Making Good Things Happen Inside Readers – Ramona Heikel

Frederick Buechner wished that he had told his writing students to think about what they wanted their books to do inside those that read them. That makes me ponder what I want my books and articles to do, and actually, I think I did it the other way around. First, I imagined other people reading the same great books and having the same positive reactions that I did. Then I ended up becoming a writing student.

So what exactly do I want my writing to do inside my readers? Thinking about people who are discouraged about themselves, hurt, angered by others, or disillusioned about who God really is, leads me to write something that will change those disheartening feelings. I want to encourage readers by bringing them into a welcoming global “community” of humankind, showing them that they are in good company, not so different on the inside than many other people, and therefore—most importantly—not alone.

I especially want to help people understand themselves, or understand why others do and say the things that hurt or anger them, because this can be the beginning of self-acceptance and forgiveness toward their enemies. I personally have found reading books about personality types and motivations fascinating and helpful, and I try to share what I’ve learned in my writing.

I want to truthfully portray God in his power, love and majesty, to counteract the many weak and negative ways that He, and Christ-followers, are perceived in society. The enemy, of course, is always at work deceiving people about these things, so it is no surprise how many people don’t bother to know God for themselves. But I join all of you and believers everywhere to tell the truth. No, I am not entering a religious jousting match to prove who’s right and who’s wrong, but trying to offer my perspective and experiences of finding joy, hope, better relationships, and peace of mind as I have grown closer to the Lord.

I have presented another way of looking at my hopes for my writing, by imagining an article that I’d want to be written about me in the future. You can read it in my wishful-thinking Inscribe post called “January 7, 2022” posted on January 7, 2012. Although it seems even farther in the future than it did when I wrote it, it is still my dream!

“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”

Frederick Buechner, Wishful Thinking: A Seeker's ABC

By the way, I looked up the pronunciation of Buechner and found out that it is pronounced “Beekner”, and if you’re interested, you can mine more of the riches of Frederick Buechner’s writings here, http://www.frederickbuechner.com/. I was also surprised to find him on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube!

Posted by Ramona
www.happilywriting.com

How Does My Writing Impact My Readers? by Janis Cox

Thanks to FreeDigitalPhotos.Net by imagerymajestic

Frederick Buechner said:

I wish that I had told my writing students to give some thought to what they wanted their books to make happen inside the people who read them.

So far I have one published book - a children's book called Tadeo Turtle. Definitely the book has a purpose - to teach children and parent and grandparents that each one of them is special in God's eyes.

This is also the theme of my blog, He Cares for You. Because I truly want people to believe what the Bible tells us:

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:7, NIV).

I have discovered that the more I read the Bible the more I start to understand the mind of Christ. And that is a good thing. Because I believe I am to "feed His lambs".

 I can't feed them unless I have been fed by Him.

All the writing I do starts with my learning it first from the Bible. Then I can share what I have learned. In my fiction books there is a lesson to be learned. So the characters are like me working their way through their lives and being taught by God through all their interactions.

Starting next week I am taking a blogging holiday for a month. I need that time to reassess where God wants me to spend my time. I plan to be out in my community watching and seeing where God is working and then following Him. I plan to spend more time in study and prayer. I plan to see my family as we are returning from our winter home (we are snowbirds).

I am excited. I have more energy in the past few days just getting last minute things figured out. God has been faithful in giving me lots of fodder to work with.

I love writing and I don't want to stop. But I am willing to stop if that is what I hear from God in the next 4 weeks. I want to be sure that this is the path He wants for me.

I would ask that you pray for me during this time of renewal.

I have written on this subject at Under the Cover of Prayer.

Am I Spinning My Wheels?

Is God Working Through Me?

So yes I am thinking about what I am learning and what I want my readers to learn as well.

Tweetables:

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Janis Cox, a retired school teacher and small business owner, found a new passion in writing in her retirement. A writer since 2003, Janis co-ordinates a group blog called Under the Cover of Prayer. She is also a contributor to a group blog called Family and Faith Matters.

Janis is the author of the award winning children’s book, Tadeo Turtle, published by Word Alive Press. She is the author and watercolour illustrator. For more information visit Janis on her website He Cares for You. She is a member of The Word Guild and Inscribe Writers Fellowship.