The Beginning of Something Great – Ramona Heikel

In the rare, calm moments when I take an objective look at my writing goals, I sometimes get discouraged because I wish I could write more.  But then I think to myself, “Well, at least I’m writing consistently.  Thank goodness I have to write a post every month for the Inscribe Writers blog!” 

Now don’t get me wrong.  It sounds like I resent it, but “have to” actually means

“I don’t want to let down my fellow Inscribians,

so it is mandatory

—right now, today—

that I clear off a space  in my cluttered

schedule,

desk,

and mind

to do what I love:

write!”

And not just write, but also rewrite, edit and complete an article.  Sometimes this blog post is the only writing I do in a month, and even if I need to squeeze it into a full schedule, it always gives me a sense of joy and accomplishment.  It’s also a way to connect with my writing community, to learn, to be inspired and encouraged, and to give back.

As I was looking for inspiration for this month’s post, I went to my Inspiration Binder.  I organize myself with binders: binders full of marketing information, articles or notes that help me with aspects of writing and editing, research I’ve done, works in progress, and yes, even a binder called “Inspiring”.  You can see it here (showing my sophisticated binder labeling system!):

Inside the Inspiring binder I have, front and center, an Inscribe blog article by Marcia Laycock entitled “Lessons from Pompeii”, which I re-read now and then to remind me of what’s most important (the condition of my heart before God).  I also have Christmas cards received from two magazines that published my work, notes and articles that first encouraged me to write, and “keepers” from various writing workshops, among many other words that motivate and guide me.

Inside the front pocket is a bookmark, which reminds me of my first Inscribe conference, where I got to meet many of you lovely people in person for the first time.  I signed up for the 2009 Fall Conference mainly because I wanted to hear what the keynote speaker had to say.  I’d long admired Jane Kirkpatrick, and was very excited to see her in person.  She was an excellent teacher and encourager of writers, and when she sat at a table to learn from other speakers, she became one of us.  I was lucky enough to sit beside her at a table, and chat (and laugh) with her one-on-one for quite a long time.  I’ve never forgotten her advice: to talk back to the gremlins that sit on my shoulder and cackle and tell me that my writing is no good!

Since then I have been constantly encouraged and enlightened by you, my fellow members!  Reading through Fellowscript does more of the same, and I love the new contests, writing possibilities, and the Calgary conferences.  As I pondered exactly how to compose my memories in a post this month, I received my impetus from Sandi Somers’ post about the history of our organization, especially her questions at the end—thanks Sandi!

One of the ways I see God working again and again in my writing experiences is through Inscribe.  Seeing Jane’s smiling face on my keepsake autographed bookmark reminds me of when that blessing began.

Posted by Ramona

www.happilywriting.com

Being a Member of the Writer Family – Ramona Heikel

I grew up noticing that my personality seemed a little “off” from others, and I wasn’t quite sure where I fit in to the world. No one else seemed to think the way I did, or have the same perspective that I had. It was like being brown-eyed and brown-haired but everyone else in your family was blonde and blue-eyed. Where did I belong?

I always loved to write and one day I went to the library and checked out some books on writing. Then the most remarkable thing happened: I found distant relations that looked like me! Kathryn Lindskoog, in her 1989 book Creative Writing for People who Can’t Not Write, described the typical personality traits of a writer. Wide-eyed, I realized that someone who had never met me was describing me and all my quirks as though they’d lived with me all my life. This feeling of coming home has constantly boosted my enthusiasm for writing, and given me the sense that I was born to write.

Vinita Hampton Wright also wrote a book about writing, entitled The Soul Tells a Story. Since I’d adored her award-winning novel Velma Still Cooks in Leeway, I figured I could find a gold mine of advice that would help me develop fascinating characters and plots. But instead of revealing writing techniques, she revealed herself, and I found a kindred spirit. This helped me to further understand myself: my creativity, moods, habits, choices of jobs, sensitivity, and my reactions to people and to the world in general. I realized that some of the feelings that made me lonely at times could be the very things that could help me create gripping stories like hers that change a reader for life. Her words were so sisterly, comforting and encouraging.

I’ve always felt a strong connection with the authors of the books that transform me, both as a human and as a writer. When I wrote to Francine Rivers about the religious themes in her secular romances, she replied with a warm letter telling me about her life and faith. I also sent a card via snail mail to the U.K. to thank Rosamunde Pilcher for all the joy her warm, wholesome characters gave me. And having Jane Kirkpatrick at an Inscribe conference point out the harpies on my shoulder (whining like Woody Allen) made the distance between the admired and the admirer shrink to the closeness of a mom and daughter.

Not long ago, I discovered Madeleine L’Engle and learned that we shared an enjoyment of science and a similar approach to our faith in Christ. In the June 2002 The Writer magazine, Madeleine L’Engle quotes Jean Rhys as saying, “All of writing is a huge lake. There are great rivers that feed the lake, like Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky. And there are mere trickles, like Jean Rhys. All that matters is feeding the lake. I don’t matter. The lake matters. You must keep feeding the lake.”

I read those words as, “We writers are a family unit. Writing is in our genes and it’s what we’re on this earth to do.” Now where’s my pen and paper? I think I feel a trickle coming on.

Posted by Ramona

Happilywriting.com