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

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