Monday 10 June 2019

Going Big, Going Small, Making the Most of it All


By Mazzy Adams



The email lands in my inbox filled with punchy phrases designed to provoke and spread excitement about the next big conference in a major US city. It’s only a plane flight away but that’s a fanciful flight too far for my budget.

I press delete.

The state or national writers centre informs me of upcoming events. All very interesting. But the scheduled times clash with other commitments. There is a webinar but that's not the same as being there ...

Delete.

Incoming: A reminder about the early bird discount period for the Omega Conference in Sydney.

If only ...

I spend several minutes organising, if not holding, a personal pity party because the timing’s all wrong. It’s right in the middle of the crucial final countdown for our year twelve students; for their sake I need to be here more than I need to be there.

I know how valuable that conference will be. I pray blessings and safety for those who can make it.

We’ve all been there, longing to gather with like-minded souls, fellow creatives who understand the word-driven psyche. We desperately want to participate, contribute and make the most of any and all opportunities to connect, learn, promote, celebrate, and, er, commiserate. Let’s face it—there’s a unique blessing that comes when chatting to someone who UNDERSTANDS. When I say to a fellow writer, ‘He says, “Just put it up as an ebook”,’ and her spontaneous laughter tells me she KNOWS there’s no ‘just’ about it. She KNOWS it’s not that simple.



(Image by Aleks Megen from Pixabay)

This past weekend, I’ve enjoyed the enormous blessing of sharing these experiences and more at the Omega Writers Toowoomba Retreat. In terms of numbers, we’re not exactly huge. But in my calendar, it’s super significant. Each year, this gathering has been a wellspring of blessing and encouragement to me in my spiritual walk and my writing journey—even the year I was sporting a plaster cast on a broken wrist.



But if the truth be told, the reason this ‘small’ event is such an enormous blessing to me arises from a plethora of tiny moments when I’ve been able to interact with writer friends throughout the year:

  • birthday celebration dinners with fellow Quirky Quills
  • gluing thank you cards and assembling welcome packs with fellow event organiser, Janelle Moore
  • spending an afternoon cheering on fellow author, Jessica Kate, as she shared her experiences breaking into the US market
  • learning ‘How to Avoid Literary Speed Bumps’ at a workshop by fellow author, and editor, Nola Passmore
  • the spontaneous encouragement of a monthly writers’ chat n share in Pamela Heemskerk’s cosy sunroom—especially when new-to-the-experience-but-longing-to-learn friends, (now no longer strangers), join in
  • or the crying-with-laughter emoji posted by a Facebook sympathiser that makes my day.

A hundred and one little moments and short experiences combine to create a gigantic collective fellowship of encouragement (with the odd nag to get on with the business of writing thrown in for good measure; oh yeah, we should do some of that.)

Whether we're writing a six word short story, a three line haiku, flash fiction, blog, devotion, self-help treatise, novella, memoir, novel, epic saga, or multi-book series, a few moments of mutual fellowship and encouragement can make a HUGE DIFFERENCE.

So next time you feel the disappointment at having to let a grand opportunity pass you by, settle your soul with an engaging moment ...  post an emoji, phone a friend, grab a picnic lunch with a critique partner, post a star rating or book review on Good Reads or Amazon, or read or write an encouraging blog.

Above all, be comforted knowing that your little contribution to mutual interaction goes a very long way to make somebody’s day.

Maybe even your own.

Have you experienced, or imparted, a ‘blessed moment’ recently? Big, small, or minuscule, positive connections strengthen and inspire us all.


Mazzy Adams is a published author of poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction. She has a passion for words, pictures and the positive potential in people.

Website: www.mazzyadams.com 
Email: maz@mazzyadams.com

16 comments:

  1. Hi Mazzy, wow, I'm hearing you! Those tantalisingly impracticable and impossible emails and ads sometimes seem to be the story of my life too, and the old delete button works overtime. Thanks for reminding us of all the valuable smaller actions we can give and take at any moment, which are not really small at all when we think about them, and sum them up. I'm so glad to hear the Toowoomba retreat was such a blessing for you all :)

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    1. Thanks Paula. I'm so grateful for blogs and social media groups like this one because they allow wonderful friendships to develop regardless of space/time/economic barriers. By the way, Kirsten Hart, (QQ, retreat team member, and now Manager of Koorong, Toowoomba) organised a stall which had your book, 'Imogen's Chance' on it, so I am now the happy owner of another of your books and already several pages in. Books cross the space/time barrier too! Yay.

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  2. A great blog Mazzy. So sorry you can't join us for the conference :( But it was wonderful having you at the retreat. Thank you for all the little things you share with all of us to help us along in our writing journeys. It is good to be able to share those small, but meaningful moments. That's how Quirky Quills began, and look at us now - LOL May God bless you for the many times you bless others xx

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    1. Thanks Nola. The feeling is very mutual. I had and have a great example to follow in you. Thanks for your organisational pizzazz and all your hard work. It was a terrific retreat.

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  3. Thanks Mazzy, and whatever else my calendar or budget boycotts, I consider Toowoomba Omega retreat a MUST. Went AWOL on teaching to get there. And why? Because I value in depth interaction with like minded, caring people who encourage and support. Thanks, team, for another terrific weekend!

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    1. Oh Ruth, we are always thrilled to have you with us! Thank you so much for sharing your cheery smile and your hard-earned wisdom on the self-publishing panel and in myriad other ways during the weekend - not to mention your encouraging comment here and your regular online engagement.

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  4. Thanks for a great post Mazzy. The retreat sounds like a wonderful time and am so glad for you guys. God's been leading me to my own personal writing retreats of meeting with Him alone and seeking His heart for my writing which too has been so precious. Praise God that in this modern world we have many ways of connecting even though living far away. Do agree my friend. Those small moments are not so small after all. Thanks so much for a lovely reminder.

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    1. Thanks Anusha. And thanks for always taking the time to post an encouraging comment. It always means so much. I love these verses: "Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name. "They will be mine," says the Lord Almighty, "in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him." Malachi 3:16-17

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  5. Great post, thanks Mazzy. Loved the retreat this weekend - I enjoyed Joanne Berthelsen's Fireside Chat & her talk On writing fiction for non-fiction writers (and vice versa), the individual prayer time on Sunday, & also the opportunity to be part of the panel on Saturday. Like Ruth, I prioritise this weekend. So, thanks for the Quills for orgainsing an accessible and great value for money retreat.

    I know where you coming form though, this will be the second year I'll miss Omega Writers Conference - just because the finances aren't there - and one day I'll manage to get the Rainforest Retreat or maybe even Realm Makers in the US (hone can dream, lol) - but it's good to be reminded of the many and varied samll opportunities to network and be encouraged by each other - smaller groups, meeting with writing friends, groups like Christian Writers Downunder, workshops etc. We are truly blessed.

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    1. Truly blessed. That about sums it up, Jenny. :) Your input, especially, is always helpful and encouraging. It was special to hear your insights as a self-published author (with quite a track record, I might add! Book 7 about to hit the scene. Wow!) So glad you came. :)

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  6. Yes, I want to do so much but can afford so little. :-(

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    1. Lynne, I love your Facebook posts which are filled with writerly and editorial wisdom and humour. They're an absolute highlight on my fb news feed. (I also love your Dad's wry sense of humour. Hi, David Bennett.) Praying that God will release the means to meet and exceed your needs from his riches. :)

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  7. It's so true, Mazzy. Those little words of encouragement mean so much. And I'm realising more and more, that our Father will put us in touch with the people we need to meet, and the learning we need to do, to do a great job in every task he sets for us.

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  8. Thanks Pam. What would I do without you? So many times you've had, for me, 'a word in season to him who is weary.' (Isaiah 50:4 AMP) God's compassion flows from you, but more than that, you speak and minister to others out of your own hard won empathy and I honour you for that. I was so sad you were too sick to attend the retreat. Healing and many other blessings to you, my precious friend. Make the most of this time to rest.

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  9. Great post Mazzy. I thank God for the Quirky Quills - I would have never put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) without you quirky lot. Friendship, encouragement, nagging - all so necessary. And it is great to connect with other like minded writers as well! It's a privilege to be involved in the Omega Retreat - always a profitable time, writing, meeting people or perhaps both. (Seems to be one or the other for me). And so pleased to hear that it is a blessing to others.

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