Begin Again by Sharon Heagy

Some of the hills on my walk with Norman the dog.

"There once was a man named Michael Finnegan

He grew whiskers on his chin-egan

The wind came up and blew them in again.

Poor old Michael Finnegan. Begin again.

(public domain)

This is the tune that popped into my head when I read the prompt and began to think about writing this piece. That lead to making sure the song was under public domain, which somehow led me to listen to some new worship songs, which led me to thinking about the song my friend wanted to have played at her funeral, which led me to text her and ask her for the name of said song because I was drawing a blank, which led her to ask me if I knew something she didn't. I said no. Then I took the dog for a walk.

Then I came home and avoided sitting down to write this post, doing menial tasks and cleaning up loose ends I'd left undone for a while. Then I sat down and began again, out of excuses, and here we are.

The last eight and half months to a year have been a lot like that. Off and on, stop and go, up and down. Yet sitting in my favourite writing spot with pen and paper or keyboard and screen, remains one of the happiest places on earth to me. I am examining why I tend to avoid it.

Often writing seems like a decadent indulgence due to the immense joy I find while scribbling down the ideas, phrases and words that swirl around in that wrinkled walnut looking part of my brain. Even the more challenging parts of the writing process bring me joy. The joy, true joy, has a single Source yet it is twofold. The One who created me gave me the gift, and, He writes with me. No decadence there, only sacredness. And it's all grace.

The scrutiny of my avoidance will continue and perhaps provide fodder for a future post.

One thing I have accomplished this year was to write down some concrete goals. For a while I had more goals than a famous NHL hockey player. They needed to be narrowed down and attainable. I'm not going to write the great American novel. I'm not even American! Maybe a great Canadian novel, someday, but that's not one of the current objectives.

Some goals on the list have been accomplished. One was to continue monthly submissions to this blog as it fuels my fire. The realization that this December will be my 60th blog post kind of blew me away. I still feel like such a rookie!

Two writer's groups, both InScribe inspired, have kindly accepted me into their folds. Both help me to keep trying and to never give up. They give me accountability as well as encouragement.

The guardians of FellowScript have graciously published several columns I have submitted. I would encourage all members to submit their work. It is a wonderful venue for publishing experience and the folks that read it are writers just like you. It's been very good for me and I highly recommend it. My thanks to all who work to make each issue a reality and special thanks to Tracy Krauss for her steadfast encouragement.

Then I did a thing. A scary thing. It's not pretty but it's out there. I started a blog of my own. For others to read if they happen to stumble across it, but more for experience and discipline. Both are lacking in my writing life lately. The process has left me a little lost as I am befuddled on how to navigate the site. Next goal is to find a tutorial. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

There seems to be some forward motion in my writing life that I didn't even realize was there until I started reflecting on this month's prompt. Thanks, Lorrie and Brenda. This is a good thing. A God thing. Praying He will continue to lead me and to lead you as we forge ahead together.

Sharon Heagy writes from the small but vibrant town of Rockglen, Saskatchewan which is nestled in the valley near the Burning Hills. She writes to inspire and give hope with a chuckle or two along the way.

So Many Beginnings by Steph Beth Nickel

Photo Credit: Steph Beth Nickel

When considering today's topic, the verses that immediately came to mind were Lamentations 3:22-23, "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness" (ESV).


Aren't you glad these verses are true? But how do they apply to new beginnings?

We all need His mercy each and every day. It enables us to begin projects . . . and begin them again as needed.

Perhaps you're like me and want to begin one or more of the following endeavours (or begin them again):

Prepare Manuscripts to Self-Publish

I have countless ideas for books I would like to indie publish: from picture books to devotionals, from YA spec fiction to women's fiction.

This month I intend to make significant headway with my devotional on the Gospel of John and my YA spec fiction manuscripts, working on each 2-3 times per week.

Move It, Move It

I have been walking more with my hubby, but I want to add resistance training to my schedule.

I really do enjoy exercising once I get started, but it's the starting that I find a challenge.

Eat More Healthfully

I enjoy eating healthy foods. I simply have to keep more fruits and veggies in the house and look up new recipes so I don't fall into the same old-same old "rut" when it comes to meal planning.

Decluttering / Prepare for Our Move

Again, it's a matter of doing a little almost every day. By doing so, it will also make space for the home renos we want to do before putting the house on the market.

This month, we plan to hold a yard sale and get rid of several items. And those that don't sell will be carted off to a local thrift store.

Prepare for My Homegoing

For some of us, this may sound morbid, something we want to avoid. But considering all the email and social media accounts and all the recurring online subscriptions I have, it's important that I make sure those I leave behind have ready access.

Thankfully, the decluttering will address the issue of my "stuff."

***

These are only five of the things I want to begin again this season. In order to succeed, I must do more than add them to my daily To-Do list. I must break them down into small, achievable tasks and keep moving forward.

And when I fail to achieve all I want to?

I must, once again, depend on God's daily mercies and begin yet again.

I'd love to know what you're beginning or beginning again this month. Feel free to leave a comment below or email me at stephbethnickel@gmail.com

Steph Beth Nickel is the former Editor of FellowScript and the current InScribe Contest Coordinator. Steph is an editor and author and plans to relocate to Saskatchewan from Ontario to be close to family in 2026. (Headshot Photo Credit: Jaime Mellor Photography)

Writing Stories, Living Life, Writing Blogs by Sandra Rafuse

 

Photo by Sandra Rafuse

September's Prompt

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

It is a wonderful promise of God that each day is a new beginning to experience his faithfulness. As autumn activities start afresh in churches and schools, September can be a time to reflect on how the previous months have gone and to set new intentions for the months ahead. How has your writing life progressed thus far in 2025? Are you encouraged to move ahead?


The first week of September is over. Our church will be wrapping up its summer season at the park in one more week. Then the water will be shut off to all the park facilities (the water in the pool will be just drained enough so the water is below the intake lines; the rest is left over in the winter months), and our church services will be held back at the town hall for the rest of the fall and winter months up to the May long weekend in 2026.

The new school term began two weeks ago for the teachers and one week ago for the students. My husband, Bob, and I, have been taking care of the flowers in the flower containers in the schoolyard since the end of July and we will continue to do so as long as the weather stays warm. Then the outside water tap will be shut off and our deadheading and watering of the flowers will end. And the crab apple tree, which was planted in the school yard several years ago in memory of a former student of ours, remains bent over with hundreds of now overripe crab apples that will drop to the ground when they are ready.

Writing Stories

I'm remembering writing one of my final English exams, sitting at a desk in the high school gym one June many years ago. English was one of my favourite subjects and I was good at it. I recall that I was answering a question that required me to write a short story and I was trying to make it humorous. I figured I was being successful because I was starting to get the giggles as I wrote. I thought to myself, "Oh, this is going to be so good!" Soon my shoulders were starting to shake and I had to cover my mouth with one of my hands to stifle the sounds of laughter that were building up inside of me. Of course I was attracting some attention from the other students around me and soon one of the supervising teachers came over to see what was up. He was my Social Studies teacher. He looked over my writing; then he indicated, with a finger to his lips, that I had better be quiet as I wrote. I got a good mark on that final exam and I believe it was because of that humorous, fun-to-write story.

Making up and completing writing assignments in classes usually came easily to me. In high school or at university, they weren't a problem. In fact, the only problem I had with them was forever procrastinating over the assignments before getting them started. And then, when the pressure was on, I wrote down some of the best writing I'd ever done!

Living Life

When I finished university and received my Bachelor of Education degree, I immediately entered the world of teaching. Writing, either for pleasure, or to try to make a living at, or for any other reason, never had a place in my mind. The skills I had developed and used faded out of my life. I was busy, busy, busy; living my life doing so many other things. But all the things that unfolded before me, all the people who entered my life and stayed and all those who entered my life and left, were important. I didn't write but I remembered and all those memories are my stories now.

How has my writing progressed in 2025?

When I joined Inscribe Writers Online I was excited to have the opportunity to write for the first time in many years. I wanted to try this. I needed to do this. And I feel the writing has gone well My first blog was published in March and I have been able to meet my deadlines every month since then. There were a few times when I looked at the month's prompt and I wondered what on earth was I ever going to write about that? But I knew I could ask God for help and he would give me the ideas I needed. The thoughts would come into my mind and get me started and I was mostly able to carry on from there to get the blog written. Admittedly, much rewriting, and changing of words and sentences, and endless editing went on the whole time. Not to mention looking up the grammar rules I used to know and even checking out spelling rules that were once easy to remember. And last, but certainly not least, the comments were so helpful and encouraging to me. I enjoy reading the comments for all the bloggers. The sharing of them is just wonderful.

Am I encouraged to move ahead?

I am. I have started to make a list of topics that I would like to write about in the near future. It's a short list but I expect it will grow longer. And the other day, three titles came to my mind so I started a new list for them. They are book titles. Children's book titles perhaps. I'm not sure yet. I know I want to work on my daily writing. I had planned to try recording the 3-4 sentences daily that were suggested by Steph Beth Nickel but I haven't been able to make that happen. However, I refuse to be discouraged. I have no doubt in my mind that as soon as I buy the fountain pen in the picture at the top of Steph's blog the creative juices will start to flow and I will quickly jump from the amateur writer that I am to a slightly more professional one.

Sandra Rafuse lives in the small town of Rockglen, SK with her husband Bob, a Gordon Setter named Sadie, an elderly and much loved cat named Kitty, and a Peregrine falcon named Peet. She is a retired teacher and an amateur writer and is enjoying having the opportunity to share what God has been teaching her through her life experiences.

" This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of him" 1 John 5:14-15 (NIV)

 

My Writing Life Looks a Lot Like My Lawn by Bob Jones

The other day, I came inside with dirt on my hands and grass seed stuck to my shoes after one more attempt to fix the dead spots in our lawn before winter.

Jocelyn and I had been away most of the summer, and when we returned, our yard told the story of our absence: a patchwork of healthy green mixed with deathly grey. And of course, my perfection seeking eyes went straight to the grey.

On the bright side, the lawn is weed-free—thanks to the lawn company I hired. But the grass itself? Not so lucky. Earlier in the season, I’d patched and seeded with new growth, but weeks of drought while we were gone undid all that progress.

Jocelyn insists it doesn’t look as bad as I think. Maybe she’s right. But when I see the grey patches, all I can think about is fixing them.

The Secret

So, one more time, I dig, remove some old earth, spread fresh topsoil, scatter seed, sprinkle fertilizer, cover it gently with more topsoil, water, pray, and water again. The secret to new grass isn’t complicated: keep the soil moist.

And somewhere between watering the ground and brushing the dirt from my hands, it hit me: my writing life in 2025 looks a lot like my lawn.

There are spots of vibrant growth—moments I’m proud of. And there are patches that look deathly and barren. And just like grass needs water, my writing needs reading.

A Watered Soul

Reading other writers waters my soul. I soak up your subjects, your styles, and your sticky phrases.

· Brenda, your phrase about memoir writing as "a lifetime in a timeline" gave me writers envy.

· Susan, your poetic confession, "I am being reduced" carried surprising strength in its surrender.

· Sharon, your description of a favourite author’s ability to "wake up my gray cells." made me grin.

Encouraged

The prompt asked whether I feel encouraged to keep writing. Without a doubt. I'll keep working on my lawn and my writing because I want to be proud of what is produced.

And I reflect on God’s promise in the prompt:

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions

never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

—Lamentations 3:22-23

God loves us—even when we’re our own worst critics. Maybe the best gift we can give ourselves is a little compassion. Compassion is like morning dew: quiet, renewing, faithful.

A daily grace that waters a writer's soul.

 

Bob and Jocelyn are both REVs and write at www.REVwords.com about hope and lately about the people they encountered in Ukraine.