Social Media Basics by Steph Beth Nickel

 

Facebook. Substack. Instagrapm. Chirpbooks. Rakuten Kobo. Kindle. These are just six of the plethora of apps I have on my phone.

While I access my audiobooks and ebooks daily (there are at least twice as many apps on my phone than the three I mentioned), they, of course, don’t get my words in front of readers.

All that to say, I’ve become quite comfortable with the tech. Probably because I’m “an extrovert on steroids” who loves to connect with people IRL (in real life) and online, and I feel that connection to a degree even when listing to podcasters and audiobook narrators.

While Facebook and Substack do get my words out to my readers, I’m not about the numbers. There, I’ve said it. I once wrote a poem “Writing for the One,” and that’s still how I feel. Each individual who is blessed or encouraged by something I’ve written brings a smile to my face. So, no, definitely don’t ask me to help with your book promotion (with the exception of being on your launch team, which I may or may not have the bandwidth to join).

While, as authors, we likely debate if it’s worth our time to use social media to promote our books, we often forget that everything we put out there has the potential to impact someone—or many someones—many of whom we will never meet in person.

Every Facebook post. Every Substack article. Every newsletter.

We’ve all heard that not every post should promote our book(s). If you’re like me and countless others, you likely cringe at the vaguest hint of a salesy post, especially if that’s all we ever see from a given writer.

Does this mean we can never point potential readers to our author website or our Substack articles that are behind a paywall? Definitely not. But if that’s all we do, we’re unlikely to attract the readers who will enjoy our work, those who will become fans—or even super fans, willing to buy every book we publish.

There are several other cautions when it comes to tech that are worth heeding as well.

1.      Don’t let it scare you.

2.      Do your research before committing. It’s better to be on one or two platforms and follow best practices than to try to do a little bit of everything.

3.      When considering where to spend your time and energy, be honest about your individuality. How much time do you want to spend learning about your chosen platform(s)? How much time do you have to post and interact with commenters? (Note: Personal interaction is very important to some readers.) What is your primary purpose for establishing or developing your online presence? (Not all platforms are equally helpful.)

4.      Don’t get bogged down by the plethora of “experts” and advice. Zero in on a single platform, do your research, and give it a try. And remember… It’s unlikely that you’ll see immediate results. Give it time.

5.      Among your best resources are your fellow InScribe members. Many of them would be happy to share their best marketing tips, favourite social media platforms, and most helpful online resources.

What online platform do you gravitate toward? Which do you steer clear of? What online resource / platform do you most highly recommend for writers?

Steph Beth Nickel is the former Editor of FellowScript and the former InScribe Contest Coordinator. Steph is an editor and author and plans to relocate to Saskatchewan from Ontario to be close to family in 2027. (Headshot Photo Credit: Jaime Mellor Photography)

How Technology Helps Our Writing by Sandi Somers

 

Years ago, David Suzuki spoke at our teachers’ convention. One statement has stayed with me. “When we get a new technology, we wonder how we got along without it,” he said. 

How true his statement has been as I prepared for this November blog. Technology has greatly changed and improved our writing life. 

Typing was among my earliest ventures into new technology. It was much easier than with a manual typewriter. I could move script around and didn’t have to retype everything for a new draft. I didn’t have to worry about spelling mistakes. 

Oh yes, then came spell check. It was helpful, but then not everything is corrected. I always have to go back and spell check the spell checker. 

Dictating. Several years ago, I began recording my writing into my cellphone. After handwriting a general outline, I dictate, which goes much faster. However, my current cellphone is not as accurate as my last one. Often it adds periods and doesn’t capitalize words such as “Bible”, “Jesus”, and even “God”! It doesn’t understand unusual words. For example, when I was dictating about our InScriber, Jack Popjes, a Wycliffe Bible translator with the Canela tribe in Brazil, I discovered this interpretation: “Pop the juice” was among the “vanilla tribe”. This was easy to correct, but sometimes I wonder what it is hearing! 

Researching using Google has been a great time saver. Years ago, I told a writer that there’s usually a library book on any given topic. Now all we need to do is click on Google, search, and confirm our sources, all within minutes as we sit at our computer. 

Bible references. The Lord often brings Scripture to mind, but I don't always remember the location. My go-to site now is Bible Hub where I find different versions of Scripture, including Greek and Hebrew, plus related verses, commentary selections, and Bible study questions. I was glad to give away my large concordance where I had to search under a key word—sometimes not finding the verse. 

Online courses, podcasts, webinars, and conferences. Contrast this with my first distance correspondence course years ago through Athabasca University. Each Tuesday evening we could phone the tutor with our questions or quizzes and hope we wouldn’t get a busy signal (which I sometimes did). We’d have to mail in our major assignments, making sure the university received them before the due date. How complicated it seems now! 

Executive and group meetings are so efficient with Zoom. In the early days of Teachers of ESL, provincial executive meetings were held in Red Deer, halfway between Edmonton and Calgary. Copies of agendas and minutes were mailed out to all the exec members. Later when I joined the executive, members of our Calgary chapter met at Mount Royal College where we had access to conference calling. Later on when part of the InScribe executive, we graduated to timesaving Zoom meetings where for an hour or two we sat in the comfort of our offices as we conducted our business. 

Submitting and publishing. In my first devotions to the Upper Room, I sent by mail and included a SASE (remember those? self-addressed, stamp envelopes?)  I even asked my friend who was working in the US to send me some American stamps and hoped I included enough postage to cover cost of returning them. What a difference email has made! 

Promoting our work through Facebook, Instagram, Substack and other formats. I’m just getting into this avenue, now that I’ve published my first book. It’s a steep learning curve. 

And now AI. If we choose, we can even have our work written for us. It can bring up needed information in seconds, although without human touch and emotion, writing can look sterile. 

Modern technology has opened these and many more doors of opportunity. My examples above are only a small portion of how technology has helped us in our writing careers. 

However, Kelly Kapik, writing in Christianity Today, reminds us that our relationship with God is rarely efficient. “Technology pulls us toward optimization, but God’s work in our lives takes a slower route”, he wrote.

"God is more interested in relationship than in the speed of our progress; he is more concerned with lifting our gaze, provoking our song, and stimulating our imaginations with his goodness and glory than in simply bringing us over the finish line. And as most artists or authors know, mechanistic efficiency is often the enemy of creativity…Instead of efficiency, God is interested in cultivating love, beauty, wonder, community, and worship."

Let us allow God’s values to shape ours and our writing as we engage in His “patient, deliberate, and faithful love.”[i]

Sandi Somers’ writing passion is to help readers grow their faith in Jesus, including their vision of what God wants them to be and do. She writes of her love of nature, gardening, travel, and family in several genres—devotionals, personal essays, and Biblical fiction. She has recently published her first book, Divine Encounters: 21 Stories of God’s Miraculous Ways.

Sandi lives in Calgary, Alberta, the delightful city between the Rocky Mountains and the Prairies. 

---

[i] Kelly Kapic, “Unlearning the Gospel of Efficiency,” Christianity Today https://www.christianitytoday.com/2025/07/ai-technology-dependence-god-only-human-gospel-of-efficiency/

Learning Curves ~ Valerie Ronald

image by Pixabay

Perched on the edge of our chairs, hands poised over the keys, we waited for the timer to sound. Ding! And we were off, filling the classroom with the deafening clatter of multiple manual typewriters as we raced to type as many correctly spelled words as we could in the time given. Back then in high school I had no idea how useful the skill of touch typing would be in my future as a writer. Cursive writing is awkward for me as I am left-handed. Though many writers prefer the tactile process of handwriting, I still favour using a keyboard.

Keyboards and I go way back. From high school typing classes, to 1970s newspaper teletype machines and early personal computers, my fingers became an extension of my creative thought process. Standardized English alphabet keyboards mean I can write on most computers available to me. Many writers use the “hunt and peck” technique with some proficiency. I like the speed and smoothness of touch typing.

In fall of 2025 I embarked on a lifelong dream of writing my first book. Knowing I was a high school student back in the 1970s, you can assume my present age made improving my online technology skills a challenge. I needed to upgrade my computer in order to accommodate the word processing program required by my publisher. That meant two new systems to navigate. There were times when I shut down my computer and walked away in frustration. Often by the next day a solution to my digital dilemma would come to me and I forged ahead. My publishing editor was always available to help when I was really stuck.

Now that my book is published, I realize the importance of having a God-given calling and purpose in order to stay the course when things are difficult. Focusing on the end goal helps me persevere through the ongoing challenges of managing social media platforms and web-based tools as a means of promoting my book. Having learned what I did through the publishing process, I have confidence that I can master most of what I need to do.

The ethical quandary of promoting my own work is where I find it difficult to strike a balance. Before independent publishing became more accessible, mainline publishers did the job of promoting and selling the work of the authors they represented. I worked with a reputable publishing services provider that expertly guided me through every step of publication, including book marketing and promotion. They gave me the tools, yet I find it difficult to manage promotion of my own work without appearing self-important.

Initially I am using Facebook and Instagram to post quotes from my book and reviews from readers. As I become familiar with the elements of these tools, I hope to try new promotion techniques. By observing how more experienced authors handle social media, I can learn to do so tastefully. It will take a while for me to find an online promotion style suited to the book, and myself as an author. I welcome any helpful recommendations! 

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. She has recently published a devotional book, "Each Shining Moment - Lingering in God's Light." 

Technology or Analog? by Carol Harrison

                              

photo by Carol Harrison

Technology often scares me. Oh, I use my computer for word processing and Mr. Google to search for information. I have even shopped online from time to time. I’ve also wasted time scrolling through Facebook to procrastinate doing other things on my to do list. I used to always type my projects directly into the computer word document but over the last few years have picked up a pen and put the words on paper before typing them. Why? I’m not sure. I type faster than I can write longhand. Yet sitting in my big comfy chair with the sun shining in the large patio windows feels like a warm, safe space to journal or write blog posts in a notebook.

Maybe it would be clearer to say that using social media intimidates me. I don’t know the best way to use it to promote myself and my writing to potential readers. I do have a Facebook account and an Instagram one too. I even have a Twitter or X account but I don’t use it and rarely post on Instagram. My Facebook account started to keep in touch with friends and family. Some family posted news and photos on closed accounts and it helped keep us in touch.

When I began writing, I posted about any writing and even did several on line book launches that had a week of posts and photos along with an invite to a live video launch. The live part terrified me. I worried I couldn’t make it happen and yet I set myself a goal to try. I think they worked out.

Then a writer friend encouraged some of us to take one week and post something unrelated to selling our books. It should be fun and inspirational posts. She wanted us to try and connect with potential readers without a sales pitch. I took up her challenge. After the week finished, I continued posting three times a week. Monday I posted a photo and inspirational post to go with it. Wednesdays I posted creative endeavours of friends and family to encourage them and share their work with any followers I had. Finally, on Fridays I decided to try something fun. I began posting photos of my bear, Patches, doing different things and invited people to caption the photo or use it for a creative prompt or just enjoy it. I chose the teddy bear because I don’t have a pet that might offer a variety of poses.

As time passed, the Monday and Wednesday posts disappeared. Friday Patches posts have continued. Now when memories bring up some of the inspirational posts from back then, I share them again. Maybe it’s time to reinstate them and come up with some new ones.

But, although I do use Facebook a bit and word documents, updating and maintaining my own webpage is beyond my skill level. I need to have someone more tech savvy help me or rather implement the changes I need. Right now that hasn’t happened for way too long leaving an outdated web page.

Technology or analog? I wouldn’t want to give up my smartphone or laptop even though the computer at times frustrates or overwhelms me. I don’t use either to their full capacity. There is something about sitting with pen and paper to jot down thoughts. But to interact with more potential readers, Facebook has its place. Now I just need to get past my phobia surrounding using technology and surrounding myself with others who know more than me about using social media and updating my website.

 

Carol Harrison feels like social media and technology can be frightening things but necessary ones. She lives in Saskatoon, SK and is grateful for help from family unafraid of pushing a wrong button.

Technology by Lorilee Guenter

Mister Bert's Adventure by Lorilee Guenter

Technology offers many tools for writers and authors. I find it has many drawbacks as well. I choose between them based on a number of criteria, mostly though it comes down to preference. I prefer analog for some tasks, and I prefer digital for some tasks. Some things require technology.

I write 99% of my first draft long hand, including this post. The weight of the pen in hand and the sound of the nib travelling across the page are sensory details I don't want to give up. They tell my brain it's time to write. I also keep a journal, a prayer journal, and a travel journal. My travel journal is written from two points of view. I write my thoughts then I print an "Adventures Log" from the point of view of a small stuffed koala called Mister Bert. In this way my journal is both a record and a story prompt.

Subsequent drafts of writing are typed, printed and revised longhand. I just don't like staring at a screen for hours. I will edit small pieces without reprinting them but the majority of my work gets printed for revision and for a hard copy reference. 

Technology offers many tools for artists. I have scrapbooked parts of our family traditions, travels, and general life. Most often I used digital tools to create the pages, then print some of them. The key reason I create a scrapbook page is to tell the story with words and images. As long as they are accessible by family they can count as finished in digital form. I would like to print more of them so we can hold the books in hand, but for now I'm happy having them done

For my other art, I need physical tools: pens, pencils, and paint. I use a variety of materials as my base such as: wood, paper, tea bags, and canvases. There's no digital replacement for the art I create.

Digital or analog, I find a place for the tools offered by both mediums. Digital is easier to share. Analog gives tactile feedback. I don't want to pick just one. 

Lorilee Guenter is a Saskatoon, SK based writer and artist. She bridges the gap between Digital and analog technologies by using both. She writes a Substack each Friday.

Pigeons Versus Substack by Michelle Joy Teigrob

 

Sometimes I wish I lived in the days when communication over long distances involved quietly scratching a note on a scrap of paper and attaching it to the skinny leg of a homing pigeon. After checking that the note was secure, you’d lean your head back while the pigeon flapped upwards.

As you shielded your eyes against the sun’s brilliance and a light breeze brushed your cheek, you’d watch your bird head to the sky. You’d clasp your hands together, praying said bird and the note made it to their destination a few miles away by nightfall.

Now, I can take all of 30 seconds to tap a note on my phone or computer. I can trust that the note will arrive at its destination thousands of miles across country or world in the same amount of time – 30 seconds give or take a few.

I joined Substack not too long ago after fellow InScribe member, Alan Anderson, introduced me to it. A long foregoer of all things social media, I decided to make the leap after gathering that this platform is designed especially for writers who enjoy long-form material (I realize that isn’t necessarily always the case and the platform is evolving, but that’s the story I went with).

At first, I felt very anxious about Substack – as all social media tends to make me. I think it’s the wildness of it all. Like the old west, social media seems to be all about every person for herself. Rules and structure appear very minimal. And there’s a lot of noise. Hundreds of voices constantly call, read me, read me, look at me, listen to me.

Social media has always held a very different vibe from what I imagine a quiet afternoon attaching a note to a homing pigeon would be like.

But I prayed, “Lord, if I’m supposed to be on Substack, guide me and give me peace.”

And then I took a step.

And another step.

I decided that even if the system itself appeared to have little structure and rules, I could create my own. I came up with a simple, loosely structured, daily routine for sharing and engaging.

I also very quickly discovered that, based on the folks I connected with initially, the platform can be full of lovely, encouraging people! I have enjoyed more than a few deep and wonderful conversations and connections that I would never have imagined possible – especially on social media.

I look forward to scrolling through the Substack notes, an astonishing number of them Bible-aligned, encouraging, convicting, and life-giving.

Substack may not always be the platform for me. But, for right now, I’m trusting it’s where I need to be with respect to my writing ministry.

Do I still long for the days of communication over long distances when all I needed was a calm sunlit afternoon, a bird, and a writing utensil?

Of course.

But I wasn’t born in those days.

For that reason, I need to make the most of what I’ve been given now. I need to redeem the time, while I still have it.

Thus, for now at least, Substack it is.

Michelle Joy Teigrob blogs on Substack and at michellejoybooks.ca. Her mission is to share true stories and articles from a heart seared by this message after being shattered by the deaths of 3 sisters: In the end, one thing will remain above all.

Crickets by Peggianne Wright

 

Photo credit: P. Wright 2026

Ouch! I could almost feel the physical pain as I hit the proverbial brick wall.

I doubt if there's a single writer in the universe who hasn't at one time or another gotten stuck. Certainly, the level of stuck might vary depending on the circumstance. For instance, I recently sat down to write a piece that was to be focused on a particular monthly prompt. I can honestly say that over my entire writing career, my backspace key and delete buttons have never had the workouts they've experienced in these last couple of weeks. I'm sure I heard one of them scream, "Uncle!".

Sitting in front of the blank screen with just the topic written at the top, I began to go bleary-eyed. Over, and over, and over I read that blurb. Waiting for the "pop" of the light bulb. Crickets.

As I do each time I sit down to write, I say a quick prayer asking for direction, guidance, and purpose. Maybe I didn't focus the words correctly. Maybe God was busy just then. Maybe my heart wasn't in the right space. Maybe .... there were no words in my head!

Generally, I'm a pretty wordy person when I write. But wow, it's like the tap was turned off and the watermain completely dried up. Nothing.

Each attempt I made, I'd tell myself, "leave it for now" believing that, as my English teacher once said, "Inspiration will hit at the most unreasonable times so be ready." Ha, still a blank.

As I sat and stared at my four-legged colleagues, all casually lounging in their "work spaces", I'd wait, hoping for words or phrases to pop into my head. Oh...maybe this sentence. Nope, delete.

A quick glance at the internet. What to do for writer's block. Really? Change your font. Seriously? Still nothing.

My conclusion. There will be times when we simply cannot find the words to write. And, when that time comes, write the words that do flow. It may not be the piece you can submit to your group or publisher, but you've still written something.

While I have long held the belief that writing to a hard prompt is a learning experience, I have now realized that when we acknowledge that we may not be equipped to write on every topic, we'll now understand and accept the crickets.

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.

Whiteout, A Brother Typewriter and Technology by Bob Jones

Knowing the demographics of this group, you’ve most likely had the memorable experience of using a typewriter long before keypads were invented.

My first typewriter was a Brother. They should have called it a “bother” because that’s what it was every time I made a typing mistake and was forced to correct it using a brush stroke from a bottle of whiteout. And I spent a fortune on bottles of whiteout.

Typewriters

In Junior High I was assigned a creative essay on the Vietnam War and used my bother of a Brother to produce a “Diary of a US Marine.” Why a Marine would use a typewriter in the jungles of Vietnam is beyond me now but that escaped my 13-year-old’s logic. The last unfinished page of the diary was smeared with red liquid, symbolizing the death of the diary keeper.

As clunky as it may sound, it was a fun exercise, and I still have the diary tucked away in a tote in our cold cellar.

How times have changed.

Technology

Now I navigate the digital world of a WordPress blogsite, Substack, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, and a Mailchimp newsletter that needs feeding twice a week. Thank God there is no whiteout needed for digital.

My blogsite function is totally dependent on a paid web designer. Years ago, I taught a seminar at the Inscribe Writers Conference on using a blogsite. Maybe you were there. The first enquiry during the Q&A session was how did I build my blogsite. When I explained that I hired a web designer, the response was, “O, you can afford a guy.”

If you’re going to write, you might as well be read.

That doesn’t mean writing for applause, chasing clicks, or hoping to go viral. It means remembering that words are meant to travel.

What better way to travel to readers than through free, social media platforms. Posting on social media is an invitation: Here’s something I’ve been thinking about. Perhaps it will make you think, too.

I travel for free on Substack, Linkedin, Threads, Twitter, and Facebook.

My wife loves the digital world of Kindle, or I should say, MY digital world. My library doesn’t need to be dusted now that most of my books are on Kindle. Gone are the floor to ceiling bookshelves, traded in for a simple, dust free, iPad screen.

I'm OK with screens. I can take my entire library with me to Ukraine on my iPad. My eyes are a different story, requiring reading glasses and regular screen breaks to give them a rest.

Here's to a celebration of thinking, writing, and sharing.

 

You can find me at REVwords and on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, and Substack

Some of my published books are listed on www.Amazon.ca.

Technology: A Love/Hate Relationship by Lorrie Orr

 

November's Prompt: Technology vs analog. How do you handle the tension? What social media platforms or web-based tools do you use to ensure your work is read by others? Do you find it difficult to manage technology?

 

Photo by Lorrie Orr - The last bouquet of roses cut this week from my garden

Typing 9. I sat in front of a fully manual typewriter. Early technology, and faster than writing by hand. Typing came easily, and the teacher said I had strong and accurate fingers – from practicing the piano. I learned to center titles by counting the letters and spaces, dividing that number by two, finding the center of the paper, then pushing the space bar to find the correct place to begin my line of text. Whew! It was a lot of work. Technology for writers has come a long way since then!

Now technology threatens to take over so much of our lives. I have a love/hate relationship with it. Very glad for some things, not so much for others. Here are a few of my thoughts:

Love

My Surface Pro 8 computer. It's a few years old, but works wonderfully, especially after the updates are installed. I like it because:

* It’s small enough to tuck into my carryon or personal bag when travelling.

* It acts as a real computer in that it stores lots of documents and photos.

* It’s easy to pack around the house if I want to write in the living room, the kitchen, or my studio/office.

Hate

When technology doesn’t work as planned. I get so frustrated when I seem to be doing the right thing and it doesn't work the way I want it to. However, I’ve learned that, like most humans, phones and computers benefit from being turned off for awhile, then re-started. And make sure the updates are installed!

Love

My I-Phone 17. I love it because:

* It keeps me in touch with those I love, via texts – group or individual, phone calls, and Facetime.

* It has a great camera. I have a larger camera that I like to use around home, and I had a smaller digital camera for travelling. Actually, I had two of those smaller cameras, but they were kind of finicky and I decided to replace the last one with the newest I-Phone. It’s got a great zoom and takes good photos, although I think my larger camera still beats it.

* I control my notifications and have only the phone and text notifications enabled. If you email or message me another way, I check those regularly, but I don't want a barrage of interruptions in my day.

Hate

Generative Artificial Intelligence. It’s mere artificial plagiarism. I have briefly, very briefly done a few experiments with AI and I don’t like the results. They make me feel squeamish. So I’ve taken a firm stand on AI. Why?

* Because it takes away from the humanity of thinking and working through problems. Walking helps me when I have a thorny problem to work through, or an activity like dishwashing or folding laundry that keeps my body busy and lets my mind wander. Plot problems and ideas flow when my mind is in neutral and I often get my best ideas during a walk.

* Because it uses so many natural resources, like land and water. Here's a link to a Canadian Government site about the issue.

* Because human creativity is a gift from God – because creativity is part of the image of God in humans – although I struggle to draw and paint, I will not resort to AI to create images for my work. Generative AI lacks soul, whether in writing or in art.

As with all love/hate relationships, there are qualifiers and extenuating circumstances. I am thankful for the amazing abilities God has given the human mind to solve problems and make life easier and more stable. Without modern antibiotics my husband would have died of pneumonia. Without natural gas, I would be chopping wood and feeding a wood stove to stay warm in the winter. Technology is all around us, from the wooden spoon I use to stir soup on the stove to the elaborate computers used to power our world. Humans benefit from technology. But let's not lose our humanity.

Lorrie Orr writes from Vancouver Island, BC.

She is the author of one book, a memoir, Life is Short but Wide,

and has a number of other books waiting to be worked on,

as well as a vast amount of writing in her head. Unfortunately,

technology doesn't help her sit at her desk to write.

She also writes on Substack and her personal slice of life blog.

Giving Thanks in All Circumstances by Leanne Davidson

 

We are pleased to welcome Leanne Davidson as she joins our writing community here on InScribe Writers Online. 

Believers are told to “give thanks in all circumstances.” Share a story of when you found it difficult to give thanks in your writing life. What did God teach you through that experience?

Giving thanks in all circumstances is certainly a timely topic for a month of Thanksgiving! This verse in 1 Thessalonians has been both a challenge and a moment of discovery for me:

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all

circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 

         (1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18, NIV)

My writing life actually began in a way I would never have anticipated. In November of 2022, my youngest son, Mikael, died of an accidental overdose. The heartache and agony of losing your child requires a means of expression. It cannot be held inside our bodies with no channel to  release it. I turned to writing as a way to articulate my grief and put my biblical lament on paper. In response to God's prompting, I began sharing these journal entries in a blog and eventually published books. 

The benefits of this have been twofold. For one, the act of placing complicated feelings on paper is very therapeutic. It provides an external, concrete process to reflect on the convoluted thoughts and feelings of grief and God's response to them. In addition, fulfilling God's purpose by using writing as a means to offer help and comfort to others provides meaning and direction at a time most needed. 

Having said that, I certainly can't say I am thankful for the reason my writing life began! Nor do I think God expects me to be. This is where the verse in 1 Thessalonians has been a challenge and moment of discovery. There is a framed picture at the front of our church with this verse on it. Sunday after Sunday, it has stared me in the face, prompting me to contemplate its full meaning. 

At first glance it's easy to interpret this instruction as being thankful for every situation. In fact that was my first thought, creating furious conflict in my soul. Indignant would be an understatement. God gently led me to understand I was in error and was not reading this verse accurately. We are instructed to give thanks in all circumstances, not for them. Upon realizing this distinction, the door was opened to the partnership between gratitude and grief. 

Although I am not thankful for how my writing began, I am thankful for being provided with this gift of communication. It has been instrumental in my personal grief journey, opening doors of healing and opportunity for service. I have much for which to be thankful as God has provided for every need over the past four years: people to support me, concrete needs, solutions to problems, direction and comfort. 

The relationship between gratitude and grief may seem somewhat paradoxical, but the reality is that they exist simultaneously. Gratitude can walk hand in hand with grief, providing clarity and encouragement on an arduous road. The cultivation of gratitude for God's loving provision is a powerful healing practice. 

Leanne Davidson is an author and blogger based in Kenora, Ontario. She resides with her husband, Tim, and their dogs, Milo and Millie. A 25-year educator and recipient of the OECTA Pearse Shannon Memorial Award, she also holds a certificate in “Death, Dying and Bereavement” from Wilfrid Laurier University. Following the 2022 accidental overdose of her son, Mikael, she became engaged in grief ministry, supporting others navigating similar experiences. Her website, www.amothersgriefjourney.com, provides resources, personal narratives, and access to her publications. She may be contacted at kenoralake4@gmail.com

The Ten Principles by Brenda J Wood

Image by April Price from Pixabay

In 2010, the State of Wyoming adopted "The Code of the West" as their motto. They were made popular in James P. Owen’s book Cowboy Ethics. I list the shortened version along with the cowboy ethics from centuries ago. As writers, we would do well to adopt them for ourselves.

• Live each day with courage.

• Take pride in your work.

• Always finish what you start.

• Do what has to be done.

• Be tough, but fair.

• When you make a promise, keep it.

• Ride for the brand: Show deep loyalty to your group.

• Talk less and say more.

• Remember that some things aren't for sale.

• Know where to draw the line

• Horse thievery was a capital offense.

• Never alter another man's brand.

• Unconditional hospitality.

• Don't ask personal questions.

• Share water rights and grazing lands.

Brenda J Wood has authored more than fifty books. She is a seasoned motivational speaker, who declares the Word of God with wisdom, humour, and common sense.

The Friendless Winter 2026 by Shirley (Maher) Williams

Premier AI Image, woman walking alone in the forest winter loneliness

Today we are delighted to welcome long time InScribe member, Shirley Williams, as our Guest Blogger.

Write a Story where it’s difficult to give thanks in your writing. What did God teach you through this experience?

Sometimes it’s hard to give thanks in our writing, when life is challenging. Here’s my story of this example.

It’s funny how life goes. I don’t know how we can ever expect anything to stay the same in life, because it really doesn’t. I guess we need to learn this lesson as time goes on. We know it with head knowledge, but sometimes until it hits our hearts, it doesn’t become reality.

Within the last two years I have lost four dear friends. One moved away (difficult to connect) and the others passed away in their early 60s. One was a lifelong farm friend (60 years), two were church friends (25 years), and the last one was a work friend (15 years).

The three friends that passed were very unexpected and emotional. My lifelong friend, Judy’s passing was especially tragic because her health came crashing down, while we were preparing for our daughter’s wedding. We could only do so much for her at the time, but thankfully after the wedding I was able to see her the day before she passed. Her health was not the only tragedy in her life, but so was her last 20+ years. Her husband left her destitute with two special needs children, stole her farm, committed adultery and barely/rarely supported them. Her sister and friends supported somewhat, but sadly she never recovered from her loss.

Judy and I were two years apart and grew up nearby, on our Alberta family farms. Our families were good friends. As we grew up, we played, worked, travelled, camped, and enjoyed many movies, events and especially good visits together. We ended up in the same town, and both had children on the autism spectrum. Thankfully, we were able to understand/support one another. We also shared the same family dynamics and similarities/interests. We were referred to as “twins”! We chatted, laughed, cried, and prayed together, and our visits were never long enough. Kindred Spirits, how precious our friendship was!

I wrote a yearly Christmas letter and last year expressed that some of my dear friends had passed away. I was hoping that some friends would have realized my need for extra companionship that year. Sadly, it didn’t really happen.

During that season, the odd friend reached out, and we connected a couple times and a couple others attempted too, but illness, overwhelming responsibilities, and conflicting schedules led to nothing. I was thankful for those who reached out, but sad that connections were so poor in my sad year of mourning.

This was shocking, as I feel that I’ve reached out to many friends over the years during good and hard times and I kind of felt a bit cheated. I also realized that I hadn’t reached out fully with authenticity about my extra need for friendship. (I thought my friends would have caught on, but they didn’t.) At the time, I wasn’t sure what was going on? Was this just part of our senior years, or maybe the sign of our complicated times of poor communication. I just waited to see if someone would contact me, so I waited (usually I’m the contact person). I waited and waited and prayed and waited. Nothing. Finally, after months of waiting and suffering, with God's help I decided to stop feeling sorry for myself, rethink things and choose thankfulness/forgiveness (others/myself) and moved on. I joined a Bible study and started reconnecting, and it was good. We continue God's ministries for us (ironically connecting others). Loving and serving (even if not returned) and receiving from others with authenticity (good attitudes/boundaries).

It was hard, until recently, to write about this painful experience with thankfulness during this time of mourning, disappointment, and transition. Thankfully God heals, fills all the voids and helps us process our losses, unmet expectations, and struggles. He guides us with His perspective/will as He “works everything out for good…” (Romans 8:28) and transforms us into His likeness, to do things His way and not ours.

Thank God for getting me through a very sad/trying year. With His help, I choose not to have any more friendless seasons and will always find something to be thankful for, in my experiences for spiritual growth and expressed through my writing. When we ask/obey/trust/wait on Him, He’s always faithful and our true best friend, who never fails. Praise the Lord, through whom ALL blessings flow!

Shirley Williams lives with her husband in Barrhead, Alberta. She loves writing for healing and to encourage others. Some of her projects include co-authoring with her son Joseph (ASD spectrum). You can reach her at: lifebuild12@hotmail.com

Too Burdened To Be Thankful by Mary Folkerts

 

It was Thanksgiving weekend, and my list of things to be thankful for should have been long, given the many ways God had blessed me. But honestly, I wasn't focused on my blessings, and my heart felt heavy. Thanksgiving wasn't my first response to the holiday.

Sunday morning, the pastor said words that gripped my attention: words about thanksgiving and comparison, and how they are incompatible. It got me thinking that when I get stuck in a comparison trap, discontentment brews and festers, overflowing into my life like a stew of rotten tomatoes, but when I have a thankful spirit, peace floods me like an engulfing hug.That afternoon, before we enjoyed a bountiful Thanksgiving meal with friends and family, my husband opened the Bible to a fitting passage to read, but Reegan, our daughter with Down Syndrome, had already beat him to it. She had her folded paper beside her plate, written with the words she wanted to share. She had chosen these words from Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (NIV).

Honestly, there are times I feel she has a special connection to the heart of God, bringing blessing and holy conviction to those around her.

Some might not consider this an appropriate Thanksgiving passage, but the words spoke deeply to my heart. It seemed like a prelude and a benediction for a thankful spirit! You see, it's hard to be grateful when the heart is weary and burdened with all the worries of the world stacked high to the point of toppling. If we refuse to open our clenched fists, grasping instead to our heavy load as though it were mined treasure, comparison, anxiety and discontentment cloud our vision of the blessings right in front of us.

We are anxious because we try to control circumstances that are not ours to control. We quickly compare another's seemingly easy life with our own difficulties, unaware of the other's hardships. If these anxieties and comparisons are the filters through which we view life, we will end up discontented instead of thankful.

But as we come to Jesus daily, speaking our burdens to him and laying them at his feet as they roll from our heavy hearts onto his capable shoulders, we find rest and room for a thankful spirit to bloom where worry once took up too much space. And when thankfulness grows and flourishes, it chokes out anxiety, comparison, and discontentment.

As I write these words, I am reminded that this posture of open hands fits well with our writing journey. We can feel anxiety rise within us when timelines and rejection letters leave us feeling defeated. Comparison makes us feel behind, and thankfulness is hard to see, but as my editor reminds me, "It's all in God's perfect timing!"

Do burdens cloud your vision of God's goodness? Speak them to Jesus, and keep bringing them to him, knowing that he can bring rest and, ultimately, thankfulness to your anxious soul.

Mary Folkerts is mom to four kids and wife to a farmer, living on the southern prairies of Alberta, where the skies are large and the sunsets stunning. She is a member of Proverbs 31 Ministries' COMPEL Writers Training, involved in church ministries and music. Mary’s blog aims to encourage and inspire women and advocate for those with Down Syndrome, as their youngest child introduced them to this extraordinary new world. For more inspiration, check out Joy in the Small Things https://maryfolkerts.com/ or connect on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/maryfolkerts/

Lessons from Kylee by Sharon Heagy

Kylee was born September 13, 2004. A precocious little girl with a vivacious personality. She was full of life, had an easy smile and contagious laughter. As the only kids in our small congregation, she and her older brother brought a breath of fresh air through the church whenever they came through the door. They were adored by one and all.

In February of 2007 Kylee complained of severe pain in her leg so her Grandpa and Mom whisked her away to the hospital in the city. X-rays showed green stick fractures. Her whole leg was adorned with a bright pink cast which she loved to show off. But the pain didn’t get better. She was admitted to hospital on April 5. Upon further investigation the doctors gave the family some dire news for which they were unprepared. Is anyone ever prepared? This beautiful little girl was diagnosed on Sunday, April 8 – Easter Sunday - with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and the poking, prodding and treatments began. Though some of the things she went through added to her pain, whatever the medical staff did to her, she always looked at them and said, “Sanks”, knowing they were trying to help. She was brave and courageous.

The family, the church and the community began to pray in earnest for healing and Kylee herself always said she would be “growing up for Jesus.” She was responding well to the treatment and everyone was full of hope. The community banded together and held a fundraiser to help with travel and other expenses. There was almost a celebratory atmosphere as it looked like Kylee was going to beat this horrific disease.

On the fifth of May, less than a month after her diagnosis, as her mom held her in her arms, Kylee suddenly stopped breathing. The ambulance was dispatched and, with Kylee and her mom on board, they raced for Regina as the paramedics desperately tried to revive this precious girl. Dad sped along behind in his pickup. In the middle of nowhere they stopped along the highway. Kylee had passed away. Mom and Dad tearfully held their baby close one last time, clutching her and each other.

The autopsy showed no cancer anywhere in her little body. Was it the treatment? Was it something else? The report was inconclusive.

The family, the church, and the community were in shock. Grief lay heavy like a dense fog. The church went through a crisis of faith and a shaking that was deep. We were all perplexed and numb, left with only whys that would never be answered. “The Lord gave, and the Lord has …taken away?” (Job 1:21 NIV Question marks mine – then and now) “may the name of the Lord be praised?” We all struggled between anger, doubt and trust. Yet to whom could we turn if not the Lord. “Our strong tower.” “The lifter of our head.” (Proverbs 18-10, Psalm 3:3) The One who loves us beyond our imagining and who sacrificed his own Son for us. Yet the battle was real.

A request came for me to write and deliver the eulogy. Where would I find the words? Where would they come from? What could I say about such a short life? Two and a half years. But come they did. Through the dryness, through the numbness. They came through tears, they came as a result of Kylee’s strength and bravery, which I know now was given to her by God. An answer to prayers. And I got to the place where, like Kylee, I could say to the Lord, “Sanks.”

But I still had to get up on the platform and deliver it. The morning of the funeral came and I experienced something that left my mind stunned but my heart full. During prayer I had a vision. It was clear and vivid and alive. Kylee holding the hand of Jesus, walking away from me. They stopped. She turned her head and looked at me and asked me, “Are you going to talk about me today?” All I could do was nod. Then she replied in her own sweet voice, “Sanks.”

God was always there through it all. Carrying us when we were too weak to walk, too weak to write. The service was full of praise, of hope and of love. Were people still struggling? Yes. But what a witness as we all leaned into Him, especially to those in attendance who had never met Jesus.

We have no more answers than we did then but rather than destroying our faith through the storm, we were strengthened and learned many lessons, especially about God and His sovereignty, love, grace and mercy. Soli Deo gloria.

Thanks for visiting today and God bless.

 

Sharon Heagy writes from the wonderful town of Rockglen, Saskatchewan, where she lives with her husband, a big dog and furry cats. She writes to bring hope and humour to a world that needs both. She can be reached at sharonheagy@gmail.com

The Sting of Rejection by Dana-Lyn Phillips

 

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People often tell me my writing seems effortless but that definitely is not the case. Behind every post or magazine article that seems to flow effortlessly for the reader, lie many hours, days, and sometimes weeks of painstakingly reassembling words in the hopes of making my thoughts coherent for others.

I remain confident that writing is where God wants me at the moment but can still occasionally question the ‘why’. Somedays I think to myself  “There are so many people already doing this – why am I needed?” When the answer fails to come I commit the day to the Lord and trust Him to lead me in whatever project He wants me working on. Not surprisingly, He has never failed me.

I am grateful that in one short year God has graciously provided opportunities for me to write for a wide variety of publications. Some have been accepted and printed, such as my first ever published article in Faith & Friends magazine (July/August 2026) and another in FellowScript’s August 2026 magazine.

Others remain in a holding pattern like those submitted to The Upper Room, Guideposts, and Chicken Soup for the Soul. Then, there are the others. You know, the ones nobody likes to talk about because they have returned with the word “REJECTED” stamped across them in big red letters. Well…not actually, but they may as well have been, as that’s what it feels like.

So, to answer the question “When has it been difficult to give thanks in my writing life?” It's when my work is rejected.

I relate it to the adult version of being the last one selected by the team captain for sports teams in grade school gym classes. It’s as if someone is shining a spotlight declaring “You are not worthy!”.

Ok, perhaps that’s a little dramatic but there is also a lot of truth behind it.

I remember when I first started out, I had a goal of writing a devotional piece that would be accepted by DaySpring’s (in)courage submission team. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to submit a devotion for consideration, two or three times, prior to them moving to Hallmark and no longer accepting guest posts. Each time, I worked for weeks and was eventually happy with my submission. Each one returned with a beautifully crafted rejection letter.

I’m pretty confident that every writer has felt the sting of rejection over the course of their career so perhaps you can relate.

As my skin has thickened over the past year I have started looking at my writing, and the rejections, a little more objectively. Truth be told, either the writing wasn’t good enough or it wasn’t written in the same voice of the publication I was submitting for.

It’s interesting how time can bring clarity, and a teachable spirit can help us to be more accepting of constructive criticism.

As I continue to learn and grow, I gain a healthier perspective on rejection. When I feel the heat of the spotlight…you know, the one that seems to declare “You are not worthy!” I remind myself that my worth comes not from what I do, or how well I do it, but from being a child of God, created in His image and loved unconditionally. The beauty of this sense of worth is that no one can take it away.

As we are reminded by the Apostle Paul, “...If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31 NIV)

So, I choose to persevere and I hope that when you experience your own rejections, you choose to do the same.

Dana-Lyn is a wife, and mother to teenage boys as well as a 14-year-old cava-poo named Hockley. She is passionate about encouraging Christian women in their faith and is stepping into her mid-life "calling" as a writer. Her happy place consists of a comfy chair, a great book, a hot cup of coffee and a chocolate…or three! You can read more of her work at https://plansfargreater.substack.com

Thank you, God, for the Tunnel! By Alan Anderson

Writing prompt: Share a story of when you found it difficult to give thanks in your writing life. What did God teach you through that experience?

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and

saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18 NIV)

Our prompt for October caused a phantom memory from the last decade of the 1990s to revisit my mind. This post strays a bit from our prompt. The following words are about when I believed God was distant and the church I was part of didn’t care. This was a painful time of searching, of questioning and evaluating the meaning of my life. It was a time of feeling lost and not knowing where God was. My life, my world, my soul was falling apart. This time in my life also set a direction for my writing!

Entrance into the Tunnel

In this period of my life, I was working full-time to support my family. I was a co-pastor of a church that held to a firm stand on doctrine and theology. I was also studying for a Master’s degree by taking a course or two each year at seminary. There had to be more to life than all this busyness and church performance. God was not very clear in this picture. Life was imbalanced, and something had to give.

I found myself in a depression, or what I call the Tunnel! I discovered that depression was not what many Christians wanted to hear about. In my experience, they would do all they could to avoid hearing of me being in a Tunnel. Depression meant you were weak, or had wandered from God, or were out of His will! Life appeared to be populated with more judges than healers. This was a tough experience for a pastor who had to face a congregation every Sunday. My conclusion? You are on your own, dear brother!

Escape from the Tunnel

My wife, Terry, thank God, was my confidante throughout my Tunnel experience. She let me know I still had someone in my life who cared. She listened without trying to fix or ignore me. Her support was the motivation for me to ease myself out of the Tunnel and for me to write about my experience. My wife’s support and writing saved me from depression’s iron grip!

Writing was also where God spoke to me, and I could then speak of God. Sometimes, I sensed He was in the shadows of the Tunnel. He was near and had never left me, and I learned He understood depression. God was not afraid to embrace me in the Tunnel! He heard the prayers of my stammering soul.

In much of my writing, God may not be apparent to readers. God may not be apparent in depression either, but He is there! After being in darkness, light shines even brighter! This helps me to focus on what other people might experience in their lives and give them hope.

Thank God for the Tunnel! There in the dark and fog, survival in the Tunnel became possible for me when I evaluated the meaning of my life. Thanks be to God for my life, as simple as it is! I am grateful for my wife and family, for there I know those who truly love me. I am grateful for faith in God despite the human imperfections of His Church.

For readers who may relate to the Tunnel, I trust you can also relate to God because the Tunnel need not win. Even in the threat of soul-crushing depression that assaulted me, I knew God had not left me. This is the reality of my deep thanks to Him!

Here are a few humble lessons I gleaned from my time in the Tunnel to share with you.

1. Practice stillness. There is no need to rush through every day.

2. Listen to stories people may speak from their darkness. The darkness can be crippling. They may need help to find God’s light.

3. Be gentle with those in the darkness. Listen to their words even if they stumble. This may open them to hearing your quiet words.

4. We listen to show we care. Our words don’t have to be loud to make a difference.

5. My depression had a purpose. God did not leave me.

In Deroche, a small farming village area of British Columbia, Alan shares his home with his wife, Terry, and their poodle, Charlie. Alan and Terry are grandparents of six grandchildren plus five grandbabies in heaven. Alan enjoys walking on the dike near his home, with trees all around and where he finds inspiration to write. In summer, however, he loves to hide in the shade from the warm summer sun. Alan is more of a friend of fall. He has occasionally written articles for FellowScript Magazine and is a regular contributor to the InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship blog. Alan’s website and blog are https://scarredjoy.ca. He also writes on Substack.