Facing Our Giant Fears by Craig Funston

 

We are pleased to welcome Craig Funston, long time InScribe member, as our Guest Blogger today.

I say “David,” and you think “Sweet Psalmist of Israel,” or Israel's best king—maybe even something as unkind (but true) as a Royal Philanderer. But how about “David the Writer”? Take the melody out of the few Psalms he wrote, and they're words without a tune—a hymn without the hum, if you will.

David the shepherd-cum-warrior-cum-king is a good metaphor for all writers. I don't want to take away from the veracity of Scriptures because it is a bona fide historical story, that of David and Goliath: There was a battle, David was there, and God was with him. If one word could sum up the many experiences in I Samuel 17, it would be the word “fear.”

David had enough fears to stop him at any stage of the battle: those of leaving his sheep, stars, and surroundings; of his brothers' nasty comments; finally, of King Saul's awkward weaponry.

I'm sure all writers have these same fears, namely, leaving their comfort zone, tolerating the opinions of others, and just an overall sense of feeling their ill-preparedness for the task at hand.

But the biggest fear (literally) was that of overwhelming odds, the unwanted thrust into the public eye, that sense of now-or-never. You might call it,“Facing the Giant.” Not only did he face Goliath, but he actually challenged him and honoured God at the same time—and putting aside his fears in the process.

He faced his fears because he had the full confidence that God was motivating and moving him. He knew that if he had his way, he would still be killing ticks in the hills, not giants in the valley.

Are there any Goliaths in your life? Any people or experiences that assault your faith, convictions, or well-being, looming larger than life itself? God had taken David from the friendly climes of those Judean hills to the ugly battlefield. He could no longer stand by and see the honour of his God and devastation of His people unfold because of one huge hunk of humanity. The occasion had presented itself, and David rose to it.

My fears as a writer follow this same pattern: Called to write, but afraid of so many things, just like David. He moved out of the pastures of his comfort zone, past his brothers of malicious opinions, then in and out of unfit preparation.

David's strength of character wasn't because he was a character of strength. It was God Who had called him and empowered him to do this great deed. Likewise, if God has called you to write, you need to leave your comfort zone, get beyond what others say, get ready or prepared (“fit”) for each good work that He has called you to.

The Apostle Paul makes it clear that if God calls you, He will equip you (I Thessalonians 5.24).

You may have many giants that you fear but must face. Here's an encouragement: You're not alone, and you can't lose. Not when God is behind, within, and ahead of you.

I think David would agree. In fact, he himself chronicled his musings, both defeats and victories—we could almost call them a blog today. They're called the Psalms.



Craig Funston has had a call on his life to write for many decades. This has been expressed in newspaper columns, Gospel tracts, magazine editorship, and editing--among other things. He is always looking for more regular opportunities to write. The newspaper column in particular has been a wonderful outlet for his witty, direct, and current events approach. By passion, he is a writer and an actor; by profession, he is a classroom teacher and a homeschool supervisor. He lives south of Lethbridge, Alberta, with his wife, Gwynne.

Undaunted - by Susan Barclay

This month we've been asked to share and confront our fears. As a writer, what am I afraid of?

I've pondered this question and concluded that I have two basic fears: 1) that I won't finish (and therefore, my stories will never gain a readership), and 2) that what I have to say has no real value.

You may remember from a previous post that I've been working on my novel for quite a few years. I was hoping that this would be the year I'd finish it so I could move on to the next stage of getting it ready for publication, but a couple of major things have happened to make that improbable. Even for the pieces I have finished (i.e. picture books), it's been a while since I've submitted, and you can't get published if you don't send stuff out. Is it fear of rejection that forestalls me? No, I can handle rejection - each one brings me closer to success - it's finding the time to do the task. At the moment, time for myself is a commodity of which I don't have much.

As to the value of what I have to say, I mean eternal value. For sure, there's no real lasting value in the books I've written for preschoolers; they're cute stories, intended purely for entertainment. Nor is there lasting value in two of the three romancey short stories or one of the two Chicken Soup for the Soul stories I've had published so far. While there is something to be said for giving the reader a momentary escape from the daily grind, or in bringing a smile to her face, as a writer who is also Christian, God is the audience I wish to please most. Is He pleased with my more frivolous pieces?

Pause.

Consider.

There is a popular phrase today. You see it often on the back of pick-up trucks:

No Fear

I think of the reason I need not fear:

I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! (Psalm 121:1-2, NLT)

I know I've taken this out of context, but it still applies. I don't need to worry about whether or not I finish the work. If the Lord wants my words to go forth, He will equip me to make it happen. He will give me the time I need; He will give me life and breath and skill. Yes, I need to use all that wisely, to steward it to the best of my ability. And if I don't complete my novels and stories, I still need not concern myself. God has other spokespeople He can use; no doubt many of them are more competent than I. Why should I care if He uses them instead of me? It's not about me. It's about glorifying Him.

Aha. When we fear, we are focused on ourselves, not on the One we claim to serve.

As for worrying that my work has no eternal value: when I think about it, my novel and other short stories (in other words, my works in progress), do have important (though I hope non-pedagogical) messages for the reader. A writer and teacher of writing once noted - "you have something to say." So perhaps this 'fear' is largely unfounded. And if God is the giver of stories, as He is the "maker of noses" and "giver of dreams" (Rich Mullins references), won't He ensure that, as a writer who seeks to honour Him, I write accordingly?

There's another well-known phrase we read on bumper stickers:

No Jesus, no peace/ Know Jesus, know peace

Whether we're writers or from any other walk of life, we cannot fear when we have the 'peace that passes understanding' (Philippians 4:7), the peace of Christ.  His perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18).

I recently watched the movie Divergent with my family. If you haven't seen it, perhaps it will be a spoiler to learn that, in order not to be found out, the main character, Tris, has to face her fears by thinking like someone who is Dauntless. A person who is fearless, intrepid, and bold, according to the definition at Dictionary.com. Tris has to learn to use the tools that are around her instead of depending on her own 'divergent' thinking.

This is true for us as writers as well. When we feel fear, we need to overcome it, using the tools at our disposal. We need to remember that Christ lives in us, and as such, we have access to peace. We need to remember what God says about who we are in Him. We need to know Scripture, so we can face our accuser and our doubts. We need to trust God, who is our provider.

There are two songs that speak especially well to me on these subjects, one is contemporary, the other an oldie but a goodie. I leave them with you and hope they help free you from today's fears, and tomorrow's as well. 

God bless.
_________________
For more of my writing, please visit me at www.susan-barclay.ca

Facing Down Our Fears - Loretta Bouillon

Pixabay

What an appropriate topic for me this month! Being relatively new in the writing industry, I have had to face a few fears this year.

Starting a blog, joining a writer’s group, making a Facebook page; even CALLING myself a writer was a big one for me! One of my giants is still awaiting me in October, at the Surrey International Writer’s Conference. I am thrilled to be able to go. I am even more thrilled to be going with my seventeen year old daughter,Carlee. She is also a writer and very gifted one--says her English teacher. Her Christian online school has agreed to pay her registration fee for this conference, so the bonus is being able to do this together! We will fly there, stay in a hotel, and enjoy eating our meals at the banquets that are included with the price. It will be girl time!

Carlee and I

Back in the Spring of this year, I had to make a decision between, taking a couple of online university writing courses through UBC, the cost of self-publishing a book OR choosing to go to this conference. I chose the conference as I thought it would serve as a crash course in writing, publishing and everything that goes with it. Some of the workshops include topics such as Writing Picture Books, How to Spot Rookie Mistakes, Self-Publishing, Online Promotion and Social Media, Tools for Great Dialogue, and Finding Your Voice.

Anyway, back to the giant. With this conference, there is an opportunity to have a 10 minute “pitch” with an editor or agent. I have chosen to “pitch” my children’s picture book. To be completely honest, I AM TERRIFIED! However, I am a fairly good actor when I want to be. I am still terrified. The fear of the unknown. The fear of rejection. Being completely inexperienced, I expect rejection and I think I am okay with it. I tell myself that the experience will be invaluable; a great learning tool. It will be good for me.

What sold this conference to me was the sweet conference co-coordinator, who I met online while I was checking out the possibility of attending. She commented, “When I attended this conference for the first time, I felt like I had come home. I am very excited for you!” Although never having attended a writer’s conference, I still could relate to that statement.  I have been to several homeschooling conferences and Christian women’s conferences and there is something wonderfully uplifting about being together with hundreds of like-minded people in the same venue. It is a recharge, it is networking and it is feeling understood.

Attending this conference, I will definitely be walking through and overcoming some fears, however I see the opportunity as an incredible blessing. What a wonderful chance to learn and grow in this craft with my daughter. This is a gift in which I accept gratefully.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

The Best Cure for Fear - Tracy Krauss

I started writing seriously back in 1985. That is almost thirty years ago. My biggest fear back then is probably still the thing that nags at me on occasion. What if people think what I've written is stupid?

Fear of rejection is arguably the most common fear among writers. I've got news, folks. Get used to it.

It took me sixteen years and several works in progress to finally get up the nerve to let someone read what I'd written. By that time I had a finished novel and three more in various stages. I knew that eventually I would have to let someone take a peek - after all, my dream was to see my work published. Therein lies the irony. I wanted people to read what I had so painstakingly set to paper, but at the same time I was afraid. Writing is so personal. It's a little bit like exposing oneself in public.

I decided to take a baby step, which was still monumental considering my mental state at the time. I let my fourteen year old daughter, who was (and is) a voracious reader, be the first to read my masterpiece. Her reaction was, shall we say, polite. She 'liked' it, but she wasn't engrossed. In hindsight, I know now that the story was very expository. There was too much 'telling'. (Funny how I didn't catch that the first time around...) I went back to the computer and made some major revisions.

After a thorough overhaul, I took another giant leap and sent a submission off to the 'Writer's Edge', a service that reviews manuscripts for a small fee. If they think it has merit they will recommend it to agents and publishers on their list. (Sort of a pre-screening service.) This time I was sure I was golden. My career as an author was about to begin!

No so. That first rejection letter was devastating. I wish now that I had kept it. Instead I threw it away, discouraged and disheartened. But writers - real writers - can't stop writing.

The good news is this. I persevered. Each and every rejection was actually a gift. While most were form letters, many were not. I took to heart each and every piece of advice given to me in those rejections. A good writing class might have been an easier route, but having already started down the school of hard knocks, I carried on. Submission. Rejection. Submission. Rejection. Along the way I learned a ton about what good writing looks like, and I also got rather thick skinned. Rejection, it turns out, is the best cure for fear of rejection.

Over a six year period, I estimate I sent out between 120 and 130 submissions. I didn't receive quite as many rejections (some agents and publishers don't bother to respond at all) but the old saying that some writers could paper a wall with their rejection letters is actually true in my case. Through it all, I also got some 'requests for more' (a very thrilling response given the barrage of bad news) and eventually several contracts. It was not an easy road, I assure you.

What is the point of this story? Don't let the fear of rejection stop you from sharing your work. Take a deep breath and send that query! Read aloud at your next writers' group! Do something - anything - to force your fears into submission. The worst that anyone can say is, "That's really not that good," to which you can respond, "Thanks for the feedback. I'll do better next time."

Tracy Krauss is a multi-published, award winning, and Amazon best selling novelist and playwright. After years of rejection she feels she has earned the right to blow her own horn among friends. http://tracykrauss.com

Facing Fear by Sheila Webster

We're pleased to have FellowScript Editor Sheila Webster as our Guest Blogger today.

It can happen to any writer, that moment that fear limits our writing life. We feel prompted to write something that would reach someone God is trying to bring good news to in a different way – through unique perspective and voice, but we doubt and we freeze. We choke, and back away from an opportunity in case someone misunderstands what we are called to write, or worse they reject or blacklist us.

In my writing life I have a large trunk in the back closet of tricks I pull out to overcome fear if it roars and demands my attention instead of focusing on the at hand task or project. These have even come in handy when I solicit or chose to publish something new as an editor.

The well-worn tactics sit on my desk, eroded by time and use. The tattered fragment of a scripture, ‘if any of you lacks wisdom, let Him ask of God who gives to all generously…’ has etched its way into my writer psyche so much it is a default setting when writing. So often I have lacked wisdom to approach a certain topic, the genre I should use or the timing, but I have never been denied access to wisdom.

There are handwritten notes, from people who were impacted by something I had been afraid to write or publish, they are touchstones in an altar of praise for what God does through obedience.

Certain songs are on replay as they lift the worn fear bubbles in my mind and waft them away with their words and music. They have inspired me to be more fearless. Steve Bell’s songs, Comfort my People and Here by the Water, have been my magic potion many a time.

Coffee shops suffice for fodder to contemplate as I realize the world is hurling forward at an alarming rate to a predestined future without God. It fuels my resolve to face down the fear and preach, pray, write or die at a moment’s notice, but mostly I need to die to myself.

Online writer’s groups, physical writer’s groups, tangible education, a stiff talk by a friend or even foe can fuel my resolve and steel my courage to continue to write with grace and publish what I fear most.

In the end it comes down to this for me. Dr. Paul Magnus of Briercrest said this in the opening chapel of my first year of seminary, “Is the Work Well Done, Is the Word Well Used, Is God Well Pleased.” To me it resonates with what should be our ultimate goal of hearing, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

As Christian writers we have no excuse for letting fear stifle the words we are called to write.


Sheila Webster is the editor of FellowScript magazine and is currently serving as Inscribe's 'Spiritual Advisor'.

Facing our Fears by Sandi Somers

We all have fears associated with writing. We may be afraid our ideas will never materialize or that our writing isn’t good enough. We may be afraid of the publishing process. We may be afraid that nobody will read our work. We may fear rejection or failure. On it can go.

This month’s prompt asks: What strategies do you use to get past your fears?

DARE to Be an Artist

 

At one time I began writing about living on a mission station in Colombia. As I wrote about interpersonal difficulties, I was afraid of exposing all that weakness in myself and others.

I even wondered if I should continue. How could I write about that discouraging time?

I journaled and I prayed.

Through journaling, God brought some insights that I never would have discovered had I clung to my fears. I gained a deeper understanding of the real issues. Many of our difficulties arose out of our confined location on the mission station. Others came about because of unhealed areas in people’s lives. I was also much younger, without the maturity of my perspectives today.

Through these insights, God brought to mind: “Let your conversation (writing) be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Col 4:6.

God transformed my writing into words of grace and forgiveness.

This was one example of how God taught me to face fears, not just in writing, but in other areas of life.

I faced my fears square on. Fear can also hide below the surface, masquerading as worry, anxiety, nervousness or timidity.

I asked strategic questions:

• What exactly am I afraid of?
• What does God want to say to me through this fear?
• What does God want me to do?
• What would I attempt if I were sure the Holy Spirit would fill and enable me?

God word gave me encouragement “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline,” 2 Timothy 1:7 NLT

There will always be challenges in overcoming fear. But as we wade into the river of fear and take one step at a time, God will part the water and we’ll find secure soil under our feet. And God will strengthen us as we dare to be an artist.

DARE to be honest about the world that is around you and within you.

DARE to go as far as the stars—and even farther.

DARE to go as deep as your own heart and the deeper heart of God.

~ Murray Pura at InScribe Fall Conference (2013)

Now over to you. What has God taught you about facing your fears?