I Want to Hug Francine Rivers

Fact: Most of the time I struggle to write.

I started writing fairly late in life by most people’s standards (it was the year I turned 50) and because of that I always felt I had a lot of catching up to do. Because I had loads of ideas in my head - characters, conversations and conflict galore - I thought this writing thing would be a snack.

At first it was. Writing the first draft for A Simple Mistake was fantastic, the gift that kept on giving! It just flowed and flowed. The second one? Let’s not go there. And this third one isn't exactly racing along either although it’s getting a little easier as I get into it. 

I went to the Romance Writers of New Zealand conference back in August where I heard from two highly successful authors. One writes a 100,000 word novel every six months. The other writes FOUR that size a year and has three series on the go. Apparently, that’s the key to success. Writing fabulous novels very fast. I think my jaw is still on the floor of Waipuna Lodge where the conference was held.

So why haven’t the floodgates opened if I've got so many ideas? Some of the answers are obvious:

1.      I dream too much.

2.      I plot too much.

3.      I go off on tangents while researching.

4.      I get distracted by social media.

Those are easy to deal with in comparison to my bigger problem, one I’m sure many writers suffer from. 

Fear.

Fear that my ideas won’t look as good on the page as they appear in my head; that I’ll be the only one who loves my characters; that my sense of humour won’t translate well. Fear my dialogue won’t be as good this time around. Fear of writers’ block. Fear I’ll never finish the next book because of … well, fear!

I’ve been a Christian a looooong time. I know which scriptures to confess. I know how to pray. I know I can refer back to emails and Facebook messages and phone a friend when I need reassurance.

I got it in truck loads one morning when I read a link posted by Charis Joy Jackson on Facebook. (Consider yourself hugged too, Charis J)

If you would like to read the whole thing, here it is:
http://francinerivers.com/blog/creative-minds-are-seldom-tidy

These two quotes from Francine were a balm to my soul.

·          ‘The past two projects are showing me that writing does not get easier.  Not that I ever had any illusions that it would.  I just didn’t expect it to become more and more difficult.’ 

·          ‘During limbo times, the niggling fears come whispering.  Whatever gave you the idea you could be a writer?’ 

What? Francine Rivers has self-doubt?

Once my initial shock had morphed into a perverse delight (I mean that in the nicest possible way) I took a deep breath and made some decisions.

1.       I will do whatever it takes to become as good a writer as I can be. Hopefully that includes becoming faster.

2.      I will continue to write what I believe God is nudging me to write. (Oh, how I love those nudges!)

3.      I will not let fear cripple me.

4.      I will stop punishing myself and make it a habit to give my writing worries to God. (I John 4:18a – ‘There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.’)

So there it is; a confession straight from the heart.  I know I’m not alone - God knows when I need encouragement, like in Francine's blog post. And not only is He with me, but so are you, my fellow readers and writers. I take great comfort in that. 

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll get back to my manuscript …

About Andrea Grigg

Andrea writes contemporary romance. Her second novel Too Pretty was released on August 1 by Rhiza Press. Her first book A Simple Mistake was a finalist in the CALEB Awards 2012

Andrea would love to hear from you via her website or Facebook page:
http://www.andreagrigg.com/
https://www.facebook.com/author.andreagrigg

When the writing 'Bug' doesn't bite

By Ray Hawkins

Ray Hawkins with latest book

My Writing Proceedure: Do I write as the ‘Bug’ bites?

No! - Well maybe ‘yes! – if the ‘Big’ bites.

Trouble is most of the ‘biting Bugs’ for this writer, at least, are toothless, fickle or squashed.

So, how do I write?

Being a minister for over forty years I’ve preached nearly every Sunday and sometimes twice on that day. Add to that Bible studies, youth, women and men’s talks I needed more than ‘Bugs’ to bite. It ultimately came to discipline and appreciating my people. Having a great resource book, the Bible, plus knowing a little about life and the joys and sorrows of my people gave me a framework. Sometimes issues arose from the community or world scene which stirred me to support, defend or oppose. However it all came back to the discipline of forming the material to be presented.

When the time came to be serious about writing Devotional material I had to approach it in a similar manner. There were word length requirements when I submitted to Upper Room Magazine. They really gave me my first real opportunity outside my denominational paper. When multi-published Debra White-Smith accepted some of my prose and poetry for two of her books on marital relationships I had to learn other arts of discipline. It is called pruning the excess and selecting the most striking way to say what I wanted said.

Out of all this grew a desire to let others into my convictions about the Lord Jesus, His Word and its transforming grace and power. Being a procrastinator I needed more that a desire. I needed the motivational incentive of my wife. Because she is a multi-published novelist and I went with her to various conferences, I met certain publishers. Enter Rochelle Manners of Wombat/Even Before Publishing books (now Rhiza). This lovely enterprising young woman was willing to give me a chance to publish some themed 31 Day Devotionals I’d put together.

What did I first present to her? ‘Children, God’s special interest’ and ‘From Eden with Love’ The latter is about what I discerned in the Scriptures about God’s heart for married couples. The debates about so called ‘marriage equality’, seeing marital breakdowns and the ignorance about God’s purpose re marriage fired me up to write. (Was this a ‘bug’ or a ‘whip’?) The one on Children stems from the joy I’ve had as a parent and grandparent combined with stories of child abuse.

The discipline I needed to write these and other devotionals was to plough through the concordance on all the relevant information it offered. Then it was ‘sifting, sorting, selecting and shaping it, plus seeding it’ with my own insights and experiences. It goes without too much saying that all this had associations with editing, cutting, pasting, tears and sometimes whoops of joy. Then comes the hopes, the fears and the waiting after it is sent to the publisher.

I’ve had the privilege of having four other devotional books printed. Each one encompasses some aspect of my conviction about God’s Word and life and faith. You can check them out on my blogsite. http://rayhawkinsauthor.blogspot.com.au

Would I write my heart even if no one wanted to publish what was written? Yes! For the following reasons:
i) It is good discipline for my soul as I research, especially the Scriptures.
ii) When I’m long gone to glory someone might read them and be helped.
iii) Then again there is the world of ‘the web’ which I believe Christians should make better use of in sharing their faith and convictions.

I will share some challenges Devotional writers face when next I have the opportunity to put words onto your computer through the grace of ACW. Ray (wanting the ‘bugs’ to bite) Hawkins.