Write About Now
This post was originally published at my hobby blog, Classic Hiltons. It was called In Which I Write. I find much of it is still relevant and applicable to any artistic discipline.
"Writing is not your gift. It is a vehicle you use to share your gift."
This might be the single most important thing I heard at the conference - Super Saturday 2018, put on by Lancaster Christian Writers.
I had a great day. An early birthday gift from my wonderfully supportive husband and further facilitated by my awesome mom, who took the kids for the weekend.
Overall it was a wonderful experience, one I will very likely repeat, especially as I learn to network. I had no idea writing was such a communal occupation! Here are just a few of the nuggets I picked up over the course of my day:
"Your story could be the key that unlocks someone else's prison." - I don't know who said this, but wow is that powerful! Especially to me. I tend to get very caught up in discouraging lines of thought. There are so many writers in the world. What could I possibly add? I don't want to be a part of the noise!
Hebrews 12:1 says, "...let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us..." Jaime, lay aside the distraction, discouragement, fear, rejection, excuses, etc, etc, etc and keep going. Part of telling your story (through fiction, non-fiction, or just in living your everyday life) is lining up your version of events with God's idea for you.
Most of the rest of it was really technical. Things that stood out to me because they related specifically to a story or character I'm working on. But another big bit of something I gleaned from today is that I am a writer. Looking around at the other attendees and even the faculty teaching the various workshops, it was very clear that I was among friends and colleagues. Rather than be intimidating, as I've always felt it would be, I found myself inspired and comforted. We all laugh at the clichés that we are coffee drinkers and introverts and word nerds because we live the truth they built on!
I hoped to come away with a clear sense of direction. An a to z map of the next steps for my writing career would have been greatly appreciated. I didn't get that. But I did get the sense that I am where I need to be, doing what I need to do, and that is enough for now.