Strange Creatures, a Tollbooth, a Rabbi and a Lion by Connie Inglis

My creative journey started with my attraction to strange creatures--the fantastical. I have no recollection of when that attraction began, but I do think Dr. Seuss fed that creative spirit in me. I guess I always thought that everyone's imaginations ran wild when reading about a zizzer-zazzer-zuzz and a fiffer-feffer-feff. Mine certainly did and it led me to my first writing at 10 years old about a little martian that lived with strange creatures on Mars, complete with illustrations.

Without encouragement, however, I forgot my writing until grade 7. That's when my English teacher realized my interests and suggested I read, The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster.  I LOVED this book. It re-lit the joy of reading in me, reminding me that writers still write fairy tales and other-world adventures for young adults and adults. This teacher also loosed the poet in me and affirmed my first real poetry writings. I thank that teacher for spurring me on.

Teacher inspiration continued in high school as my eyes were opened to Shakespeare, Tennyson, Browning. So I learned to appreciate not just innovative prose but deep, spiritual poetry as well. One of my favourites was a poem by Robert Browning called, "Rabbi Ben Ezra," my favourite stanza being the following:

Grow old along with me!

The best is yet to be,

The last of life, for which the first was made:

Our times are in His hand

Who saith "A whole I planned,

Youth shows but half; trust God: see all, nor be afraid!''

What encouraged me was to see the religious themes of these authors and the central role God played in their writings. I was insecure in my writing but these writers made me just a little bit bolder in writing about my faith.

Then a friend introduced me to The Chronicles of Narnia series by C. S. Lewis. Until that time I was not familiar with Christian allegory, but after that I could not get enough: Calvin Miller's trilogy, J. R. R. Tolkien's works, G. K. Chesterton's works, Lewis' Science Fiction trilogy. From there I became more aware of Christian themes and Biblical references and would look for them as I read. I found them everywhere--in Dostoevsky, in Steinbeck, in Goethe, in Emily Dickinson, even in T. S. Eliot.

What I was struck with in all this literature is the prevalence of God. He desires to break through to a hurting world in bold ways and in subdued ways and He does it in mysterious ways. I realized that He can use me too, if I am willing to listen to His still, small voice.

I look back on my life and see not just one person but many people, not just one author but many authors, who influenced my writing direction. It humbles me because it reminds me that God cares about me and is alive and active in my little life. And it spurs me on to write words of hope and grace and goodness, sometimes in obvious ways, sometimes in subtle ways, but always for His glory.

Photo by Tammy Derksen Carlson

There's No Ship Like Mentorship

"Oh, hi!" my sister Joan says cheerily when she recognizes my voice on the phone. "How are you doing?" she asks.

I respond that all is well with us. I ask how she's doing. "Great!" she says. Joan lives in a seniors' residence/care facility in Edmonton. Mornings seem best for conversation.

"So what are you writing these days?" Joan asks. I share the topic I've just struggled with. She empathizes. Concerned that she might dwell on this sensitive issue, I try to change the subject. No way! She wants to know more. I remind her briefly of the history related to my theme and what I've been trying to write.

Joan and her family at the Passion Play--2013

For years, Joan has been my #1 Mentor, my go-to person when I am stuck on an article, need feedback, or a retreat from daily life.  "We can't fix this, Joan. We'll have to leave it to God," I remind her.

Joan, 16 months my senior, started school with Mrs. Johnson in Norquay, Saskatchewan. Loving school as she did, Joan and I played school at home. Joan gave me the gift of reading, which was fortuitous, because I didn't get a Mrs. Johnson.

I started first grade in a one-room school in homestead country. Mrs. Stein, our teacher, distributed Dick and Jane readers and workbooks to the younger students. Then she left us to figure things out on our own while she taught the older students.

At the end of my Grade-Three year, we moved to Edmonton. There Joan and I attended a school that had an actual library. There I discovered authors like Lucy Maude Montgomery and Gene Stratton-Porter, two of my mother's favourites. Of course, I read other literary greats like Nancy Drew and Cherry Ames Nurse! Together Joan and I would memorize our Bible verses for Bible camp. This memorizing project has also been a gift.

I was on my way to becoming an avid reader and a lover of language. In high school, I took English and an extra English Lit course where Miss Lyness got me going on the classics. Brought up on the KJV Bible, I could read Shakespeare with ease. I also took French and Latin. Although I didn't think of myself as I writer, I enjoyed writing assignments, particularly for Miss Lyness, who was an encourager.

Bible School and university meant more reading and writing. My essays improved. At U of A, I tutored a friend in essay writing. I learned to edit my own work. Joan, out in the work-a-day world, still listened to my thoughts on essay topics and sometimes proofread my work.

During my teaching career, I became steeped in children's literature. I enjoyed sharing my repertoire

Children's book by Fellow InScriber

of stories and good books with my students. My younger sisters say I encouraged them to read good books. Later, I loved sharing my love of story and language with my students. For a while, I tried my hand at writing children's stories and poems. I wrote in my journal and taught my students and our own children to do so as well. Now, it's the grandchildren. I love to read to them. Bella is the greatest bookworm among them, so far.

 Over the years, I've had many writing buddies/mentors, teachers, and, of course, my proof-reading and generally patient husband. My sisters--Joan, Shirley, and Wendy--support me in my writing too.

Hank, the Norwegian

A few Women Word Weavers

In the mid-eighties, a small group of like-minded women in Barrhead started a writing group. The Women Word Weavers are still going strong and I am thankful for the mentorship we can offer one another. The friends I have made through InScribe, the ListServe, and the InScribe Writers Online have also been mentors and encouragers. Thank you.

A book that found me at the exact right time with the exact
spiritual lessons I needed.

Looking back, I believe God has knit the love of writing and creativity into my DNA. He has led me through the background I need to write. His Spirit has guided me in the selection of some of my reading.

Have you ever had a book find you? I literally ran into the book at the left at a Blessings store. It was exactly the reading I needed at that time.


Does God smile when I get something out and published? Although some readers have shared their appreciation for a particular piece I wrote, I don't always know who of my readers has been touched or affected in a positive way by my writing. Still I cast my bread upon the waters. I leave the rest to God.

Pathway to Adventure - Shirley S. Tye

In my twenties and thirties, I was restless and curious.  Excitement and adventures beckoned me; sky diving; horseback riding; sailing a 33 foot houseboat through a storm; driving a large school bus on busy multi-lane highways and maneuvering it through congested downtown streets of Toronto and Ottawa, attending college in my thirties as a full-time student in order to change careers; etc.  In 1986, in my thirty-third year, I saw a printed advertisement which read “take this test and see if you have the potential to become a writer”.   Bingo!  That’s it!  Now that sounded exciting and romantic!  Dollar signs floated before my eyes as I envisioned hordes of fans following me everywhere with cameras flashing.

I wrote the test.  Guess what?  I had potential!  What a surprise!  The school was interested in teaching me or maybe it was just my money that interested them (I thought at the time).  I did learn quite a bit from that correspondence course and later I met and heard of others who had taken the same course.  They also had gained knowledge of writing and had gone on to publication.  The school was legitimate.  It actually did exist (and still does) and helped many people become writers. That school was the Institute of Children’s Literature, West Redding, Connecticut, U.S.A.

William Wagner was my teacher.  I was never afraid to receive his critiques because he was always fair. He circled both the weak and strong areas on my assignments and provided comments about both.  Along with the marked homework, he’d include a letter in which he’d explain why certain sentences or ideas were weak and gave suggestions how to strengthen them.  His critiques were not harsh but encouraging which gave me the determination to complete the course.  I carefully read his instructions and did my best to improve.  And improve I did.  Thanks Mr. Wagner!  

When I completed the course, I continued learning.  I attended workshops, read books about writing, and joined writing groups.  I took courses to learn how to write articles and devotionals.  Then one day, I had a piece of work published and later worked as a freelance writer for a magazine.

Who knew I had potential to become a writer and generate a little money with that talent?  And I’ve been on the run.  No, I haven’t been running from hordes of fans chasing me with flashing cameras.  I’ve been running after writers; to buy their books, get their autographs, and take photographs of them standing beside me.  This has turned out to be a pathway to adventure; better than skydiving.        

We don’t know what we can do until we try.  And it certainly helps to have someone coach and encourage us.         

Strong Women Who Inspire the Fire by Karma Pratt

I have always been a lover of words. Looking back, I realize I've had many strong female role models in my life that have guided me along the way, and inspired the creative fire within me.

My mom tells me I could recite the alphabet from memory at 18 months. She showed me the beauty of words using a wooden alphabet magnet puzzle. Together we explored the sounds and shapes of letters. I wanted to speak them, write them, and read them without ceasing. Words offered entry into other worlds, and were the catalyst for my imagination to run wild.

From a very young age, I was requesting books on writing and teaching myself how to write letters in block print and cursive. Our first elementary school hand writing assignment was to provide the teacher with a sample of our penmanship. I offered her three options: printed letters, "proper" handwriting (as taught in the books I had filled up at home in the summertime), and my handwriting (adapted to suit my creative style). She just stared at me.

the joy of the handwritten word

My future writing career was also shaped by the matriarch of the Pratt family, my grandmother. We used to sit at her kitchen table playing Scrabble. My favourite part was the sound the letters made as I shook them vigorously in the case. Her favourite part was challenging me to look past the obvious three letter answers. 

My grandmother was also one of my first spiritual advisers, though I didn't realize it at the time. A devout Catholic, she took us to Mass on the days she babysat us, and taught us about the power of prayer. I still remember watching her pray as we drove to church in her tiny brown hatchback (the Peanut). I believe she was fully trusting God to make the corners on the South Taylor Hill for her as we made our way to town and she moved through her daily devotions.

After she passed, my family found dozens of journals, all filled with her thoughts and prayers. She took great care of each of us through her words, her belief in the Word, and her faith.

with my grandmother, July 2008

In school I discovered libraries, a new kind of heaven. When other young girls were playing house, I was playing "library". My library checkout cards were painstakingly hand drawn, cut out on small papers and inserted into each book between the front cover and first page. Out of reverence, I couldn't bring myself to ever deface a book, or I would have glued the checkout cards right into those books. As it was, they were always falling out, floating to the floor whenever I moved my collection.

As I got older, I continued to explore new worlds through school libraries. In high school, through the enthusiasm and genius approach of my Grade 11 English teacher, Ms. Mitchell, I came to know and love Shakespeare. His use of language transcended the realm of “normal” and brought a new appreciation for eloquent descriptions. My passion for words took on new forms, through theatre, singing, and learning other languages as well. In university I studied English and Spanish language and literature, and eventually took my love of language to a new level with a Master of Arts in Professional Communication.

words and music onstage, Cabaret, October 2011

As I've moved through these ages and stages in my life, words have always been a constant. My faith has meandered over the years. Sometimes I've gotten lost in this big, loud world. I haven't always turned to God first. It's only as an adult that I've finally made my way back to God's hearth, to sit at His feet and learn from His Word. 

Now I find myself steeped in the call to write, and my faith in God has become the launch point for my work and words. I am ever thankful for the opportunities God's given me to learn from so many strong women over the years. They saw the spark within me, and fanned the flames, allowing me to grow into the writer I am becoming today.

****************************************************************************************************************************

Karma Pratt is a faith-driven mom of twins, a communicator, a writer, and an encourager from way back. She loves words, art, creativity, God, and people, although not necessarily in that order. 

You can find her online at redraincoatcreations.com or connect on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn