When I first began writing, I wanted to write, because I wanted to have published something.
In 2000, I started writing, because I had something to say.
In 2000, during Lent I studied the life of Hannah, the mother of Samuel as a model for making sacrifices.
By the autumn, I was working on a novel about Hannah.
I had discovered that her faith journey in ancient Israel had many parallels with the faith journey of a woman in the twenty-first century, despite the three millennia that separated Hannah and me.
In 2004, my book, Hannah’s Journal, placed third in a field of 270 entries in the Christian Writers Guild First Novel Contest.
That book is still unpublished, but my success in the contest invigorated me.
I soon tackled two more novels, which are at present unfinished. The reason is that I continued to develop a better sense of direction as a writer.
In the beginning, I almost dismissed my non-fiction writing as busy work, something to do when I couldn’t think of any stories.
I wrote meditations, prayers, worship guides, articles and teaching plans.
While I struggled with the problems of plot, character development, setting, dialogue and so forth that are part of the craft of a fiction writer, I wrote commentary and background spontaneously, as a natural outgrowth of my research.
One day I had the mind-boggling revelation that it was possible to be a successful writer without selling a novel.
Today, if someone asks me why I am a writer, I will ask, Do you live the Christian life as an employee trying to understand the rules and avoid reprimand, or are you creating a life in collaboration with your Creator who loves you and gives you both the vision of a fulfilling life and the gifts to achieve it?
I write to share with other people what I have learned, just as Hannah learned, about life in relationship with God.
My work is to help people see God’s vision for each of them, to help them find the gifts God has given them for the fulfillment of that vision, and to help them grow in relationship with a God who wants them to fulfill the promise of their gifts.
I write and teach on subjects such as prayer, Bible study, faith journaling, and simple skills for daily living. I am still studying the subjects that shaped my original attempts at fiction, but I find that my talents work more naturally and successfully in non-fiction forms.
My current work in progress is called, Don’t Panic! How to Thrive When Your world Turns Upside Down.
This book started as a workshop that explores the way the life of Joseph demonstrates faith principles for facing bad experiences that are beyond an individual’s control.
After deep study of Joseph’s life, I was led to study the world view and wisdom of the biblical books, Ecclesiastes and Revelation. That work led to discovery of other Bible characters faced with intractable problems.
To the four simple principles in Joseph’s life I added six more that work well together and are easy to remember.
That list became the backbone of my book.
As you can see, I rarely know exactly where I will arrive when I embark on a project.
My initial perception of every project I have ever begun has grown or morphed or even multiplied into more projects.
A series of meditations on the Lord’s prayer became a book project on praying the catechism.
Someone asked me how I manage to make time for daily prayer and Bible study on a boat, leading me to write a book of meditations on biblical texts with references to the ocean and water.
This book, Oceans of Love, is self-published and now available at www.blurb.com and in the Kindle store.
To date, all my submissions to traditional publishers have been rejected. The editors say that my writing is good, the project is attractive, but they don’t need that project at this time.
When I was fighting my way through the craft of fiction, I loved the story-telling aspect, and I even wrote some scenes that I thought were fabulous.
Still, when I switched my focus to non-fiction, I finally felt at home.
My natural tendencies to make lists and do research and pick apart words and phrases with spiritual implications serve me well in non-fiction pieces.
I blog, write meditations, create workshops, and work on my books.
My to-do list is always pretty long, but the skill that serves me best is to figure out which item needs attention right now.
All the rest is for later. I love to focus deeply on one item and hone it to a high level.
That gives me a sense of accomplishment that I don’t get by whizzing through a lot of little bits and pieces.
Of course, this means that a lot of bits and pieces fly right by me.
I’m excited to be a member of She Writes. I knew I had found the right place for me when the non-fiction contest was announced right after I joined.
I don’t delude myself that the happenstance of timing means I will win the contest.
I do know that preparing the contest submission helped me to focus intently on my project and develop a solid concept that I know will work.
My work wins, even if I don’t win the contest.
I love being a writer. I have done a lot of different kinds of work in my life.
I have enjoyed them all.
Still, nothing else has ever been as satisfying and exciting as being a writer.
Some people discover their creation purpose early in life. Not me.
I have spent my lifetime being a career hobo.
No more. I have found myself.
Thank you, Lord.