Would you?

If God told you to write a book for one person, would you?

I was challenged by a friend who asked this question (not to me in particular, but in a general sort of way). My first response was to immediate answer, "Of course. Of course I would do whatever God wanted me to so." But there was a niggling doubt in my heart.

As I thought about the difficulties of finding the exact words to express my ideas, experiences and emotions; the time it would take to write and rewrite; the cost of going to conferences to hone my skills and pay for an editor. Would I do it for one person?

I found myself adding provisos. Yes, I would if that one person's heart was so changed that they in turn touched another and another and another. Yes, I would if that one person was the next Billy Graham or D.L. Moody. Yes, I would if that one person was overwhelmingly appreciative.

Yet I know God doesn't add provisos. He didn't add provisos when he sent Jesus. God didn't say, "I'll only allow Jesus to die if enough people repent"; "I'll only allow Jesus to die if they prove their commitment"; "I'll only allow Jesus to die if enough people live godly lives." When I analysed my reasoning I have to acknowledge that if God asks me to do something, I can't add conditions. I have to accept he knows best.

I thought I'd finished this post but then I read, Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, and she talks about the book she wrote after her father died of a brain tumour and another book she wrote a couple of years later when another friend also died of cancer. She writes: "I just wanted to write a book for my father that might also help someone going through a similar situation… I got to write books about my father and my best friend and they got to read them before they died. Can you imagine? I wrote for an audience of two who I loved and respected, who loved and respected me."

Whether our audience is large or small, we write believing God will use our words to touch another.

*****

Susan Barnes likes to write devotional thoughts on Bible passages, book reviews and inspirational articles. She loves to challenge people's thinking and regularly blogs at abooklook.blogspot.com.au. She is also a librarian and pastor's wife.

Burning Beliefs

The following question is one I saw posed as part of suggested writing tips;

Why must you tell this story in particular? What’s the belief burning within you that your story feeds off?

This appeals to me because I immediately identify with the idea of writing that is motivated by the desire to provoke readers to be challenged to grow.  The stories I want to tell are based on my belief that life is a journey of learning, that life has a purpose which is beyond ourselves, and that it is often from reflecting on our own struggles and challenges, or the lives of others who have wrestled with life’s issues, that we learn our best life lessons, and come to understand what real love is, and what real life is all about.

 

 



I think this is so true!

 

Yet I’m reminded by Meredith Resce’s provocative post on Facebook, questioning the value and pitfalls of writing romance stories. In spite of so much acknowledgement that romance can have a misleading and shallow focus, and perhaps even be counterproductive for Christian writers, that romance and love are quite different concepts, still it seems that so many readers – Christian and non-Christian - want to lose themselves in a romance, with prince charming, the excitement of the pursuit, and the happily ever after ending.

I was warned when I began to write that if I wanted to sell books, I’d need to write romance novels; if I wanted to write historical fiction, it would need to be romance, couched in historical settings. The feedback I get about my novels supports this notion, but I still find it frustrating.

I’ve also come across many Christians who will not read novels at all. They are only interested in devotional material and don’t see the value of reading anything which they see as ‘fiction’. Of course, that is their choice and it may be a safe path to stick to the scriptures and purely devotional material. For all of us there’s a place for this kind of reading in our lives.

For others reading may be mainly an escape from reality; a way to relax, or enjoy the distraction of imagining a life on earth that is ideal, romantic and happily ever after. I suppose that’s also a valid motivation for reading.

Then there are those who love other genres; fantasy, mystery, historical, and no doubt there are plenty of readers who like to learn from novels, who like to be challenged to grow in their spiritual, emotional and relational lives, regardless of their preferred genre.
 

There is also the question of writing for Christians or non-Christians. How do we draw non-Christians to our work in order to influence their thinking, and yet maintain our Christian values in the way we write? If we can't do this, are we simply preaching to the converted?
 

What a challenge we have as writers! We certainly can’t address all these issues in any one story. We’ll never please everyone, or be every reader’s favourite writer.

So I’m drawn back to the original question:

Why must you tell this story in particular? What’s the belief burning within you that your story feeds off?





 

See Carol's websites for more on her historical novels (real life with a little romance thrown in)

www.carolpreston.com.au

www.amazon.com/author/carolpreston

www.facebook.com/writingtoreach