I suppose some people might think that I'm an unlikely candidate as someone who could ever write a book. I'm here to say that they're wrong. I may not have a book published yet but I do have other pieces of my work in print.
A magazine article which shows beyond doubt that I have been published, an anthology documenting my father's sudden stroke and a letter of mine is in print between the pages of my good friend's first book. All of these I consider wonderful stepping stones to making my dream of writing a book become a reality.
Over the past few years I have been penning stories that reflect the different events I've experienced in my life. So you might wonder how the word, 'unlikely' even entered this story since the word is surrounded by an ugly shadow of skepticism. The answer is simple - there are times when I allow it to.
Of course like many other writers I am fearful of rejection. Life has shown me that not all people are encouragers. Not all people think I will succeed. Not all people are in my corner.
Words can be both good and bad. I've been on the receiving end of some of the most hurtful words, words that fell from the lips of people I trusted.
I was so frustrated when I was enrolled in a class with other fellow writer's - a critiquing class. I placed my stories into the hands of strangers and allowed them to offer their feedback. Even though it was a critiquing class I didn't realize just how harsh some people would be. I was totally naïve in thinking that all feedback would come as encouragement since we were all in the class with the same motive - to write a book.
But I was met with some pretty harsh words, two of which still have left a pang in my heart. "Who cares!" a classmate spewed out over a specific line in my story. These two words didn't offer me any wisdom on my strength or weakness as a writer.
Proverbs 15:4 "A tender answer turns away rage, but a prickly reply spikes anger." Quoted from The Voice - reader's bible
Of course I wanted to defend my story, instead I just stared at my classmate, not taking my eyes off of her for a second. In that moment I refused to show her how much those two little words had hurt me. Just because I was surrounded by others who had a love for writing didn't mean that we were speaking the same language.
After some discussion with other writer's, not in my class, I came to realize that critiquers will misunderstand, make wrong assumptions and miss the things that seem totally clear to me as the writer. It's the harsh reality of allowing my work to be seen by total strangers. Still, our words are the direct evidence of where our heart is at. I can only listen to what others have to say and then be willing to let it go.
What's important is what God has intended for me. Indeed, I have a passion for words even thought they have the potential to build a person up or tear them down.
My book consists of pages, pages filled with words that will one day be sewn together, bound between a cover that bears my name. My book will be finished when I am ready to let it go - let my words matter to someone who does care.
"God will meet you where you are in order to take you where He wants you to go." Quote from Tony Evans
