Talk About Power! by Dayna Mazzuca

As writers, we know words have power. To heal, uplift and console. And they have power to belittle, tear down or even destroy. They have power to create a shared understanding between people, instill faith. And they have power to withhold or deceive, drive another person mad. Yes, words have POWER.

It’s hard to think of anything more powerful, that we all have at hand. We have the power to direct our words towards good or evil; and I’m not really sure there’s a neutral space between. Usually are words are doing someone good, or leaving them empty somehow. Really, our words have POWER.

At the drive-through in the morning commute, how I engage over the speaker makes a felt difference on the other end. I can sense it. See it in the person’s smile or frown. With my kids, words make a lot of difference. They set the tone for the day and determine how a problem is worked through. With my hubby, our words are felt in all their implications. They say, “It’s a good day, I love you,” or they say, “My day is really tough and you’re to blame…”. Yikes. Words have POWER.

But how do I handle this power? This incredible power to influence the lives of my family, my friends and every single person I interact with in a day?! How do I handle this power of words, as a writer who uses them every day with intention and every day often without intention? As writers we have POWER.

To be honest, I rarely think about this power. This influence. This incredible potential for good or ill. When I do have to CHOOSE MY WORDS, this is a signal to me that all might not be well in my own heart. That I might need a breather before I speak. It’s a reminder that I really do hold power to make someone else’s day a better one or a one a little worse for wear. Hmmm… how to handle POWER?

I mostly rely on having good things stored up. On being in the Word of God on a regular basis, for a window of time long before my household is awake. I find if I’m in the Word first thing, the rest of the day takes care of itself. And as the Bible says, I am able to bring out of my heart the good stored up there. And where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. And when I am in the Word, my treasure is definitely on good relationships; on truth-telling; on speaking in love and walking in the light; day-in, day-out. Yes, I have POWER. But I know that I know GOD HAS SO MUCH MORE and is able to keep me close enough to his heart FOR GOOD that I actually have to work at it to do ill.

Yes, words have power. But it’s kind of like the water that pours out of well-fed source; it is power simply as a matter of course. I find when I am CLOSE TO THE SOURCE, I don’t really have to worry about the details, the potential for good or ill. I know GOD IS GOOD and as long as I stick close to him, spend time in the Word to the point that it fills me up, and allow his Spirit to move me throughout the day, I’m probably going to make out all right with ALL THOSE WORDS THAT HAVE POWER—power to move not only mountains, but the minds and hearts of people in our path. Every single day.

Dayna Mazzuca is a writer, speaker and poet working from home in Sylvan Lake. Her formal background is in Philosophy, Journalism and Spiritual Formation. These topics tend to overlap in her writings on the spiritual journey, her eight books of poetry and her online work. Her most recent project is an online course called “The Power of Authentic Storytelling” and can be found on her new site – www.daynamazzuca.com. 

God My Judge - Dayna Mazzuca

My name is Dayna. In Hebrew it means “God is my judge.” A powerful reminder to me over the years that I am not to fear any man, but only God, the true “judge” of my soul, the reader of my thoughts, the one watching over my comings and goings. The one who sits in a place of authority to reach out and bless me with his Strong Arm. To defend me when necessary, to allow his Son to intercede, to be a place of refuge and healing in a time of need. 

In my impressionable 20’s, I served as a Court Reporter for two years while working for the local newspaper in Banff, Alberta. What a great window that was into the nature of a good judge vs an apathetic or tired or even bitter judge. The heart-perspective of the person who sat in this place of authority made a huge difference, for everyone involved. 

The good judges did more good for people in one session than I had thought possible. The good judges changed lives. Brought justice, while being open to hearing so many stories, so many sides. They recognized when a young offender (or near enough to being labeled ‘young’) had someone in their camp, a father standing up at the same time his son was called. The father standing from the regular seats, with everyone around him seated and many of them staring, while his boy held his own at the front of the court, immediately in front of the judge’s bench. Good judges took note. Made allowance.

Good judges knew the lawyers. They mingled with everyone involved, even lowly community reporters. They hosted people for barbeques. They valued relationships. They had faith in the process they had signed up, for life. They seemed to have done the inner work to weather the storms (floods?) of disappointment in the nature of humanity; in our ability to love one another (or not); they sat on that bench having seen it all and come out the other side, still believing. In the good. In the right. In the process.

They stood firm by the relationship between justice (done first, to protect the innocent) and mercy (following in its wake once the lines of civil society had been enforced and affirmed in word and/or deed). They lived what they preached. Operated with integrity. Had clean hands.

God is my judge. This might sound scary if your name doesn’t give you an affinity for ‘judgment,’ or the same kind of life experiences that have led me to a deep appreciation of the whole process. But these are reassuring words to me. I have often leaned on them. And taken comfort that, thanks to my mom’s choice of my name, deep in my bones I sense what it means to say, “God is my judge.” And trust that he is good, and he is strong. And he will do right by me, as he has led me to do by him.

In the end, good judges work for freedom. A free and just society. Free, responsible individuals. The righting of wrongs and lessons learned that allow us to walk in ever-greater, more effective free will. It is a gift of God, this free will we are endowed with. But sometimes it takes a good judge on the bench to help us work out all that it means; it’s deep significance. To know that as Christians, our name means God is my judge. And he is sovereign over all; would see us all live upright and free, including being free of the fear of Man. 

I’m so glad, God is my judge.

Dayna Mazzuca is a writer, speaker and poet working from home in Sylvan Lake. Her formal background is in Philosophy, Journalism and Spiritual Formation. These topics tend to overlap in her writings on the spiritual journey, her eight books of poetry and her online work. Her most recent project is an online course called “The Power of Authentic Storytelling” and can be found on her new site – www.daynamazzuca.com.

7 Great Write-Better Sources - Dayna Mazzuca

Good news! We, as writers, are not alone.

While too much input can distract from the work of writing. Now and then we need someone to guide, equip or encourage us. To make a way forward. Mentors can prove indispensable to the writer in serious pursuit of excellence.

A friend, after all, makes all the difference.

ONE. Write Brilliant online course offered by Christian authors Margaret Feinberg and Jonathan Merrrit. So encouraging and hands-on. https://writebrilliant.com

TWO. Stephanie S. Smith - http://www.slantletter.com

THREE. Joanna Penn - https://www.thecreativepenn.com

FOUR. Inscribe and Word Guild online and in person. For Christian Writers in Canada!

FIVE. Canadian Authors' Association. Fantastic opportunities. https://canadianauthors.org/national/ OR http://www.canauthorsalberta.ca/

SIX. Local Writer-in-Residence Programs. Send them a sample. Go for coffee. Be encouraged.  I've met with three different writers over the years and each time my writing went forward.

SEVEN. Retreat spaces to get away for a weekend to write OR pray. Best to pick a focus I find.


www.daynawrites.com

Divinely Orchestrated Appointments are NOW - Dayna Mazzuca

This is a wonderful season we're in, spiritually speaking. God is connecting all the dots, revealing his purposes for his church in this time. He is arranging one divine appointment after another. He is speaking through his people. He is answering the hard questions. He is calling us to wait on him, to lift up our hearts, to depend on the Holy Spirit for direction and to trust in his provision.

My son made me this sign on my birthday:  
When all else fails, God will not.

This was my hubby's:  
When they throw you to the wolves, come back leading the pack.

And my daughter's handmade offering:   
I love you so much!

These are three messages to sustain. 

Together, they remind me: God's unfailing love will not fail. 

His redemption is full and we are fully his.

This means we can trust him for great things. In the small things, the large things. the material things and the invisible things. In other words: we can trust him in ALL things.

The other day I was driving through Airdrie with my daughter (for a girls' getaway to Banff). I hadn't called my close friend who lives in Airdrie and was feeling like I was flying under the radar. I knew she'd be hurt if she knew I was in town (even briefly) and didn't call. But I'd wanted to focus on my daughter and our intentional weekend away. I still, however, was very aware of what my friend's response might be...

We were there about 10 minutes. I went to use the washroom at McDonald's and came out only to bump into her husband, a tall, outgoing, super-social connector. He was on his phone in an instant. I ended up having a great conversation with my friend while our kids played in the backyard. It turned out her husband wasn't "supposed to be" there at that time, but that his meeting had been changed that morning. God's timing.

Then... on our return trip back through Airdrie to Edmonton from Banff, we hit a huge rainstorm. I took a detour onto the east side of the highway and veered off to a restaurant I'd never heard of, but that looked comfortable. I pulled up to the window and there was my same friend eating a bowl of soup! She had never been to that restaurant either. "This is my first time out for lunch in a year," she laughed as we hugged inside. She called her hubby, who brought the same two children my daughter had played with at the start of the trip. And, again, we had a great conversation and thanked God for his timing—and attention to detail!

I should add: I do not own a cell, making these divinely-orchestrated appointments extra special.

These two connections, which allowed my friend and I to support each other in our journeys with our children, to pray together and to bless one another, affirmed to both of us (and our children!) that God is in the details. We can trust him with our comings and goings. How much more can we trust him with our work and our lives? Amen.


www.daynawrites.com

Poised for the Final Act - Dayna Mazzuca

To be strong is to be balanced. The Bible talks about being "bold and stout-hearted" as the work of God. The finished work. That He delights in our strength. Our boldness.

This means reconciling the act of revelation (e.g. writing our best thoughts as they come to us through the inspiration and direction of the Holy Spirit) with the act of relating well to others. Of speaking bold, strong and true (e.g. finding our voice and trusting God with the rest). And then standing, as they come to the microphone to say, "Wow." or "Thank You."

As people come forward to say, "Congratulations," the goal is to stand tall. Do not demure or back away from what you put forward in faith. Stand behind your words.

This way the world will not only hear what you have to say from the front of the room. They will be able to receive what you have to offer face to face. The circle will be complete. You will have done your job. Yay!

This is what it means to balance the last bits of the writing life: the completed project with the congratulatory response, which can be unsettling and put you off balance.

The Final Act of the Writing Life: The words on the page read out loud to an audience. The message delivered. The truth spoken. The story told. Bravo!

Balanced with the Human Response to Praise (always a danger to an unsettled ego): The response to what you read and how you read it. The pats on the back. The flowers and champagne. The new outfit. The reward and hugs all around. Way to go!

To Write Strong to the end: we need only be true to the call of God on our lives.

To Respond Well to Others' Response at the end: we need only remember
God is pleased with us (too!).

This might sound like too much joy. Too many balloons floating against the ceiling. Too many bubbles in the bath! This might sound like a strange way to achieve balance in the writing life. But I believe that getting this part right will give us capacity and patience and endurance to do what we need to do to get to this point. This is where we want to be. In total Happiness Overload. Crazy successful on the page and off. With publishers and with people. But mostly—mostly with ourselves and with our God. The rest is all—as they say—gravy!

But I say - without the gravy, who wants to sit around and peel 100lbs of potatoes?! But with the gravy... bring on the peelers! bring on the writing schedule. bring on the writing/life balance along the weekly way - so we can get to the Good Stuff at the END: the Very Happy End!! - Where we nail the writing! nail the reading! and nail our response to others' (very positive!) response. That is GRAVY. BRING IT ON.

(or do you think that sounds a little crazy?)


www.daynawrites.com

Stars in the Canadian Constellation - Dayna Mazzuca

Don't ask me about Confederation or the CPR. Let's not talk about founding fathers or the famous five. Forget about the inventions (e.g. garbage collection bins) and lack of architecture (Winnipeg and Montreal exempted). I cannot name the wars we've won (or the islands we've lost). I do not know the 2nd and 3rd Prime Minister. Or whose treaty land I occupy.

Ask me instead about trails I've hiked, rivers swam, road trips taken. Ask me about Saskatoon berry pie and hot dogs over an open fire. Ask me about friends and where they live and how they make it work, here in the land we call home after so many generations away from our countries of origin (that we've never seen).

Ask how these points of brilliance make us one. How so many stars shining can make a picture in the sky we are privileged to share. Look up.

Canada, a constellation:

inhabiting the West. prairie mavericks. mountain shadows. coastal lines and northern lights. answered prayer.

blackberries growing wild on the West Coast. stopping to pick some (lots!) on a bike ride with my family. scratching all the way. bursting with joy.

hiking around Emerald Lake. hearing later there was an avalanche. feeling lucky. drinking tea in the outdoor hot tub.

sailing in the Gulf Islands. catching the ferry to Saltspring. listening to the water's wake. and seagulls. feeling free.

walking through a field of rye. knowing it's in the family. rolling wheat between my palms. looking up at the sky. falling in love.

visiting Diefenbaker's grave. at my old stomping grounds at the University of Saskatchewan. on tour.

picking up a green canoe to venture out. finding I can barely lift it. thinking about the voyageurs. paddling. longing for water.

complaining about price spikes at Fort Edmonton, Calgary Zoo and Telus Science Centre. wanting the world to be accessible for everyone. not understanding the attraction of money. being angry.

surviving a downturn. a housing bubble. about to burst. pricing out RVs. the last generation of snowbirds. helping to load the moving truck. feeling distant.

Rev. Rundle's church. imagining him preach. thinking of the people I met up north. in the Arctic. missionaries everywhere they are needed. residential schools. what happened?!

hearing Stuart Maclean died. remembering hearing him tell his stories live and being surprised how much he moved his body. how at home he was in own skin. then the cancer. grateful for voice.

staying in touch with friends across the years. where they live. and call home. Canada.


thinking what to write. I find this is a land of individuality with a shared sense of what it means to explore, discover, enjoy, protect and pass along—as a Canadian writer I trust my voice will find a place, as there lots of room to be and grow together. And so bravely, I write.


www.daynawrites.com

Journaling not for faint of heart by Dayna E. Mazzuca

Hard-core daily journalling is not for the faint of heart. Debriefing life play by play can be exhausting. On the other hand, the un-examined life is hardly worth living. I believe the Lord wants each of us in close contact with Him; to tune in to our life below the surface. To voice our tender, strong desires. To name our fears. To live in response to his invitation to go deeper; to know God.

As a writer, I find journaling the ideal venue for this kind of spiritual work.

For me, daily journaling is essential to my soul, my craft and my coherence. When I go too long without a journal (e.g. on vacation/on the move) things pile up inside of me and by the end of a week bereft of journaling, I'm a mess. I talk faster, knee-jerk react to situations, interrupt people and growl at those who love me.

As a result, my colourful, oversized journal collection is really a hopeful investment in the quality of my inner life. Journaling clears my mental skies and refines and strengthens my emotional core. It orders my responses and informs my voice. In many ways, it informs who I am and what I'm about.

I journal daily. It's not a habit; it's a way to the good life. 

I can't imagine who or what I'd be without my journals. I fill one a month, sometimes two.

What will become of these thoughts, prayers, rants and quotes? I have no idea. Sometimes I worry; so I journal about that too.

To be honest, publishing to connect with readers is easier than journaling. I know what happens to those words. I can track the response. My articles, poems and books represent thoughts coming full circle, taking on some form in the world, offering value. My journals sit in tall stacks and fill baskets in my study.

Private journaling and public writing (e.g. publishing) straddle two different hemispheres of my writing world.

On the one side, I need to journal. I need to process and attend to the significant signs of God at work in my life. I need to record the pain and celebrate the joys of life. I need to be honest and vulnerable and fierce and strong. I need to journal.

On the other side, I need to publish. I need to be heard; to not operate within a vacuum. To get outside of my head. To attune to the needs and voices of others. To pursue my vocation. To get paid and contribute to society. I need to publish.

In the end, journaling is an interior act. Publishing is exterior. Two halves of the whole that this writer, for one, appreciates, pursues and enjoys—albeit in rather un-equal measure.



www.daynawrites.com

The Unpredictable, Uncomfortable, Undeniable ways God Loves Us

by Dayna E. Mazzuca 

 

OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE

 As long as I can remember, I've said I would NEVER do the following Three Things:

1. Pay big money to learn how to write. (As a published writer, I figured money should be coming in as a result of my writing; I shouldn't be putting "out").
2. Take an online course where I was back in the Student's Seat. (I've gone to school for a long time, so if I'm going to learn more, I want it to be in person and through God's person-to-person anointing).
3. Embrace Social Media. (No fan of SM, I was simply hoping to avoid it as long as possible).

THEN -  I felt God nudging me to sign up for an online learning course that cost a pretty penny and guaranteed to teach me more about SM. 

Hmmm... why does God do this? Why does he nudge us directly into the thing we are avoiding? I do not know... BUT! I signed on, paid up, learned lots and couldn't be more pleased with the outcomes, especially with my new website and spoken poetry blog! The course has been great, everything from online mentorship (including phone calls from the instructors) to an online student support and critique group. Amazing stuff! Praise the Lord.

(FYI: the course I took is called Write Brilliant and is offered by writers Margaret Feinberg and Jonathan Merritt - highly recommended!)

 

GOD TAKES US OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONES FOR 2 REASONS. 

1. The first reason is to show us new things; to take us places we’ve never been; to grow us in ways we would’ve missed had we never got out of our easy chair.  

2. The second reason he stirs us up and moves us on is to press the reset button, refresh the screen, to show us familiar, old, comfortable things in a new light—to offer us fresh perspective on what we already know well.

In other words, he either expands our tent—taking us new places, giving us new ground, or he strengthens our stakes—deepening our appreciation through a fresh perspective on what is already long-familiar and well-know.

WE DO NOT HAVE TO LEAVE HOME for our stakes in God to go down deeper. God can take us out of our comfort zone with the person we’ve lived with for 20 years, or the children we thought we knew, or the book project we’ve dreamed of for decades. We can do deeper right where we are. Deeper is good.

WE CAN, HOWEVER, LEAVE HOME ANYTIME God invites us to do so. I’ve moved too many times in my life (32 at last count) to think God only works on familiar territory with friendly faces and in comfortable ways. I know he also works when we are willing to leave our homes, cities and people to face the unknown. Expanding our territory, learning a new language or culture, writing in ways new to us because suddenly we have fewer friends and are spending more time alone, observing life more closely. Broader is good.

DEEP AND BROAD

Deep and broad: sounds like the love of God alright. And really, there is nowhere we can go from his great, big love for us. So, if he is calling you out of your comfort zone, know that you are in good hands. He may have a deeper, richer experience for you and your writing right where you are, right now. He may be asking you to go deeper. Or, he may be asking you to literally and figuratively broaden your horizons, to venture beyond familiar boundaries (and barriers). He may be asking you to expand your tent, to broaden your perspective and horizons. 

Only you know what God is asking you now. 

Whatever it is, I encourage you to say, “YES,” and to go with God wherever he leads, which may very well be out of your comfort zone.

I’m glad I did, not only for the results in my writing, but also for the Sheer Delight of being SURPRISED by the One who Loves me Best. After all, any romance can grow dull. And life with God is often a love affair!

VISIT DAYNA - www.daynawrites.com

The Dusty Path to Saintly Glory

A Lenten Reflection

by Dayna E. Mazzuca

I gave up chips, popcorn and cheezies for Lent. When the pastor put the ashes on our forehead on Ash Wednesday, is this what he meant? That we would remind ourselves of the scripture that we are dust and to dust we shall return by giving up treats for 40 days before Easter (excluding Sundays).

QUESTIONS AT LENT 

Do small self-denials teach me about the big sacrifice of Christ on the cross? Can a hint of suffering inform my soul about the larger reality of sanctification on the basis of the Atonement?

Didn’t Christ die so I might have a more abundant, prosperous, joy-filled life? How does sorrow (small and large) grow my soul?

These are the questions raised at Lent. Perhaps denying myself big-bowl treats does not speak of true suffering. Perhaps my small gesture even risks mocking the painful realities that can invade lives, changing us forever. Or, perhaps foregoing simple pleasures starts me thinking along different lines,  renewing my mind and causing me to hunger after God in a deeper, more meaningful way. When I took time to walk down the street with my family to a simple evening Ash Wednesday service, did I realize the implications, or did they matter? Or was a gesture of alignment with the larger Church calendar and its built-in spiritual rhythms help keep me in step with a story I cannot tell alone, but must speak—in word, action, gesture and reflection—with others who have gone before and will come after us?

A participant in a larger, ongoing, majestic story, I felt the dusty ash from last year’s palm branches pressing into my forehead, marking me as the same as every other person in the room: common dust along the Way.

The dusty ash brings the story full circle. When once we waved Christ on, celebrating his arrival in Jerusalem, assuming he was on the path of glory and taking us there with him, the palm branches waved, yet less than a year later they are burned for ash. There is a sense of the broad sweep of humanity—all our up’s and down’s, our pains and pleasures—being part of God’s story with us. Christ was cheered. Then he was mocked. Christ was crucified. Then he ascended. There really is no end to this story, although he said on the cross those final, comforting words: “It is finished.”

AN UNENDING FINISHED WORK: no small thing

It’s a finished work on the cross, a finished work with a thousand points of entry, as long as it’s Christ we seek. He is the gate. He is the way. 

If he teaches us to be satisfied with him, then I think self-denial might serve to clarify the sole object of our soul’s hunger. 

 

 As much as we are dust, we are destined for glory. There is more to enter into with God than we can hope for or imagine. And I wouldn’t want to miss a bit of it, so I observe Lent in my own, small way. And think of bigger things: like suffering, dying, and the promise of resurrection. All of it contained in a spiritual season marked by the most unremarkable of events: basic, human self-denial. All for the sake of Unshakeable, Everlasting Glory: no small thing indeed.

VISIT DAYNA - www.daynawrites.com

Finish Well — with a little help by Dayna Mazzuca

three things to help Finish the Work

by Dayna E. Mazzuca 

 

 

In the Gospel of John, chapter 17, JESUS SAYS: “I have glorified you by finishing the work you gave me to do.” Today the red letters come alive for me. Between the lines I read: finish the work, the task of writing. Specifically, to follow up the pile of ideas tucked in my “Idea File.” The file is currently bulging with pink and yellow sticky notes. The coil notebook laying open beside it is filling up fast with more ideas-waiting-to-happen. There’s also a pretty blue “ideas book” in my purse with enough ideas to last the year and various notes jotted down on parking receipts and to-do lists covering my desktop. Ideas abound, praise the Lord. But where is the Time to Finish the Work?

These ideas are Important. They are essays-waiting-to-written. Poems-waiting-to-be-composed.
They are books-in-the-making!

FINDING TIME

If I could find the time, I could/would finish the work God has put in my hands to finish. I could take the unlit candle off the shelf, light it and lead others along the path I’ve been blessed to find. I could take the flashlight and install four new “D” batteries, push the switch forward and shine the light into the pile of “undone stuff” now burying the best of my friends, helping them to tunnel through to the light of day. I could mount the stairs of the lighthouse and guide the wayward home. I could do it all. IF I could find time.

Where is this time and why is it important to finish the work? To put the finishing touches on my third collection of poems to accompany the spoken poetry blog I recently launched? To compile the notes for various workshops into a book-length project? To prioritize the essays I want to write to those living (and dying) on overwhelm?

WHAT’S REALLY STOPPING ME? 

I have space, ability, technical support, connections and a track record of publishing. But this month—so full of potential and fresh energy—seems to be off to a slow start. This year seems off to a slow start. What is going on?

I AM MISSING THREE THINGS: 

      1. DEADLINES

As a former journalist, I never missed a deadline. But as a freelancer working from home, I have no deadlines. So, I meander, pause and wander off to clean the floor, make soup, buy new sharpies. My writing comes last because there is no urgency. There is no deadline: I do not keep the end in sight because there is no end! Open-ended projects are destined to pad out the Idea File, adding their slight heft to my sense of being... YET UNDONE. Sigh. 

While I do not miss the tantrums of tortured editors banging down my door, I do miss the built-in success of always-motivating red flag deadlines. I used to write 32 stories a week, error free. Today, an idea can languish on my desk for years… I need deadlines.

            2. A PARTNER in planning and execution

A writing buddy. Someone to talk shop: “What are you working on this year?” “What deadlines have you set for yourself?” “How are you planning on prioritizing your projects?” “When can I check in with you again to make sure we’re on track?” “Let’s meet for coffee and go over this in person once a month.” Having a boss was the bane of my professional writing stint, but having a hard-core friend to my writing who takes freelancing as seriously as I do on a good day would be great! 

btw - I've noticed an offer or two on this wonderful Blog to join forces... THANKS. 

I look forward to forging mutually strengthening links!

            3. THE BIG PICTURE

I can envision the finished poetry book (and even spoken album). I can see the workshops materializing into a book. I can see the essays being a blessing to many. But I have trouble seeing myself as a communication-hub, my writing as a business, my content as dovetailing with a coherent, helpful message.

I need help putting the potential of my writing in perspective. I don’t mind sharing ideas through spoken, printed or published means, but to see myself in the category of an Ann Voskamp, Mark Buchanan or Malcolm Guite is a bit of a stretch. These in-their-niche godly, professional communicators have built a brand around their work, and their lives! Do I want my work and my life to become a brand? Do I want to be a brand?? I’m not convinced.

But. I do want to share well and widely. To create venues for content and extend invitations to others to enter more deeply into a consideration of their faith and the work they’re called to. I do want to do that. To finish that work.

If I could find the time.

IN THE  MEANTIME - Please join me for the INSCRIBE WORDSHOP on March 18 I'm facilitating in Edmonton this year— at WRITE ON TARGET, you'll find out how to Reach Your Reader by 1) identifying your Type (there are 5Types of Readers) 2) tailoring your writing to their reading needs and preferences and 3) aligning your work to the markets your reader visits. A hands-on day to take your writing to the next level. 

REGISTER online.

VISIT DAYNA -

www.daynawrites.com

Called To Write Book Review

I just finished reading Called To Write by Dayna Mazzuca, one of the books that I bought at this year’s fall conference. I bought the book because I was fascinated by Dayna’s workshop called ‘Reach Your Reader’, which I already talked about in last month’s post, and which I have highlighted elsewhere on my website and on The Word Guild’s blog.

The book itself is divided into three sections: Embrace Creativity; Reach Your Reader, and Go to Market.  All three sections include reflective questions at the end of each chapter to help readers apply the principles in the book, as well as a handy checklist at the end of each section. I would say the book is geared toward writers at the beginning of their journey, or those unsure of their call, and most definitely it is for people who like to dig deep into their own motivation.

My favourite section was the middle part, which shed more light on the workshop I attended at conference and helped me understand more clearly the theory behind the different types of  readers. (And it also explained why I should care!) In summary, the five basic types of readers are:

1.     The fact finding scholar

2.     The social connector

3.     The active change agent

4.     The adventurous explorer

5.     The contemplative mystic

Each type of reader comes to any written work with their own set of needs and expectations. It certainly has helped me to understand my own responses to certain books and styles of writing and will hopefully help me to target my own audience in a more productive way. (I am most definitely NOT a scholar or a change agent, and although in my dreams I am much more contemplatively mystical, the reality is that I’m waffling somewhere between the adventurous explorer and the social connector.)

If your interest has been pricked, I recommend picking up your own copy of the book. Not only will you be supporting an InScribe author, but I guarantee a few ‘Ah ha!’ moments as well. As far as I can tell, the book is only available online through iBooks or directly from the author at daynawrites.comhttp://daynawrites.com/.

Review written by Tracy Krauss

Read any good books by InScribe authors? How about books on writing craft? The fifth of each month is set aside for book reviews and we are always looking for submissions! Submit your reviews to the blog moderator!