The Ultimate – Ramona Heikel

In my usual schedule, the drive to compose sometimes results in a 5 AM creative inspiration, quickly typed, causing me to be a bit late for work, but smiling.  Other times I spend an entire Saturday morning writing (get away from me, laundry basket!), or, in a rare blessing, I have energy left at the end of a day to write coherently.  Of course, I cherish a dream of waking up each day knowing I have the luxury of writing as many hours as I want.  But what if that dream came true?

I’ve had tastes of what that would be like.  In fact, I’m still on a school holiday, which has been an opportunity to live the writing life for a few weeks.  But although living the writer’s dream, I still want to spend time with family and friends, and there are still chores and errands.  These things do a real ADHD number on me, fragmenting my schedule, and worse than that, my mind.  But with a year off, I’d definitely make some helpful changes.

The first change I’d make if I had a year to focus on writing would be to spend more time praying over my writing, and meditating on related scriptures.  Sad to say, when I’m sneaking in some precious minutes of creativity, I don’t stop to do that.

I would work on one of the drafts of my novels, or start a new novel.  Longer, in-depth plots are the most natural for me to write, but I find that with so many interruptions it is far less frustrating to write smaller pieces.

I would try to find an agent to represent me.  I come to a grinding halt when I enter the moving target of the marketing world.  In addition to an agent, with financial resources as part of the dream, I would hire a writing coach.  As self-motivated as I am mentally, I don’t always walk myself over to my pen and paper to get started.  I envision someone like Kristi Holl from the Writer’s First Aid website knocking on my door from time to time and gently, humorously, forcing me to do the hard work.

And finally, I would hire a cook and maid, and use the freed-up time get exercise with walks in the fresh air, while the thoughts and planning of my writing continue to work themselves out in my head.  For the winter I would have a treadmill or elliptical with the capability of having my laptop at my fingertips, which would require me to move into a larger place.  Which, if I was going to do that, I may as well find myself a cottage out of town…with a view of the mountains…and a babbling brook…or a beach house…?

And you?  I look forward to hearing about your writing year!

Posted by Ramona

www.happilywriting.com

The Write Year by Steph Beth Nickel

A year to do nothing but write . . . what a thought!

If money weren’t an issue, I’d travel to Jasper, Alberta, with my hubby and meet up with our kids. (Dave loves it there and we’ve never vacationed in the mountains together.) I would also hop on a plane and visit our eldest son and his girlfriend in Scotland. Nathanial desperately wants to show us the sites. (And I think he’s just a tad homesick too.)

While I know I’m supposed to spend this glorious year writing, just imagine what wonderful inspiration I would get from my travels.

I would write blog posts galore and include photographs from my adventures. (I could write an entire book on Life through the Lens. Hey, maybe I’ll do that anyway. Dibs on the idea.)

I would also write an abundance of picture books and articles for children’s magazines. (I love writing picture book manuscripts. I just have to find an agent or publisher. Speaking of that . . . if this year to write could include having someone else find homes for my writing and take over the marketing end of the business, I would be beyond thrilled.)

I would love to write novels, but having so many wonderful friends who have done so, I wonder if I have the stick-to-it-iveness to see the process through—time and time again. Perhaps, I would focus on short stories and novellas.

If you’ve seen the Disney movie Up, you will understand me when I say I have Squirrel Syndrome—or as I prefer to call it, Butterfly Syndrome. I tend to flit from one thing to the next.

Barbara Sher wrote a book titled Refuse to Choose. Some people seem to be born knowing exactly what they want to do in life and they make a beeline for whatever it is. However, God did not make us all that way. I am eclectically-interested and eclectically-involved. For the most part, that’s exactly how I like it.

So, would The Write Year look much different than my life does now? Well, yes, since most of my writing-related endeavours involve editing other people’s work (which I love, by the way). But when it comes to writing, I would still flit from one project to the next. I would write for preschoolers and seniors—and for most everyone in between.

There is one project I would likely jump into with both feet if I had the opportunity. Since Deb Willows’ memoir was released, people have been complaining that it is too short and want to know when her next book is coming out. Given an entire year to write, we could make tremendous headway on Book 2. So, if I had to choose a single project, in all likelihood, that would be it.

But since I don’t anticipate the windfall that would make this possible, I will continue to rejoice in the opportunities the Lord brings my way and I will seek to remember God’s command in Colossian 3:23, which says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord” (ESV).

You can read more of Steph’s writing at Steph Nickel’s Eclectic Interests. You are also invited to visit her website, http://stephbethnickel.com/

 

What If - Marcia Lee Laycock

What if the words I write here on this earthly plain have an effect in eternity?

What if the Lord is smiling with approval even when the rejection letters keep piling up?

What if the next article or poem or book I write is already planned, just for me?

What if all of those words will be put into just the right place for the right people at the right time?

What if all of those words are just as much for me as they are for my readers?

What if some day the veil will drop and I’ll understand why all the struggle and frustration was necessary?

What if all that I do, all that I write on this earth is just a training ground for what I will do, what I will write in the realm beyond?

What if this career I strive so hard to maintain isn’t the point of my existence?

What if the more I struggle with my craft the more I get to know the One who wants me to develop it?

What if I remember all of the above each time I sit down to write? 

Yes, what if.

****

Marcia Lee Laycock writes from central Alberta Canada where she is a pastor's wife and mother of three adult daughters. She was the winner of The Best New Canadian Christian Author Award for her novel, One Smooth Stone. Her second novel, A Tumbled Stone was recently short listed in the contemporary fiction category of The Word Awards. Marcia also has two devotional books in print. Her work has been endorsed by Sigmund Brouwer, Janette Oke, Phil Callaway and Mark Buchanan. Abundant Rain, an ebook devotional for writers can be downloaded here. Visit Marcia’s Website

What if We Could Write All Year? By Sandi Somers

So often as writers we feel we don’t have enough time to develop our craft.

We may dream of giving up a job to write, buying a cabin to escape family responsibilities, or miraculously coming into ideal conditions.

Our prompt this month asks us to describe our writing life if we had a whole year free to focus on just our craft. How would it change how/what we write?

Fantasy Meets Reality

Over the last months while thinking of this topic, I experimented with full-time writing, taking home-grown retreats. I chose frigid snowy days of winter and then again June days as rains poured down.

I accomplished more writing, and knew that in a year of concentrated effort I could finish my book of devotionals and shape my memoir into a better draft. I could attend several conferences and take a two-week writing retreat in the company of other writers and …and…and…

However, by the end of my retreats, my house looked neglected: papers lay all over my table and office, and a number of errands remained undone. I’d need a housekeeper/office clerk/shopper.

And I hadn’t contacted friends and family.

What stared me in the face was that writing would become my only priority.

I would have to block out the rest of my life.

I’d have to miss summer days outdoors. I’d miss time with my extended family. I’d have to say, “No, thanks,” to refreshing walks or coffee with friends. And I’d have to give up so much quilting and working in my garden.

Not so good!

The reality is that life enriches my work. People and activities enrich my life, just as I enrich theirs.

As a result, my question turned around 180 degrees: “What am I doing with the time God is giving me to write?”

I began praying to make more effective use of time I DO have, rather than wishing for more.

As I surrender my writing to God each day, I pray the Holy Spirit will infuse me with his presence, energy and ideas.

I will trust him to multiply my efforts, just as Jesus multiplied the five loaves and two fishes to feed the huge crowd.

I may be surprised by what God will do.

You may be surprised by what God will do.

He waits for you to ask him.

My prayer as you write in less-than-ideal conditions is that God will “strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NIV).