May 12, 2011

Steward what you've been given - Violet Nesdoly



Though most American Idol wannabes perform in the pop genre, a recent contestant, Scotty McCreery, is an unapologetic country music singer. In a blog post at Powerful Purpose Associates, writer Anthony Fasano says about Scotty,

"...it would be very easy for someone like Scotty to try to sing pop music...to gain popularity votes. However, he refuses to do that! Every single song he sings is either country or he sings it in a country music style."

One can't help but make comparisons to writing. No matter what genre you write in, chances are you've second-guessed yourself,  thinking if I were only edgier or safer,  more literary or more formulaic, more complex or simpler I'd be more successful. Or you doubt your choice of genre and consider switching from writing personal essays to, say, romance novels because that's what's being published — even though you haven't read a romance in ages and you're really not crazy about them.

Personally I love the world of poetry, have dabbled in it for years and have some very talented poet friends with whom I'm often tempted to compare myself. For example, one of the women in my poetry group won  the poetry category of the Surrey International Writers Festival in 2010. She read her piece to us several weeks ago and it blew me away. I could never see myself writing something like that.

Bob Charles in an old Alsop Review article titled "So You Want to Be a Poet" tells aspiring poets (and, I believe,  writers of any genre) some of the things that are in store for them as they travel along the road to excellence:


"1. You'll realize that every poem  you've ever written up to that point is fatally flawed.


2. You'll realize how awfully far you still have to go.


3. You're going to discover what kind of poet you are. This is not necessarily a joyous discovery...You'll discover what your limitations are. This is definitely not a joyous discovery. You'll realize there are some poems you simply can't write. Not now, not ever. They're beyond your range; beyond your capability."

It all sounds a bit depressing, doesn't it — until one puts it into context. Ephesians 2:10 is a good frame:

"For we are God's own handiwork, His workmanship, recreated in Christ Jesus, born anew that we may do those good works which God predestined, planned beforehand for us, taking paths which He prepared ahead of time — living the good life which He pre-arranged and made ready for us to live." (Amplified)

In plain words, we don't have the capability or interest to write some things because we were never meant to write them. We won't ever be held accountable for stewarding talents we don't have and opportunities that haven't come our way. But we will want to have done something with what we've been given, whether it's a gift for plotting mysteries, writing cozy devotions, structuring doubt-resistant apologetics, or composing simple poems.

(Hat Tip to N. J. Lindquist for the link to the article "What American Idol Can Teach Us About Career Advancement".)

- By Violet Nesdoly

4 comments:

  1. Great encouragement. Don't know if you remember the Fall Conference speaker we had who said, "If you are not absolutely compelled to write, forget it, you are not a writer." He made some people angry, but doesn't it take a long time to learn that if the Spirit of God is not leading us, maybe we should not do it?

    Thanks for this one!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks, Violet, for the reminder that our particular talent, style, or direction is unique. Perhaps someone, somewhere is wishing he or she could write like me?!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous4:13 am GMT-7

    Violet,
    Excellent thoughts. Comparing ourselves to others - NO - only look to God. I like what I read the other day - "Never compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.”
    If we are using our gifts, working with them, then I think we are pleasing God.

    Colossians 1:10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

    I like that one.
    Have a blessed, Spirit-filled day,
    Jan

    ReplyDelete
  4. ohhhh Violet, I'm taking the last paragraph and putting next to my computer and writing desk.......as a reminder!

    So enjoyed your posting and all its good reminders and thoughts.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to join in the conversation. Our writers appreciate receiving your feedback on posts you have found helpful or meaningful in some way.