through all the rejections and trials. There’s no greater joy than being used by God.

Believe He’ll reward you in time. Hours and hours and years and years at the computer keyboard. Loads of words. Pages of manuscripts. Piles of empty ink cartridges. He sees your sacrifices and calls you to persevere. He will reward you. Laboring for the Lord is never in vain.

Believe good things will happen. You will have your breakthrough. You will see your dreams come true if you don’t give up. Hang in there. God-given dreams buried in a heart sold out to God are powerful.

This Christmas season . . . Believe.

Commit Your Writing to God

Commit Your Writing to God
New Commitments Series
Net's Notations Tuesdays

Hey readers, Annette here. My husband and I attended a wedding in mid-November. Ahh… commitment. Here at Seriously Write, we’re winding down our series on new commitments. This week let’s discuss committing (or recommitting) our writing to God.

When you started out (how long ago was that now? *grin*), you probably responded joyfully to the call to write and easily, heartily committed your writing life to God. Then, as you waited to meet with your dream agent at a conference you recommitted. (Stress’ll do that do you.) Then, as you waited to hear back from that submission you sent in, you fasted, prayed, and re-recommitted. (I know I’m not the only one.) Well, whether you’re now working on your dream project with your dream team or not, it may be time to recommit your writing to God.

Here are some areas where this applies:

Recommitting our writing lives – the call to write affects every part of our lives. Can I hear an amen? For better or worse, we’re like Jane Austen was depicted in the movie Jane. She’s meeting her potential mother-in-law and is suddenly inspired. She steps away from the others, plunks down and commences to scribble. The mother-in-law wannabe is appalled. “What is she doing?”

“Writing.”

“Can anything be done about it?!”

Indeed. Nope. Sorry. Had to chuckle at that line because that’s exactly how it is. You know it, too, don’t you? So, as we’re pursuing God and His calling for our lives, we’ll need His help to balance everything. If things have shifted or slipped, perhaps it’s time to recommit your writing life to Him.

Recommitting the written words – I recall a few instances where I was writing along and certain scenarios popped into my mind which didn’t pass through my filter. We should definitely include trouble in our stories (for you fiction writers), but I don’t believe we should include troublesome material—like scenarios that do not glorify God (or will not, eventually); words which do not honor Him; or a spirit which doesn’t glorify Him. Of course, this is subjective. So here’s how you know: seek God in humility and let Him guide you. Commit your written words to Him.

Recommitting our writing goals – we can set all the goals we want, but if God’s not in them, we’ll run up against a wall again and again. Commit your writing goals to God. Pray over them. Partner with God to set them and then trust Him to help you make them. He wants you to succeed!

This list challenges me. How about you? But the holidays are a great time to take stock and recommit, don’t you think? That way, come the new year, you’re ready to dive right in with all the courage and joy that comes in knowing God is in the middle of your writing life.

Giving Thanks and Giving Back

Giving Thanks and Giving Back
Net's Notations Tuesdays
New Commitments Series

Hey readers, Annette here. It's almost Thanksgiving! I've been thinking lately about how thankful I am for the many, many writers who have influenced my writing, encouraged me, critiqued my work, taught a workshop I attended, etc.

Long before I ever started plotting stories in my head, or seeing scenarios consisting of characters of my own invention depicting scenes of my own invention, I read books by talented authors. And without even knowing me, they inspired me, influenced me.

Later, the day came when I chose to write and gave it a try, thinking, vainly, I could jump right in and make a success of it. Ha! Twelve years later I’m still learning (which won’t stop). I have a pile of unpublished manuscripts hoping for homes while I try new projects. I’m a reader, writer and editor, and I know this is where I’m called to be.

There are authors with tons more experience than me. And there are writers with less experience than me. I land on the line somewhere, just like you. If you’re of the mind to help writers/authors, here are some ideas:

~ You could offer advice, encouragement, lessons in your strengths.
~ You could serve as an influencer and encourage readers to buy your favorite books.
~ You could post book reviews online.
~ You could blog on writing.
~ You could critique someone else’s work and offer your opinion.

There are many ways you could give back to the writing community. Giving back may require a new commitment. If so, I encourage you to make it. There is so much joy in giving.

This season as we give thanks and look forward to Christmas, consider the various ways you could give back to those who’ve helped you along your writing path. You might be surprised how God blesses you in the blessing.

Persevere

Hey everyone, Annette here for another installment in our New Commitments series.

Ugh! I can’t get past this block. That ever happened to you? My crit partners helped me rework my storyline last week at McCrit, but I can’t get rolling. It’s probably an SOTP thing. And I know once I’m on the right track, it’ll flow. But for now, I stare at the screen. Getting out two hundred words feels like laboring over two thousand.

But I long to write. I long to dive in and revisit these characters. So, what to do?

How do you get past writer’s block?

One thing I know I can’t do—give up. That phrase isn’t allowed here at Seriously Write. *grin*

Maybe part of the problem is I haven’t adopted the new ideas as my own, or they seem to not quite fit the story. They need tweaking. See, I’m beginning to understand, and knowledge leads to breakthroughs.

Prayer helps. I’ve been praying this week about my WIP, but I haven’t gotten back to the computer (at least not with time blocked out to write). I need both.

What about you? Do you need a fresh inspiration or plan for your writing? Maybe you’ve received a rejection lately, and it’s difficult to get back into your writing or even start a new project given all the heartache or frustration you’re feeling. Sometimes I just need a break from a specific project in order to get fired up again. Or tackle whatever is holding things up from a different angle.

Maybe your writing buds can help encourage you. We’re here to help. And I don’t know about you, but God timed this focus on perseverance just perfectly for me. *smile*

So, pray, commit anew to not giving up, position yourself at the computer, and write on!

Sit Down and Write!

Hey everyone, Annette here. Welcome to the second post in our New Commitments Series this Net's Notations Tuesdays.

You’ve heard this before BIC (behind in chair). The only way to get your writing accomplished is to sit down and do it. Wave at me if you know that’s true.

There are a million reasons we procrastinate. I procrastinate because: 1) I don’t know what to write next (SOTPers unite!), 2) I’m afraid it won’t be good enough, 3) I’m afraid it will be good enough, 4) I’m afraid of the unknown.

What stops you?

Now let’s talk about what motivates us. Deadlines motivate. Even if you don’t have a contract pushing you toward finishing that manuscript, you can still give yourself a deadline.

This month, lots of our writing pals are participating in the NaNoWriMo—National Novel Writing Month. The goal is prescribed for you: 50,000 words in one month. If you’ve participated, you probably know it’s a sizable challenge, but if you succeed it’s a fantastic tool, plus you’re surrounded by others with the same goal so you have support and accountability.

Same’s true of ACFW’s Novel Track: Writing. I’ve participated every quarter since its inception this year. The difference between this program and NaNoWriMo is that you set your own goal. There is accountability with the others on the e-loop. Daily, you click over to the website, enter your total words for the day and see where your words affect the group’s total. Together, we penned over 1.2 million words in October. Every time I participate, I’m pushed to accomplish my goal. Very motivating.

What motivates you?

Sometimes I’m motivated by the sheer need to write. It’s a feeling that rises up inside me—a desire to create deep characters who hook readers emotionally with their growth stories. Ideally, anyway. Little things in life inspire me. Then, I have to apply BIC. Sit down and start writing.

Meeting writing goals requires:

1) A new commitment to do just that.
2) Self-discipline (BIC no matter what).
3) Prioritizing.

I began a new job in August, but I didn’t let the fact that I now had a(nother) time consumer in my daily schedule keep me from writing. I can’t. Plus, we have McCrit to prep for (right ladies??), and Mondays roll around every single week. *grin*

So, commit afresh to getting those words onto the screen (or page) and don’t let excuses stop you. Set an atmosphere. Set a goal. Surround yourself with support and accountability. Enjoy! Write!

Your Calling

Your Calling
New Commitment Series
Net's Notations Tuesdays

During church on Sunday, God highlighted people’s callings. If you’re here, reading Seriously Write, I’m going to take a risk and guess you’re called to write. *grin* That morning, as God highlighted callings, He spoke through prophecy to our congregation. See if you can relate with these messages.

Has the dream died? Sometimes when we don't see the results we thought we'd see in a certain time frame, we lay the dreams aside. If we go long enough, they die. It's time to bring them back to life—to speak life over them and into them and watch God move in fresh ways as we recommit.

Have you held back because of the responsibility? You know your dreams require sacrifice. Callings are costly. But is that a reason to put off doing what you were created to do? Don’t let it be.

God rekindled my dreams the other day in the drug store, of all places. I saw a rack of books in an unusual place—just paperbacks by one or more authors. I want that—my books, out there. I have lots of manuscripts written and I’m sure several more in my heart waiting to be written. And one of my dreams is just to have them out there. Of course, I’d love to be a best-selling author one day, too. *grin*

What about you? Has God make your calling clear? Write it down. What are your dreams? Write them out. Then, recommit to pursuing them, no matter the cost. Ask for wisdom, dive in and be steadfast. You and your destiny are about to collide.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord,
knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Cor. 15:58, NKJV)