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August | CWBC
The topic this month for the Christian Writers Blog Chain is august, that is “Inspiring awe or admiration; majestic.” Such as the supposed august presence of a royal figure. I must confess I’m not much of a fan of the word ‘august’. Look at the word for a moment. Don’t you think it’s an ugly word? ‘Admiration’ is a rather nice-looking word. So is ‘royal’. ‘Majestic’, to me, looks snooty/snobbish and not very approachable. But ‘august’? *~* No. Not a fan.
When I do an image search for ‘august’, however, the ugliness of the word blossoms into a panorama of color and imagery (once you sift through the images about the movie ‘August Rush’ or ‘Black August’).
It’s intriguing how an ugly word can conjure such a wondrous image as an aurora borealis or the historical imagery of Mt. St. Helens’ eruption back in 1980. In a way, it reminds me how we, as writers and believers, create or become something beautiful though our initial beginnings are ugly. It is a daily struggle to grow, but we muddle through while persuading ourselves that all the pain and suffering will be for a good cause a little further down the road. We only need to put on a brave face and plod forward.
Do you remember when your favorite novel consisted only of ugly words on a page, hacked and slashed until you saw more red marks than black? Now look at it! It stands proud and august on your desk, your name emblazoned on the front, unabashed and proud as you ready it for the next step on its journey. Your manuscript is prideful of its meager beginnings! Why? Because the growing pains of that beginning led to admiration from your peers and a stronger character in you yourself.
You are ready for the next challenge, as a writer and as a believer.
So where will you go next, my friend? What ugly word will you conform into loveliness?
Freedom for Thought | CWBC
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The word Freedom means different things to people depending on their history, their community and culture, and their perspective on life and living. It could mean independence from someone or some job or responsibility. Or it could encompass the simple idea of free will to complete your desire, to change the path of your life’s story. There are so many possibilities to the word, and its meaning is so broad that I procrastinated on writing my blog until last evening.
Until my drive home from work.
I ruminated on the reasons why my writing production had fallen so drastically. At first the time to reflect and consider seemed a God-send. But after awhile even that motivation molded into a listless bit of nothing. Oh, I continue to occasionally think about this scene, or that twist, or this possible re-hash of the beginning, but the moment I arrive at home all thought or desire of actually working on my projects has vanished.
So, I began to question why.
Why do I believe I have no special talent or ability for writing? Why do I feel my fiction doesn’t offer much to anyone other than myself or my family? Like many writers, the passion for creating characters and worlds and stories has grown with me from before my memory. Why would I now allow that passion to wane into a torment that would coerce me into giving it up?
While there are many possible reasons – including the possibility of spiritual attack to keep my stories from reaching those eager to hear the Christian message presented in fiction – one rang clear in the forefront of my mind, I had allowed myself too much ‘Freedom’.
Instead of holding myself to a task or a goal on any level, I made the mistake of giving myself the supposed freedom to do whatever my heart desired. With the lack of any clear direction, my mind and inspiration soon grew too overwhelmed with the infinite possibilities to make a decision and a goal and then move forward. So I did nothing, comfortable in the fact that I utilized my long commute to/from work to hash out a clear picture of my romance rewrite.
Yes, it is good that I am using the time for something other than listening to music or letting my mind wander. However, what about the after? When I arrive at work, or at home, am I putting my thoughts into the computer or onto paper? Not like I should. Distractions were allowed to rule my heart and my inspiration.
I have done the one thing writers are to never do, grow complacent.
My time isn’t being spent reading, or writing, or studying… my gift of freedom to myself has been squandered because I did not assign myself goals. So, when I did not experience the enticing euphoria of completion or accomplishment, my mind began to wander to lesser distractions.
Once complacency had a foothold, laziness soon followed.
Though stories and characters and conflicts cried out for resolve and the breath of life, their dismay did not tempt me. Instead, I began to feel even more pity for myself. Woe is me. I have all this time to write and yet I do nothing… wait… what? Why am I feeling sorry for myself when I am the one letting me slip into the mire of idleness? Why am I expecting pity when I am the one allowing NOTHING to happen?
I have the freedom to place my mind on the path of a goal. Or, I have the freedom to set aside my pen for a vacation of refreshing, no strings attached. It is my freedom of will and thought that allows me freedom for thought and creation. But I must always remember to respect the power of a goal on that freedom. Boundaries and goals help guide us, they are not a limiter. If anything, they swing wide the door of motivation because we see an end that welcomes the pride of accomplishment.
Other participants in the ChristianWriters.com Blog-Chain
- 7/1: Lynn Mosher, Heading Home
- 7/3: Brian Jones, Alambraidria
- 7/4: Traci Bonney, Tracings
- 7/5: Debra Ann Elliott, Sticks and Stepping Stones
- 7/6: Carol Peterson, From Carol’s Quill
- 7/7: Cindee Snider Re, Breathe Deeply
- 7/10: Keith Wallis, wordsculptures
- 7/11: Liberty Speidel, Word Wanderings
- 7/12: Terrie Thorpe, Light for the Journey
- 7/13: Nona King, Word Obsession
- 7/14: Chris Vonada, I’m Just Thinkin’
- 7/16: Scott Fields, Dead Man Writing
- 7/18: Michael Galloway, Horizons
- 7/19: Adam Collings, The Collings Zone>
- 7/20: Victor Travison, Lightwalker’s View
- 7/21: Edward Lewis, Sowing the Seeds
- 7/22: Sarah Grace, Write-Minded
- 7/23: Anita Estes, New Life Dialogue
- 7/25: Chris Depew, The Beulah Land Blog
- 7/27: Tracy Krauss, Expression Express
- 7/28: Marilyn, Life 101 Understanding It All
- 7/30: Chris Henderson, TheWriteChris
