The Joy of Writing by Bob Jones

 

There is a writer in you.
My goal is to empower you to write.
Then, you can write to change the world.
Dr Yuyun Peng, founder of the Joy of Writing

 

 

It’s October, the month for Canadian Thanksgiving. Try as I might, I couldn’t come up with a way to spell thanksgiving with a “J” to suit the purposes of this blog. However, the first J-word that came to mind was “joy” and that started me on a journey to being grateful for writing.

 

JOY

Why my mind selected the word “joy” was confusing. For the most part I don't find a lot of joy in writing. Over a good portion of my journey, I thought I had a love hate-relationship with writing. More hate than love. And then I realized that it was a love-hate relationship with the writer. I frustrate myself. There are ideas and concepts that I want to export from my mind to a page of paper and I frequently disappoint myself in the process.

This angst constantly requires self-coaching, “Bob, cut yourself some slack. Being your worst critic does not serve you well. You don’t suck at writing. Stick with it.”

 

READING

Reading other writers is a joy. This month, “Island of the World” by Michael D. O’Brien, is at the forefront of my Kindle. The novel, set in pre-World War II Yugoslavia, cuts to the core of the question, “How does a person retain his or her identity in absolutely dehumanizing conditions?”

 

The end of November 2023 for me starts a month of travelling across Ukraine. I was invited to support Ukrainian pastors as they care for their war-torn congregations. I have a sense that their experience will be my support and I’ll gain more than I could ever give. O’Brien’s novel inspires me to write the pastors’ stories of Christian identity in horrific circumstances.

 

COACHING

My 3-step self-coaching practice is,

 

Just start writing.

Only write. Edit later. Write some more. You don’t suck.

Yay! It is finished.

 

And for this I am grateful.

 

Is writing a joy for you? What makes it joyful? Do you have a love-hate relationship as a writer?

 

 

Thank you for reading. Happy Thanksgiving!

 

The Grammar of Joy by Marnie Pohlmann

English grammar can be complicated. I am no expert on grammar. I have probably forgotten much of what I learned in high school, or maybe I didn't pay attention in the first place.

However, I am presently doing a study with friends on "The fear of the Lord" that has led me on a rabbit trail of researching grammar. Researching, specifically, prepositions and prepositional phrases.

My simple understanding is that a preposition modifies the subject of the sentence to define the relationship between the subject and the object of the sentence. The preposition "of" indicates a part of the whole.

When this month's prompt suggestion was the joy of writing, I was reminded of the prepositional phrase in Nehemiah 8:10.

Then he said to them, "Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10 NASV

"Of the Lord" is a prepositional phrase.

"Joy" is the subject modified by "of the Lord."

This is not my joy, this is God's joy.

Joy is an attribute of God.

             "Joy of the Lord" is part of the object "your strength." 

             God's joy is our strength.

             Strength not to grieve.

             Strength to celebrate.

             Strength to share.

             Strength to worship.

In the context of this verse, the Priest read the Laws of Moses to the Israelite people. The community leaders helped to teach what the laws meant. The people were grieved when they heard the Words of God. However, the purpose of the reading was not to grieve the people but to cause them to celebrate, to motivate them towards service of others, to give them strength. Hearing and reading Scripture gives us the joy of the Lord.

The Joy of the Lord is the kind of joy I want for my writing.

             Joy-of-the-Lord-writing is modified by my relationship with God.

             This writing is not simply for me but is for God's purposes.

             This joy of writing shows God.

                           Joy-of-the-Lord-writing is strengthened by God.

                           Strength not to be grieved by writing disappointments.

                           Strength to celebrate successes.

                           Strength to share the writing.

I believe the Psalmist, David, reflects this joy of the Lord in his writing. No matter how often David begins a song or poem describing struggles in his circumstances, his self-confidence, or his heart, he does not stay in the grief. His focus moves to God, to God's promises, and to God's faithfulness. This leads David to experience the joy of the Lord. He is strengthened. David is then able to praise God; to celebrate, to serve, and to share his writing.

How encouraging to me as a writer! As I read Scripture and journal my struggles, my thoughts begin to make sense. In my writing, I do not need to stay in grief but can change my focus to God. Joy is found in the writing. My writing is influenced by the joy of the Lord, and when it is, I am strengthened.

My joy of writing

     is found in 

          the joy of the Lord.

*photos courtesy of Pixabay.com

Marnie Pohlmann writes from the beautiful northern town of Taylor, BC. Read how the joy of the Lord influences her life and writing at her blog, Phosphorescent.

Growing into a Writer – by Ramona Heikel

For years as an adult, I had in the back of my mind that, when I had time—when I was in my eighties—I would be a writer.  Then one day when I was in my forties, I thought to myself, “I can hardly wait until I’m old and get to write!  But…I guess it couldn’t hurt to get started right now, could it?”  From that time on, I endeavored to be a skilled writer.  And the more I look back, the more it makes sense.

During my childhood and pre-teen years I wrote several stories.  I have in my scrapbook a science fiction thriller, poems, a cat adventure, and even a four-page newspaper I wrote for my chameleon.  My mom encouraged me to submit my poems to a children’s magazine, and at the age of eleven I received my first rejection slip:  “Stories and poems written by children are not purchased.  Keep reading Child Life and Children’s Playmate…” 

As a teen I wrote in diaries, loved school writing assignments, and wrote pages and pages of letters to friends out of town.  I was placed in the advanced English classes in high school, and wrote a column in my college newspaper.  Yet the only thing I remember wanting to “be” as I was growing up was a secretary or a teacher; I figured writing could only be a hobby.  I wasn’t aware that one could actually study English or Writing in college until I was majoring in math, and a friend announced that she was majoring in journalism.  I was envious!

I realize now how much my parents both influenced me to write.  My dad was very articulate, and always teaching me new vocabulary.  When I was living out of town he wrote me beautiful, long letters.  He took a creative writing course while he was in the Air Force, and I still have some of his well-written assignments.  I also learned that his mother and grandmother both wrote poetry, and my great-grandmother had some of hers published.

My mom took the Famous Writers Course by correspondence.  I remember the brown and white binders sitting on her art-deco desk, and her fat yellow envelopes full of assignments ready to mail.  She had two articles published in magazines and, inspired by God’s leading, she wrote the manuscript of a book about how the ideals of feminism contrast with God’s design for men and women.  I remember her often sitting in her office, looking out the window, deep in thought.  She has become understandably discouraged that many Christian publishers no longer accept unsolicited manuscripts, but would still love to perfect and publish her manuscript.

So, I wouldn’t say that I started by sensing God’s call to write; I just loved to write.  Now, although I have not “arrived”, I believe writing is a talent given to me, and as I’ve looked back at how naturally writing came to me, and all the writing talent in my background, and I do now sense his call to write.

I’m so glad that Mom and Dad implanted in my psyche the ideas that sitting and staring out the window to put words together is a perfectly valid way to spend time, taking writing courses is a good investment of money, and writing a book manuscript is a worthy goal.  I have done all three since I moved my “retirement dream” forward!

Posted by Ramona

www.happilywriting.com

 

Picture credit:  Mary Pickford writing -
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mary_Pickford-desk.jpg  

The Artistic Well by Sharon Espeseth

A busy month has kept my resources on tap--my brain, energy, time. . . In spite of preparing for a workshop, and much more, I am primed to take on the topic of how writing, as opposed to not writing, revs me up.

Our workshop topic was "The Joy of Writing." Although we all have ups and downs in our writing, we must enjoy it or we'd find other ways to earn money, at least occasionally, and we'd find other ways to get the wind blowing through our hair.

For my part of the workshop, I borrowed the imagery suggested by the title of a book I once read called Riding in a New Convertible with the Top Down. This title may conjure  up the picture of a gorgeous red-head of yesteryear's fame riding in the passenger seat enjoying, or not, the wind blowing through her kerchiefed hair.

What, metaphorically, oxygenates my spirit for writing? What makes me jump out of bed in the morning to start writing? What or who gets my shiny, new convertible ripping down the road?

*The Lord, who is my shepherd and guide. He leads me beside still waters and he restores my soul. I enjoy spending time with and learning from him. His word is a lamp for my feet and it steadies my hand as I write.

Hank and I in the Maritimes

*My husband, my life's companion, who loves me and helps me find balance in my life by

reminding me that life is more than writing. Going down the road, he drives while I read or write. His  generosity, Christian values, and personal integrity inspire me.

Caleb and Logan
in the Elements

*My children and grandchildren, whom I love and who love me, bring me joy and a sense of gratitude for having them in mylife. Time spent together is an expression of love. They make me thankful that I have them in my life. I am proud of who they are and who they are becoming. They inspire my best writing.*My three sisters and my other friends, be they writers or not, respect my writing and encourage me to write. We talk. We share our lives, our thoughts. They bring me wisdom.



*My older sister Joan who has been with me my entire life and who has always been one of my best encouragers and cheerleaders. Even now when she is not well, she wants to know what I'm

My Sister Joan and I

writing.

*The memory of my parents and aunts and uncles, who always loved me, believed in me, and brought me up in the Christian faith. My storytelling dad, who unknowingly taught me the joy of creative non-fiction. My mother who quietly set a good example of quiet grace, living one's faith, and showing hospitality.

*The church universal and our local parish, St. Anne's in Barrhead.

*Ministers over the years and a series of parish priests who have challenged me and helped me grow in my faith.

*Music in general and more specifically hymns that continue to grow me. As part of a team for music ministry and a choir member for seasonal music, I enjoy music and appreciate the time spent in choosing music to suit the Bible readings of the day. This added study of God's word spurs and inspires my writing.

*Time spent outdoors engenders a love of nature that finds expression in writing, often poetry. Sunrise, sunset; winter, spring, summer and fall--all you've gotta do is be there. A writing date at the lake with a friend.

*Reading a good book!

*The Women Word Weavers, who have been part of my life since the early 1980s. Members come and go, but the charter members I've been writing with for over 30 years. Although we were not founded as a Christian writing group, faith is a topic on our agenda. Many of my writings have to do with faith  and the WWWs are my supporters and best fans, as I am theirs. We are a sisterhood.

*Breakfast and writing with a friend. 

*InScribe Christian Writer's Fellowship has added greatly to my writing and my faith. What a group of like-minded believers and writers. As different as we are individually, we are companions on our faith and writing journey. My thanks to each of you for all you do. Blessings.

To end this lengthy list, I pray and sing! Fill my cup, Lord. I lift it up, Lord!