Thursday 12 December 2013

Difficult and Inspirational Tenacity by Charis Joy Jackson


“Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.”  
JRR Tolkien
Many things have invaded my life recently like brick walls keeping the light out. I've said a lot of goodbyes, dealt with extremely crucial deadlines, been kept at work for long hours, and most recently I lost a loved one to cancer. Finding time and passion to write has been hard and honestly one of the last things on my mind. My world has gotten dark, but I don't want to be faithless so how do I keep writing?
“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.” 
C.S. Lewis
I may not like “hard”, but Tolkien and Lewis shout to me across the years, telling me to keep going. Telling me to persevere.

To be tenacious.

I must hold on to even the smallest bit of hope and passion I have. I must write even when I don't feel like it. I must remember the difference between an aspiring author and a serious one is discipline. I must walk into difficulty, accepting the hard things that stand in the way and keep my eye on the prize.

Last weekend a friend and I went to our local coffee shop and settled in to write. I did everything I could to put off actually writing. I showed up late, scrolled through facebook, even took my time ordering coffee. I didn't have the inspiration or passion. It's been months since I've opened the document to even try. After a little pep talk from my friend, who told me to “just do it” I finally focused on the document in front of me and began to write. Haltingly at first, but then with more excitement. Within an hour I had 1300 words written and more coming. When I left all I could think about was getting home so I could keep writing.

Difficulties are hard, but tenacity brings hope. Even a spark beats back the darkness.

Already, just days after my success I can feel the weight of difficulty trying to quench the little hope I had this weekend. BUT I can't focus on what's hard, I must focus on the prize. I must remember how words and story gets under my skin and sets me on fire.

I must remember I love it.

I must remember how creating a new world with my God-given imagination seems like the most amazing thing ever. I will push through those walls. I can almost see my characters igniting like little lights in my mind.

I'll focus on God, the ultimate Creator and most tenacious inventor ever. What must it have been like for him when he created the world? Swirling dust together to form complex creatures that reflect His image...
Seeing that crisp, blank document may send thrills through my system and ignite my adrenaline, but now the idea of typing "The End" fills me with tenacity. And hope.

What about you? What is difficulty holding you back from?

Here's my challenge. Write. Be tenacious. Even when you don't feel like it. Even when life seems hard. Watch how God uses those times to surprise you. Let passion in, hold tight to tenacity and discipline.

They'll be your best friends. 




Charis Joy Jackson is working as a missionary with Youth With a Mission (YWAM) a non-profit organization & is part of The Initiative Production Company. She loves creating stories & is currently writing a novel, which she hopes to create into a seven part series. 

Here's to a life lived in awe & wonder. 
Welcome to the adventure.

22 comments:

  1. Thanks for preserving, Claris. Your story of darkness echo's my own, but with encouragement I too, started to create again, and it bought life and joy.
    I am struck by the similarities between this post and the one I posted on Monday when I spoke about writing giving an insight to the Creator. Maybe God is trying to tell us something!

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    1. Hi Jo, I just read your post from Monday. Sounds like we have been discovering similar things. Isn't it wonderful to have our imaginations awoken by His awesome beauty? Here's to persevering!

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  2. This is a great kick up the pants, Charis! So glad you have found the motivation to write again. All power to that end-line!!

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    1. Thank you for the encouragement. I only hope I can keep holding on to that motivation. :)

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  3. This was very inspiring, Charis. Instead of making excuses I should be making time...to write. The old cliché is true: writing is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.

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  4. That was a great post Charis. Persevering in the dark times is certainly hard. But it's amazing how those times when you least feel like writing, are the times when you probably have the most to say. God works those stories in us through the hard times so that we can bless others. Good on you for persevering and good luck with that novel. I look forward to the 7-part series!

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    1. Thanks for your encouragement Nola. It's so true, those dark times are when we find the most to say, because really its our training ground to go further and deeper.

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  5. Thanks Charis. I do agree that perseverance is one of the keys to life and one of the keys to the writing life as well. And of course the difficult seasons bring us plenty of good fodder. I wrote one of my books out of a tough season! And what healing it was to put it all down - it's great isn't it how God can uses everything for good? :) All the best in your writing.

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  6. what a lovely and inspiring post Charis, thank you!
    I have always made Monday night my, sit down and prepare for Scripture night.....amazing how many things try to get in my way, seemingly more important than preparing! But once seated with my Bible and books, the time flies and God inspires me and makes me ready for delivering His message to a year 3 class.
    Looks like I am not the only one to feel the gentle push of God's hand to set aside some serious writing time too.
    x Di

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    1. It is amazing what can get in our way, it's a constant struggle against "important" things. Keep persevering!

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  7. Thanks for encouraging .At the moment I'm revising a ms and look forward to being done with it so I can write something new.

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    1. Hey Dale, may God bless you in your revising. I think that's one of the things that always holds me back, I'm not a fan of revising, I hope you find yourself inspired as you revise!

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  8. I'm sorry to hear that you lost a loved one recently Charis - life can be tough at times and sometimes all the bad things seem to happen at once. Even good things came bring stress into our lives.

    It is no wonder that you have found it hard to find the time to write and I find that it's that much harder to get back "in to it" after a big break. I chuckled at your procrastinating in the cafe. It amazes me how many times I can't wait until the evening when the kids are in bed and I can start writing, my fingers itching all day to get on the typewriter only to find myself procrastinating when the opportunity comes. On the other hand, the more often I write, the easier it is the next time round.

    Yay for the 1300 words - looking forward to seeing your novel completed.

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    1. Thanks so much Jeanette! Your inspiration and encouragement have really meant a lot to me, especially as I know you have really spent some serious time pouring over my work and giving me such great feedback. Thank you so much! I can't wait for your novel to be complete either! :)

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  9. Praise God for friends like that. Glad you're back into your writing. Keep up the good work and enjoy the ride! You've inspired me to get back into my editing.

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    1. Glad I could inspire you Adam! Keep pressing in!!

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  10. Great 'blast from the past' - four years later and you have two stories published and another due to be published in several weeks time, plus some awards for your blogging and film-to-novel adaptations. Love your stories Charis and so glad yo persevered.

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  11. Thank you for the the encouraging, heart felt post, Charis. 🌸

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