FREE TO WRITE

Over the years, one of the things that I have given an enormous amount of thought to is what my responsibilities are as a creative. Especially writing. 

Shane Brigg shares some
deep personal reflections

What I have resolved in myself is that the freedom I have in writing comes with sobering obligations. 

Several narratives have inspired this resolution.....

Consider the dystopian world of the movie “The Book of Eli” where the main character is the custodian of the last remaining copy of the Bible, or another which is represented in Fahrenheit 451 where society has outlawed books (they are burned along with the houses they are hidden in). Then there is the superlative work of Marcus Zusak’s “The Book Thief” which represents the book burnings of Nazi Germany during World War 2. The main character discovers a book and begins her adventure of stealing books from the burning piles. Throughout the novels and stories mentioned above the written word, writing, reading, and language are presented as metaphors of freedom, hope and justice. They provide identity and personal liberty to characters who gain "the true power of words" (Zusak). 

The real-life stories and writing of Dietrich Bonhoeffer reflect this perspective and have also been inspiration for me, as do the lives and stories of other writers and thinkers who laid their life on the line to deliver ideas, information, and ideologies through the written word.

The freedom to write comes under a myriad of forms. Along with the delivery of its creativity, prophetic elaborations and provocations have come long-standing threats against writers and the freedom to write. Writers are often influential voices that play a key role in inspiring activists, analyzing, and critiquing state and world affairs, imagining different realities and futures, and generally challenging the status quo so that justice is presented, proposed, produced, and protected. This has meant that through the ages writers have collided with other entities.  As new realities emerge in our world today, including local, regional, and potential world conflicts, the COVID-19 pandemic, other diseases, and repressive responses to sweeping protest movements writers are continuing to do what they do best..... 

Write. 

This often comes at a cost.

Throughout history writers have had their individual freedoms constrained by individuals, groups and authorities (in democratic and authoritarian countries alike). Writers and thinkers who attempt to question social or cultural norms, preserve ethno-linguistic traditions, or criticize policy, plans, perspectives of various structures and processes remain common targets for officials and leaders treating peaceful expression as a threat. Legal charges, detention, threats, and even death are all strategies utilized to silence writers’ voices and ideas from reaching and influencing a wider audience.

During 2020 alone, according to data collected for the Freedom to Write Index (Produced by PEN*), at least 273 writers, academics, and public intellectuals in 35 countries—in all geographic regions around the world—were in prison or unjustly held in detention in connection with their writing, their work, or related activism. *PEN exists as a support network to give writers a voice, to provide for intellectual exchange and to promote freedom of expression for all writers. The acronym originally stood for ‘poets, essayists, and novelists’ but now includes playwrights and editors among that number. Testimonials recounted by Christian ministries such as the Voice of the Martyrs, Open Doors, and  Asia Harvest (and others) speak of countless God-fearing souls who have been incarcerated and martyred for delivering faith-fuelled messages via their writing and lives.

When PEN was in its formative days it was threatened by the rise of Nazism in Germany. At its 1933 Congress in Dubrovnik, the Assembly of Delegates (led by PEN’s president of the time : H. G. Wells) reaffirmed the Galsworthy resolution as a response to events of the previous few months:  the Nazi Party had burned many thousands of books it deemed ‘impure’ (inconsistent with, or hostile to its ideology) in bonfires across Germany. The following day, the German delegation attempted to prevent Ernst Toller, an exiled Jewish-German playwright, from speaking. The German delegation walked out of the Congress – and, out of PEN, until after World War Two. An overwhelming majority rejected the German position and reaffirmed the principles on which they had just voted.

Interestingly a dedication inscribed on a PEN International memorial which sits in a simple grove of trees beside Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra says,

‘The spirit dies in all of us who keep silent in the face of tyranny.’

I have watched with interest the various ‘convoys of freedom’ occurring across the nations this year. These ‘pilgrimages’ (movements of people leading to transformation) have included Australian’s amassing in Canberra, Canadian truckies, families evacuating from the Ukraine, Myanmar refugees, Yemenis, minorities, majorities, millions worldwide in diaspora. Some are by choice, some are forced into exile, some are reactions to individual personal freedoms being limited, some are in fear, some are with a form of faith, some are all about themselves, some are about others, some are friends, some are strangers, some are simply because they want to survive, others because their comforts and securities and liberties have been curtailed. Some walk with limps, some drive their rigs, some must be carried. Some are sad. Some are mad. Some are angry. Some are hopeful. Some are dying. Some have died. 

I am moved with love and compassion with a fair bit of perlustration, sometimes frustration, and much deliberation, and a seeking of wisdom for action. 

Especially in caring for friends who are part of these flows of humanity. I recognized that I have an obligation in my relative freedom: it is a responsibility to do something, and I have discovered, for me, that something is to write.

                                           

Some see freedom as an inherent human right. This includes the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and more.  Everyone is entitled to these rights, without discrimination.

Some see Freedom as an illusion. 

 “Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does,” 

wrote Jean-Paul Sartre. 

But humanity is not so much condemned to be free as condemned to bear the consequences of their choices and to take responsibility for their actions. Humanity has a free will, but that does not make them ultimately free. On the contrary, our choices are mainly driven by survival and default to self-orientation. Moreover, because people live with others, their freedom is limited by morals, laws, obligations and responsibilities – and that’s in countries where human rights are being respected. So, all the freedoms we experience or aspire to are relative: freedom of opinion, freedom of action, freedom to choose a career, residence, or partner. Every choice necessarily leads to a commitment, and thus to obligations and responsibilities. These in turn lead to limitations; but also, to meaning. 

The relative freedom to make a positive contribution to the world gives life meaning, and that is what we all ultimately seek.

In 1944 Justice Learned Hand, speaking to more than a million people in Central Park, New York defined one of the lessons of World War Two when he said:

“And what is this liberty which must lie in the hearts of men and women? It is not the ruthless, the unbridled will; it is not freedom to do as one likes. That is the denial of liberty and leads straight to its overthrow. A society in which men recognize no check upon their freedom soon becomes a society where freedom is the possession of only a savage few – as we have learned to our sorrow.”

He then asked:

“What then is the spirit of liberty? I cannot define it; I can only tell you my own faith. The spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure that it is right; the spirit of liberty is the spirit which seeks to understand the minds of other men and women; the spirit of liberty is the spirit which weighs their interest alongside its own without bias...”

My thoughts are that we simply shouldn’t take Freedom for granted. We simply shouldn’t take liberties that Grace cannot afford. We simply need to discover a freedom that is beyond anything that serves self in a reality of mutuality of supporting and empowering and giving agency in relationship with each other. This supersedes agenda to the place of freedom journeys of a convoy of life that embraces one another not because we see the same but that we love and care and share and give and live in a unity beyond our own personal liberty and freedom. Writing can help do that.

All this makes me think about the words of the Apostle Peter (writing to the believers)

“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honour everyone.  Love the family of believers. Fear God. Honour the emperor.”

1 Peter 2:16-17

The uncompromising position Dietrich Bonhoeffer took in his seminal work Ethics grapples with the premise that Peter espoused and is raised elsewhere throughout scripture. For Bonhoeffer it was directly reflected in his stance against Nazism. It was during this time grappling with the challenges of WWII, until his arrest in 1943 and death, that he worked on Ethics. 

Both in his thinking (his writing), and in his life, Bonhoeffer’s ethics were centered on the demand for action by responsible people in the face of evil. People should not rest on the laurels of their freedoms (real or perceived). He was sharply critical of ethical theory and of academic concerns with ethical systems precisely because of their failure to confront evil directly. Evil, he asserted, was concrete and specific, and it could be combated only by the specific actions of responsible people in the world. He did this through his writing and this inspires me to do the same.

I am free to write. I am free to write about whatever I will. But in my freedom to write, my personal narrative has become a pursuit of using my craft responsibly. 

For me, writing is a calling to not only do it well, but with a sense of mission, to help bring hope, justice, life and God’s love and freedom. 

Am I enjoying the process? Yes. Is it life bringing and not with a legalistic compulsion? Yes.  Provocative, and catalytic, fuel for thought? Yes. Inspiration to write? Amen.

Maybe it is for you too ?

Rights and Responsibilities of a Christian Writer - by Melinda Jensen

I have always been an avid asker of questions. Growing up, I spent inordinate amounts of time poring over Encyclopaedia and other reference books. If it wasn’t on the somewhat lean family bookshelves, I’d search the school library, snatching segments of time from my lunch break while others played sport or gossiped with their friends.

The information age is, to me, an absolute Godsend, one that is routinely hijacked by less than Godly forces. Such has always been the battle.

How do we sift through the wealth of information and make sense of what is true and what is false? Even more difficult, how do we determine what is conjecture? How educated or informed is our source? And far more importantly, what is the truth according to this world and yet not God’s truth?

Being a Christian writer is clearly not for the fainthearted. We have the right, of course, as human beings, to churn out whatever inspiration comes our way. That’s what so many writers are all about, after all, isn’t it? Freedom of speech? Freedom of the press? Creative license?

As Christians though, our rights are coupled with a weighty responsibility. We are to be ‘in’ this world but not ‘of’ it. Romans 12:2 makes this very clear.

‘Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God--what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.’

Immediately then, we find ourselves limited. That’s not easy for a creative soul and yet, it is a very clear requirement from our Father-Creator.

1 Peter 1:14
‘As obedient children, do not conform to the passions of your former ignorance.’

Despite our human right to self-expression, our responsibility as followers of Christ is to ensure our words do no harm, spiritually or emotionally, for words are, indeed capable of deep wounding. Words are also capable of persuading our readers’ thoughts, modifying their attitudes and inciting their passions, whether those passions are positive or negative. It can be extremely difficult to fashion our writing in a way that is real and engaging while maintaining our spiritual integrity. Steering away completely from difficult subjects (eg physical intimacy, domestic violence, and the brutality of war) tends to create a writing style that is flimsy, naïve and almost certain to languish in the slush piles of editors and publishers. Our books need to carry fire, whet the appetite for deeper thinking and sometimes, just plain entertain.

A month ago, I dusted off a book I’d found on my mother’s bookshelves and contemplated whether to read it or donate it to a second-hand book store. It was written by the acclaimed Morris West whom I’d studiously avoided in the past, assuming his writing would be a little too racy for me. In the end I decided it was arrogant for an aspiring Aussie writer like me to shun such a hugely successful Aussie author like Morris West. I should at least give it a try. I could always put it down if it took a distasteful turn.

And so I read it, right to the end as it happens. The subject matter was very much fast-paced political intrigue with a plot that followed the dubious activities of a fictional New South Wales politician and the hapless son-in-law who inherited his legacy. ‘Cassidy’ was neck-deep in corruption and swam in the muddy waters of drug trafficking and prostitution. There were murders and love affairs, infidelity and backstabbing on nearly every page. Yet, to my surprise, the author tackled these subjects with a great deal of aplomb and subtlety. At no point did he descend into lurid descriptions or tasteless dialogue. Instead, what emerged was an incredibly skilled expose of the potential corruption inherent in the human heart and the struggles that take place between the dual sides of our natures – the saint and the sinner.

As an example, the scene in which the hapless son-in-law succumbs to a night of adultery with a young temptress is 'suggested' rather than made explicit. There's no huffing and puffing, no unnecessary descriptions of anatomy or passion, yet we all know exactly what happened. Throughout the book the young woman is described rather fetchingly as 'Miss Owl Eyes' and no tacky objectification of her arises anywhere in the text. The scene in question simply fades after the young woman says that he and she should at least give each other one night before going back to their respective families. He agrees and the chapter ends. The next chapter begins with a hearty shared breakfast in the hotel dining room the next morning. Simple and effective.

That book taught me a lot. I’ve long held the belief that a rollicking good story, captured either on the page or on the screen, benefits nothing from the inclusion of lewdness and graphic description. We can, quite frankly, do without the nudity, the objectification, the horror, blood and gore, and most definitely without the (ever-increasing) presence of rape scenes. We don’t have to cater to the lowest common denominator. In fact, we can help raise the bar for the betterment of society.

In fact, as Christian writers it is our God-given responsibility to do so. I’ll leave you to contemplate Matthew 18:6:

‘If anyone causes one of these little ones--those who believe in me--to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.’

Melinda blogs extensively on emotional and psychological abuse at www.killingmesoftly.co. She has had a smattering of short stories, poems and articles published by both print and online publications over the last ten years. Her current efforts focus on scripting and illustrating a book aimed at helping the disadvantaged to make the most of their lives, discover their God-ordained purpose and break free from the chains of poverty. She has walked the walk for decades and, in fact, still does.

The Power of Creativity by Jo Wanmer

Should I kill Bobby, or let him live?

Will they all get down the mountain alive?

   These are a couple of the difficult questions I faced in November. Inspired by the NANoWriMo challenge, I opened a blank Word Document on first day of the month and started hitting keys. It was a last minute decision. However, I had a story, well a vague, broad idea of a story, in my head. 

So began my creative adventure. The illegible garbage on the page on day one morphed into real writing by day two. Encouraged, I continued. This was new territory. Although Though the Bud be Bruised is written as a fiction, it reflects exactly what happened in my life. There was no space for making up a scene. It was as it was.

This project however, didn't have such restrictions. The characters could do whatever they pleased, restricted only by my bad typing. They did crazy, unexpected things. I started to feel like a mother trying to control a group of unruly children. Then one day, Bobby just appeared in my manuscript. He bypassed my head and my character sheets and jumped out of a cave, frightening my heroine.

I considered removing him by using the back space bar. Its like turning back time really. There would be no evidence he even existed. But something about him fascinated me. So he wasn't annihilated. However, he disappeared, frightened by my unwelcoming attitude, I suspect. 

When he returned he was such a nice boy. However, before long, he knew too much and so he had to go. Yes, I killed him. No, killed is too strong a word. He died of a dreadful disease. Would it have been more humane to have deleted him at the beginning? Maybe, but to my surprise his name has popped up in the final chapters! Who would have guessed? Not me!

As much as my characters say and do the unexpected, I have to take final responsibility for all their actions. This book is close to being finished. There is only a few more chapters (of the first draft) to write (unless something unexpected happens again). Soon I can begin editing and rewriting, sorting this creative hotch potch of words into the great story that I know it can be. I'm hope I can bring all the threads of the plot into sharp focus.

Yes, I am the creator. I have created characters, actions, conversations, danger and solutions. As with a painting I can add, adjust, change moods and hues. Whole scenes could disappear. Others will be highlighted. I am looking forward to this process.

Likewise God is the creator, my creator. I've thought a lot about His creativity while writing this story. God is unrestricted by time. Likewise, authors are not confined by the book's time line. When we adjust things, the characters and readers aren't aware it was ever different. We can write scenes out of order, or even move them back or forward in time. Such is the power of a writer.

Can God do that as well? The Bible talks about the potter molding the clay. Are we, or the created things around us, in a similar position to our characters? Does God have a backspace button? Or a highlighting function? Bold? Delete?

Crazy questions I know. But He does know the end from the beginning and in my limited earth bound thinking, I don't understand that either. One thing I do know. God is BIG. Taking creative responsibility for a book has enhanced my understanding of him...just a little.

Next time I or my family are in some sort of dilemma, I'll be tempted to ask Him to use the back space button! Or to consider a rewrite. But then I remember that the dreadful experiences my heroine suffered were necessary to enable the fulfillment of her family's hopes and dreams.

Hmm. It is just as well I'm not God the creator. His job is too big for me. But writing has given me a deeper understanding of the original Author working all things together for my good. I'm so thankful that my life is in the hands of a wonderful loving Creator and not in the hands of a fickle author like me.

What about your writing experiences? I'd love to hear about your creative adventures.

Jo Wanmer lives in Queensland and loves watching the work of the Creator in the sky, the trees and the ocean. Currently she is working on a novel with the working title of 'El Shaddai'. As pastors, Jo and her husband, Steve, delight in watching God working in people's lives, bring healing and restoration; rewriting their futures. Her other passion is speaking about the greatest power on earth, the unconditional love of God. Jo is available for speaking engagements.

Who is your super hero?

            Recently my husband went to speak at a conference run by University students. The young woman who was to introduce him asked him a couple of interesting questions beforehand, in preparation for her introduction. The first was ‘Who is your super hero?’  The second was ‘If you had magic powers what would you like to do with them?’

            My husband was stumped! With a lifetime of experience behind him as an engineer, business manager and CEO, he found the questions bemusing at best. Aspiring to live life like Spider Man, or having Harry Potter powers are very far from his mind set.

            ‘Whatever happened to the values of ‘down to earth responsibility, hard work and commitment’? he later asked me. ‘Why does the younger generation long to escape into fantasy?’

            He introduced his talk to them by challenging them to face the realities of life and to strive to bring about productive, practical changes in their world.

            I must say I agreed with him. As a writer of historical fiction, I am focused on understanding the mistakes and the achievements of those who have gone before, and trying to inspire readers to learn lessons that will help them make the best decisions for their lives. I love to imagine the personal experiences, conversations and interactions of my characters and to pour into them qualities and insight that I believe will inspire and challenge my readers. But my stories are all very down to earth, and based on real people who faced great challenges and struggles.

            This does not negate my desire to present readers with the love of God and the amazing changes He can bring into a person’s life. I believe fully in the power of God to bring about the miraculous, but I believe that the work of God is grounded in our daily walk on this earth and our interactions with the people around us.

            I am often disturbed by the tendency of many young people these days to escape into fantasy, to live half their lives (or more) in some virtual reality they can create digitally, or to interact for the most part through their computers, phones, I-pads etc rather than spending time with real people in real conversations about real issues.

            Am I just old fashioned? I know there are have always been beautiful nursery rhymes, fairy tales and fables, with great lessons for the young, and also great newer stories set in fantasy, which for some readers provide wonderful challenges and inspiration to live the best kind of life. However last week I saw a preview of a new kid's movie where four mythical characters team up; the sandman, tooth fairy - and I think Santa Claus and the Easter bunny were the other two - to help children make the most of their lives. Are we crossing a line into fantasy which is dangerously misleading?
           Perhaps it’s a stage of life thing? Do young people learn better through fantasy and older people through real life experiences? Or perhaps there are many roads to learning, and potential for getting lost along any of them?     

            Recently I read “Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power.”  Of course that appealed to me, but may be that's just my age. Or have I lost the child in me too soon? What do you think?  

Carol has written seven novels based on her family history in Australia.

The Oakes Family Saga includes Suzannah's Gold, Rebecca's Dream and The Price of Peace.

The Turning the Tide series includes Mary's Guardian, Charlotte's Angel

and Tangled Secrets with Truly Free to be released in 2013.

The Face of Forgiveness, Carol's fourth novel, can now be read in serial form

under the title Forgiving Michael  http://www.carolpreston.blogspot.com

You can read more about Carol's other novels on her website  

http://www.carolpreston.com.au or find them on http://www.amazon.com/author/carolpreston

Or you can contact her on http://www.facebook.com/writingtoreach