Putting my hopes, dreams, fears, prayers into words often connects with God. I love words and taking letters and sentences and putting them into meaningful sentences helps me grow spiritually.
Writing is a spiritual practice for many of us. I pay attention to more details when I attempt to find words to describe where I am and what I am experiencing. I hear God clearer when I write.
To paraphrase the line from the movie, Chariots of Fire: “When I write, I feel His pleasure.”
Writing most often takes form for me in journals, but what many of you may not know besides this blog, I write for our local newspaper, magazines, and even have been in books.
My good friend and writing buddy, Johnnie Donley, asked me to participate in a blog hop originated by agent Linda Glaz and promoted by another writer friend, Karen Wingate.
The purpose of this blog hop is to talk about what I’m working on at the moment as a writer. And heeerrreee we go!
What am I working on as a writer right now?
I have two more big to do’s to accomplish before the end of the year.
1. Marketing my new book, The Great Communicator, God as a Model Communicator; Reflections for Speakersand Writers. I am lousy at self-promotion, but know part of writing is the marketing side of things.
2.Discerning my 2013 goals as a writer. I also prayfully set spiritual goals each year and will write more about those at a later date.
Where is the Great Communicator available?
The Great Communicator is available both in print and e-book versions at Amazon.
Other e-book versions can be purchased at Smashwords.
What is The Great Communicator about?
The Great Communicator is a devotional book that will nourish Christian speakers and writers’ faith by their reflections on one-word descriptions of God as the Great Communicator.
This book is unique in its use of Bible verses to describe God as a communicator. Some words are familiar (creator, poet and messenger) and others are surprising (editor, blogger, and broadcaster). After all, He has been a best seller, created a classic and is sought after for communication for centuries. What better role model do we have?
What did you learn by self-publishing a book?
I learned it takes a lot of work. Many people never realize how much effort goes into writing, editing, and the blood, sweat and tears into publishing. I think that is why there are many writer wannabes – it is not as easy as one thinks.
Taking a manuscript and turning into the correct format for electronic publishing was challenging and tedious. Both Create Space and Smashwords were user-friendly though and had great step-by-step instructions. Yes I would do it again.
What goals are you thinking about in 2013?
I am a goal setter. I know I may not get everything done I set out to do (and often have too much planned) but it helps me to have a target to aim towards.
a. I want to update the format of this blog and reduce the clutter on the side panels. Any other suggestions?
b. I would like to continue to host and to be a guest blogger on other blogs.
c. I haven’t worked much with Goodreads and know it is a site to find some fascinating books and to connect with other writers.
d. I would love to obtain an agent next year and in order to accomplish this dream I really need to spend time and effort on at least one, if not two book proposals. I plan to attend Write to Publish Writers Conference in June and hopefully can meet with some agents face to face and talk about my career as a nonfiction writer.
e. Writers are readers. I am a fast reader, often with multiple books going at the same time. In 2013 I plan to savor some readings by taking small bites of some special books and chewing on them with more depth. I pray God will open my heart to new insights this way.
One book is St Teresa of Avila’s, the Interior Castle. I studied this book last year at a retreat (you can read about that on this post)
I hope to reread this book slowly and prayfully savoring her words.
The second book I plan to digest is The Cloud of the Unknowing edited by Carmen Butcher. I hear her version is very well done.
I sense there may be a third book but don’t know a title yet. Any suggestions?
f. I would like to also attend the SpiritualDirectors International Conference in Minneapolis next April. This event will nourish my faith, feed my spirit and connect me others on similar spiritual journeys.
Other writers are participating in this week’s blog hop, starting on Wednesday. Here are a few you may want to check out:
Bethany Jett, who blogs about relationships. Her debut book, The Cinderella Rule: A Young Woman’s Guide to Happily Ever After, releases from Regal Publishing in April 2013. Visit her at http://bethanyjett.com/.
Pat Trainum (who writes as Patricia Bradley), writes romantic suspense and recently signed a three-book contract with Revell. Visit her at http://ptbradley.com/blog.
I invite any of you who write and want to participate to answers the simple question: What are you working on? on an upcoming Wednesday and link it back to Linda Glaz.
Enough about me. How about you? What are you working on or what goals are you thinking about for next year? What do you do to “feel God’s pleasure?”
Love the coffee goal. I do accomplish that one plus getting sucked into the Internet quite well each day. Writing is hard work, Nancy. I also believe in seasons. I didn’t write as much this year as I thought I would but do know when I write on the blog – most days – it feels right.
Keep praying for discerning on your writing. God will use everything we offer to Him for good!
You are in my prayer everyday!
Thank you Laura. I am not good at this self promotion stuff so hesitated even writing this post. Glad now to get back to my normal writing today.I appreciate your prayers
Goals…get up each day, drink coffee, see what occurs to me? Maybe this is why my writing has fallen into a ditch of late.
I don’t know about feeling God’s pleasure in my writing these days. It often feels like an uphill climb. Having a hard time telling if that means it’s not really my gift, or if it’s just the thorns and thistles of doing work in a fallen world.
In any case–kudos on your book. Looking forward to cheering you on toward your goals!
Congratulations on your book, Jean! A tremendous amount of work goes into such a project–emotionally as well as the other. And I understand the difficulty with marketing. Praying for you in this endeavor!
Phil I KNOW my writing is prayer most of the time. Reading how you write, we do approach it in similar fashion. Using words to connect to the Word!
It’s funny Jean, I was thinking this morning that I view my writing as a form of worship; digging into my heart to find those words which bring God’s message and love for us as much glory as possible.
Thank you for sharing these pieces of your heart as well!!
Have a Blessed Day!