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.