November 27, 2016

Pick a Vision - by Dayna Mazzuca

As the year draws to a close, this guest post by Dayna Mazzuca really distills down some key questions that we, as an organization, may want to ask ourselves. Please read, reflect, and comment. 

Pick a Vision: Three Paths to Growth for Writing Organizations

by Dayna E. Mazzuca

Our beloved Canadian writing organizations seem to be doing some soul-searching. From surveys to AGMs to reorg’s to requests for volunteers and committees struck to explore possible future scenarios for growth, now seems to be the time of taking stock. I would like to add a thought (or 3) to the discussion going forward.

As I see it, there are three choices to make. What should we do, really?

1.     Are we primarily educators? Are we the community class offering all things writing-related to the person who wants to hone their craft? If yes, then let’s focus on developing the teachers in our midst. Let’s drill down and take a systematic approach to covering the basics of fiction, non-fiction and creative writing. There is always more to learn. Let’s identify those in our midst who do what they do well (label them as fiction, non-fiction or creative experts in their field) and set up cohorts along those lines. If we’re a place of teaching, let’s teach! This is a mandate to make sure everyone is in their groove and mastering their craft. Polish makes perfect!

2.     Or, are we first and foremost colleagues who need time and places to connect and cross pollinate our ideas? If yes this is a more social/professional mandate than the teaching one. It may seem subtle, but conferences, workshops and gatherings of all types would look different for each mandate. For a more collegial mandate, the assumption is people are established in their craft or accessing what they need through various continuing education options. The assumption is that we get together not to grow as individual writers, but to grow a community of writers. This means we need free time, structured interactions and thoughtful ice-breakers. Encouragement to find writers just like us and stay in touch. It means every chapter doesn’t offer critique sessions, but also times to share our writing goals, stay accountable and share resources and contacts. This is a community that wants to bond to be stronger in forming outside connections with the publishing world. This is about putting editors and publishers front and centre (rather than teachers). This is a mandate on the move. Let’s meet!

3.     Or, we can ask ourselves if faith comes first. Are we primarily a Christian group? If yes, then we can focus on building faith in common areas as found in the Apostle’s Creed and actively seek to fulfill the call of God on our writing lives. We can focus on having more prayerful gatherings, with times of sharing, worship, bringing God’s word to bear on our own lives, situations, needs and writing dreams. We can come alongside each other and put our hands on each others’ shoulders and offer to pray. We can elevate our prayer coordinators to be the main speakers at our events. We can seek out speakers and preachers with a strong anointing to inspire us to fight the good fight, finish well and dig deeper theologically in our writing if need be. This is a group that offers people a place to bring their own struggles, celebrations, insights and breakthroughs. This is a mandate to bless. And pray long.

A college-type mandate for mastering craft, a collegial setting to connect as professionals, or a place where Christians gather to pursue their call: these are the three possible paths to organizational growth. Regardless of which we choose to shape a vision of provision around, there is always room for growth within that mandate – and of course, to some extent we’ll do all three, but picking a path is not limiting. Picking a path means we can go forward on that path.


It doesn’t matter which one we pick. It matters that we pick one.

16 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  2. I hope we get lots of comments here. The only one so far (which i deleted) was a spam 'phishing' comment. Real Inscribe members need comment only!
    As to the post, you have really distilled this down for us Dayna. Lots to think about moving forward.

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  3. Do we really need to choose only one? I need all three! If we concentrate of encouraging one another in faith and skill, I believe our members will grow organically, as will our membership. To exclude even one of these "choices" will lessen the value of our community, in my opinion.

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    1. "on encouraging," not "of encouraging." Sigh.

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    2. So true, Kathleen. I think Dayna does, in fact, allude to that in the piece (the fact that we need all three and all three can be part of the puzzle) but a primary focus might be in order, too.

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  4. Hi Dayna! I love the ideas you presented. I'm still thinking this through. I have some initial thoughts. I think elements of the first two can be considered. "A college-type mandate for mastering craft, a collegial setting to connect as professionals..." I like an approach to mentoring less experienced or unpublished writers as well as the involvement of editors. It seems to me elements of the third option such as encouaging each other will naturally be part of whatever direction we adopt. When it comes to inspiring and encouraging each other to "fight the good fight" etc. members or guest speaker writers can effectively take care of that. Thank you once again Dayna for inviting us to think of how we may move forward. I must say that I appreciate our InScribe organization as is. I am, however, excited about the prospect of direction options for future growth.

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  5. I read this piece a couple of weeks ago for the first time, and revisiting it, I still don't quite know how to answer it. Part of me is with Kathleen, who wondered why we need to pick just one. After all, we do have varying levels of experience in the group as a whole, which means that collectively we have multiple needs depending on our levels of experience. On the other hand, if we want to sharpen our vision, we have to remember that just as individuals have different ebbs and flows in their writing needs, the organization as a whole will have different needs depending on season. So perhaps the question is, what is our vision and mandate for InScribe IN THIS SEASON--right now? This will require a lot of praying into, and a rise of and reliance on the prophetic voice. But we must remember that a season doesn't mean forever. The focus should be reviewed then, every year or so, and to be ready and willing to shift as and when the need arises. As for me, my gut feeling is that we are in a season in which collegiality (#2) is paramount. It was my personal focus at the most recent InScribe conference and something I felt lacked at another writers' conference I attended within the last year (conspicuous by its absence). Just my two cents' worth. Hope it makes sense.

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    1. I totally agree with you, Sally - that our focus will shift with the seasons. Good point! As for trying to figure out where we fit at the moment, I also tend to agree with you that we are in #2 or perhaps leaning more into #3. Not that #1 isn't important, but I think we are less about that aspect than the others... thanks for sharing your comments!

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  6. As a relative newcomer to the organization I hesitate to give my opinion, but I have been thinking about this since I read it. It seems to me like InScribe is already a combination of all of the above, which is what makes it the unique entity that it is. I have personally benefited from all the above aspects since I joined almost a year ago. I agree with Sally that we are all in different seasons personally and collectively. I would suggest that we focus on being collegial Christian writers who are willing to mentor and be mentored by one another. I was so blessed to attend both the spring Wordshop and the Fall Conference. Both events were places where I could meet fellow writers as well as learn and grow in my knowledge and understanding of what it means to be a Christian Writer. As I continue to journey with you, I will also contribute more to the organization and in my writing. It is a blessing to be part of this community and I thank God for each one of you.

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    1. I am so happy that you are finding value. thanks for commenting!

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  7. Dayna, thank you for your insightful piece. It has really made all of us think. I wonder if the Conference is more of a cherry on top than the actual Sundae. For me, Conference is like the Great Commission and it has aspects of all three of your ideas, Dayna. First we are taught the truths (aka writing craft) and then we are bonded together by the Holy Spirit (Collegial aspect) and then we are called to go and share the Gospel (share our writing). All year long we as writers are being trained, and we are connecting with our various writing groups and colleagues, and also we are being challenged to go and share (write, publish, etc.). Then, when we get to Conference, it is like a culmination of all three and we are commissioned and sent. As writers we need all three to function - the college, the colleagues, and the call, and to me the Conference is a place where all three intersect and give us that accountability to then go into the world.
    If we choose just one, I agree with you that it is not limiting, it would help us to grow, but I'm just not sure how that would look. It seems that the three are so interwoven and interdependent.
    Just my thoughts. Thank you for making us examine what we take for granted, Dayna!
    Pam

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  8. I also thank you for bringing up these ideas. Dayna, but I needed to sleep on this before responding, as I hadn't previously analyzed what InScribe is and what it does in this way. I do see InScribe, in the present, achieving and maintaining a balance of the three aspects you mention.

    We educate and we become educated about our craft through our various ways of meeting and working together. Let me count the ways: ListServe and individual e-mail messaging, Fellowscript, WordShops, Satellite Groups, volunteer work and committees, Fall Conference with a balance of keynotes and member-led or other-facillitated workshops, friendships established, Executive announcements and concerns, Facebook groups, reading and sharing our thoughts through our blogs, contests for members . . .

    Further education is presented in online workshops, such as Marcia Laycock's Devotional Writing Course, which I took. Elsie Montgomery has also taught courses. Others may have more information on others who provide courses. Sometimes the course is in book form. Ruth Snyder, for example, has published a book on using Twitter; Melanie Fischer has published a book on technology. If you have techie, editing, publishing, etc., asking on the ListServe usually brings results. Maybe we need more of these courses?

    Through the ListServe, I have gleaned information, albeit promotional and educational, from gurus like Jeff Goins and Michael Hyatt. Recently I signed up for an Udemy Course, Writing with Flair. I believe it was Ruth Snyder, who suggested that.

    Through Glynis Belec's Word Challenges we practice writing to requirements and deadlines, we get feedback on our writing, and we learn to critique other's writing. Many of our members have experience in getting their books published either through self-publishing or traditional venues. They are happy to share what they've learned

    I could go on, but what I'm saying is that, within our membership, we collectively have considerable expertise that we can share formally and informally with the rest of the group. To me this bundles education and collegiality quite beautifully in the same basket. The basket would be empty without its contents.

    However, were I not looking for the faith component our group offers, I could look elsewhere for a writing group. Correct me if I'm wrong, but without the faith component, we could each be learning and teaching behind closed doors. I may not share the fun-approach I have for teaching money to primary grades nor the system I have for getting my students to progress at their individual levels in spelling. I would keep these ideas to myself. Then, the other teachers would probably not share how they do marvellous things in science in their classroom.

    Thinking of the faith lessons I've learned from reading Connie Inglis's Mid-week devotional, Marnie Pohlman's or Alan Anderson's blogpost, or Bobbi Junior's or Sharon Carver's memoirs inspires me to grow in my own faith life.

    Perhaps it's like Paul saying, "Faith, hope, love, but the greatest of these is love." I was going to start, "Education, collegiality. . ." This may be way off the mark, but I'm now thinking our group is all about "Faith, hope, and love." Also included would be "Education, 'cross-pollinating' (I love that, Dayna!), and answering the call of God to write that we each feel in our hearts.

    Thanks, my dear colleague, Dayna, for making us think this through on paper.

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    1. You have expressed your thoughts so eloquently, Sharon. This has been such a wonderful way to generate discussion among us!

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  9. Sorry, Dayna, but this looks way longer here than in the little window. Yikes.

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  10. I agree with Pam and feel that by choosing one aspect over the others we may limit what the Spirit leads us to do. It seems to me that every conference/workshop we've had has been guided by God and that's why it satisfied the needs of our members. If we choose to focus on just one aspect I fear that may in effect steer us toward "leaning on our own understanding." I realize there is value in planning and vision but sometimes we can get too caught into trying to function like a corporation rather than an organism. My 2 cents.

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