C is for Chaos ~ Brenda J Wood

Have you been coerced into chaos by those around you? Yes, we did survive the Christmas rat race, but just barely. First, it was Uncle Fred who insulted our food, our children and our turkey.

Aunt Maud sulked because we didn’t clean her house as well as our own. Betty didn’t like her gift and hubby forgot to get one for us. We got a rejection slip, and missed a deadline and we have bills to pay.

Let’s restart our life today.

Anybody can make money but only a few will make a difference. We are the difference makers. How? We write about the chaos. Words out of us and onto pages, free us from the angst of yesterday. We live above disappointment by cleaning our minds of the chaos and clutter that live there.

Do you clear out or hold on to what was? Friend, get it gone. We can’t write good stuff if the bad stuff holds us hostage. Writing comes from our hearts and runs onto the page. What lingers in your heart? 

Writing is a journey of self-discovery. I’ve learned more by writing than any of my readers ever did. 

Let’s dream big, even though we have to start small. Publish yourself if necessary. That’s what a blog is for. You will get criticism, which is another type of chaos. Learn from it, practice wise answers and say them. Get comfort by dropping your printed pages in front of those imposing relatives.  Be sure to add the publishing addresses, even if they are only yours. Don’t be afraid to tackle new things. Quite frankly, that’s why I am writing twelve new pieces for this blog.

What about you? 2023 is spotless before us. Use it well.

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.

C is for Conquer ~ Wendy L. Macdonald

 

Some days are harder than others to conquer the blank page. Through experience, I’ve learned not to bother waiting for confidence to show up. Instead, I sit down and write. Because I pray regularly for my writing to be according to God’s will for me, I trust He’s leading me even when I don’t feel led.

To turn a Tina Turner phrase a bit: What’s feeling got to do with it? 

Feelings are fickle. Faith is where it’s at—especially for inspirational writers. 

Some of the best writing sessions happen just because we dared to show up. And when we pick up a pen even though we’re feeling down about our ability, it’s an opportunity for God to show up big with His.  

For Christian writers who know they’re supposed to be writing, generous obedience begets generous blessing. First, there’s the satisfaction of having done the right thing. And second, there are the epiphany moments that often accompany our obedience.  

God doesn’t need us to be full of self-confidence before we can write for Him. We just need to place our confidence in the One who called us to write. Each weekday morning, I face the crossroad of choosing to write—despite how I feel—rather than giving in to the easy road of dabbling in hobbies.

Since choosing to show up no matter what, I’ve written thousands more words than I did at this time last year. Not because I’m feeling confident as a writer, but because I have confidence God is going to show up on my pages too. 

Without the Holy Spirit, we’re hopeless. 

Since believers are never abandoned by our Helper, we don’t need to abandon our calling.

The Spirit gives us faith to overcome our difficult feelings. 

Here are some tips to help us conquer the blank page:

• Establish a routine of showing up to write when you’re at your peak energy level.

• Include cozy rituals that bless your creative side. (e.g., nice background music, a lovely, scented wax warmer nearby, a fresh cup of coffee/tea, or whatever works for you.)

• Have rewards ready for you to enjoy when your writing session is done. (For me this includes crafting and craft video time.)

• Avoid slave-driving your muse. Know what your limit is and quit before you’re burned out. (I learned this the hard way. Rests and recreation are necessary for good mental and physical health. I take Sundays off and consider Saturdays optional.)

• Pray about your writing so that you can have the confidence God will help you conquer distractions, discouragement, and blank pages. 

• Have a handy list of Bible verses that inspire you to conquer fear, blank pages, and other distractions. Here’s a link to some great Scriptures for writers: 10 Bible Verses for Christian Writers

  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 

             Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

When the music of our passion wanes, may faith cause words to wax eloquent on the page.

I hope this inspired you to write & conquer. (This post is an example of practicing what I preached. Nothing in me felt like writing. I’d already shown up and had success with my early morning writing, but I felt empty to pour out more. Instead of giving in to my feelings, I opened a Word Doc and obeyed the nudge to show up. And I’m so glad I did. (It also helps to write first drafts weeks in advance so that we have a chance to edit them with fresh eyes before posting them on the blog.)

Blessings as we continue to show up and show discouragement where the door is.  

I'm nosy to know what your favorite motivational writing quote is?

Wendy L. Macdonald is an inspirational blogger and podcaster who loves to photograph nature on Vancouver Island. Her byline is: “My faith is not shallow because I’ve been rescued from the deep.” 

B is for Busybody ~ by Brenda J. Wood

 

We hear the term busybody and instantly think of Aunt Mabel who stuck her nose into everything, turned it into a negative and spread nasty rumors about all of us. She always caused problems and we always struggled to reverse the nastiness she caused.

Well, I am talking to a different busybody today. I want you to be the busybody of your own life.

What you have done in the past year to perfect your craft?

Have you attended any conferences?

How have you raised your name in the public arena?

How many articles did you write for free this year?

Did you think about giving of your words to others?

Consider this very site. Why do we struggle to find a consistent list of writers? Don’t you understand that it is a privilege to get your name into print no matter where it is? (Oops, I take that back a little. Don’t make it to a jail police check!)

Have you joined a writing group? Do you share your words anywhere? Do you block out time in your daily schedule for writing?

 And don’t tell me about writer’s block. This is how you fix writer’s block: You sit down and you write, even if it’s your own name over and over. Believe it or not, eventually, real sentences develop on the page. 

You see, writers are people who write.

Are you investing in your good health, your own healing, your spiritual growth? 

Tell me true now, are you the busybody in your own life or are you spending all your time watching others succeed and wondering why it’s not you?

Let your new definition of busybody be this: I busy this body of mine fulfilling God’s desire for me as a writer.

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.

Come Close & Find Rest ~ Wendy L. Macdonald

 Sandi’s Writing Prompt for November: Year-end Reflections on January’s “Coming” of the Lord to You

In January our blog topic focused on our Lord’s invitation to “Come” to him. Now with our year nearly ending, we look in our rear-view mirrors and recapture what that “Come” has meant for your life, spiritual growth, and writing this year.

Wendy’s Post:

In January I wrote about two words God gave me for 2022. They were brave and serve. He called me to come closer to Him, fear less, and serve Him and others more. 

Partway through the year, I forgot about those two words. The good news is I’ve lived out those two biggies better than the year before. It certainly helped that most of the you-know-what restrictions have been stripped from our social lives. (I don’t even want to say that five-letter word.) 

It helped that getting started off on the brave-to-serve foot stayed with me. It’s so rewarding and inspiring to bravely serve others despite fearing our imperfect efforts may offend or annoy people. Not only did I not observe annoyance in the eyes of others, I saw love reflected back. When we bravely obey God’s nudges in our lives, we become a blessing and are blessed in return.

Service is something that must be placed in God’s hands, so we don’t over or underdo it. A lack of white space in our lives crushes creativity and increases stress. In order to make room to be brave in one area, we may need to do less in another. 

Now that face-to-face time has again replaced much of the need for online time, I’m cutting back on my computer use and spending more time with believers in person. Being a creative who thrives on having lots of alone time, I need to be careful and selective. 

Burnout is just around the bend of a life overspent.

But how glorious it is to be back in a group Bible study. And how invigorating it is to have trimmed online involvement to what I believe God has called me to do.

Writers produce quality writing if they have the time and energy to bravely serve their audience. Serving God and serving our readers isn’t going to happen if we’re spread too thin. Words need time to percolate in the mind of the writer before they’re worthy of publishing. Ample white space in our day planners is necessary for creating brave and helpful words on the pages of a manuscript.

This goes for our spiritual lives too. Like Mary, who birthed Jesus, we too must have time to ponder before we give birth to written gifts for a world of readers.   

To be brave and serve others well requires us to rest and care for our physical, emotional, and spiritual needs well. All this is possible when we come to God’s well often and drink deeply of His Presence and Word.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 NIV

Blessings as we continue heeding the Holy Spirit’s nudges to come close to Him so that we may pause, ponder, pray, play, and produce in God’s perfect way for each of us. 

Wendy L. Macdonald is an inspirational blogger and podcaster who loves to photograph nature on Vancouver Island. Her byline is: “My faith is not shallow because I’ve been rescued from the deep.” Her main website is wendylmacdonald.com where she enjoys interacting with readers.

Muddled in the Middle by Wendy L. Macdonald

 October: Getting Stalled in the Middle

This month’s prompt by Sandi Somers:

It’s easy to begin a writing (or other) project with enthusiasm, energy, and ambition. But then comes the middle. Frustration steps in, we lose momentum, and our project is easily set aside.

What experiences have you had with this challenge?

What strategies have you used to keep on track, get re-motivated, and keep going?

What messages from the Lord encourage you? 

Muddled in the Middle by Wendy L. Macdonald

I wish I could say I have no idea what Sandi’s prompt is about. But no—I do know. The middle is always messy for me. The biggest challenge I have regarding the middle is my inner critic. She says things like: This is stupid. Who are you to think you can get this finished—never mind published?

The first time I wrote an entire novel manuscript, I didn’t share it with anyone until I was done. Since my internal editor tends to be ruthless with my writing, I knew I couldn’t bear to expose my incomplete rough draft to anyone else. Two strikes would be too much to ignore. I needed to get the first draft down before I showed it around.

First drafts are where I discover what my story is about. I’m a pantser who loves the mystery of not knowing who dunnit until the end. This is the same way I write nonfiction. I’m scared to be scared off a project. I also wrote the entire first draft of a recovery memoir in seclusion so that I wouldn’t lose momentum. And when I joined a critique group, I didn’t make it past the middle because I realized the story was still too tender to touch. More healing had to come before I shared the whole thing. 

Unfortunately, I showed my fourth fiction manuscript to an online critique group before it was done. And, of course, I focused on the one critique that didn’t include any encouragement. I never returned to that story. But since it wasn’t part of the series I’d already written, I’m not mad at myself.

Last year I discovered I could complete something while being critiqued along the way. I was able to write past the messy middle because I had a set of eyes who were reliable and offered constructive criticism balanced with encouragement. These wise and kind eyes belong to an award-winning author and award-winning literary agent (Cynthia Ruchti). She sharpens my writing without stifling my creative spirit. She appreciates my strengths and guides me concerning my weaknesses. (Cynthia Ruchti was recently awarded the ACFW literary agent of the year title again. I can see why.)

The messy middle isn’t as dark and lonely when you have a good-willed critique partner. My positive experience with my agent gave me the courage to also join a fiction critique group. My writing is blossoming in this care-and-share environment. While our group doesn’t hold back any constructive criticism, nor are we chintzy about compliments. When my inner critic tells me my manuscript is stupid, my writing group assures me it isn’t. 

I agree with the adage I read in a writing book about good writing being as much about continuing to do what works as well as avoiding what doesn’t work. 

Every writer has a voice worthy of growing and showing. Thank goodness we’re not all the same. Thank God for the variety He has made in nature and in us. And because we’re all different, our approaches to tackling the messy middle of manuscripts will vary too.

I’m learning that reminding myself I’ve completed a manuscript before means I can do it again. Remembering how fun and rewarding the discoveries are that pop up while writing helps keep me interested enough to keep going. There’s nothing more fun than unexpected goosebumps and chuckles I didn’t see coming. When emotions are evoked in the writer, her written words will stir the readers’ hearts too.

I’m nosy-to-know if you write your entire first draft before showing it to anyone? Why or why not?

Blessings ~ Wendy Mac

Wendy L. Macdonald is an inspirational blogger and podcaster who loves to photograph nature on Vancouver Island. Her byline is: “My faith is not shallow because I’ve been rescued from the deep.”

My Creative Space ~ Wendy L. Macdonald

September’s Writing Prompt: What Is Your (Daily) Creative Ritual? ~ Sandi Somers

In a blog post of the same name, Karen Stiller, co-editor of Faith Today, wrote that “highly creative and accomplished writers, artists, musicians and super-smart math people, all discovered how to work well within the possibilities and limitations of the space and the time they had.”

What are your (daily) writing patterns? 

How is it working for you—or not?

How could your ritual could be fine-tuned for better, deeper work?

https://karenstiller.com/blog/what-is-your-daily-creative-ritual/

Wendy’s Post:

I struggled to start my post for this month’s theme. Not because it’s not an excellent one, but because summer upended my normal creative rituals. But then something happened, and everything shifted into glorious gear again.

My writing ritual is rigid for long spells and then sporadic when the gardening season or new hobbies arrive. 

A love of tinkering outside amongst plants, combined with a growing passion for making junk journals usurped space in my writing schedule (and in my creative space). I was hooped. Guilt and shame shackled what remained of my morning writing time. Forgetting how much one can accomplish word by word and line by line, I fell into crafting and cleaning instead. 

And then something happened. 

I moved another desk into my creative space. I gave myself permission to craft and write in the same room. Except, one desk was for playing with paper, glue, and paint and the other one was only for writing. 

Boundaries are helpful for people who have a multitude of interests. And since I have stayed faithful with my morning quiet time, I knew I could be faithful again with writing if I set up stronger boundaries for myself.

I’d broken a huge boundary during the summer. I stopped reading writing craft books while eating my cereal and watched crafting videos instead. 

Oh, dear. How was a writer supposed to get motivated to write when every piece of paper in her den was calling out, “Pick me. Put me in a junk journal”?  

Reading Lorilee Guenter’s August post on Inscribe Writer’s Online helped me forgive myself for falling out of my writing chair. By the time I read her post, I was back in writing mode and had several new chapters of a W.I.P done. But it was her post that helped me realize that maybe I needed that summer break. Maybe all that fun I had would spill into my writing? 

Yup. My new chapters were more honest than usual and included more humor. And it seemed like God rewarded me for making a concerted effort to work better; a few minutes after having had a productive writing morning, I made a meaningful connection with someone in the writing world I greatly admire. Humbled to be able to converse with her, I teared up and had to sit down. That’s when God reminded me: I already have a much grander connection to the creative world—our Creator—Him. 

Thank you, dear Father, for using everything in my life for good, even when I don’t feel so good about my tendency to wander down crafting trails.

Paper. Yes, there are tea-dyed papers drying in my kitchen right now. Hopefully, the junk journal bug won’t disrupt my cooking duties. (Actually, I made a big pot of spaghetti sauce while I was puttering with papers.)  

Blessings as you find the creative rituals and boundaries that work best for you, dear writing friends.

Wendy Mac

Wendy L. Macdonald is an inspirational blogger and podcaster who loves to photograph nature on Vancouver Island. Her byline is: “My faith is not shallow because I’ve been rescued from the deep.” Her main website is wendylmacdonald.com where she enjoys interacting with readers.

Fighting Distraction Through Purpose by Christine Smith (Guest Post)

We won’t be distracted by comparison if we’re captivated with purpose. – Bob Goff

Almost a year ago I came across the above quote in my Twitter feed. Each time I saw it, I paused because at that time I was indeed distracted by comparison. Too often I had allowed myself to go down a rabbit trail in my mind where I named myself as being less than others. Less successful, less beautiful, less popular, having less time with friends, or fewer achievements under my belt. Comparison is not the only thief of joy that distracts me from what God is calling me to do. In the last few months, I have noticed that I am often distracted from meaningful tasks by becoming too focused on my negative feelings. This could be when I feel tired, sad about a difficult situation, or even restless and bored. Dwelling on the worries of tomorrow is also a distraction for me.

Since reading this quote, I have been reflecting a lot on the word purpose. This word has become like a beacon of light in moments of foggy confusion. Purpose has many synonyms (which I have highlighted in italics below) that can lead us out of downward spirals of distraction. In order to stay focused on our writing and other meaningful activities in our lives, we must know what direction God is calling us to. We should have a vision for what we aspire to become and accomplish.

Lastly, we need to be determined to follow through in chasing these desires. One post I read said that the opposite of distraction is traction, which is defined as an action that moves us towards what we really want. Do you know what you really want? What is God calling you to that will help shape who He wants you to be and guide your to-do list?

Recently, I made a list on my phone that I have for now called “Purposeful Activities”. My list has fourteen items on it, everything from giving loving actions to people in my life to reading my Bible to writing and even having a nap! (Sometimes we are distracted simply because we are tired. Never forget that Jesus took naps so we can unashamedly do so too.) Each activity aligns with the goals God has led me to pursue. When I feel my sense of direction is lost and I am likely to get pulled into whatever distraction is in front of me, I pull up my list and know that if I choose one of those endeavours I will be following God’s plans for me. I have also learned that if I am distracted by feeling overwhelmed from having too much to do, I must try to simply choose one task to get started. The last piece of advice I learned recently in a writing course is to “start where you can”. If one task is too difficult, try another one. Sometimes I have planned to do a certain activity at a pre-assigned time, but when I get to that time my mood does not match up to my plan. I have learned it works well to sometimes adjust to choose a different purposeful activity that still allows me to accomplish a meaningful goal.

Ephesians 2:10 states that “we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” God has many purposeful activities in mind for each of us every day of our lives. As Bob Goff states in his timely new book entitled Undistracted, “we need to realign, refine, and reconnect with the greater purposes of our lives rather than be distracted by the lesser ones.” It is my prayer that the Holy Spirit will lead you to discern what He is calling you to focus on and that you will delight each day in the good work He is doing in and through you.

Christine Smith is a teacher who is just beginning to write for audiences other than herself or her students' parents. She is currently exploring the world of beginning a writing website. Christine lives in Langley, B.C. and enjoys coffee, reading, being outside, and making memories with her husband and four kids.

How to Fight the Distractions ~ Wendy L. Macdonald

 

A recent nudge from God I received during a worship service goes well with this month’s topic. But first, let’s talk about the writing prompt Sandi Somers gave us for August. It has the potential to propel us forward in our projects if we tap into what works well for our writing journey. 

~

Here’s the prompt by Sandi Somers: 

“August: Fight the Distractions 

Our world is filled with distractions—technological, commercial, and more—that keep us from focusing on our writing and the important things in life. 

How have you dealt with (or currently are) taming the frenzy of distractions? 

How do you pay attention to what’s important, being attentive and engaged?

How do the Lord’s nudgings propel your writing and life forward?”

~

Today I’m sharing my worst weakness and my greatest strength as a writer. Maybe you can relate. However, writers—like all people—are unique individuals. Work habits that work for one writer may not work well for another.

Each writer also has unique strengths and weaknesses. My weakness is that I’m easily distracted at the beginning of a writing session. To curb distractions, I usually write in the early hours of the morning. My phone is muted and turned over so that it can’t interrupt me. I use my laptop offline and keep a paperback dictionary nearby, so I have no reason to Google anything. I’m prone to wander down information trails. 

In fact, before I started the first draft of this article, I researched stuff about the Royal Family because I was intrigued by the youngest member’s adorable antics. The reason I fell down that rabbit hole was that I was researching osteoarthritis due to a flare-up of pain that woke me several hours sooner than my alarm was set to go. YouTube has more rabbit trails than the Queen has Corgis. (The suggested videos are cleverly devised to distract.)

My strength is that once I’m onto a project I can stay at it for hours. I can easily ignore hunger pains, nature calls, and whoever walks into my writing room.    

Each writer is also unique in how they determine what’s important in their writing journey. Most of my life choices are sifted through the sieve of quiet time and journaling. Writing out prayers helps me focus on what matters most. My prayers are prompted by what I’ve read in the Word each morning. God’s word is perfect for purifying motives. The why behind our writing matters. My why is to inspire faith that overrides fear. 

When I submit my fear to God, He gives me power, love, and serenity to overcome hard stuff. The wisdom and comfort given to me aren’t for hoarding, they’re for sharing. I share them through writing. Living in a state of submission to God’s will makes it easier to hear and heed His nudges. Sometimes a simple suggestion to take a break and go outside and enjoy some fresh air ends up being the source of a perfect prompt needed for a new project. 

Falling out of submission can also be a writing prompt—as was the case for a recent newsletter I sent out. Sometimes readers are more encouraged by how we rallied after a derailment then if we avoided sharing our weaknesses. I’m regularly thankful for the Apostle Paul’s humble and honest transparency.  We each have a thorn or two to contend with. 

The writing life, like the Christian walk, doesn’t just happen in allocated places either. We can worship God in a garden as deeply as we do in a church sanctuary. We can also compose sentences and plots outside the writing room: in the shower, in the woods, and at the dinner table when someone says something funny, poignant, or profound.

Being attentive to the words of God, others, and ourselves leads us to write deeply and bravely. Fearless writing that’s written from a place of vulnerability makes readers feel less alone. If we fear looking less in the eyes of others, our words will have less impact too. When we worry about our pride less, we’ll build others up more. In this age where there are so many words being published and launched into the world each day, the best reward is most likely the only recompense we’ll receive amid all the competition out there—the reward of having someone say, “Thank you, I needed that.”      

If we can tame distraction, harness what’s important, and heed God’s promptings often, we’ll be fruitful Kingdom writers for His glory. And others will be thankful for the words He wrote through us.

We’re never going to attain perfection on this side of heaven. But if we aim for it, our work will be better. And our readers will be better for it too. 

Now it’s time to share the God nudge I recently received during a worship service at church. He gently but clearly told me that He opened a door for my writing so that I would minister to His people. I was not to belittle nor neglect my calling. God reminded me I was to serve Him first. And the way He has for me to do so right now is through writing.  

For inspirational writers, to write is to serve.

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14 NIV

Bold writing blessings ~ Wendy Mac

P.S. I’m nosy-to-know what your greatest strength as a writer is? (Continuing to do what works is as important as discontinuing what doesn’t work.) 

Wendy L. Macdonald is an inspirational blogger and podcaster who loves to photograph nature on Vancouver Island. Her byline is: “My faith is not shallow because I’ve been rescued from the deep.” Her main website is where she enjoys interacting with readers.

A Singing Heart Composes Prose that Sings ~ Wendy L. Macdonald

 

The writing projects that make my heart sing are inspirational prose based on miraculous moments in my life: Those poignant instances when God spoke up close and personal during an ordinary day. 

A singing heart composes prose that sings.

The scripture verse where the psalmist asks, “What is man that You are mindful of him?” moves my heart each time I read it. For it’s when I’ve sensed God’s mindfulness of me that my heart feels the fullest of love, joy, and gratefulness.

These “memoir moments” can be written as poetry, devotionals, or inserted into a fictional character’s life within a novel. The main point is to point readers to God’s generous grace.

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? Psalm 8:4-5 (NIV)

The writing projects that make my heart sing are the ones written from a heart that’s been touched by His Presence. While narrating an incident of intimacy with Grace, a deeper glimpse of God is revealed. Pausing to ponder what’s passed between us and our Creator draws more goodness for us to glean and share. His well is bottomless. His love is without measure. We’re rewarded generously when we take the time to be still before Him.

When inspirational writers thank God for His gifts and healing, we are as pleasing to Him as the one in ten healed lepers who remembered to give thanks to Jesus for what He has done.    

Writing from a place of praise and gratitude is not only a sweet spot but also a hot spot in that words flow forth as passionately as a lover lavishing compliments on his “flawless” bride. 

God is perfect. How can a scribe not enjoy penning words that point to the Author of all that’s good and glorious in this amazing universe? 

Be still my heart, one day you will see Him and know Him as you are known. 

Now that’s something to sing and write about. Praise the Lord!

Wendy L. Macdonald is an inspirational blogger and podcaster who loves to photograph nature on Vancouver Island. Her byline is: “My faith is not shallow because I’ve been rescued from the deep.” Her main website is wendylmacdonald.com where she enjoys interacting with readers.

Defining Whispers by Wendy L. Macdonald

 

Sewing supplies aren’t the only things that can be repurposed. Before I explain, what this has to do with writing, please allow me to share some whispers that led me to this truth.

There are a lot of significant words I’m sure I’ve forgotten; words others have spoken to me that were helpful and encouraging in my writing life. Yet, there are some defining whispers that touched me in a way that hinted there was a new way I was supposed to go.  

One such whisper happened during a home-based business gathering I attended many moons ago with some neighbors. The meeting was held in my living room because I had a brood of youngsters to keep an eye on too. At the time, my mission was to create one-of-a-kind handmade purses I designed and created using remnant, repurposed, and retro fabrics and/or notions. Making those purses was an artsy adventure of love. Each purse was unique and each had its own name.   

During one meeting, a motivational coach asked me a question something like, “What are you passionate about contributing to the world?”

 After some brief thought, I said, “To create and inspire beauty.”

Beauty is one of the basics for a lovely life. Beautiful decorating, beautiful gardens, beautiful music, beautiful art…well, I’m sure you get the idea. 

Then she dropped a line that lit the fuse of doubt concerning my purse pursuit, “There may be other ways you can contribute beauty to the world that you haven’t discovered yet.”

True. Making purses was a slow way to beautify the world. Only two local stores at the time carried my creations. But her words stuck with me and caused me to wonder if God was calling me to something better—something bigger—than a handbag.

I had contemplated becoming a writer. But by the time the information package for a writing course arrived in the mail, my mind was elbow deep in homeschooling our three children. The forms for the Christian correspondence course never got signed, sealed, and sent. Thankfully, I continued writing in my journals. (A practice I began in 1983 during my recovery from eating disorders.)

The next whisper came when our family moved to town, and my sewing stuff was moved to the south-facing attic room. My husband and son placed a large desk under the window that overlooked an ancient cherry tree in the front garden. A whisper in my heart suggested it was the perfect space for a writer. By this time, only one store carried my handmade items since the first one closed its doors. I hadn’t made the effort to find another one. But I’d been bit by the blogging bug.

Yes. The room did indeed look like a writer’s room. 

And that’s when I obeyed God’s nudge to allow writing to eclipse sewing as my main way of creating beauty. I still sew now and then. Rarely purses. Now my sewing machine is used to create journals for writing in. All the stuff I collected for purse-making is perfect for making junk journals. Hooray. It makes my day not to waste so much as a button.

With writing, one doesn’t waste a thread of life experience either. They're all usable for blogs, poems, and devotionals. And bigger projects too. 

I’m nosy-to-know the moment you realized writing was a bigger deal than the cards you already held in your hands?  

Beautiful blessings ~ Wendy Mac   

    

 They will be called oaks of righteousness,

    a planting of the Lord

    for the display of his splendor.

Isaiah 61:3 NIV

Wendy L. Macdonald is an inspirational blogger and podcaster who loves to photograph nature on Vancouver Island. Her byline is: “My faith is not shallow because I’ve been rescued from the deep.” Her main website is wendylmacdonald.com where she enjoys interacting with readers.

Pursuing Our Passion & Purpose as Inspirational Writers - Wendy L. Macdonald

 

The challenges I need to overcome in order to pursue my passion and purpose for writing and creativity are the ones between my ears.

I recently got shortlisted in a hook-for-a-book contest. My nonfiction project is regarding a topic that’s near and dear to my heart. But my brain has been badgering me while I attempt to complete a book proposal for the final part of the contest.

I realized it’s a huge blessing to be shortlisted. I don’t want to waste this opportunity to have some publishing professionals I deeply respect give me advice on my work. As far as I’m concerned, that’s the grand prize. Yes, there’s a bigger prize for the winner. My goal is to get my proposal done and follow the suggestions that get sent back to me. I know I’m a student. I crave to improve my craft.

But my brain is battering me with unhelpful critiques regarding my dreams. It’s telling me I’m too little to aspire to big things.

I can’t argue about being little. What I can say is God delights in using small things to confound the largeness in the world. If God calls us to a project, He’ll help us complete it. What happens after that isn’t our business to bother with. 

Our duty is to obey. 

The inspirational writing life isn’t about the writer. 

It’s about what God wants to say and do through those who are ready to write for Him.

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 1 Corinthians 1:27 NIV

Blessings ~ Wendy Mac

P.S. I covet a prayer or two as I attempt to complete my proposal on time. I’m almost done. Thank you from the bottom of this writer’s heart. 

   

How the Word and You Inspire Me by Wendy L. Macdonald

 

Writing is easier than showing up to write is. There’s a Bible verse that’s a perfect prompt for inspirational writers who are reluctant to put ink to paper; but before I share it with you, I want to write about some other things first.

Once I’ve got a Word Doc open, I tend to forge ahead with words. There’s a quote I often note to myself. It inspires me to gather my thoughts and form sentences from them. Here it is:

You can’t edit a blank page.

My, oh, my, this has helped me. A. Lot. Even if a first draft is a complete dud, it is closer to a completed article than a blank page is. Sometimes we just need to show up and spew a bunch of rambling thoughts down. Later, we can look over them with editor eyes and chuck out dull stuff and keep the paragraphs, phrases, or sentences that sparkle.

When we’re stuck, let’s remember: we can’t edit a blank page. 

I love this age of word processors:

• It’s easy to delete paragraphs.

• It’s a snap to shuffle them around the page.

• It’s a breeze to copy and paste new sections into old drafts.

 Yes, once I’m started, I find it easier to get going. 

Like I said, it’s the planting my pants in front of my keyboard that’s the most challenging.   

One of the ways you inspire me here on this InScribe blog is by your honesty. You’re honest about the struggle to sit thyself down at thy computer and write. Humans have a need to know they’re not alone. When we struggle, we are comforted and encouraged to hear we’re normal. Thank. You.

I’m amazed how much more housework and hobbies appeal to me when I have a writing deadline looming. I may think about cleaning a dirty fridge or crafting a junk journal for days without being interested enough to actually start the process; yet, once I have to start a writing project, cleaning and crafting suddenly take on an exciting aura that easily ensnares me.

I’m telling you this because I’m hoping my honesty will encourage you. At the moment I began the first draft for this post, I had a journal project and a cleaning rag begging me to submit to their enticements. I decided I would check my to-do list first. There, written on my day calendar, were the words: InScribe Post. That meant I needed to start it. I like to have the first draft written at least a week ahead. Yikes. There were only six days till it was to go live.

A first draft doesn’t have to be completed in one sitting. Having a few paragraphs down is a huge help toward finishing it later.  Not only can we not edit a blank page—we can’t complete a document that doesn’t exist. 

Now here is where I share the Bible verse that’s a sure motivator for even the most reluctant writer:

If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done. Ecclesiastes 11:4 (TLB)  

I hope this blessed you, because you blessed me. Now I need to go and grab the cleaning rag. Afterwards I’ll make a fresh cup of coffee and dive into art/junk journaling. 

I’m nosy-to-know what inspires you to sit down and write? I’m also nosy-to-know what creative enticements keep you away from your keyboard? And most important of all, I’m nosy-to-know which Bible verse motivates you to sit thyself down?

 Blessings as we write our way through 2021 ~ Wendy Mac

P.S. For a chance to win some of my hand-painted stickers that are similar to the ones I used in the pictured journal page, please sign up for my monthly newsletter. I give a dozen or so of them away regularly. Here’s the link: Wendy L. Macdonald

Dreams Unleashed by Lynn Dove

When I published my first book, Shoot the Wounded in 2009, I thought I had finally “arrived” as a published author.  Determined to make my young adult book into a series, I was thrilled to publish Heal the Wounded followed by Love the Wounded to complete the trilogy. Each book won some awards and accolades, and I was thankful for good reviews, but now as I notice the dust is starting to gather on the covers, I wonder if I should be thinking about writing another book. To be honest, I’m not overly  enthusiastic about the prospect. 

Over the last ten years, I have concentrated on writing short articles, publishing in several anthologies including the Chicken Soup for the Soul books. I enjoy writing article pieces, and my blog, Journey Thoughts, has showcased my article writing as well as grow a reading audience through social media. As I have stated before, my blog allows me a writing ministry of encouraging fellow believers in their faith walks. For now, I believe God wants me to continue with my blogging ministry and put my time and effort into it rather than write another novel. 

So how can my writing dreams become unleashed if I am currently satisfied with the status quo, you might ask?  

As a writer, I am always looking for ways to hone my craft. I look for excellence in my writing. That is one reason I enjoy participating in writing groups, and socializing online with other Christian writers. InScribers and Word Guild members are so encouraging!  

I am looking for new ways to reach a larger readership for my blog. If I have a dream for my blog, it is to have one million active followers!  I have a good online presence but it could be better. I have thought about starting a YouTube channel or start a podcast, but I will admit I am extremely intimidated by speaking in front of an audience. I’m a writer, not a speaker!  Still, this may be a way to expand my ministry. 

I am in a transitional season in my writing career, I think. There are opportunities ahead, but I am content to stay where I am until God impresses upon me to move forward.  

“In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.”  Proverbs 16:9 

  

Lynn Dove is the award-winning author, of the YA “Wounded Trilogy”- a contemporary Christian fiction series with coming-of-age themes.  A wife, mom, grandmother, and free-lance writer with articles published in several magazines and anthologies including Chicken Soup for the Soul books, her blog, “Journey Thoughts” is a Canadian Christian Writing Award winner.  Readers may connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and at lynndove.com   

#Recovery in Christ is the Main Theme of my Writing by Wendy L. Macdonald

Recovery in Christ is the main theme of my writing because I was rescued from something almost four decades ago. I never ever thought I would recover. My desperation motivated me to humble myself and ask people at my church to pray for my healing and deliverance. It was embarrassing. But I was desperate.

Before I recovered from eating disorders, I didn’t think I would ever be able to keep dangerous foods like ice cream or chocolates in my home. (At this moment, there’s a bucket of ice cream in my freezer that has gone past its prime because I lost interest in it.) Being normal about food is something I never take for granted. I never thought I would allow my body to have enough fat on it to pinch an inch. I would have jogged it off or purged it by other means before enabling curves to cling to me.

Right now, I can easily pinch an inch.

I’m recovered. I’m normal. I’m thankful to God.

My desperate need to control my body weight has been replaced by my need to cling to Christ. He’s the one who calls the shots now. It’s not a perfect relationship. I’m a work-in-progress.

Some of the things I learned at the beginning of my recovery were:

- It doesn’t hurt to ask God for our needs.
- God will never stop loving us.
- We’re saved by grace—not by works.
- Nature nurtures our spirit because it’s God’s artwork.
- Christianity is a relationship with Jesus, not just a religion.

RECOVERY:

R—relationship
God wants a relationship with you. Being born-again isn’t a religion; it’s being dead to sin and alive in Christ.
E—expect
God is our good Father and he wants us to expect he’s listening to our prayers and answering them in the way that is best.
C—can
We can do all the things God asks us to do by the power of the Holy Spirit in us.
O—only
Trusting Jesus is the only way to be saved; therefore, we cannot earn or lose salvation.
V—victory
God gives us victory over sin when we trust and submit to him.
E—everlasting
God’s love for us is everlasting. Our salvation is everlasting.
R—real
God’s presence in our lives is real. The more we believe, the more we receive evidence of his power at work in and around us.
Y—yes
When we die as a believer, Jesus will say yes to our entry into paradise because we said yes to his invitation to repent and trust in him.

I hope my post blessed you because I was blessed all over again writing about my recovery story. God is good.

Recovery blessings ~ Wendy Mac

 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7 KJV

Cracks of Time are Perfect Places to Get Things Done by Wendy L. Macdonald

Years ago, a Bible verse helped me realize the value of showing up to work on a project regardless of how small the window of opportunity. When my life was centered around raising three children aged five and under, I felt frustrated I could rarely complete a task in one sitting. Interruptions ruled and were the rule of my parenting days.

Thankfully, I still managed to spend some time reading God’s Word. Although I wasn’t as studious about it as I am now, I regularly grabbed some Scripture, jotted in on a sticky note, and placed it in a strategic spot.

One such verse reminded me—prompted me—to take advantage of cracks of time.

I needed the motivation regarding one of my favorite hobbies. We lived on six acres in the country and our flower and vegetable garden sat in a prominent spot on our property. To neglect it meant our view from the front porch would be depressing evidence I failed to mine many minutes available to me.
   
One morning I came across the perfect verse to hang in our bathroom as a reminder I needed to pay attention to opportunities to work in my garden:

Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. Ecclesiastes 11:4 NIV

Before having children, I often puttered in my garden for hours and hours at a time. It was glorious to spend uninterrupted expanses of a day doing something I loved to do. Although I loved being a parent (most of the time), I missed the freedom to do what I wanted to do when I felt like doing it.

Parenthood taught me to grow up.

It also taught me to be creative about making more opportunities to garden. One thing my husband did to facilitate this was to place a sandbox in a shady spot inside our fenced vegetable patch to keep our children busy while I worked. Plus, he helped me create raised beds for each of our children to grow their own mini-gardens.

Real life is about showing up and getting the job done whether one feels like it or not. This is especially true in the writer’s life. Real writers sit down and write even though a million distractions and excuses beg you to do something different. Of course, there may be dry seasons during grief, illness, or trauma; but for the most part, writers write. I cope with grief and trauma better when I write my way through it in my journal. During illness, well—ugh—not so much.
 
Cracks of time added up over time provide the writer with the opportunity to complete articles, blog posts, and manuscripts. In fact, I began writing this blog post while resisting the urge to spend this crack of time researching one of my pet topics. And I ignored my tummy’s insistence I head to the kitchen for an early breakfast (I’m up early to avoid interruptions.).

Cracks of time are the perfect places to compose words because all those cracks become a Grand Canyon when combined. Ann Lamott called this the Bird by Bird approach. I called it: Car by Car in another blog post about writing.

Cracks of time are perfect places to get things done because if we wait for something bigger, our dreams will fall into the cracks of missed opportunities.

If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done. Ecclesiastes 11:4 TLB

And speaking of perfect, it’s now the perfect time to go round up some breakfast.

Blessings as you write in the cracks of time God has given you ~ Wendy Mac
   

Here’s Why You May Want to Dip Your Quill in Tears by Wendy L. Macdonald

I’m excited to share why you may want to dip your quill in tears. But first, I want to share a bit about how I discovered this poignant ink.

It’s not just my writing that has changed since I’ve become more intentional about spending regular time writing: I’ve changed. Ever since I began my recovery journey from eating disorders (over 36 year ago), I’ve regularly written in my private journals. This was instrumental in uncovering the reasons behind my disordered eating, and helping me identify triggers I needed to be wary of.
Writing makes writers more mindful of what’s going on in and around them. It helps them tap into strengths and notice when, where, and how they may need help.

One of the changes to my writing has been the increase in my level of vulnerability. Years ago, I realized how much I appreciated it when someone bravely shared her thoughts about things she feared; it made me feel less alone. I literally hugged her and thanked her for saying something I would have been too embarrassed to say aloud.

Now, I like to help others know they’re not the only ones who feel a certain way. I like to be brave with words. 

One way I discovered how to uncover vulnerable topics to write about is to dip my quill in tears—or in other words—tap in to tears. If something makes me tear up, I know there’s at least three hundred words available to squeeze out of each teardrop. I learnt more about myself and human nature when I did this. I learnt what the Holy Spirit was whispering for me to notice too.

It’s been the most rewarding writing I’ve ever done.

Tears are taps on the shoulder telling us to pay attention to what just transpired.

I’ve written about this before, because I never cease to be amazed at the volume of wisdom and knowledge condensed in each teardrop. Perhaps that’s why God collects them? Maybe we will be enlightened on the other side when He spills the vials so that we may know what we missed when we didn’t tap into them on this side of heaven?

I’m nosy-to-know if you ever dip your quill in tears?

Blessings ~ Wendy Mac
   

Keeping it Real - Lynn Dove

“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. ⁸ Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered ⁹ and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.”  Hebrews 5:7-9

Jesus asked his friends to stand watch with Him, at the Garden of Gethsemane.  While He cried out to His Father to save Him from death, and during this heartfelt prayer He sweat droplets of blood,  His friends slept.  Jesus asked if there was some other way for God’s Plan to be realized other than the Cross.  God the Father said, “No.”  Jesus accepted that, and willingly walked to the Cross.  How precious, how magnificent!  “…He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him.” 

Today is my birthday!  Happy Birthday to me! 

If you have been reading my previous posts, you will know that I’m currently going through chemotherapy and have now finished the third of six treatments.  As I celebrate my birthday today, I am already gearing up for the fourth go-round in a little over a week.  It has not been an easy time of it.  I developed a blood clot in my left leg after the second round and I have battled on-going and extremely painful neuropathy in all my joints caused by the chemo since the first round.  I have cried out to God so many times before, during, and after my treatments to just miraculously heal me so I wouldn’t have to endure another round, but God has seen fit to “perfect” me.  He is using this time of struggle, to strengthen my character for His purposes, and so I persevere through this health challenge and fully trust in Him throughout the process.

One of the ways I cope with my current situation is by writing about my personal journey on my blog, Journey Thoughts and right here on IWO.  It is not only therapeutic for me to write about what I’m going through, I have found that so many of my readers are joining me on this journey either by praying for me or they too, are in the middle of great struggle and so they find encouragement in following my blog posts. 

I hadn’t originally thought I would write so openly about my battle with cancer, but I felt a real prompting of the Holy Spirit to not only write about it but “keep it real”.  Readers want authenticity.  I write about the many aspects of this journey with a life-threatening disease.  There have been many days, especially the weekends following a treatment, where I am at my lowest, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.  It’s hard to put on a brave front.  I weep, I gnash my teeth, and I pray for the pain to stop.  My poor husband takes the brunt of those outbursts during those very dark days, and he is the one who ministers to me practically as well as keeps me focused on the One Who loves me even when I wonder if that’s true.  Yes, in that chemo fog, I question why God would allow this to happen to me.  I forget He is Good, and Perfect, and Sovereign.  On those miserable days, I only feel pain and I feel sorry for myself.  Thankfully, I have some incredible prayer warriors who petition on my behalf, and when I struggle to pray, they take up the prayer gauntlet for me. 

When I write about my “down” days, some well-meaning readers and friends have responded, “That’s perfectly understandable.  You’re entitled to feel miserable.” 

Am I?

Doesn’t that speak of lack of faith?  Does it say that I don’t trust God?  Absolutely not!  David, Jeremiah, Job, and other great men and women of the Bible cried out to God when they found themselves in circumstances beyond their control.  That’s what I am facing right now, something totally out of my control, and something I know I won’t get through without Him.  I KNOW God is bigger than my circumstances.  He can take my cries of despair, along with my praises, and I KNOW He works all things out for good.  Our IWO verse to ponder this month, Romans 12:12, I have always found to be so challenging and powerful, but even more so during my current time of “affliction”. 

I appreciate all your prayers, IWO writers and readers, as I face three more rounds of chemo in the months ahead.  I will keep writing, and pray that I will continue in keeping it real!

Lynn Dove is the award-winning author, of the YA “Wounded Trilogy”- a contemporary Christian fiction series with coming-of-age themes.  A wife, mom, grandmother, and free-lance writer with articles published in several magazines and anthologies including Chicken Soup for the Soul books, her blog, “Journey Thoughts” is a Canadian Christian Writing Award winner.  Readers may connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and at lynndove.com   

Depth of Character by Wendy L. Macdonald

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 

Romans 12:12 NIV

Recently I realized that depth of character as a Christian and a writer can’t be realized without the one thing I strove to avoid.

Before I knew Jesus—joyfulness, patience, and faithfulness were sorely lacking in my life. I flitted from friend to friend and from job to job. This reminds me of a butterfly in a garden. It’s rare for a butterfly to sit still enough for me to capture a clear shot of it with my camera.

Like the butterflies, I was afraid of something. The thing I feared wasn’t the monster I believed it was; fear was the boogie man I needed to boot out of my mind. My submission to fear stunted my emotional growth. 

Once I became a follower of Jesus, I began to submit to the hope I have in Him. I realized fear wasn't supposed to lead me. However, it wasn’t an easy habit to break. Thankfully the Christian life isn’t a walk through the valley of condemnation; it’s a journey of transformation.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; 

but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 

2 Timothy 1:7 KJV

Love leads. It doesn’t wallop us over the head and tell us to smarten up. Love leads with gentleness and respect.

Slowly I stopped avoiding what I feared most: Affliction.

Webster’s definition of affliction: a cause of persistent pain or distress.  

 
Just as there are honeymoon phases in marriage, life, and institutions, there are also seasons of affliction. Love is long-suffering. Love doesn’t leave when poor weather arrives. Love remembers the best about others and stays to see the sun return. 

 As a writer, this also applies to slogging through the messy middle of an article, blog post, or book manuscript. Sometimes we begin a project with loads of hope only to have it unload by the halfway mark.

This is when and where the author’s character matters more than the protagonist’s does. Will we stay on target to complete the good race or will we be sidelined by fear of failure? Even if our story doesn’t make it to print, the process of completing it, editing it, and submitting it for critiques are huge growth hormones for our character development as a person.

Let’s face it, the writer’s life—the Christian life—isn’t easy. Pain and distress are part of the package. They are the sandpaper, the chisel, and the hammer that build a better version of us.

Confession time:

I recently began walking through a season of affliction. There are things that happened that stung, stunned, and stripped me. I couldn’t believe what I witnessed and experienced. But the wonderful thing about this weird journey is
  I allowed the hardness of life to press me in to the softness of His hands.

Bad stuff is transformed in the hands of a good God. 

I’m a better person. A better writer. A stronger person. A stronger writer. My faith, hope, and joy grew. My love for the Lord grew deeper and wider too as suffering shaped my character.
 
I’m also a humbler person for the suffering because sometimes I didn’t handle the stress well and ended up saying or doing things that compounded the problem. Sometimes, I forgot to breathe deep and count to ten.

As a fiction writer, this helps me understand the story behind why a character may suddenly act out of character. Sometimes good gals do bad things. A flawed character, or a flawed writer, is more relatable. Nothing opens my ears to hear better than finding out the story teller has walked in similar shoes. 

I’m nosy-to-know if your character (and your fiction characters) grow deeper during a season of suffering?

Blessings ~ Wendy Mac

God-honoring Writing Tips by Wendy L. Macdonald

As Christians we are to honor God in all we do. As inspirational writers we are to honor God in all we write too. When we do this, our writing will glorify God and bless our readers.  I’d like to share some tips that have spurred me to write faithfully for Christ.

So whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, 

do it all for the glory of God.

 1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV

The first and most important tip is to spend time alone with God daily. I need privacy and silence, so I go to bed early and get up early. In order to do this, I rarely watch movies. Trying to have time alone with God later in the day doesn’t work because I’m rarely home alone. Even as I write the first draft for this, my grandson is napping nearby.

In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice;

 in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.

 Psalm 5:3 NIV

The second tip concerns quiet times too. They are more fruitful when I write my thoughts, prayers, and confessions in my journal. It keeps me alert to His still small voice. Honesty is an absolute policy when conversing with God. He knows what’s inside us, and it’s important for our spiritual growth if we allow His Light to shine into our soul so we become fully aware of our need to grow in each area of our Christian walk. This will overflow into authenticity in our writing. Authentic authors draw authentic readers.

Trust in him at all times, you people;

 pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

 Psalm 62:8 NIV

The third tip is to include daily Bible reading in our morning routine. I enjoy choosing a #VerseOfTheDay for my journal entry that I also use on my social media sites. My daily Bible reading time is the perfect opportunity to harvest a special Scripture to share on one of my nature pictures I’ve taken in our lovely Comox Valley. I post them on my Facebook page from Monday thru Saturday. These mini-daily-devotionals are intended to spur believers to walk with joyful hope in God.

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

 Psalm 119:11 NIV

The forth tip is to meditate on Scriptures throughout the day, especially if we’re feeling extra stress from unusual life events. The past few months I’ve even been making up songs to soothe my soul when adrenaline flows. They are inspired by the verse of the day and enable me to focus on whatsoever is godly.

Blessed is the one...whose delight is in the law of the LORD, 

who meditates on his law day and night. 

Psalm 1:1-2 NIV

The fifth God-honouring writing tip is to pay attention to tears. I’ve already shared a six-minute podcast called: Tapping into Tears that you may listen to at HopeStreamRadio.com. It’s a wonderful way to discover poignant topics to write about. If the author is deeply touched by a piece, the reader will also be moved. I believe the Holy Spirit stirs our hearts to pay closer attention to something by drawing tears. Tears are seeds that grow into short inspirational memoir pieces when planted on a blank page. It’s fun—and oh so rewarding—to show up and write while tears are present. Being vulnerable on the page helps other engage better because it lets them know they’re not alone.

Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. 

Psalm 126:5 NIV

I’m nosey-to-know if any of my tips have inspired you.

Blessings ~ Wendy Mac 

Wendy L. Macdonald is an inspirational blogger and podcaster who loves to photograph nature on Vancouver Island. Her byline is: “My faith is not shallow because I’ve been rescued from the deep.” Her main website is wendylmacdonald.com where she enjoys interacting with readers.