The Power of Place by Jeanette Grant-Thomson

 

Some of you may have noticed I love creating a sense of place. The setting of a novel can produce a definite atmosphere and can almost be like one of the characters. It can drive the plot, although not the underlying story. If you’ve read all my books, you’ve particularly visited Launceston, outback Queensland with Yandina and Nambour, Brisbane during the 1974 floods, New Ireland (PNG), and King Island or its counterpart in Moreton Bay.

I love immersing myself in the setting, then seeing it through the characters’ eyes. I’m not alone in this interest. Have any of you read Poison Bay (Belinda Pollard)? Or James Cooper’s interesting Something about Alaska? And so many others. In Belinda’s novel, I felt the setting (the wilds of southern New Zealand in the Milford Sound area) was almost the main character. The awareness of that dangerous place dominated all the characters and, by its nature, steered important parts of the plot as well.

Then there was The Light between Oceans, Stedman’s moving story about a couple keeping a lighthouse on Janus Rock. Where would that novel be without the highly unusual setting?  (Obviously it wouldn’t be, as the story depends on the place.)

In The Lost Man, author Jane Harper brilliantly brings to life Australia’s bare, scorching, unforgiving outback as a necessary backdrop and plot-driver of her story.

 In Lantern Light, I’ve created a strong sense of place describing the brooding jungle with its sights, sounds and smells. The dangerous water areas, too, add a sinister feel to the atmosphere. This is then ‘fleshed out’ (well, typed out) in the ensuing events. The timely flood of the Brisbane River reinforces the underlying dark, ominous mood. Both these settings and the incidents resulting from them were times and places I’d lived through myself so I was well equipped to write about them.

Admittedly, I checked some of the exact details of the flood on microfilm in the State Library. The machine kept sticking and delaying me, or whizzing past the dates I hoped to look at. Frustrating! The library assistant was very helpful though. 

I realise we all know this, but it’s so important: to create a place with atmosphere, the writer needs to appeal to more senses than sight. How often has a whiff of salt air taken your thoughts to the beach? Or the song of a magpie reminded you of a happy spring day? All the senses – sight, sound, smell, touch and taste – are intrinsic parts of a particular place.

 Walking along a jungle track, I was aware of the strange sweetish smell of rotting leaves underfoot as well as the colourful collage they made. The chittering of small animals and the sudden shriek of large birds. The mounting heat and heaviness in the air as the day grew hotter. I intended all this as a backdrop to the plot and a motivating force in Lantern Light.

In some of the books I’ve mentioned, the setting provides obstacles so the theme is partly man against a hostile environment. (Poison Bay, The Lost Man). In others, the environment affects the characters’ moods and decisions (as in Lantern Light).

The plot of Lantern Light ‘lives out’ the feel of dread, the sense of ‘Before and After’ that even the characters acknowledge. This feeling of something sinister is echoed by the jungle with its dim, seductive paths and ever-encroaching growth.

   Apparently AI can now do your descriptions if that is not your forte. But that would lack the author’s own voice and types of observations. Those nuances of atmosphere.  I love slipping in bits of description that nudge the characters in the right direction. As far as I know, at this stage AI can’t interweave those reactions to environment that I love writing. Please let me know if I’m wrong there.

Above all, when one chooses an unusual place to set a novel, the question arises: What might happen in a place like this?

Does anyone else enjoy creating settings? Or reading novels where the sense of place is an important feature?

Jeanette Grant-Thomson is a North Brisbane based author who has been writing and having work published since her childhood. Currently she is writing a novel set at beautiful Kenilworth where she lived part-time for about ten years.

You can find her books on www.facebook.com/jeanette.grantthomson

Omega Barnabas and Encouragement Awards open for nominations!

Every second year the CALEB Award includes two extra-special categories of awards designed to encourage and lift up Christian writers - the Barnabas and Encouragement Awards.

These awards are a little different.

For these, there are no books to submit, no manuscripts to polish. These awards are about recognising writers for who they are, their commitment to their craft, and their often selfless input into other writers.

The Barnabas Award

The Barnabas Award is a cash prize award that recognises the input Christian writers make into the lives and work of other writers. It’s about celebrating and giving credit to writers living out the heart of CALEB* by mentoring, encouraging, cheering on, supporting and spurring on others in their writing journey.

(In case you've forgotten, CALEB is Christian Authors Lifting Each other's Books.)

Encouragement Award

The Encouragement Award is a sponsored award that seek to encourage emerging writers who may be struggling but are putting in the hard yards to hone their craft, writers who may not be winning other competitions but who Omega Writers members want to encourage to keep going!

Nominations

If you’re a paid member of Omega Writers, we’d love you to nominate a fellow Christian writer for an Encouragement or Barnabas Award! Writers eligible for nomination for the Barnabas and Encouragement Awards are:

• Christian writers currently living in Australia, New Zealand, or the South Pacific.
• Can be published or unpublished writers in any genre.

Here’s how:

• Think of an eligible writer or writers you’d like to nominate.
• Make sure you are a paid Omega Writers member (but the writer you nominate does not need to be a member).
• Email caleb @ omegawriters.org with the following by 30 June 2023:
  • • Your name and email address
    • The name and email/website address of the author you’d like to nominate (so we can contact them if they win).
    • The Award you are nominating that writer for: Encouragement Award or Barnabas Award
    • Up to 200 words explaining why you believe this writer should receive this prize.

The Barnabas Awards are awarded on the merit of nominations received by the CALEB Committee.

Let's Speak Gold and Silver Words, Instead of Alloys

I've no doubt we're living in the era of the positive affirmation. A glance at the self-help section of our libraries and book shops makes this clear. Best-sellers on this topic abound, from the writings of Louise L Hay to "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne and her team of experts. Others with similar themes, such as "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill have been around long enough to attain classic status. This is the thinking climate those of my generation have grown up in and publishers are still churning them out.

For years, I'd studied these books carefully. I'd decided the theory behind them made sense. In a nutshell, if your conscious mind is bombarded with a beneficial message over and over, your subconscious mind will eventually be worn down to join the party too. Furthermore the metaphysical theory behind this tells us that we attract similar vibrations (aka vibes) to those which we subconsciously give out. The world is our mirror, so to speak. If we think prosperously, prosperity will be drawn to us. Although some fellow Christians seemed to think this dodgy and new-agey, I thought it seemed harmless enough for me to give it a go.

My books are best-sellers.
My kids are thriving in their goals.
We are able to travel overseas.
By dd/mm/yy I will have an extra $20 000 in my bank account.
We own a 2-storey home with a stunning view and my own study (LOL)
We never scrape the bottom of our bank account.

So what happened? The same thing that happened sometimes to seeds I tried planting seeds in my garden. I don't have a green thumb. Mostly, my plants would give a half-hearted spurt of growth and then bite the dust. People would say things like, "You should've fertilised them with blood and bones/chook manure/cow manure... kept the harsh cook manure away from them... tried putting them in a more open/more sheltered position, planted them during the summer/winter, etc." To summarize all this, I didn't really have a clue. So I assumed that the paltry returns on my affirmations meant that I was clueless there too.

I believe that was true, in a way I didn't expect. In a thought-provoking article by American pastor, Tom Brown, he remarks that our world has become like Babylon, using the messages of confession to get what it wants. People are using Biblical truth principles (it is all based on truth!) in a very watered-down and limited manner. I'd been right. I spent all that time trying to plant seeds without giving them the quality of water, fertiliser and sunlight they really needed. 

His article goes on to explain that the affirmations we speak must be found within the pages of our Bibles; God's Word to us. This is the only word which is still as pristine and powerful as it originally was during the creation of the world. The words spoken by men and women who are spouting the 'affirmations of the day' from these books have lost part of the original 'zing' they contained before the Fall. They are perishable and often likely to fizzle out. When we speak out our own dreams, imaginings and desires as affirmations without checking to see whether they line up with God's words, we might fail to receive what we're believing for because our words are weaker, like metal alloys whose quality can't be trusted. God's Word, on the other hand, is still like the most pure, flawless gold and silver.

It's not the mere positive confession per se, which brings results into our lives but the confession of God's words. My days of declaring and confessing just anything that sounds good and expecting it to come to pass are over. God's Word hasn't promised to give me a specific sum of money by a certain date or a house with a view or a new car. This is just jumping beyond what His word promises.

What He has promised is to be my healer (Exodus 15: 26), supply all my needs (Philippians 4:19), finish the good work He started in me (Philippians 1:6), surround me with favour as a shield (Psalm 5:12) and bless the work of my hands (Psalm 90: 17), among many other things. Charles H. Spurgeon said that whenever God has made a promise, we can reasonably expect Him to make it good. This has nothing to do with metaphysics, manipulating God, witchcraft, mind-over-matter or sorcery.

Thank God for giving us His Word, the imperishable seed, for when we make His words our own and declare them in faith, then our words are imperishable too. I believe that when we declare the same words about ourselves that God speaks, we'll soon see results in our lives.

Paula Vince is the award-winning 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 around in old classic literature and consider its relevance for our 21st century era. 

365

by Charis Joy Jackson

Today I happened upon a post I wrote for this wonderful site in 2016. I recommend reading it, as it so eloquently says what I'm about to sharing on today, only coming at it from another angle.

It's a good topic. An important one for us. And one I think we can all relate with.

What is that glorious topic, you may ask? 

Why, fear, of course.

That pesky friend no one remembers actually inviting to the party because we probably didn’t, but he showed up anyway. 

The focus of the 2016 blog was very gentle, it went something a little like this: “Stop it. Stop it now or I’ll bury you in a box.” As you see, I am very kind and sensitive. 

All teasing aside, it basically meant stop letting fear win. I’d realised fear makes us think all the worst scenarios and stories, and that’s not the best way to use this talent. It's a poor use of our imagination. 

So why the desire to discuss this topic, again? 

Because it still has the power to stop me and so many others. 

This past weekend, scrolling through Instagram reels, I happened upon a few with fear as the topic. Specifically, what God says about it. Intrigued, I went treasure hunting. According to my oh-so-in-depth research (a quick google search) there’s one phrase said 365 times in various ways. Wanna know what it is? “Do not be afraid.”

Do. Not. Be. Afraid.

Every single day of the year there’s another Biblical passage of “Don’t be afraid” to help us keep going. I’d love to actually spend time digging into this, and seeing how many times that message comes from the lips of God verses how many times angels say it to someone, because lets be honest, have you seen a drawing of what angels might look like?! They’re terrifying! 

Anyway, it’s profound to think our wonderful, creative God — the King of kings and Lord of lords — has a pretty good idea of how often we finite humans struggle to shrug off, un-invite, de-friend, and say, “Sayonara,” to Fear. I for one have struggled with anxiety and fear for a very long time. Too long. As I type, I can still feel the affects of it in the muscles of my neck and shoulders, in the clench of my jaw. 

This isn’t God’s best for me. 

If you relate, it’s not His best for you either.

 

Just another one of the 365 days …

This morning, standing in a quaint English chapel, worshiping to some awesome African beats, this wise dude I know took up a microphone, and shared a word he felt was from the Lord.     

He spoke of how hard we’ve worked and how often we see nothing in return or very little in return, and referencing Haggai he said because of our obedience, God was going to bless us now. That He (God) is with us and we would see better things in the future. That working from a place of obedience, we would see much fruit from what we work towards. 

Later, as I sat and read through the book of Haggai, these words jumped out to me again, regarding writing and calling. I’m not the only one called to write. All of us here are. This is a word in season for everyone of us. 

If we will but obey our Lord in the adventure He’s set before us, we will see better days …

Haggai 2:4-9 (The Message, emphasis mine)

4-5 “‘So get to work, Zerubbabel!’—God is speaking.
“‘Get to work, Joshua son of Jehozadak—high priest!’
“‘Get to work, all you people!’—God is speaking.
“‘Yes, get to work! For I am with you.’ The God-of-the-Angel-Armies is speaking! ‘Put into action the word I covenanted with you when you left Egypt. I’m living and breathing among you right now. Don’t be timid. Don’t hold back.’
6-7 “This is what God-of-the-Angel-Armies said: ‘Before you know it, I will shake up sky and earth, ocean and fields. And I’ll shake down all the godless nations. They’ll bring bushels of wealth and I will fill this Temple with splendor.’ God-of-the-Angel-Armies says so.
8
    ‘I own the silver,
    I own the gold.’
        Decree of God-of-the-Angel-Armies.
9 “‘This Temple is going to end up far better than it started out, a glorious beginning but an even more glorious finish: a place in which I will hand out wholeness and holiness.’ Decree of God-of-the-Angel-Armies.”

Listen up my fellow authors and writers — it’s time for us to get to work. 

It’s time to be obedient to the call on our lives.  

Four times in the above passage God tells the people to “get to work”. And He follows it up with one of those beautiful 365 phrases of “Don’t be afraid.”

How many years of your writing and creativity are you going to hold captive to fear? Gosh, when I think about the years I’ve let fear have … well, I feel deeply convicted. 

These last three years, especially, my time for writing has diminished. Not completely, but the stuff I loved writing most — dystopian epics, where pandemics and wars ravaged mythical worlds or alternate realities. Zombie apocalypse type stuff, ya know, I didn’t want to write those stories anymore because they were becoming a little too real. Some of it seemed to seep into our world thanks to a world-wide pandemic.

A pandemic that brought in its wake a tremendous amount of fear.

And, I don’t need another friend named Fear, neither do you.

What we as Christian writers do is prophetic, and really it’s not just Christians — I believe the creatives of the world are modern day prophets, whether they know the Lord or not. He can speak through anyone.

While I don’t think everything we write is a direct prophecy of what will be, I do think our words have an impact we don’t fully comprehend. And when you think about the power of prophesy from someone hearing and co-creating with The Creator, well, if I was the enemy of all that, I’d want to do everything in my power to shut that person up. Keep them quiet. 

Last summer, I spent nearly two glorious weeks at a beautiful half-timber cottage on the edge of the Black Forest in Germany. I shared my life story with a friend, and one thing she noticed was how often I felt my “voice” was unheard or shut down. I’d never put two and two together to recognize it’s something I come up against in different seasons throughout my life. When she highlighted this to me, I sensed Holy Spirit saying there was something deeper at play. To take note of this.

And now, nearly a year later, (today) I was doing my writerly due diligence, thanks to an online platform called 750 Words, which helps hold writers accountable for getting at least 750 words written every day — think Morning Pages. Anyway, I was writing mine, and it was like the heavens parted and I finally understood.

I was writing about calling and voice.

And Fear.

Here’s a snippet:

… How often we need to hear that word [do not be afraid], especially when it comes to the callings on our life. [...] And I take this time to focus in on one of the talents He's given me.

My voice, my words.

No wonder I always feel so "attacked" in my voice having a place amongst my peers and leaders. It is part of the call on my life and the Enemy doesn't want to see me using it.

Oof. This is good to know…

 

Just one application for the next 365 days ...

So here’s some application for you, my lovely writer if you’ve managed to read all the way through. Well done by the way, this is practically a novel!

 

    •    What is one area where fear has stopped you from using your words, your voice? 

    •    What is one goal you can set for yourself to step out of that fear — be obedient — and do the work of writing 365 days of the year? 

 

One of the values we have in YWAM (the missions movement I work with) is to “Do first and then teach”. So, if I’m gonna preach all this to you, in an effort to be accountable, open and vulnerable, I’m going to answer these two questions first. 

Then, I encourage you, take that step out of fear with me, and write your answers in the comments below too.

1. Fear has stopped me from writing on a daily basis. Yes, I still write, but not every day. One of the writing giants of our day, Stephen King, says writers should write everyday, and I used to. I built a habit of it and found the days that were hardest to sit down and write, almost always, turned out to be my favourite scenes. So, I want to get back to that. 
   
2. I’ve been doing a free trial of this online writing tool called 750 Words. I’ve had it for about a month and today will be my last free day. I’ve noticed my hunger for doing the work of writing verses living in the romantic dream of “being” a writer is coming back. Simply by doing morning pages on this site. Plus, I heard someone say once we’re more likely to stay at something if it costs us something. I think I’ve heard that from every gym membership anyone has ever tried to sell me. While it’s never worked for the gym coaches (sorry peeps), it's going to work here. I’m going to become a member with 750 Words. I see it as an investment in my future  — those better days Haggai mentions.

 

Welp, that’s me, in a just-under 2k-word-count nutshell. What about you, how are you going to let the 365 phrases of do not fear impact your writing?

Charis Joy Jackson works as a full-time missionary with Youth With A Mission (YWAM), an international Christian missions movement. She’s currently located in a village just north of London, and spends as much time in the great wide outdoors as the rainy weather will allow. In her spare time she spins stories of speculative fiction and captures her crazy dreams in print. Literally. 

You can read her collection of dystopian dreams in her anthology Too Bright: And other stories inspired by The Dreamcatcher's Journal
 

C h a r i s     J o y     J a c k s o n
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My Diary of Wrestling through Writing

 

Finding Joy in the Battle

 

Early April 2023:

Writing has many inspirations. It flows from life's interactions with people and experiences mixed with imagination and soul revelations. Often it is piqued by immersion in places where the grace of creation is as tangible as if you had just plunged into the deep dark, chilling pool of a high mountain stream. You are awakened to the world of pleasure and pain, colours and textures, light and shades, tastes and delights, olfactory joys and testing journeys. Your Spirit alive. Made aware. Paraclete's presence. The Shalom of providential nurture. New season's fruits. A brave knowing. Deep calling to deep. Truth's entrusted. Echoes and the Original Voice. Love that calls for the wild. Abandonment to Passion's perspective. The Greatest thing. Giving of Life.

I mentioned in my previous Christian Writers Downunder Blog post (January 2023) about the challenge of having several close family members who had received devastating cancer diagnoses. I used this reality to help punctuate my post about writers having the opportunity to provide the gift of ‘a different narrative’. 

The messages coming from the medical prognosis of our loved ones was that they were sick, very sick, and were facing significant challenges and were emotionally and physically overwhelming.

As I wrestled with all this, I wrote. In fact, I think I wrestled with all these emotions and thoughts by writing. I present here some of my wrestling for you.

19th April 2023:

Days end is a moment to pause and listen and read the signature messages of omnipresent love. A new day starts. Years are chapters in libraries full of wonder.

 

Early March 2023:

This year’s Shave for a cure was the most personal fundraising and advocacy I have been involved in . I went bald to help raise support for Cancer research. Several of my close family members and friends have experienced their own personal battles with Cancer. This has included my Mum, our daughter and my wife’s sister. It has been a challenging season. That is why I chose to shave my head this year for raising support for a cure for cancer.

 

Sometime this year:

Peace!

Our understanding is simply surpassed by the heaven-sent love actuality that establishes, grounds us, perfects us, empowers us beyond any human potentiality.

 

The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

Philippians 4

 

 

Earlier in March 2023 :

In 2022 our daughter was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. This is a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system, which is part of the body's germ-fighting immune system. In Hodgkin's lymphoma, white blood cells called lymphocytes grow out of control, causing swollen lymph nodes and growths throughout the body.

…….Our daughter has undergone treatment while pregnant which has been a huge challenge. But she is amazing, responding well to treatments, and our little grand daughter was born in November. There is joy in the battle.

We are so thankful that research, treatment, care and prayer have combined for a good healthy future for our daughter.

However, with no screening programs available and no means of prevention through lifestyle changes, blood cancer continues to be Australia's hidden cancer crisis.

Every day, 53 Aussies are diagnosed with blood cancer, and 16 will lose their life.

BTW our Daughter completed her treatments last Thursday 🙂

 

 

 23rd February 2023 (Our Daughter wrote this):

“Today I had my last dose of chemo. I’ve got my next PET scan next month, which (I hope) will confirm that I’m in complete remission!

Life is full of many battles, and for me this was a big one that I know I’ll never forget.

I’m so blessed to have so many wonderful friends and family members who have been praying and caring for me and our little family over the past 7 months. And to all of the health care workers, doctors and nurses who have been going through this journey with me, I thank you for all of your support, care and positivity. You’ve made the situation that much easier to deal with.

Whatever you’re going through, whatever fight you might be fighting, keep fighting it, because coming through the battle field and knowing that you’ve won is a great feeling!”

 

It was a brave, hope-filled, prayer-like, inspiring narrative.

 

Early in February I had written:

One of the powers of Grace is that omnipotence surpasses circumstances. A simple knowing. In the most horrific of battles .....Joy.

The trick is that we simply need to be still enough to see it, hear it, know it and let this knowing spring forth. Like a seed that takes root, grows and flourishes even in what seems to be the most impossible of spaces.

 

In Mid January 2023 our Daughter was losing her hair as a result of her chemo treatment, My Mum had just undergone major and invasive surgery and I was praying, wrestling with all the internal emotions and writing…… :

When the sky displays colours that make you stop in your sandy tracks......

I want to make sure I pause long enough to not just admire the beauty, but breathe in a fresh resolve that my gratitude is constantly superceded by heaven's providential grace. Even when the going is hard, I can exhale praise through sighs, tears, groans and pain. When the frailty of our mortality is challenged, somehow there is always joy. With each sigh there can be a smile, with each smile a laugh, with each laugh a song, with each song a declarative shout that all is well in my soul.

Another breath, another truth, another day, another mercy. There are joys in our battles, we must notice them through the war haze.

Peace beyond reasoning.

 Fix our gaze on heaven's displays of light. In the darkest night we have the glow of our living, the presence of Love, the personification of justice.

Hope clings like a shawl, the warmth of sunset's awe, knowing that the morning brings the sun again to amaze our senses and show a provision beyond our littleness.

 An omniscient eternal potency of Creator's nearness and care.

 

 

In December 2022 

while I was praying for our daughter (and her husband) and their baby and my Mum in the midst of their health challenges I wrote something I would like to share with you. Something that echoes their challenges alongside the beauty of their womanhood and being “Mum":

  My protagonist, Charlotte, is a 45 year old Medical Relief worker (a character I have been developing for several years). She has been taken captive and imprisoned in a stone and tin shed for 9 months. Why? She does not know. But she is desperate to find meaning in her incarceration.

I wrote as I wrestled:

All the disparity of her captivity came upon her like a heavy wave of anxiety. In crescendos it came with a morose dolefulness, a suffocating depression. That sometimes heightened into desperation. On those days she would wake with her pulse already escalated. Her breathing rapid and shallow and sometimes she would be sweating even though the air was often cold, and she would yell and scream, sometimes she would hit the walls. On one occasion she had given in to this angst curled up foetal-like on the floor and then thrashed around like a toddler in torment.

When she had calmed herself through her tears, she tried to remember times of freedom.

The day she remembered was her birthday. The emotion she experienced was elation. It was relief. She remembered her birthday all those years ago as she sat in an aircraft cockpit beside her pilot directing his concern for where they would land. Their payload were the rescued souls of her tribal friends. Hunted. Now refugees. Seeking safety. A new space to live. Redeemed and about to remake their lives in a valley that had been purged of peoples. It lay quiet, secluded, unknown to the outside world. A space of healing and a new start for them. And she realised this was in her favour to. The flat fields of rice below were wet, very wet, sodden. Streams were full. Overflowing. The large columns of dark clouds above were pregnant with flooding offspring.

Her memory moved to years before as she breathed deeply of the smell of the wet season beginning in earnest. She was remembering walking in one of those villages. The village she would help rebuild and repopulate with new families.

 

Children ran up to her and around her. The dirt track was muddied, pot marked and slippery. The children weaved around her, carefully jumped over puddles, and eagerly called her name. Those who dared or were pushed by their jovial friends touched her fair skin. They pretended to walk like her flicking their dark locks of hair to make fun and show attention to her long blonde hair. The smallest of her new friends was pushed into her by one of the more boisterous older girls. The little girl had begun to sob until Charlotte had smiled at her, taken an ink stamp from her bag and stamped the love heart icon on her own hand. As the little one reached out her hand, she stamped her hand too. They then walked hand in hand through the village to the little girl’s hut. What ensued remained a vivid blessing to her senses.

 

The little girl's mother had met her at their hut entrance. She had reached out her hand in greeting. But to Charlotte’s surprise had bypassed the rudimentary western greeting of a handshake and had moved closer and more intimately to place her hand fully on Charlotte's lower abdomen. In her simple English the mother had spoken to Charlotte's umbilical region through her hand.

“Your womb will be blessed !”

The beautiful young mother had then seemed even more so to Charlotte. Aglow in what seemed a prophetic, mystical glow. She was a small lady. Her sinewy form showed tender nurturing softness despite the years of hard work she had accomplished already in her short life. Charlotte reasoned that she was probably her age but had already born several children herself. The mother looked lovingly into Charlotte's eyes and smiled a well-attended pretty joy that spread from her mouth to her cheeks to the creases at the corners of her eyes, from her temples to her ears, and wrinkled her graceful neck and collarbone.

“You are going to be mother to many children.” She said.

The authority she announced this statement with shook Charlotte to her core. She felt something had happened in her innermost being. It was unsettling. Almost amorous. Like she had just been touched internally.  She reasoned back then that it was a simple hormonal flush. It seemed cold and warm all at the same time. It was as if electricity had flowed into her organs. She had released a sigh back then, all those years ago when she was just a 20 something thinking how she would love a child, but one day. Maybe. 

If only she was able.

In my Christian writers post at the beginning of this year I had written :

As writers we have the opportunity to provide the gift of ‘a different narrative’ that blesses others with sustainable and engaging hope-empowerment: One about changing the world. After all, core to our faith existence is ‘good’ news.

 

 

On Good Friday this year I wrote :

Just as children reflect, grow and flourish in the love and life they receive in the nurture of their family. Just like how little Lilliana (our Grand daughter) is loved by her Mummy and Daddy, an astounding testament of poured out, sacrificial love through the battles for health to bring life. I pause today to be grateful for Saviour's love. May my life and living be an abundant testament of this Love. May my living be a shalom of established, radical, justice-bringing, humble, kindnesses. May I be like this little bundle of blessing: simply bringing joy in our lives.

 

I love telling stories of how our community and others are addressing issues, the ways being attempted to fix things, the change being made, and stories about the people being helped and helping others. The truth is, how we tell a story has the ability to either give or take power away from us, our view of reality and therefore, who we become.

 

 

On March 30th 2023 (Our Daughter shared more of her story):

 

“For those who are curious, I got my results back today from my PET Scan, and they confirm that I’m in remission!”

 

As my wife and I sat in the glow of the closing day our daughter's message washed over us like the waves caressing the rocks at the Mooloolaba Spit. 

Our  sunset walk will forever be memorialised not for the beauty of day's end , and not just the end of the battle, but that a joy-filled new season of life is assured

My response :

 "Simply so thankful. And LOVE YOU. and so thankful for and Love you ALL.

All Creation may be groaning, here in you is a JOY and Grace that is Simply an astounding testament of embracing through battles. Standing apart is never alone. Together with each of you as a family. All of us as family. Friendship enlivened to a resurrection hope. A redemption realised. A strength emboldened. Together in a war. We stand together. We would no matter what . The family of dolphins that just rose here in the sunset testify too. Kiss of Heaven. Creator's breath. Healer's touch. Saviour's love. All our love. Thankyou ."

Shalom

 

Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].

Hebrews 11:1

2023 CALEB Awards are Open for Entries

It's time for the 2023 CALEB Awards from Omega Writers. CALEB stands for Christian Authors Lifting Each other’s Books. The CALEB Award:

• Supports excellence in Australasian Christian books by encouraging and educating writers, regardless of genre.
• Encourages excellence in Australasian Christian books by recognising and rewarding our best writers across a range of genres.

The CALEB Award is open for entries until 1 May 2023, so if you’re an unpublished Christian writer from Australia or New Zealand, it’s time to polish your manuscript!

THE CATEGORIES FOR THE 2023 CALEB AWARD ARE:

• Unpublished Adult Fiction
• Unpublished Young Adult Fiction
• Unpublished Adult Nonfiction

Entering CALEB is a TWO STEP process which can be completed in any order. Step 1: Pay your Entry Fee at this Trybooking Page. Step 2: Upload your manuscript material using the online Entry Form. Omega Writers members may use a discount code for their payment. Find the discount code on the members section of the Omega Writers website.

Unpublished entries must be provided as Microsoft Word files (docx).

Each entrant must submit two files:

1. The first 10,000 words of the manuscript followed by a synopsis of up to 1,000 words, saved as one file using the file name: CALEB-Category-Title-File1 (eg. CALEB-Adult Fiction-My Book Title-File1)
2. The complete manuscript of up to 120,000 words, saved as CALEB-Category-TitleFullMS (eg. CALEB-Adult Fiction-My Book Title-FullMS)

Click here to read a copy of the Award rules (including formatting guidelines).

If you have any questions, please comment below, or email Iola Goulton, CALEB Award Coordinator, at  iolagoultonauthor [at] gmail [dot] com.

WHO CAN JUDGE?

Anyone! Well… almost anyone. We’re looking for writers and/or keen readers who can read and judge the first fifty pages of between four and ten entries between 1 May and 18 June. This is a contest for Christian writers, so ask that judges agree with the Omega Writers Statement of Faith. Entries are provided as Word files, so you will need to read on your computer, tablet, smartphone, or Kindle device. All we ask is that you judge each entry fairly, according to the judging criteria. You can judge any category you haven’t entered (so if you enter Adult Fiction, we’d love to have you as a judge for Young Adult Fiction or Nonfiction).

CAN I VOLUNTEER TO JUDGE IF I’M ENTERING THE CALEB AWARDS?

Yes! Judging is a great way of giving back to the Australasian Christian writing community. If you’re entering the Nonfiction award but also read fiction, then we’d love to have you judge Young Adult or Adult Fiction. If you’re entering a fiction category (Adult or Young Adult Fiction), then we’d love to have you judge Nonfiction or the other fiction category. If you’re not entering the CALEB, then we’d love to have you judge whatever category you like!

WHAT DO JUDGES HAVE TO DO?

First-round judges will have approximately two months to judge between three and ten entries in the category and genre of their choice (so if you hate reading young adult romance, we’ll do our best to ensure you don’t get any romance entries. If you can only judge three entries, we’ll send you three. If you can judge more, we’ll send you more). The Unpublished contest is the first 10,000 words of the manuscript, plus a 1,000-word synopsis. Depending on how fast you read, judging should take between 30 and 60 minutes per entry. Those judging the Unpublished contest will be asked to provide written feedback to support their scores, and this feedback will be given to the entrants. Feedback is one of the main reasons to enter an Unpublished contest, so we do ask that judges give fair, considered, and prayerful feedback.

INTERESTED? CLICK HERE TO VOLUNTEER!

Fiction and hindsight

by Claire Bell

I often think about whether spending time writing imaginatively is time well-spent. Is it worth doing? Is it likely to be fruitful?  And to be honest, it’s probably not the writing time that I struggle with so much as the time spent trying to get the book into the hands of readers. I visit this question often: is this what I should be doing with my life? What does it contribute to the kingdom of God?

A tablecloth?!

I was remembering recently the last gift my mother chose for me. No longer able to shop independently, she pored over direct buy catalogues in the lead-up to Christmas. On the day, she was obviously pleased with what she was giving me – a brightly flowered, square vinyl tablecloth with plastic lace edging.

It was impersonal, garish and something I didn’t have a use for as our outdoor table was oblong and we had plenty of covers for it. I think I tried to be appreciative but I recall feeling disappointed. Mum loved giving and was pretty good at choosing apt gifts. This gift seemed pointless.

My outlook has changed. Since that Christmas we learned that Mum has frontotemporal dementia (FTD). If I had known the not-so-distant future that Christmas Day, I would have valued the gift more highly as I understood the challenge Mum experienced in choosing a gift. Hindsight makes us wise after the fact. Fiction can lead to wisdom too, rather more usefully than hindsight and without regret.

Equipping readers for life

It seems ironic that ‘pretend stories’ can equip a person for life in the real world, and, of course, it depends on the kind of stories and the skill of the telling. But it seems to me that unlikely things often turn out to be useful. I like the title of a book by John Dufresne that teaches fiction writing: The lie that tells a truth. Good fiction tells a truth – something honest and valid in the way of human experience. We can only write out of our experience (with some research, perhaps, to ensure accuracy of detail) and, if we are being ourselves as we write, truth will emerge. It might not be factual truth (the talking animals of Narnia aren’t ‘true’ in a way that can be verified by science), or biblical truth (if by that we mean ‘as appearing in the Bible text’), but it will be a truth. When truth meets an open heart, something good happens. Who wouldn't want to be part of that?

Storysight

Not only does the hindsight of understanding Mum’s mental health change the way I see the gift of the tablecloth, but now that we have a square outdoor table, the gift has proven useful; that was something I hadn’t anticipated. Fiction, too, can make an unexpected contribution to a reader’s life. We write, send our stories out and trust that the truth God has invested in us will become wisdom to readers, proving useful to them. Perhaps we could call it 'storysight' - wisdom gained through story. So I encourage myself to value the output of time spent in imagination, wrestling with words and investing in promotion, so that storysight might prove fruitful to a reader.

There are many other reasons to value fiction. In your experience as a reader and a writer, what encourages you the most? Why not jot it in a comment?

Author bio

Claire Bell writes as Claire Belberg, and has published two short YA novels in a genre she calls ‘speculative realism’. She also writes poetry and is currently finalising a collection of poems about the impact of her parents’ dementia (Unravelling: A story of dementia). She has had poems and short stories published in various anthologies, including inScribe, and in the independent Adelaide news service inDaily. She writes an occasional blog called The Character Forge loosely exploring the development of personal character through the act of writing. Claire lives in the Adelaide Hills and loves to watch birds wherever she can find them.

The Value of a Writing Retreat

 

Have you ever been on a writer's retreat? I've been on eight, so there must be something that keeps bringing me back. Is it the time to write? The networking? The input and mentoring? The fun and fellowship? The pool? Well, it's all of those and more.

What is a Writer's Retreat?

A writer's retreat is a time when you can get away from the usual routine of your life, do some writing (surprise!), and gain encouragement from other writers. It can be as simple as a few people popping over to a friend's house for the day, or as grand as jetting off to a French chateau where you'll eat gourmet food and be mentored by a bestselling author. While they vary in content and structure, a retreat tends to have a more relaxed schedule than a conference. There is not as much specific input, and more time for writing and networking.

Why Go to a Writer's Retreat?

People go to writer's retreats with different goals and expectations. Some may lead very busy lives and relish the idea of having some designated time to actually work on their manuscripts. Others might look forward to the networking and friendship opportunities. Some may be 'stuck' or lacking inspiration, and need some advice or encouragement. Others might be seeking direction for their writing or looking forward to the opportunity to replenish their creative wells. And yes, I did go to the beach during one retreat at a friend's house, but I wrote more that week than I have ever written in my life. Really!

Don't Take My Word for It

I asked some writer friends if they could share a few words about what writer's retreats have meant to them. Here are some of their replies.

Adam Collings - The Tasmanian Omega Writer's Retreat at Poatina was a fantastic experience which re-invigorated my writing passion. There was a nice balance of great teaching and quiet time to write. Plus, the opportunity to meet some other local writers. As a massive introvert, meeting people can be challenging for me, but the shared interest in writing was really helpful in this regard. I'll definitely be back for the next one. 

 

Susan Barnes - I find the biggest benefit of going on a retreat is the networking. I don't live near my writing friends, and even when we do catch up, we don't necessarily talk specifically about writing. Going on a retreat provides an opportunity to talk about issues that are unique to writers. I find this so encouraging and inspiring, like I'm not alone on my writing journey and that others understand the struggle to find the time and motivation to write. Plus, I love to hear about the 'God moments' where writers tell stories of God giving them ideas or opportunities. 

 

Tamika Spaulding - I love attending retreats! To me, they are like a home away from home. From the moment I arrive till the moment I leave, I am in a place where I can just enjoy becoming the writing student of God that I long for every day. I love being surrounded by like-minded people and have found some of my closest and dearest friends at retreats. These retreats have also opened up new and unexpected writing opportunities and I have always received continued support in my writing endeavours long after the retreats have come to an end. 

 Come to Our Southeast Queensland Retreat

Are you thinking, 'Wow, those retreats sound great. If only I could go to one'? Well wonder no more, because there's still time to book for our retreat at Camp Somerset organised by the Toowoomba Chapter of Omega Writers. But get in quickly, because registrations close on 21 April 2023.

When?    5-7 May 2023 (from Fri 4.00 pm to Sun 12 noon)

Where?    The Lodge at Camp Somerset, 1180 Stanley Pocket Rd., Crossdale. It's roughly equal distance from both Brisbane and Toowoomba, set in beautiful surroundings. You can find out more about The Lodge and the location here.

What?     Bestselling Christian author Meredith Resce will show us how to bring our writing to life. There will also be a publishing panel with Meredith, publisher Rochelle Stephens from Wombat Books/Rhiza Press, and indie publisher, author and editor Jeanette O'Hagan. We are also offering critique/editing appointments with Meredith, Jeanette and yours truly (Nola Passmore/Nola Lorraine), as well as a limited number of publishing appointments with Rochelle. There will also be plenty of free time for writing, networking, brainstorming, hanging out in the pool or enjoying the beautiful surrounds.

Cost and Booking?  Remember to book no later than 21 April 2023 (sooner if possible). You can find out more information about the retreat, including costs and booking info, by going to the Omega Retreat link. The website is undergoing periodic maintenance at the moment. If you have trouble with that link, try going straight to the Booking Page. If you're still having trouble, try later in the day.

If you're a current financial member of Omega Writers, be sure to log into the Omega site first and then access your discount code from the Members Area.

Even though bookings don't close until 21 April 2023, it would really help us if you could book as soon as possible, as we have a few logistics to work through.

We're Ready to Welcome You

A big shoutout to our chief organiser Adele Jones, and the committee, for pulling this retreat together. Finally, let's hear from some of our Toowoomba team regarding what the retreat has meant to them.

Kirsten - I've always enjoyed the Writer's Retreat. It gives me a chance to retreat from the rush and hurry of life and focus on the beauty of writing with like-minded people and surrounded by some of the most amazing landscapes.

Pamela - The writer's retreat has provided opportunities for encouragement and learning and support. I have been touched by God every single retreat and I've seen his working and his ministry in my life and in the lives of others. 

Mazzy - The Toowoomba Omega Writers Retreat has been a tremendous source of inspiration and encouragement for me each and every time, even the one I attended with a broken wrist! It's great to flee the madding daily rush, commune with other writers ... nature ... God ... eliminate 400 odd occurrences of the word 'just' in an 80 000-word draft. I'm most disappointed I can't make it this year, but don't let that stop you from being blessed at Camp Somerset.

We're sorry Mazzy can't come this time, but the rest of Team Toowoomba will be there to say 'Howdy' and show you a rollicking time. Why not join us?

Do you know of any other upcoming retreats? If so, please add details in the comments. We'd also love to hear of your experiences at writing retreats.

Author Bio

Nola Lorraine has a passion for faith and social justice issues, and loves weaving words that inspire others with courage and hope. Her inspirational historical novel Scattered was published in 2020, and was one of three finalists in the 2021 CALEB Awards. She has also co-edited the Christian charity anthology Glimpses of Light with Jeanette O’Hagan. She has more than 150 short publications, including fiction, poetry, devotions, true stories, magazine articles and academic papers. She and her husband Tim also run a freelance writing and editing business, The Write Flourish. She’d love to connect with you through her website: www.nolalorraine.com.au