Even More Important than Your Writing ...

 by Anusha Atukorala

I will never forget that season – a season of deep grief it was, when much that I cared about was prised out of my hands. It started with God's leading to leave my much loved church family of 15 years and a ministry I’d enjoyed for more than 10. Life had thrown a few curveballs and I was bewildered. Sad. Lost! Why did God give me a task but whisk it away from me, an all too brief 8 months later? Why did God give me such a purpose and passion to serve others – if He didn’t want me to continue? But … we know the truth, don’t we? Scripture tells us that God’s ways are not our ways. His ways are always better of course, but it takes hindsight to realise it!

 

It was a season of deep pain and sadness. Questions filled my mind ... large grey clouds pregnant with rain, filling up every inch of sky before a downpour. I’d loved serving those in our community who came to us for financial and other kinds of help through this arm of the church I’d been involved in. I loved praying with non-believers – I don’t think anyone refused my offer of prayer – even though most had no personal knowledge of God. It was wonderful – being able to be part of their journey, to bring light and hope into lives that were hurting. It had been a God-breathed, God blessed ministry.

During the months that followed, I questioned my worth. If what I did was taken away from me, what did that say about me? I was a nobody! Useless! Yes, I was a Christian writer and I loved writing for Jesus. But … I was more than a writer – I was also called to bless and help others. I knew it was what God had created me to do. One day, as I read the words of a well-known author and speaker, light came flooding in, dispelling the darkness I'd been wrapped in.

 

“Your significance doesn’t come from what you do. 

It comes from being a child of God.” Joyce Meyer

Her words created an arrow of joy that pierced deep into my spirit, renewing my heart and mind. It was true. I was a child of God. The peace that washed over me then, was not just a step towards healing, but like running up a whole staircase towards it. God's truth took root in my heart where it now abides deep within, giving me the sure knowledge of being loved and of having worth, apart from anything I do. 

And so … during the past 8 ½ years, when my writing moved from centre-stage to the periphery due to ill health, this same knowledge held me – I had worth, not because I was a Christian writer, but because of Whose I am! It’s been my toughest season … but I got through it, because God said I was enough. Thank You Jesus! How grateful I am!

 

Today, I’d love to cheer on anyone who needs a word of hope and encouragement. Perhaps you have not achieved your writing goals in the recent past? Perhaps you have been fighting writer’s block? Perhaps your book sales have been dwindling of late, as mine have been? Perhaps you have had little time or energy to spend on your writing pursuits, despite yearning to do so – that’s me! 

Perhaps your editor’s comments on your latest manuscript made you wonder if you would ever make it as a writer? Whatever the source of discouragement, here’s a thought. While our writing craft is important, perhaps this season is a gift - a path to finding untold riches of the spirit?

What’s more important than your writing? Well, YOU, for instance. You matter. Did you know that? You are a child of God. Beloved. No matter what successes or failures you’ve encountered in your calling, you matter even more than that to Him. You really do. El Roi, the God who sees, is looking at you this moment, His Daddy eyes resting on His beloved child. He is proud of you just because you belong to Him. He loves you with an everlasting love. You are safe in Him!

What’s more important than your writing? Your walk in perseverance qualifies for that space too. No one but you know the challenges you’ve faced, the tough times you have overcome. No one but God knows how you have kept clinging to Him, no matter what. I know He is proud of you for keeping on, despite the setbacks. Well done, my friend! Well done!

 

What’s more important than your writing? Obedience to God! God has a way of asking us to give up what we prize most, just like He tested Abraham. He tests our hearts by requesting that we step away from our ambitions. He removes what we believed was our goal and we stumble headlong into a perplexing season. At times, obedience to Him makes no sense at all. But we know that even more important than writing a best seller, to be obedient to what He calls you and me to do today – and that’s what matters most of all!

 

What’s more important than your writing? The Father’s heart of love! That’s what! He doesn’t want you to lose out on the riches of His Spirit that He pours out on those who yield to Him. So sometimes, when it seems we have been failures – God knows that we have succeeded, because we have done what He has asked– no matter how small and insignificant it seems in the world’s eyes. 

Today I say Well done, dear one. God sees you. He knows you. He is pleased with you. I see the twinkle in our Father’s eyes as He cheers you on, His precious child. So be encouraged. Be blessed. Keep doing all He calls you to – we are in this together. You are not alone. You matter. 

And YOU shine!

Anusha’s been on many interesting detours in life, as a lab technician, a computer programmer, a full time Mum, a full time volunteer, a charity director, a full time job chaser, until one golden day (or was it a dark moonless night?) God tapped her on her shoulder and called her to write for Him. She has never recovered from the joy it brought her. She loves to see others enjoying life with Jesus and does her mite to hurry the process in her world through her writing and through her life. The goodness of God is her theme song through each season, as she dances in the rain with Jesus.

 

Her first book Enjoying the Journey contains 75 little God stories that will bring you closer to your Creator. Her second book Dancing in the Rain brings you hope and comfort for life’s soggy seasons. Her third book, Sharing the Journey is a sequel to Enjoying the Journey.

 

Do drop in on her two websites to say G’day! She’d love to connect with you.

Dancing in the Rain

Light in the Darkness

 

 

 

                                                        

 

 

 

To Blog or Not to Blog ... that is the Question!

History repeats itself. Last year at our annual Writer’s Conference I spoke on SPEAKING. Today on CWD/ACW, I am blogging on BLOGGING.
What would you say is next? Should I read a book on READING?

The helpful aspect about speaking on speaking was that the material I used to prepare my talk helped me perform my workshop better. So perhaps my research into blogging will help me write a readable blog? My little offering today is for those who are considering the pros and cons of blogging on your writing journey and would like a whiff of its perfume in order to be convinced of its lasting fragrance.

4 ½ years ago, I began my belated blessed blogging journey with a few bumbling baby steps forward. I have now written 220 blogs to date. I must confess though that I came kicking and screaming into it. You see, I couldn’t see the point of adding my mite to the surplus of blogs out there. Who would read them? Google tells me that in 2013 there were 152 million blogs in the world. Not a small number. A publisher friend finally convinced me that I should dive in. Surprisingly enough, once I jumped in (with a mighty splash), you couldn’t get me out of the blogging pool. The lake was cool and refreshing, and I am still being invigorated by its healing waters.

So what is a Blog? A Blog is short for "Web Log" later turned into ‘Weblog’ and finally the simple four letter word: ‘Blog’. As recently as 1999, there were supposedly only 23 blogs on the Internet. The reason for there being so few was that 17 years ago, bloggers needed to be web designers who created everything from scratch. Thankfully, times have changed and we have easy access to free blogging hosts in the 21st century world. So what’s your excuse to not blogging? None!

But let me add that as a Christian writer, you will of course need to ascertain if it’s right for you at this point of your writing journey. “The first thing you need to decide when you build your blog is what you want to accomplish with it, and what it can do if successful.” Ron Dawson.

How does a blog help an Author/Writer/Would be Writer?
1. It helps build your platform
2. It gives credibility to your writing
3. It helps develop publicity for your writing
4. It can promote your work
5. It helps you develop a fan base
6. It helps you keep in touch with your readers
7. It helps agents and publishers take you seriously
8. It keeps you writing regularly
9. It lets your readership enjoy bite-sized flavourful chunks of your writing
10. It connects you to the world—writing can often be a lonely occupation

Some Important aspects to work out before you begin:
1. Name of your website/blog site—think hard. Think well. Let it stand out.
2. A page about yourself—allow your readers get to know you
3. Frequency of blog – daily/3 times a week/weekly/fortnightly/monthly/other
4. Subject matter – what would you like to focus on?
5. Make it readable – not only in content but also in presentation

Are pictures necessary? I’d say they are not essential but having at least one picture in your blog would add to it. I've done a little research and uncovered some sites with free pictures with no copyright issues attached, but please ensure you read the ‘terms of use’ before you download them.

Some Free Images for you: Please click on the links below.
Dreamstime

Gratisography

New Old Stock

Free Nature Stock

Function

What hosts are available? There are plenty of free hosting blog builders that will help you create your blog or website from scratch and with ease. I used Webnode.com and have been more than satisfied with their services—it hasn’t cost me a cent. Other sites like Blogger.com, Wordpress.com, SimpleSite.com, Tumblr.com, and Wix.com are used widely as you may know. If you would like to use your own domain name, you will need to pay for it. Here’s a useful site which shares information on blog hosts: Web Hosting Free Reviews

What kinds of Writer Blogs are out there? There are blogs that teach the writer’s craft, those that talk of the writer’s life, others that write about current issues, some which share their experiences, others that write how-to articles, some which focus on book reviews and more. Fiction writers may share snippets of their stories to hook their readers or even serialise their work through a regular blog. When I started blogging, what a blessing it was to discover that God made it part of my ministry. It was a gift from Him, and has grown me and shaped me as a writer. But we are unique beings—called by God to different tasks. So follow His heart for yourself, not for anyone else. Your blog and mine will be vastly different. And that’s exactly how it should be.

A few Good Blogging Practices:
1. Determine the length of your blog. 300 – 600 words is a good number.
2. Images will add to the blog—use them.
3. Ask a question at the end or lead them to take action
4. Make it easy for others to share—make it public on Facebook
5. Link up with other writers’ blogs
6. Create a free email newsletter
7. Invite other writers to write guest blogs on your site—a good way of joining hands (and words) with other writers!

I hope I've whet your writerly appetite to discover if blogging is something beneficial to you as a writer. Everything we do as Christian writers must be in response to a call from God. Is He calling you to start one? There are many of us bloggers on CWD and ACW who would be very glad to pitch in if you need a hand. So if you believe God is calling you to it, do jump right in. And may your expedition be God breathed, exhilarating and worthwhile.

If you have other things in your life—family, friends, good productive day work—these can interact with your writing and the sum will be all the richer.”
David Brin

“Writing is its own reward.” – Henry Miller

“Don’t try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. It’s the one and only thing you have to offer.”
Barbara Kingsolver

Anusha Atukorala is a writer and speaker with music in her heart and a message to proclaim. The abundant love of a faithful God is her theme song. God’s call to writing in 2007 led Anusha on a Grand Adventure which continues to surprise and thrill her. Anusha loves to build the body of Christ and to encourage others through the written and spoken word. Her first book ‘Enjoying the Journey’ is comprised of 75 little God stories. She has twelve short stories published in Anthologies and lots more in the pipeline. Do drop in to say G’day at her website Dancing in the Rain. She’d love to meet you.

A few things I've learned from community...

I remember the first post I wrote for this blog. I was nervous (I think it may have been the first blog post I'd ever written) but I was also excited. This was something new on the Australian writing scene - a group of writers with a common goal and shared faith, writing together, striving together to build community. Until this blog (and it's accompanying Facebook group) appeared on the scene, writing faith inspired work felt incredibly lonely in Australia. There were writers, we knew each other existed somewhere, but struggling through the shelves of bookstores it was hard to locate books by artists from this side of the globe.

But once the online writing community started, it began to blossom. The situation for emerging and established faith writers is quite different now to what it was. Distance and isolation (be it due to location or situation) have been reduced and connections have been made possible. There are numerous online writers groups for people writing faith inspired work, each with it's unique angle and purpose, but all designed to support and encourage one another. There are also Yahoo groups, discussion groups and local voices growing in the blog-isphere.

The CALEB Conference emerged out of the Word Writers Fair - an event I've been privileged to attend twice, and will be attending again in the future. Online relationships were strengthened with discussions and workshops, and I believe the Australian faith inspired writing community is stronger now than it ever has been. The evidence is on in the book shelves of the Christian bookstores: Aussie books easier to find, more little Aussie symbols next to familiar books in catalogues, and authors standing by and supporting each other using the most powerful marketing strategy ever - WORD OF MOUTH.

For me, watching this growth of relationships and networking, both connected with this blog and the many, many sprawls beyond, it has been exceptionally encouraging. I feel less like a lonely little writer pushing against a tide of anonymity, more a part of a wider family. So as I write this post, the last CWD post from me for the time being, I want to say Thank You to the writers I've been privileged to meet and write with in this context. Here's some of what I've learned from you:

* Never give up. Even when it feels terribly hard and painfully lonely, there are other writers feeling exactly the same and when we push through, and keep going, it's worth it in the end.

* Aussie writers write good fiction! (Yep, I'll admit it, even I was dubious! But there are some local wordsmiths out there brave enough to tackle faith related themes and they are worth the search.)

* Networking pays off. It pays off in sales, but even more importantly in sharpening skills, promoting excellence and producing a more polished product.

* Stay true to your first love. Anyone reading back over the blog posts here will notice a common theme: writers striving against the pull of the world to write for the original Creator. It's not easy, it challenges the very motivations behind why we write, but many, many CWD posts echo the blessing received in this obedience.

* Stay connected. Whether it's here, or on other writing blogs, online groups, at writing conferences and get-togethers. It's fellowship; important, valuable and rich.

Penny Reeve is the author of more than 15 children's books including the 2013 CALEB Award Children's Category finalists More Than A Mouse and Wonderfully Madison. She recently returned from a two week trip to India with Stop the Traffik and is hoping to seek publication for her YA novel on the subject next year. For more information about Penny, or her books, visit  www.pennyreeve.com 

Blogging about Blogging

I confess that till recently, I was a very reluctant blogger. Not that I don’t like writing. Not that I don’t enjoy airing my views on paper. I do. I most certainly do. But it seemed to me that life was busy enough. I didn’t want to add another weekly deadline to my already filled up schedule. So ever since I began my “Adventures in Writing” – I shook my rebellious head at the idea of starting my own blog. Blogging every now and then for Christian Writers Down Under was different. I thought that that was the perfect solution and just right for me.

Until one fine day! Our Facilitator of Christian Writers Downunder, the wise and enterprising Lee, shared with me how important it was for a writer to have a platform and that a regular blog was part of that. I was finally persuaded. (Well done, Lee!) And so, this reluctant blogger finally got to her feet in the area of creating, not just her own works of fiction and non fiction but also her writer’s platform. In February this year I enjoyed producing my own website and immediately started on my blogging journey. I was delighted at the very encouraging response I received from family and friends, well wishers and other readers.

Writing is something which has always come naturally to me. I’ve usually had a profusion of writing ideas stacked up in a large pile in my head, just like the mound of delicious books that adorn the top of my bedside table, waiting to be read. My “Idea notebooks” are always full. My problem has always been that I need to find sufficient time to sit and write all I want to. (Perhaps there’s some lack of discipline lurking in there?) Many other vitally important things seem to clamour for my attention all the time - work, people, pleasure, chores and the 101 other facets that go into living life.

Does that sound familiar?

And so, for the first few weeks, I wrote my blog to please any publishers out there. And also to show them that I was indeed worth publishing. But I have to confess that much as I love writing (and writing a blog is fun, isn’t it?) – I would have preferred to spend my precious time working on my next book rather than dreaming up my next blog.

As I began to send my blog link out weekly to my family and friends and many others in my extensive contact list, I started to get many lovely responses to my blogs. There was one friend in particular who did something for me. She’s been going through a tough patch in life. She told me that every blog I’d written seemed directed at her. That God spoke to her and encouraged her through them. Every time. She’d enjoyed my book she said and now she was an avid follower of my blog. My eyes were wet with tears as I read her email. I felt warmed from the inside out.

But you know what? She helped me as well. She blessed me by helping me figure out why I needed to write a blog in the first place. Just like a light switched on in my mind, God flooded my heart and my mind with understanding. In the blink of an eye, my attitude to blogging changed. Since then, I have been writing not to please my publishers.

I am now blogging because I have a call from God to write and encourage others. It’s as simple as that. It’s a way I can honour Him. A way I can be faithful to my call.

What a difference this knowledge has made in my life! My motivations are totally altered – and for the better. Every time someone writes to me to tell them that God had used my blog (and in fact when He’s used anything I write) to speak to them, my heart is filled.

We writers have a great calling in life don’t we?
Are you excited? I am!

Do tell me your stories. How did God encourage you in your writing journey? Was there a reader response that dazzled you from the inside out? I would love to hear about it.

Keep writing and keep blogging and keep on keeping on, my friends. You and I have stories to share that will bring light to the world. And a smile into many hearts.

How blessed we are!


Anusha loves life and all it holds. She delights in connecting with people and living life for Jesus. Writing is a way she gets to know herself and her world. Also a way she shares the goodness of God with the world around her.

Her website ‘Dancing in the Rain’ can be found at:
http://anusha-atukorala.webnode.com/.
She hopes you will stop by to say Hello!