Cultivating Curiosity ~ Valerie Ronald

 

When my daughter took her niece to the museum, little Hazel was fascinated by each different display. With her nose pressed to the glass, she asked the same question every time. “What does it do?” Her auntie had to think quickly to come up with answers to satisfy the curiosity of a three-year-old.

Curiosity is natural in young children˗˗preschoolers ask an average of 26 questions an hour! However, as people age, curiosity often declines due to reluctance to ask questions or reticence about revealing what they don’t know. A strong desire to discover and understand keeps the mind active, boosts the memory, and improves learning capacity. Cultivating curiosity is a way to slow down the aging process of the mind.

Curiosity is a writer’s best resource because it works as an engine for generating ideas. It drives the creative process, sending a writer down trails of inexhaustible possibilities for writing projects. It fuels the imagination, prompts research in areas of genuine interest, and brings fresh energy to the page, keeping readers engaged.

Curiosity need not be limited to the real world. It crosses over into the imagination to explore possibilities beyond our physical limitations. A prime example is the complex fantasy realm of Middle-earth conceived by author J.R.R. Tolkien. He created a highly detailed mythological world with multiple people groups, languages, histories, and environments. As Professor of English and Literature at the University of Oxford, Tolkien lived and worked where his considerable intellect and curiosity could access extensive resources to inform his epic trilogy.

If I wrote only about what I know and have experienced myself, my writing portfolio would be limited. Curiosity sends me searching for the answers to why and what if?, opening imaginative possibilities I can transform into words on a page. I may live a simple, quiet life, however, the possibilities of where my mind can take me are endless.

A short story I submitted to an InScribe FellowScript Fall Contest grew out of my curiosity about living in a church no longer in use. A Stone Ghost was written because of the following questions and the answers I imagined: 

Who would be interested in buying an old church? ˗˗ A sculptor creating larger-than-life statues requiring open space and high ceilings.

What affect would the atmosphere of an old church have on a man embittered towards God because of his wife’s death? ˗˗ He plans to sell its valuable stained-glass window, then changes his mind when moonlight through the window illuminates one of his statues, sparking an encounter with God.

What catalyst needs to be added to make the story plausible? ˗˗ A motherly woman who asks the sculptor probing questions that help him look at his own pain, then take a step toward healing.

As a curious writer, I constantly observe details and scenarios I can file away for future writing projects. People’s mannerisms, conversations, and responses noted during social interactions give me material for creating believable characters. Curiosity about an environment motivates me to investigate it further, with the possibility of incorporating it as a setting. With vast amounts of information available at my fingertips on the internet, I can accurately write about places I have not been to myself. Eye-witness observations may have the advantage of my unique viewpoint, but they are not always possible.

Trying to write without employing the resource of curiosity seems like an impossible task. Curiosity gives us permission as writers to explore wherever our imagination wants to go. Because we are writers, we won’t be labelled obsessive when we spend days researching obscure topics like the history of shepherding or symptoms of Asperger syndrome. We will be considered curious.

Curiosity about life in all of its aspects, I think, is still the secret of great creative people.
– Leo Burnett

Valerie Ronald writes from an old roll top desk in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, with her tortoiseshell cat for a muse. A graduate of Langara College School of Journalism, she writes devotionals, fiction, and inspirational prose. Her purpose in writing is to encourage others to grow in their spiritual walk.                                

The Christian Writer’s Toolbox by Peggianne Wright

A carpenter learns his trade over many years. He will have begun as a novice, with little or no practical skills but a desire to create and craft and build with wood. He will quickly learn that there are essential tools he'll need for virtually every project and highly specialized tools needed when an elaborate, customized creation is underway.

As Christian writers, we will each assemble our own toolbox to aid and assist us in our craft. The basic tools will likely prove to be the most useful and relied upon in the whole kit. Just like a saw, hammer, screwdriver, level, and measuring tape, my personal writing toolbox consists of these primary tools: Mentors, Training Programs, Reference Material, Continuing Education, and Passion.

Mentors

Over the years, I have followed a number of Christian writers, artists, and personalities. Though, as I have matured in my faith, grown in my spirituality, and developed and improved my writing skills, many names have been added and then removed from my list of favourites. Just like when we meet someone new, it takes time to learn about them and to link their personality, writing style, belief system, etc., with our own.

Some have, what to me feels like, an enduring presence that shares their personal walk with the Lord in ways that help me strengthen my own. My tendency to embrace a more traditional teaching style leads me to the writings of such revered teachers as Chuck Swindoll, Henri Nouwen, and Jen Wilkin, to name a few. Naturally the writings of prolific men of God such as Charles Spurgeon, C.S. Lewis, and A.W. Tozer have filled my nightstand for years.

Training Programs

Depending on the direction our writing is leading, there are training programs available to gain practical experience in the craft. Online webinars and various workshops and courses, both free and paid, are abundantly available. One can become overwhelmed with the offerings available so it's wise to go slowly and choose carefully. My favourites include Kingdom Writers (C.J. & Shelley Hitz) and Becky Kopitzke.

In years past, in an effort to develop and improve my writing skills I enrolled in the Compel Pro Writers Training offered by Proverbs 31 Ministries (Lysa TerKeurst). When I realized I wasn't gaining the kind of practical training I had hoped, I found Flourish Writers Academy created and hosted by Mindy Kiker and Jenny Kochert. There I enjoyed a special online community of like-minded Christian women and gained practical knowledge and training in the craft of writing that helped me in my publishing journey.

Reference Material

In the 21st century, we can count it a blessing that there is an endless stream to reference material available at our very fingertips. This comes with a caution however, since we must carefully discern the source and validity of material we obtain. And now, even more urgently, it's critical to use extreme vigilance where AI is involved. I personally avoid AI whenever possible (although we all know it's embedded in and controls so much of what we do these days.)

The Bible will always be my most important reference tool; this goes without saying. But, my shelves are lined with other books including The Christian Writer's Manual of Style (4th Edition), The MacArthur Study Bible, The Chronological Study Bible, as well as several other writers' guidebooks and manuals. My trusted 40-year-old paper thesaurus has been replaced by Google, and I refer often to websites such as Bible Study Tools, Blue Letter Bible, and Bible Gateway.

Continuing Education

As Christians, we are perpetual students, as we study God's Word. Depending on the scope of your writing, further theological training may be desired. I have enrolled and participated in several online courses offered by the Dallas Theological Seminary. I've also found theology focused courses created by Jen Wilkin on the Lifeway Christian Resources website.

Passion

Without this incredibly essential tool, we are unlikely to touch the hearts and minds of our readers and even less likely to point them to God. It's imperative that we find ways to refresh and enliven our faith on a daily basis so we can share God's Word with others.

Beyond the Basic Tools

As we become skilled in our craft of writing, we may wish to specialize in certain genres and areas of Christian life. From non-fiction writing such as writing devotionals, bible studies, or other life resources to the world of fiction, we'll need additional tools to help us achieve success.

Others' Books

Reading is a lifeline for writers. It's imperative that to become a good writer we need to be a great reader. Choosing books that are part of the genre we wish to pursue, reading and deconstructing them to really understand the technical aspects of the writing will help guide us to improvement. Take care though, to avoid being a "copycat" and remain true to your own "style".

Community

Regardless of what genre we write, connections with our community will inspire us in ways we can't imagine. Taking time to just sit and write what pops to mind after a social event, a shopping excursion, a dentist appointment can be the seeds of some wonderful, heartfelt, and realistic writing.

Our church family can be of immense support in our writing careers. Having trusted friends to bounce writing ideas off, or folks to help promote your writing, or even personalities on which to base fictional characters can be invaluable. But, we must always take care to nurture our relationships in a way that doesn't take advantage of our friends and families.

Music

Listening to music, for me at least, is a multi-layered experience. Having lived to half way through my 6th decade, I have listened to—rough guess here—likely millions of tunes. Coming from a musical family, I have learned (but not mastered) five instruments and own a collection of hundreds of albums, CDs, and cassette tapes. But, the point here is that music has a way of speaking to a listener in ways we cannot understand. It will invoke memories and emotions and can even kick-start our imaginations. Using music to inspire our writing can be rewarding in so many ways.

Lived Experience

It's no secret that our writing can be inspired and/or influenced by the experiences we've lived through. I found that I had to eliminate a certain Christian writer from my bookshelf because her whole collection was based on her husband's betrayal. And, I left her writing group specifically because I felt that they focused on tragic life circumstances as a way to become a good Christian writer. Coming from a loving family upbringing, I began to feel I was "too blessed" to be the kind of writer they were training.

ALL of our experiences, good and bad, play a role in how and what we write. We get to choose what our focus will be. But, no matter what blessings or difficulties God has placed in our lives, if we can craft them into stories that benefit others and point to Him, our writing will truly be considered a success.

"Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15 NLT)

Peggianne Wright is a published author and is the founder of the pet parent ministry Paws To Pray, blending her passion for the Lord and all-things-K9 to form this unique, faith-based community. Peggianne is an ardent Bible study student, devoted dog mom, wife of 44 years, and lover of music. Her blogs Spiritual Scribbles and Fur-Kid Fanatics can be found on her website www.PawsToPray.ca and you can follow her on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PawsToPray/ and on IG @Sister_In_Prayer.

Fill 'er Up by Bob Jones

This month’s writing prompt asked how I fill my creative container.

That’s an interesting query.

In a recent online discussion with a group of religious leaders, the facilitator asked us to list the reasons why we do what we do. And then to share why what we do may encounter resistance.

My writing at REVwords is inspired by people and the challenges they face. They overflow my container.

These are some of the reasons and resistance that make up my writing world.

Reasons
•  Be an advocate for others.
•  Defend others who need a friend to stand with them.
•  Be a voice of those who don’t have a platform but have a story.
•  Broaden the perspectives of those willing to stretch.
•  Raise up issues to higher importance than is often attributed to them.

Resistance
•  My content offends some readers, so they break connection.
•  Deficiency of clarity in my writing leads to misunderstanding.
•  Defensive reactions to dissenting views and critique.

During that discussion, we were challenged to think about how we could get a broader hearing on divisive issues. How could I communicate what is meaningful in a way that would draw a more diverse audience and inspire less resistance and more conversation?

Exploring that kind of thinking is going to fill my creative container. I posted my first attempt at that in the post, C-9, 18, and 5:14 (Galatians). Let me know how I did.

The prompt also asked what strengthens my craft, the writing resources I use, and my go to publications, quotes, podcasts, and other resources.

Lately, I’ve been influenced by the people I follow on Substack and podcasts. Each one of them writes with creativity and passion. They’re not tentative in taking on big issues and speaking truth to power.

Bishop Mariann Budde – Reflections on Courage, Faith and the Work of Love

Brian Zhand

Bob Rae

Beth Allison Barr – Marginalia

Anne Applebaum – Open Letters

NiJay K. Gupta – Engaging Scripture

Anne Lamott – Hallelujah Anyway

Patti Miller – Isn’t That The Craziest Thing

Kristin Du Mez – Du Mez Connections

Anne Lamott shared a story a few weeks ago in her Substack. She told it for people doing important work. People like Inscribe writers.

“The writer Mark Yaconelli told me years ago of holding a retreat one weekend where a hundred people from all over the world came to hear his teachings on how to work with disenfranchised and severely depressed young people. He spoke to the gathering for a few hours about tools that he used to create community and connection with young people suffering loss and isolation. At some point, he handed out a Mexican beach blanket to each person, and asked them to lie down and rest.

A physician who worked with young AIDS patients had flown in from South Africa the week before, and she came up to him, furious. She said that she had flown 10,000 miles at enormous expense to learn his techniques and did not want to be told to take a nap like a kindergartner. Mark nodded sympathetically and asked her to do the best she could.

When the hour was over, the woman came back to him, weeping. She had fallen asleep. She said that she had not understood how exhausted she was.”

Happy Easter. He is risen so you can lay down.

Thank you for reading and commenting. I always look forward to your engagement. It’s the best part of writing.

A Few of My Writing Resources by Lorrie Orr

April's prompt is all about Writing Resources. How do you fill your creative container? How do you strengthen your craft? What writing resources do you use? Share books and publications, quotes, podcasts, and other resources you’ve found helpful.

Please remember that if you have difficulty writing to a particular prompt, you are free to write something else with a writing life focus.

Resource: a useful or valuable possession or quality that a person or organization has, for example, money, time, or skills

When I'm stuck for something to write, I often find definitions help me get started. A dictionary is definitely a resource, along with a thesaurus, and The Elements of Style by Strunk and White. The latter is useful for matters of grammar and punctuation.

Dozens, hundreds, even thousands of resources useful to the writer abound in libraries and on the internet. The key is to discover which resources are most useful to me. A search engine is a great resource and I can quickly scroll through the various suggested sites to see which might pique my interest or fulfill a need.

I write some things by hand on paper, but most of my writing is done on a computer, specifically my Surface Pro 8, a cross between a tablet and a desktop. With it I can write anywhere. I use Microsoft Word as my writing tool and find it very useful. Another tool I use is my iPhone, useful for jotting down thoughts on the go or for taking photos of things I don't want to forget such as signs, logos, etc.

My greatest resource is my mind. Without that unseen, complex part of me that's hard to define, I am a shell. With my mind I see, hear, taste, touch, and feel. My mind motivates my behaviour and my emotions. Just thinking of all those synapses constantly firing in my brain is enough to make my mind explode. I am "fearfully and wonderfully made." When my mind is in tune with God's Spirit, it is indeed a marvelous thing.

Since my mind is so important, I must care for it properly so it will serve me well throughout my life. I must nourish it carefully, minimizing the garbage that can hinder its function. I am careful about what I put into my mind, focusing on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy, as the Apostle Paul writes in Philippians 4. Things that fit those descriptive words in my life become more resources for my mind to employ in writing.

I am also cognizant that my mind needs rest and relaxation. During stressful times of life, I am learning to pull back and let my mind recuperate. Time away from writing is just as important as the writing itself. A good night's sleep is something I appreciate more and more. My mind needs gentleness as well as occasional reminders to "do the next thing".

Tea is my hot drink of choice when I sit at my computer. In summer it's a glass of cold water with sprigs of mint or lemon balm. A comfortable chair and a table at just the right height are useful, although I can sit on the couch and write, too. Being in a good position helps me to focus on my writing rather than my physical state.

Creation is also an immensely powerful resource. While walking this morning I thought about how so many people play music or listen to podcasts while walking. I don't. My mind is full to overflowing with thoughts, prayers, songs, and stories. When I write, I find that mental pictures absorbed from what I've seen in nature often provoke a written response.

These are just a few of the things that help me to write.

I could include a vast number of websites, blogs, SubStack writers, and more in this blog. But I'll leave that to you. What resources help you to write?

Lorrie Orr writes from her home on Vancouver Island,

finding beauty and grace in the natural landscape.

Her memoir of 21 years in Ecuador will soon be published,

and you can find more of her writing on SubStack and her blog.