Incentives to Write - by Sandi Somers

New Year’s Greetings for 2019 to everyone!!

January is usually the time we write new goals for the coming year. This month, our writers will look deeper, exploring incentives that help them keep on track with their writing goals.

Goals and Goads?

Several years ago while reading comments on a blog about goals, I came to this typo: “I have realised the importance of writing the goads down.”  (She wasn’t an InScriber. Whew!!)

This writer spoke more truth than she realized.

Now a goad is a club, sometimes with sharp nails, that ancient farmers used to get a balky ox to cooperate. While Saul (later called the Apostle Paul) was persecuting Christians, God was speaking to him, but he was kicking against the goads (Acts 26:14).

Sometimes we need goads—er—incentives to keep us on track with our goals.

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Our Courage, God's Strength

Humour aside, as I was thinking of this blog, God brought to mind the following verse:

“Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart” (Psalm 31:24).

God was prompting me to rethink "incentives" from the viewpoints of my courage and His strength.

Courage to bring my goals before God

God has a message for me to write and speak, and opportunities come up that point me in His direction. For example, this Fall I was given an opportunity to lead a healing prayer time on a mission trip to Haiti (to come in February). This project involves preparing a training seminar for Haitian prayer leaders. I needed to write a training manual so that it can be translated into Haitian Creole.

God’s strength and inspiration to focus on this project comes with His reminder: “We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps” (Proverbs 16:9).

Courage to set long-term goals while focusing on short-term plans.

          While attending one writers’ conference, I found a secret that made sense to me: to break down my goals into three-month or even one-month or weekly plans. This helped keep my focus whereas longer goals sometimes got derailed by other life events.

          God’s strength comes from His promise: “Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure” (Proverbs 4:26).

Courage to keep my vision in mind when other events in life overtake me.

          One of my coaches suggested that when life takes over, we still write for five or ten minutes each day—a thought, an idea. It may not seem like much, but it captures a key component which contributes to one of my current projects. And often those five minutes add up to a few more moments stolen from a busy day.

God’s strength comes with His promise: “May your strength be sufficient for each day you live" (Deuteronomy 33:25).

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What incentives keep you on track with what you hope to achieve? How are God's nudgings part of your incentives?

You may wish further suggestions. These blogs (Jeff Goins here, James Clear on repetitions here and our own InScribe Shirley Tye here) may give you some food for thought.

Looking Back, Looking Forward by Sandi Somers

Prompt: January is named for the Roman god Janus who had two faces, one looking back and one looking forward. As you look back to your writing journey of 2014, what were the most important discoveries? What did God teach you? How has this encouraged you as you make your goals for this year?

Paths Taken, Paths Not Taken

In preparation for this blog, I reviewed my “process notes” of 2014 (notes I write about my writing), reflected with God to discern themes, God’s grace and His faithfulness. I asked the Lord to show me the year from his perspective.

My writing roads took me on unexpected detours and side trips. Discoveries from these trips helped me focus on my goals for 2015.

• I had planned to participate in NaNoWriMo, but in November I went on a mission trip to Bolivia. My trip took unexpected turns that demanded extra time and energy, and I wrote very little at all that month.
  Discovery: Our minds plan our ways, but the Lord directs our steps (from Proverbs 16:9). I’ll try NaNoWriMo again in 2015.
• In 2012 while travelling to Israel with our church tour group, so many people were overwhelmed with all that Biblical and historical background that I began writing in-depth devotionals with study guides.
  But then at the end of 2013 other writing opportunities came my way, and I left the devotionals for a time.
  It was risky; would these be unfinished documents filling up my computer? When would I pick up my pen and rework them for publication?
  Recently I reviewed some of the articles and saw that I need to meditate more deeply on what God wants to say through each of those scriptural passages.
  Discovery: “Make me walk along the right paths, for I know how delightful they are” (Psalm 119:35). God knows when those devotionals will be ripe for publication.
• I have many drafts in my data base, too many to finish. However, these half-finished drafts became a treasure trove as I excised parts for other articles and devotionals I wrote for publication.
  Discovery:  Teach me your good paths (Psalm 119:64). Nothing Is Wasted in God’s Economy!
• While in 2014 I experimented with different genres, styles and time frames, the theme I’ve chosen for 2015 is Trust. Trust the path I’m walking on. Trust God with situations, circumstances, people, and impossibilities. Trust the Spirit’s empowerment.
  Discovery: “Ponder the path of your feet” (Proverbs 4:26).
• Prayer; As I enter this year, take all my plans. May what I write bring the greatest honour and glory to You.
  Discovery: “When we obey him, every path he guides us on is fragrant with his lovingkindness and his truth” (Proverbs 25:10 TLB).  

Now over to you. What were your discoveries of 2014 as you make your writing goals for 2015? How can you begin this year with renewed faith, hope and love?