CWD Highlights - October-December 2022

Christian Writers Downunder is a diverse group of writers, editors, bloggers, illustrators. As a group we support each other through our Facebook page and blog.

Today's blog will highlight some of the achievements of our members from October-December 2022

New Releases

Core Values: Love by Rebekah Robinson & Anne Hamilton

Rebekah Robinson & Anne Hamilton released Core Values: Love on 28 November 2022

The DNA of God Series, book 1: Galatians 5 describes the growing DNA of God in our lives as a list of attributes, or fruit, emanating from His Spirit. This first volume explores the love aspect of God’s nature, and its outworking in the hearts of believers respective to His other flavours.

Buy link:
https://www.bookdepository.com/Core-Values-Rebekah-Robinson/9780645609004


Rebekah Robinson lives in Brisbane, Australia and loves God and people.
Anne Hamilton is an accomplished, multi-award-winning author of over 20 books.

Lady in Irons by Sara Powter

Sara Powter released book 3, A Lady in Irons in her Unlikely Convict Ladies series was released on November 6th.

Katy is mourning the death of her husband after he dies in a shooting accident. Barely coping, she awaits the birth of their child. If it’s a girl, she must hand the family home over to her husband’s brother. The day after giving birth to a daughter, she and her daughter are literally left on the side of a road. She collapses and is found by someone whom she thought had died in a fire ten years before. Perry, badly scarred himself, nurses her back to health. They marry and move in with her widowed friend, Mary.

After some years, she discovers her husband and friend in each other’s arms. Now living in a love triangle, she flees. Grasping the only straw available, she intentionally gets arrested so that she can be sent to a colony far away. By doing this, her marriage can be annulled. What happens in the Colony is not what she expects. Governor Macquarie comes to her rescue. But what of Perry and her children?

You can find it here

Pursuing Prayer by Dienece Darling 

Melbournian Dienece Darling writes inspirational fiction to encourage and entertain Christians and has released her first reader's magnet to subscribers of her blog.

Pursuing Prayer

Everything should have been Catherine’s and hers alone.


In London 1733, Catherine Fox expects to inherit everything from her father until he remarries just before passing away. With a possible heir jeopardizing their future, Catherine’s husband is furious. Not even the possibility of the babe being a girl soothes him, but surely, sharing her inheritance with a sister must be better than losing everything to a little brother. Perhaps prayer will help. Only, can she trust God to give the right answer?

As time passes, Catherine begins to wonder if the pursuit of prayer ever results in anything more than bruised knuckles against the closed doors of Heaven.

Pursuing Prayer is free to subscribers of Dienece's blog. Sign up via Free Short Story | Dienece Darling

Max Nutt's New Book by Elizabeth Klein

Elizabeth Klein has a short story published Thursday, 1st December 2022 called Max Nutt's New Book in Christmas Tales 7 on  by Storm Cloud Publishing. 

Elizabeth's story is about a mouse who is pressured into writing his second book but has writer's block. When the juices get flowing again, his book turns out to be another best seller.

Awards

CALEB Awards 

The winners of the CALEB awards was announced at the CALEB Awards Dinner at the Omega Writers Conference Kingscliffe.

Unpublished Nonfiction

Stephanie Walters won the Unpublished Adult Nonfiction manuscript prize. She received a Manuscript Review and Feedback from Nicole Partridge, Journalist, Writer and Literary Agent to the value of $400

Published Nonfiction

Emily Maurits won the Published Nonfiction award with Two Sisters and Brain Tumour.

Published Young Adult Fiction

Kristen Young won the Published Young Adult Prize with Elite, the second book in her Collective Underground series

Published Adult Fiction

Meredith Resce won the Published Adult Prize with In Want of a Wife, the second book in her Luella Linley Licence to Meddle series.

Congratulations to Stephanie, Emily, Kristen and Meredith

Historical Novel Awards

In the middle of December, Book 1 of Sara Powter's Unlikely Convict Ladies trilogy has been long-listed for the Historical Novel Awards while Dancing to Her Own Tune is a finalist. The awards are announced on 31 December 2022

Congratulations Sara

Competitions

The Rhiza Edge Short Story Competition for 2022 is now open!

Rhiza is looking for stories for Diverging Worlds: Short stories in dystopian and steampunk worlds, a collection of short stories in steampunk or dystopian worlds. The anthology will be edited by Lynne Stringer and Emily Larkin

Stories (up to 5000 words) need to be clean and 12+ friendly as we sell these books into schools.

Stories need to be in a Dystopian or a Steampunk world.

Entries can be submitted up to May 2023

Interested? Read more here.

Events

Rendered Realms at Supanova

Lynne Stringer, Adele Jones and Jeanette O'Hagan (or the Rendered Realms team) once again had a table at Supanova Brisbane in early November.  It was good to see the crowds back and fun as always to enact with avid Spec Fic fans, especially the book lovers.

Next year, Rendered Realms may explore other events as well as Supanova and Oz Comic Con. 

Sara Powter at Sydney Book Fair

At the end of November, I had a stall at the inaugural Book Fair in Sydney, which she found  eye-opening, having never done anything like this before.

Sara Powter also participated in the NaNoWriMo competition. She completed 50k words done in 2 weeks and the full book completed ( a shade under 90K words). I was so early in submitting my words that they were not even ready for me.

Omega Writers Conference 2022 Kingscliff

One of the highlights of the year was the Omega Writers Conference 2022 Kingscliff. Writers from across Australia and New Zealand attended the three day event in at the Peppers Resort at Kingscliffe. The keynote speaker Stephen James kept the attendees entertained and inspired with his flare for storytelling and games and I can attest to the value of his worships. Lystra gave a challenging and much needed session on the need for respect, consultation, patience and listening when writing about First Australians. With different streams and also connect groups, the long-awaited conference was a great way to refresh, renew and connect with other like-minded writers. 

The next in-person conference will be held from 20 to 22 September 2024. We will hold an online event in 2023.


Did you have a new release or event or brag point that didn't make it to the Highlights Post? Keep an eye out for the next call for information from members - the next Highlights post will be in end of March 2023.

Congratulations to all our members for your milestones and achievements.

Jeanette O'Hagan

Fifteen Great Picks from 2022

Throughout the year, our blog team share their insights and wisdom - it may be inspirational, a story of writerly struggles or triumphs in a messy world; tips about the writing life and writing craft, or an interview of one of our members. Sometimes it's moving, or funny or thought-provoking or all three.. Always, it's the result of thought, research, experience, passion, creativity. 

On today's blog we highlight 15 great blogs from 2022 (in no particular order). Out of close to 80 posts, it wasn't easy to choose and there are many others equally deserving of notice. 

The CWD Admin team would like to give our blog team a huge thank you for your contributions throughout 2022 (and over the last decade). We have a wealth of information and inspiration on the blogsite - accessible on multiple subjects and themes. Read, ponder, be inspired and challenged. 

Jeanette O'Hagan

1. Of Birthing Books and Babies by Jo Wanmer

A baby begins with a lone egg. A book begins with the beginning of an idea, just like a seed in a womb. Fertilization, a sperm or a boost of another idea or concept, pushes the writer to start to grow and develop the seed. Expectantly, we begin to create something for others to absorb. 

A baby in the womb develops quickly. By the end of the first trimester it even has individual fingerprints and, if a girl, more than a million eggs stored in her ovaries. (babycentre.com) Our books' skeleton's form quickly too. 

Read more here.

2. The Gift and the Blessing by Rosemary New

Reading a good Christian book is a blessing.

Writing a good Christian book is a gift from God—a ‘pay-it-forward’ blessing for readers. How long might it take for the writer’s gift to merge into the reader’s blessing?

In my book, it was 22 years.

I heard these words from God one day in 1993: “I want you to write a book.”

I was shocked. Stunned. The last time I had written anything like a book was as a 7-year-old, 

Read more here.

3. The Value of Unpublished Words by Nola Lorraine

• A traditionally published book = Value
• A quality self-published book = Value
• A homemade photocopied booklet = ?

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the value we place on various types of writing. As writers, we want to find an audience for our work. In my role as an editor, however, I’ve often had to tell authors that their manuscript needs more work if they want it to be published. Sometimes a LOT of work. Many take feedback on board and polish up their drafts, but I know there are others who’ve felt discouraged and maybe even doubted whether they’re meant to be writers. This is never my intention, as I always try to be encouraging, but I have no control over how people will respond to my comments.

I think one of the problems is that we tend to equate value with publication, but they’re really two separate things. 

Read more here.

4.  Wonderful Criticism by Charis Joy Jackson

I hate criticism. OK that’s not true, I used to dislike it, but now, I’ve discovered how much constructive criticism has made me a better writer. I’m still learning and I hope I will still be honing this craft well into my 90’s. But most of all I hope by reading this, it will help you change the way you look at criticism.

Let’s be honest, none of us really like it. 

Read more here.

5.  Writing for Children: The Genesis of Pepper Masalah by Rosanne Hawke

What does it take to write good stories for children.  Multi-award winning children's writer, Rosanne Hawke explains -

When I was six I wrote a story about a cat sitting on a mat. Those were the words I could safely spell but what I really wished was to write an exciting story with interesting words.

Writing for younger readers involves our best writing, interesting words, exciting plots with genuine characters and voice. You may say that’s the same for any age group and you would be correct. So what’s different? For younger readers you’ll also need a child (or animal) main character and a topic that children will be intrigued by. Hmm, take a cat and a storm.

One night on our farm a huge storm blew up and my black cat Harry disappeared. 

Read more here. 

6. The Typical Teenager? by Claire Bell

My adult daughter commented on how many of her friends had been recently tested for autism and/or ADHD. They perhaps had always felt ‘different’ from their peers and decided to find a non-blaming reason for it. My own children always felt ‘different’ too, but put it down to the family having Christian values, or not having grown up with a television. How many young people feel ‘different’? Are they any more different than their peers, or are they simply different from the common narrative we perpetuate in fiction and media of the ‘typical teenager’?

Read more here.

7.  Reliably Write by Adele Jones

At the close of the session attendees were invited to ask questions. This led to a discussion about narration viewpoints and character/reader perceptions in the context of young, perhaps naïve, protagonists. In essence, an “unreliable narrator”.

“An unreliable narrator is a storyteller whose perspective isn’t totally reliable if we want to get the full picture or the whole truth.” ~ Kaelyn Barron


The unreliable narrator is an interesting concept and a well-used literary device. My personal leaning is that no viewpoint is ever truly reliable 

Read more here.

8.  Health for Writers by Marc Jeffrey

Sitting kills you

Well, the answer is ‘sitting’, described by a state government as the new smoking. It’s just no good to sit. Mind you, bus drivers will still bark ‘sit down’ to the unruly students at the back of the bus!

But (a little) more seriously, I get it that today’s society sits way too much, usually bingeing subscription TV. 

Read more here.

9. When you have no energy to write by Elizabeth Tai

The struggle to establish myself in a new niche was more daunting than I thought. I endured toxic jobs, crammed massive amounts of knowledge and struggled to maintain a foothold in impatient corporations that were more than willing to toss you out if you couldn’t catch up.

As I struggled with these challenges, writing stories about spaceships and aliens faded into the background. The worry of putting food on the table and saving enough for retirement was all-consuming.

And then the pandemic hit. I found myself without a job like thousands around the world (though of my own choosing — long story) and having to grapple with lockdowns, social distancing, isolation and family health crises.

I wish this was a “10 things to do if you don’t feel like writing” post. But I have no easy answers except to share my experience as I try to revive my dying flame of creativity.

Read more here.

10.  Creativity's Path by Jeanette O'Hagan

The path to creativity doesn't run smooth

One of the highlights of my childhood was winning the first prize in an art competition (in Grade 3). I loved to draw and paint as a child. I also had a passion for reading inspired by my parents reading the the Chronicles of Narnia to my brothers and me each night. Lewis’ imaginative stories transported me to another world, their strong symbolism and courage an inspiration. 

Read more here.

11.  The Curious Convergence of Chaos and Creativity by Mazzy Adams

While I focused on the final onslaught of Indie Publishing Licence to Die, the hotchpotch of folders, images, and documents filling my computer’s ‘desktop’ screen mirrored the paper jungle overtaking my desk.

Despite that, with focussed persistence, (and a willingness to read or listen to the same instruction six or sixteen times if necessary) the final product emerged FROM CHAOS, complete, published, and ready for the reading world.

Did I have to work hard to make it happen? Yes. Was it difficult or challenging? Frequently. Did it bring me joy? Yes (between the tears and the teeth-grinding). Will I keep writing, keep producing chaotic first drafts, edit them, submit them to scrutiny, edit them again, typeset them, design covers and promotional material, and fulfil the million-and-one other requirements for bringing a new book into the world? 

Read more here.

12. Meeting God in Every Plot Twist by Susan J Bruce

As writers, we love creating ‘plot twists’ in our stories, but we don’t like the plot twists life throws at us. When hard, horrible, or crazy stuff happens, do we believe God will help and strengthen us, or do we get in a flap like the hens in the Chicken Run film? 

Read More Here.

13. No barriers by Jo-Anne Berthelsen

Soon after my first novel Heléna was published in 2007, I became curious about where all those early copies would get to. I remember wishing I could install a tracking device on them so I could see who read them and what interesting adventures they had along the way. Of course, I also realised that could be discouraging. After all, some might end up unopened on dusty bookshelves somewhere or, worse still, in the recycling bin! On the other hand, some readers might love the novel and even lend it out—or buy it as a gift. Some copies might end up in libraries too and hopefully be borrowed often. The possibilities were endless!

Read more here.

14.  The One who makes the Difference! by Anusha Atukorala

I soon realised that this striking cloud made a difference. Wherever I went, the evening began to sparkle–all because of that Pretty Pink Parade. The horizon was laced with it. Gum trees grew tall in its presence. Our world was ablaze with colour because of its smiles. It was a reminder then, that just like this PPP, there is a Divine PPP who can turn an ordinary day into a special one and transform an unyielding moment into a joyful one. 

Read more here.

15. Shining Light into Darkness by Ruth Bonetti

Ruth Bonetti reflects on Advent Candles, St Lucia Day in Sweden and Hanukkah and the light of Christmas and leaves us with these challenging questions - which perhaps apply as much to 2023 as to the Christmas Season.

What light can you shed on this Christmas season?

How will you bring the Light of the World into your writing this Christ-mass season?

Read more here

So that's it for this year. 

We hope you've enjoyed this selective review of the many great blogs of 2022. And we'd like to thank all our active CWD members and bloggers who interact, comment and support each other and the group - and to wish you all a blessed and joyful Christmas as we celebrate the birth of our Saviour and Lord and a wonderful New Year in 2023.

Omega Writers | A Christmas Message from Penny Reeve

I don’t know about you, but this year seems to have flown by in a flurry of busyness and exhaustion.

Somehow, we have made it to December.

Christmas is settling in to be noticed and the New Year is peeking around the corner and inviting us to wonder. Looking back, it’s easy to see that despite the ups and downs of the year, Omega Writers had a fabulous 2022.

• We had a wonderful in-person conference (how good was it to wander the beach before breakfast and a full day of writing chat, learning and encouragement?).
• Omega chapter groups have been growing and supporting local clusters of writers.
• We’ve had Zoom Masterclasses, the CALEB Awards (with the highest number and standard of fiction entries on record!) and lots of exciting plans going on behind the scenes to better serve our members.

And, we’re looking ahead to more growth, networking and encouragement for Christian writers in 2023.

It's an exciting time to be an Omega Writers member.

And yet, sometimes the real growth isn’t so much evidenced in the external excitement. For a writer, the hard slog and perseverance that really pays off is often that work that happens in the unseen moments and the uncelebrated milestones.

• It’s turning up at the keyboard when there’s no one holding you accountable and getting those 200 words on the page.
• It’s weighing up a mountain of advice and sifting through to find the one or two action points that will build your platform to one of integrity, not just sales.
• It’s having the courage to set down a project that’s not quite working and gathering even more courage to start something brand, scary new.
• It’s those quiet chats to yourself when no one is listening that say ‘keep going’, ‘what you are writing is important’ and ‘you are a better writer now than you used to be’.

As Omega Writers, we are committed to being Australia’s Christian writers network. That means we will hold the big events and celebrate the wins (big and small). But it also means we are there for the tough times and the quiet times. Because all of these are part of the Christian writers’ life. 

So, as you celebrate the miracle of grace that is Christmas, and as you take time to take stock as the new year tiptoes in, Omega Writers would like to encourage you to keep writing. Keep setting goals, keep honing your craft, keep plotting and rewriting and polishing and deleting where needed. 

But also, keep seeking quiet, small ways to encourage another writer along the way.

   

From the management of Omega Writers, may you have a blessed Christmas and a hope filled New Year!

Confessions of a lapsed writer by Jo Wanmer

God delights in your obedience to write. Not your skill or your great mastery of words. He is known for using the ‘have nots’ to shame the wise. Just be obedient. Trust God for the rest.

 

Last week I participated in ‘Unlock Your Book’, an online teaching offered to Christian writers. The speakers included Brian Simmonds, Patricia King and Katherine Rounala.

I watched it live on Zoom, two hours a day for three days. The above statement summarizes the most encouraging content for me.

 

Brian Simmons is one of my heroes. I was privileged to have lunch with him about 8 years ago. Such a humble, unassuming lover of God. That day he told me he writes/translates 6 hours, every day, without fail. If he has flown all night, he still writes. Always writes, every day. 

I remembered that fact with awe, but confess I didn’t act on his incredible example. Hence my writing has waned over the years. His main exhortation in this seminar was to write every day. Even if it is only in your journal, or part of a blog, or even a post, but write every day…no excuses. 

 

I’ve developed excuses for not writing to an art! I have books I know should be finished and yet the excuses mount. At the beginning of the workshop, Brian put his finger on my problem. No, it’s not busyness or laziness, or sickness or family or the weather ….need I go on? No, the root of my problem is fear. Fear intimidates me, gaslights me even. It makes me feel like a grasshopper, when, in truth, I’m an unstoppable, unbeatable son of God. 

This week I realise I’ve swallowed this lie. The fear of getting published or self publishing makes me feel the writing effort is a waste. Fear of never being good enough. Fear of how the readers will react to some of my scenes and themes. Fears that I’ve allowed to paralyse me.

 

How do I deal with this fear? Awareness and confession is a good start. An understanding that False Expectations APPEAR Real…but they are NOT real. As Katherine Raunalo put it. ‘Get over yourself! Stop worrying what people will think. Do the work and the promotion and get it out there.’ I guess that is another way of saying ‘Die to self and be obedient to Him.’

 

This workshop taught me that all good writing comes out of the secret place, out of time with God. I have known this deep down, but now I must rely on this, not look to my own limited ability. All inspiration comes from the Father, the original creator. I must value, record, treasure every bit of wisdom and understanding that comes to me. Record every idea and value every dream.

 

Our greatest need, as writers, is for inspiration and creativity. Ask Father for these essentials every day. He promises them. (Pray from Ephesians 1:15ff). 

Fight 'Overwhelm'. It is a giant that blocks our ability to hear. We need positive voices that help us pull down that monster. Psalms are a great help, but also friends and colleagues. Encouragement from others frees us to flow in creativity. Our writers' groups, gatherings, and community pages are important here. As Paul says we must to spur each other on.

 

Patricia King emphasised the importance of body ministry in bringing forth a book. It needs more than just the fingers that write. A good book needs an editor, a designer, beta readers, proof readers and the list goes on. I’ve asked for help in all these areas, but had never before seen the process as the body of Christ working together.

 

There was so much spiritual richness in this workshop but I’ll close these brief snippets with this list. I hope it is helpful to you. 

Brian’s 7 Keys to Overcome Writer’s Block.

1.     Enhance your work space. Change place or outlook. Add a plant or picture.

2.     The most productive working time is 25 minutes. Set an alarm. Move, breathe.

3.     WRITE EVERY DAY

4.     Take short breaks with physical activity

5.     Understand it is okay to be flawed. There is no such thing as a perfect author, book or review

6.     READ, READ, READ for inspiration and learning. We can’t be a writers unless we are also readers.

7.     Don’t call any problem writer’s block. Don’t believe it exists. Resist it. Brian says that a blockage usually is exposing a discipline problem.

    Jo Wanmer is a Brisbane writer as well as a pastor, speaker, wife and business partner. However her greatest joy is the privilege of being a great-grandmother. It is ten years since Though the Bud be Bruised was published. Other books are in the pipeline. 

 

Shining Light into Darkness – by Ruth Bonetti

Last Sunday, the third Advent candle was lit in churches to speak of joy. But have you ever wondered at candles on Christmas cards? How can Australians relate to the  light without living through a northern hemisphere winter? During interminable long winters, where the sun straggles out for a few hours before retreating, we learned the significance of solstice light. 

We first celebrated St Lucia Day in Sweden. Scandinavian countries, including Swedish speaking Finland, celebrate St Lucia day on 13 December, drawing on the Italian St Lucia.  Hear my own memories in a narration of Burn my Letters:

St. Lucia was killed by the Romans in 304AD because of her Christian beliefs. It’s told that she secretly brought food to the persecuted Christians in Rome, who hid in catacombs under the city. She wore candles on her head so that she could keep both of her hands free to carry food. It is also from the Italian Lucia that the Scandinavian Lucia gets her red satin belt from portraying Saint Lucia’s blood, and representing her sacrifice.

On my first European tour, we members of Queensland Youth Orchestra arrived in Rome. After a tantalising glimpse of the Coliseum, we visited catacombs. Did I tread similar paths on St Lucia's beat? 

I hoped to replicate St Lucia Day celebrations for my grandchildren (especially lovely Luca whose name means light and who is fascinated by light. As am I. My first name, Helen, means light.) I was rather relieved when the family pleaded December=BUSY! Wake up at 4am to usher in the sun and guests with coffee, fresh baked saffron buns and mulled wine? Get real. 

Solution:

Attend a celebration on the Saturday night before, hosted by Swedes Downunder.

Back in 1995

We drove three young sons through the arctic winter in a campervan. (Crazy brave, non?) Its heating expired at the first snowfall but we were warmed by interludes in snug beds, enjoying hospitality from friends and family across Europe. Rarely did a Jingle Bell jar.  (My allergy to Jingle Bells abated when playing it with Noosa Orchestra and the sassy Kitty Kats vocal trio.)

 

Along the way we enjoyed many Advent music concerts, especially a sung Christmas Eve mass in Oberammergau. There, my spirit craved a Bavarian wood carving, despite our straightened budget. 

While living near the Arctic Circle, I collected wood-carved nativity scenes, birch bark stars and angels.

Another tantalising thought:

Was my grandfather, WA Back, drawn to develop a sizeable part of the Brisbane suburb, St Lucia, because of his childhood memories? Read all about that in The Art Deco Mansion in St Lucia. 

Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Light, begins an eight-day celebration on 18 December. Whatever your faith, consider:

What light can you shed on this Christmas season?

How will you bring the Light of the World into your writing this Christ-mass season? 

Ruth BONETTI lived seven years in Europe, two in Sweden. There she imbibed her Finland-Swede heritage and was blessed with a treasure trove of letters, parish records and stories. One planned book grew into the Midnight Sun to Southern Cross trilogy. In this, she weaves discoveries of her forbears with her own journey in life and music. 

Email Ruth for information about her January Writing Life Stories webinar and for mentoring. 

Website for autographed copies (books sure beat sox for Christmas gifts!)

Blog

Audio book: Speak Out–Don't Freak Out

Creativity's Path

 

Creativity—reflecting and embodying our destiny as made in the image of our Creator triune God, author, artist, designer, engineer, composer extraordinaire.

Creativity - a torch lit within and fanned by others.

One of the highlights of my childhood was winning the first prize  in an art competition (in  Grade 3). I loved to draw and paint as a child. I also had a passion for reading inspired by my parents reading the the Chronicles of Narnia to my brothers and me each night.

Lewis’ imaginative stories transported me to another world, their strong symbolism and courage an inspiration. Shortly after, I discovered the school library. Reading books especially by Lewis and Patricia St John helped me understand my faith. Stories gave flesh and blood and motions to the biblical truths I’d learnt from the cradle. They helped me understand grace and God’s great love and power. They encouraged me to appreciate other people, their perspectives and motivations.

I was nine when my family uprooted and travelled to Africa – a process that took four months from leaving Mt Isa and arriving by train in Kitwe. Around this time, I began daydreaming characters and adventures in my own world. I was inspired by Narnia, Last of the Mohicans, and later, by Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, and the many other books I read. My own inner storytelling grew and expanded from one small island and a handful of characters, to continents and peoples and various nations. It was some years before I told anyone about it, though I did draw pictures, make notes and maps and genealogies, invented an alphabet and language.

While in Zambia, one of the missionaries took an interest in my world-building and encouraged me to write my stories down. I did make a series of paintings based on my world and write a short story set in it, but it wasn’t until my late teens, early twenties that wrote my first attempt at a novel.

Creativity can have twists and turns and lay-bys

Over the next couple of years, I rewrote and edited the novel, got a nibble from a publisher, wrote some short stories, but put it all one side when my life took a different tack. Over the next fifteen years, I put all my energy into post-graduate study, lecturing, church, husband and children and the challenges along the way. Writing, apart from lecture notes, student handbooks, promotional brochures, research papers, course outlines, newsletters and articles, was decidedly on the backburner. 

I invested many years of my life, my heart and soul into theological study and lecturing. Yet, due to restructuring, other people’s decisions, health challenges, and family demands, I came to the point where I had to let it go, and I was shattered. A combination of burn-out and loss of a long held and cherished dream left me empty, depressed and my faith shaken. Always before this, troubles had thrown me closer to God. Now I felt abandoned, left on the shelf, shunned. I struggled through dark days, but in midst of that darkness, God whispered to me. At a woman's camp, He whispered ‘I have a new dream for you.’ It took me three years and an amazing God-encounter in one of my darkest moments before I could hear His words, and more to the point, accept them.

But then, one day, God had other plans.

God had called me to ‘feeding his sheep’ and opened the doors to lecturing in a theological college. Then he was called me to write the stories He’d given me. I enrolled in a Master of Creative writing and, through a writers’ conference, connected with other Christian writers. I dusted off my old novel and began writing new stories and poetry. I learned new ways of writing (styles change over time) and gained a greater understanding of how story works. Gradually, my poems and shorts stories were accepted for publication and I launched out as an Indie author. I have a half-shelf of books - anthologies and sole-authored books.

Being an author is hard work. Sometimes it feels like shouting into the abyss, desperate to hear even the faintest echo return - a sale, a review, someone inspired or comforted or entertained by what one has written. Don't get me wrong, I've had many sales, reviews and people excited about my stories - but also long periods of silence in which it is easy to allow doubts to flourish.

As an introvert (as so many of us are), the constant effort to be seen and noticed can become wearying to the soul. It's easy to lose the original motivation to write, especially when life and friends and family also brings more hard knocks and disappointments. 

I write in a genre many Christians don’t understand (despite the greats like C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Madeleine D’Engle or even John Bunyan). These were stories captured my imagination as a child, that strengthened and enlivened my faith. And these are the stories I believe God has given me to write.

Being creative, being a story-teller, (or an artist or musician), pointing to the light in the darkness, are these not reflections of God, at least part of what it means to be made in His image?

Jeanette O'Hagan has spun tales in the world of Nardva from the age of eight. She enjoys writing fantasy, sci-fi, poetry, and editing. Her Nardvan stories span continents, millennia and cultures. Some involve shapeshifters and magic. Others include space stations and cyborgs.

She has published over forty stories and poems, including the Under the Mountain Series (5 books), Ruhanna's Flight and Other Stories, Akrad's Children and Rasel's Song, the first two books in the Akrad's Legacy series - and new short story in the Starlit Realms: Fantasy anthology.

Jeanette has practised medicine, studied communication, history, theology and a Master of Arts (Writing). She loves reading, painting, travel, catching up for coffee with friends, pondering the meaning of life.

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The future of social media: small, private gardens

by Elizabeth Tai 

Have you heard? Twitter is imploding and may disappear.

A couple of weeks ago, the idea of Twitter collapsing didn’t even occur to me. However, thanks to the wild managerial decisions of one over-entitled billionaire, advertisers are fleeing Twitter and the platform is slowly breaking down because the people that used to maintain it have been fired. 

There's a real possibility that Twitter may cease to exist in a matter of weeks.

(If you’re wondering what in the world is going on, you can read my essays Twitter Meltdown Part 1 and Part 2)

For authors, Twitter was a way to promote their books and connect with readers, authors and industry players. Where can they go if Twitter collapses?

That’s the question you should ponder soon but let me first steer you to a quiet, barely-noticed movement that is changing social media.

In the last few months, I’ve been stumbling on more and more writers who are moving away from their blogs to write elsewhere. Many say that they just “want to write more freely”. 

Once upon a time, that place was blogs. I'm sure you've heard about the oft-dished-out advice: Don't build your home on rented land. A website is "owned land". But many have come to realise that Google is increasingly prioritising advertising dollars. Writers have to write a certain way or risk being penalised and buried in Google search. And there's nothing more creativity-sapping than to abide by rigid rules on how content should be.  

 

People are getting tired of having their distribution channels dictated by the rules of the few.  So, they are now moving on to platforms that enable them to take more control of how they can reach their followers and readers.

So there's a move from corporation-controlled platforms to walled, private gardens or networks.  The main appeal of these tools is that they are not algorithm-driven. Meaning, whether your content gets seen or not does not depend on the platform’s distribution rules of the day. Because, there are no rules.

Of all the tools like that out there, Substack appeals to writers and artists the most. 

Substack's rise

Substack is a popular online tool used by millions of creators to send newsletters. But that oversimplifying it. If a blog and an email marketing tool had a baby, the result will be Substack. 

Substack appealed to many writers because they get to own  their mailing lists and yet are provided tools to build a community. Unlike other social media channels, it didn't have an algorithm-driven discovery engine. Instead, writers recommend Substacks to each other.

For almost a year, I used Substack as a glorified mailing list to notify people of new posts on my blog. My main motivation then was to move out of Mailerlite's clunky interface. Also, it appealed to my frugal heart: I could send out newsletters to my readers free.

But I have since realised that I’ve been woefully underutilising Substack’s capabilities. In the last few weeks, I've pivoted, turning my newsletter, now named Tai Tales, into a hub where people can interact with me and get my fiction, essays and updates about my work. It's also a place where I can find other writers and finally be a part of a community.

Yes, I'm actually publishing my fiction there! To my delight, there's a growing number of fiction writers sharing their novels chapter by chapter. I'm planning to do the same. 

Writers like Elle Griffin, for example, shared chapters of her novel Obscurity weekly. After the novel ended its run, she released it as an ebook and also mailed a beautiful hardcover version to top tier subscribers. I love this personalised approach to novel creation.

Recently, I've re-published my horror short story, Blood of Nanking, in time for Halloween. I plan to publish many of the short stories that have stayed neglected in my hard drive. Finally, they can get out there into the world.

I’ve never felt freer as a writer, more energised. For so long, blogging or writing my novel, felt like shouting into the void. It was such a lonely, demotivating experience and I almost wanted to just quit. Here, I get to organically build my audience, interact with fellow writers while getting feedback on my writing.

And as a reader? Boy, I’m really thrilled by the content I’ve been reading from fellow writers. I realised how much effort it was to find content like this on Google search.  Why? Because this content did not fit into the rigid SEO framework set out by Google, so they are buried under heaps of marketing material.

Like so many creatives, I’ve come to the conclusion that the world wide web no longer belongs to the common people — especially artists. It has not been for a long while. The latest Google update only cements the fact that corporations and ad dollars will continue to dominate search engine results.

Aren't you tired of listicles and marketing-slanted content? Don't you long for out-of-the-box, human, raw writing? I miss the words of ordinary Joes and Janes. Don't you wish you didn't have to do all the things to reach even one reader? Substack is giving me this opportunity to write and savour them once more. 

I believe we’ve reached a crossroads in the social media/Internet space. What I call the “fed up” point. The Twitter meltdown is probably the last straw for many. Users want alternatives. They want more control over their data. They want to be free of the domination of billionaires and corporations. They want  to stop wading through a algorithm-manipulated feed to find content they want to read. And they want freedom to create spaces where they can reach their audiences without jumping through hoops. 

More than ever, there’s an urgent need for a service or a platform that is free of “algorithmically curated feeds” that won’t reduce our visibility.  

So the question you need to answer is this: Are you ready for the change?

Elizabeth writes Tai Tales, a Substack where she shares essays, flash fiction and short stories. She will be serialising her three-novel series, Distant Stars, in 2023.

An Advent Creed for Writers

It is hard to believe we have almost come to the end of another year. It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas at my house. As Advent begins, I love to plan my reading and writing for the month ahead, for that is partly what Advent is all about. A season of preparation for the Nativity of Christ at Christmas. It always begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, to my family's surprise. They sometimes assume that it starts on December 1st to coincide with the first day of the chocolate Advent calendars. But no, this year it started yesterday, Sunday November 27th. As the weeks of Advent stretch before us, there is perhaps no better time to prayerfully ponder the writing plans we wish to commit to.   

I was reading Matthew 13: 10-17 in The Message version of the Bible. The apostles asked Jesus, "Why tell stories?" I paid close attention to his reply because I've often been asked the same question and come up with nothing better than, "I enjoy it" which seems too self-indulgent to justify.

Here is what our Lord and Saviour said.

"You've been given insight into God's kingdom. You know how it works. Not everybody has this gift, this insight; it hasn't been given to them. Whenever somebody has a ready heart for this, the insights and understandings flow freely. But if there is no readiness, any trace of receptivity soon disappears. That's why I tell stories; to create readiness, to nudge the people toward receptive insight. In their present state they can stare till doomsday and not see it, listen till they're blue in the face and not get it."

That's a wonderful way of putting it. All my life I'd always loved reading fiction but used to put it aside as a treat for my spare time when more 'important' work was finished. When I started writing fiction, I assumed that of course others would be approaching my books the same way. I spent years trying to get into the habit of acknowledging that just because my work is targeted for people's leisure moments, it does not follow that said work is "light-weight" or frivolous. In fact, our leisure moments may be the ideal time when we are most receptive to those things of depth and significance.

Knowing that a 'Creed' is a written set of beliefs or aims which guide or form our actions, I searched around to see if I could find a fiction writer's creed. When I couldn't, I decided to write my own. For all you friends who love to write, you are welcome to share mine with me. It doesn't have to be fiction either. Since I first wrote this over ten years ago, my writing has taken many different forms across various platforms. 


A WRITER'S CREED

1) I will do all I can to stir readers' hearts, to create fertile ground for insights and understandings to flow freely to them from God.

2) I will study and ponder God through His Word and prayer, to keep a clean heart toward Him and stay sensitive to what I believe He would have me write.

3) I will offer my very best to make people smile, cry, laugh and enjoy every moment of time they've put aside to read my books, articles, blog posts or social media thoughts.

4) I will re-write and edit to make the finished result as polished as it can be. I will accept the sacrifice of hard work and time involved.

5) I will continue to study the craft of writing, willing to learn more.

6) I will not focus on praise, money or recognition as a gauge of how I'm going. I will be content to be a spark of light where God has placed me, trusting Him to open doors.

7) Having said that, I will look out, being ever vigilant for opportunities to introduce my work to people through speaking events such as talks and workshops, or written words such as articles or guest blogs.

8) I will take setbacks in my stride as an inevitable part of the journey but I will not let them turn me away from my chosen path or cause me to give up.

Paula Vince is the author of nine fiction novels set in her home state, South Australia. She also writes articles, blog posts, reflections, book reviews and creative non-fiction. She loves to dig into old classic novels and consider their relevance for our 21st century era. Follow her musing at www.vincereview.blogspot.com 

Behind the Scenes Core Values: Love by Rebekah Robinson & Anne Hamilton

Today we go 'behind the scenes' as Jeanette (Jenny) O'Hagan interviews the fabulous Rebekah Robinson, co-author of Core Values: Love with Annie Hamilton.

Jenny: Congratulations on the new release Core Values: Love. Is having a new release as exciting as it was the first time?

Rebekah: Yes, absolutely! There’s nothing like holding your new book in your hands. With your first book there’s a sort of impostor sensation – ‘Wow, I’m an author now!’ and with the second it’s more of an eyebrow-waggling, ‘Now there are TWO, and I’m a SERIOUS author now!’

Jenny: It's a joy that doesn't get old. Tell us more about Core Values: Love. What is it about, who do you think will read it, and impact do you hope it will have?

Rebekah: Core Values: Love was born out of one of those revelations that seems momentous and blindingly obvious at the same time. If the Bible talks about the fruit of the Spirit … then the fruit must come from the Spirit … which would mean that the fruit is part of His nature, the way an apple comes from an apple tree! So this volume explores what it must mean for God to be Love, and how that works itself out in His children.

I think this book will appeal to people who want to go a little deeper in their understanding of what God is like. We’ve made it lovely to look through, as well as (I hope) intriguing to read. I’m a graphic designer by trade, so I’m a big fan of diagrams and infographics, and making things beautiful as well as functional. I hope that readers will find their spirits lifting in worship to the Lord as they read.

Jenny:  Wow, that sounds awesome. I believe understanding the heart of God's love is transformative and foundational. You co-authorised this book with Annie Hamilton, a prolific award-winning author with a strong following. How did the idea of working together come about? What have been the joys and challenges of the process.

Rebekah: My mother in New Zealand recommended The Singing Silence, and when I read it I was blown away and wrote to tell Annie so. It turned out we lived on the same side of town, so we ended up meeting for coffee and becoming friends. She hired me (in my graphic design hat) to work on her books. Since they touch on similar subjects, I asked if she would be willing to chime in on mine, and she generously agreed. Annie is a joy to work with. She’s walked me through the industry and helped me look at things from completely new angles and find treasures in the Word. I’ve found it a challenge to have to ‘kill off’ the occasional ‘darling’ phrase, of course, but it’s made my writing stronger.

Jenny: It sounds like God's timing. Your first published book, Someone to Look Up To, is also a non-fiction Christian book. Can you tell us what it is about and what inspired you to write it?

Rebekah: It’s about Christian leadership, written from the point of view of a non-leader. So much leadership theory comes to us from people who are providing it, rather than those of us who are living under it. It’s a friendly and helpful look at how some of these practices and teachings impact the church, and what we might then take into consideration. Since it’s geared toward students and fans of leadership, it also has a Study Notebook for use in classes or small groups.

Jenny: An interesting and helpful perspective. Who are your favourite authors and genres to read and why?

Rebekah: I rip through novels like there’s no tomorrow, but non-fiction takes me a great deal longer, because you have to really chew it as you go. I love speculative fiction & fantasy. My favourite secular author is Lois McMaster Bujold. I adore her space opera series because the characters are so deep and round that it’s hard to believe they aren’t real people, flying around out there. And I love Stephen Lawhead’s fantasy books because the cultural worldbuilding and storytelling is so immersive. Patrick Carr’s books are absolutely brilliant. These are just three names from a huge field of talented realms people.

My favourite Christian writer is Adrian Plass. I find his books an emotional workout, from laughing hysterically to crying unashamedly. They help me un-knot myself when I’m overthinking, and get me back in touch with my Saviour’s love in a complicated world. And I’m a big fan of Michael Frost. He thinks outside the box, and challenges me to live a truer Christianity.

Jenny: Some great authors. I concur, Michael Frost is a modern day prophet as in forth-telling. And as a big spec fic fan, I also love Lawhead and have enjoy Carr's books. I'll have to check out Lois McMaster Bujold.

So far your books have been expositional non-fiction aimed at encouraging people in aspects of the faith and ministry. Have you ever felt the urge to write fiction? And if so what would genre would you explore.

Rebekah: I wrote nothing but fiction and free verse in my youth, but got distracted by songwriting for several decades. I started my first novel years ago with a strong theme but gave up when the plot didn’t come and the characters were all ME! Recently I’ve seen a gap in Christian fiction – or an unmet thirst, if you like – and I think maybe I’m being called to fill that gap myself. So, currently I have three fantasy novel outlines percolating in my head & hard drive. It’s a steep learning curve, because every writing field involves the development of niche skills. My blog and non-fiction books have all been about answering questions, and they come more easily because all you do is explore the Word with God and share your heart in a structured manner.

Jenny: Novel writing is a great deal more complicated than most people realise. I look forward to reading your fantasy fiction in due course :) The hyphenated title of the Core Values: Love suggests that this is book 1 in a series on Core Values? Am I right and if so, what other books can we expect in the future? Do you have any other book ideas bubbling away? 

Rebekah: Core Values: Love is the first volume in an 8-part series on the fruit of the Spirit as the DNA of God. So, there are seven more volumes all at various stages of completion. Originally it was going to be one book, but it became too unwieldy. There are two other books I’m percolating for the Someone series – one on marriage and one on the music ministry – and, of course, the three nascent fantasy novels, which will be very loosely linked and will take some time.

Jenny. So many great title to anticipate. Thank you, Rebekah for taking the time to share about your books and experiences. We wish you and Annie God’s blessing on your new release.

Rebekah: Thank you so much!

Rebekah Robinson loves God and people, and writes about Christian living. A missionaries’ daughter, she was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, and lives in Brisbane, Australia with her husband and two young adult children. Freelancing as a graphic designer, she enjoys singing, songwriting and worship leading, and may have a slight digital scrapbooking addiction.

Rebhekah's Website & Facebook Author Page

You can purchase her books here:

Core Values: Love

Someone to Look Up To

Some to Look Up To - Study Notebook