Advice to Writers

Going through a writing course with an awesome teenager I know we were working on the first lesson and I paused the video to give her a piece of hard earned advice. A piece of advice I've heard from many writers and I'll pass on to other writers now.

There is only one unbreakable rule in writing. Do you know what it is?







Every rule is breakable! Every one! Maybe you'll have a character who doesn't use perfect grammar all the time. Maybe you'll have a character who uses big words that have your readers constantly running to the dictionary. Maybe you're going to write something that no one has ever even thought of before and you're going to create a whole new genre of books. Great! Go for it! Have fun!

Oh and just for the record, have fun, isn't a rule either, because there are times that writing isn't fun, it's difficult, but don't give up, it's worth it to see the finished product once you finally finish.

So kick up your heels and dance a little jig, or if you're as clumsy as me have one of your characters do it, because you've just been set free. There are no absolutes, no matter what anyone tells you. You're the author, and it's up to you what happens in your story.

Does He Understand?

Have you ever been going through something in your life and cried out to God? Wondering why He doesn't seem to answer, and wondering if He can understand? How could God, who created the earth, the universe, understand what one mere human, even His child whom He loves, is going through? It doesn't seem possible does it? But it is.

Jesus Christ came in human form, the bible says that he experienced every temptation that is common to man. Everything we've been through Christ has been there with us. When I was ten my granddad passed away and although I don't remember a lot about him or his funeral I remember the poem that was read at his funeral. It's one that I've fallen back on a lot in my life.

It's called "Footprints in The Sand" by Mary Stevenson and if you've never read it I encourage you to look it up. Here's the gist of it though.

It talks about walking on the beach with the Lord as scenes from the author's life flash before her and for each scene there's a set of footprints in the sand but she notices that during the lowest times of her life there's only one set of footprints and she begins to wonder why when she needed Him most the Lord would abandon her. So she asks Him and the Lord tells her, when you see only one set of footprints it was then that I carried you.

How many times have you been going through something and wondered why God wasn't with you? How many times have you felt alone? But He hadn't abandoned you my friend, He was carrying you and He still is, walking beside you, holding your hand and carrying you when you are too weak to walk on your own.

Now to bring this back full circle I've wondered at times in my life how Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God, could ever feel distant from God. How could he understand that feeling of isolation that I struggle with when my life gets too difficult?

If there's anyone who would understand this it's Jesus. The man who gave up all of heaven's glory to come live the life of a servant, he was mocked by his family, despised by the religious leaders of his day, dismissed by his hometown, betrayed by his best friend, abandoned by another best friend, Peter, who swore he would never reject him, and was doubted by those who had followed him faithfully for years. Yet he still chose death on the cross, separation from God as he took on the sin of the world, so that we could be free and we could live in eternity with our Creator and our Savior. 

Don't doubt that Jesus understands what you're going through my friend, wonder if you can understand what He went through for you. 

The Pure Heart of a Young Girl

Some dear friends of mine homeschool their children, and it's my honor and privilege to help them out in a few small ways. And every now and then one of the kids will ask if they can show me an assignment. The other day their mom had them write letters to their favorite companies to tell them how much they appreciated their products as a way to teach them about letter writing in their English class.

So I got there one day and the twelve year old asked if she could show me the letter she'd written to her favorite company who makes the dance clothes she loves so much, and what I read melted my heart.

This girl could've written about anything, she could've just said "I like the clothes you make" and left it at that. She didn't. She wrote about how much she loves dance, in fact yesterday was her first day of dance class for this school year but then she shared her dream with them. Izza's dream is to first become a dance instructor, then to become a physical therapist so that she can accomplish her goal to give dance lessons to kids with disabilities. Disabilities like Downs Syndrome like her baby sister has.

Twelve years old and this girl has already figured out how to use her love for dance and turn it into something that will bless others. She has a pure heart and in Matthew 5:6 Jesus said "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."

Cherish those around you that do have pure hearts, encourage their dreams and never forget to pray for them.

The Gift of Godly Parents

You know friends as a kid I can remember going to find birthday presents for my friend and my brothers and sister, I had so much fun with it! But as an adult I don't do this as often anymore. If I come across something for one of them near their birthday but now I pretty much only give my family gifts for Christmas but that doesn't that birthday's aren't important. It's a way for the people you love to celebrate you and one of my favorite ways to do this is to write tributes to people close to me. Typically that's not something I would post on this blog but the tribute I want to write today is a very special kind. A tribute to my parents.

My parent's birthday's are just a couple of weeks apart, Dad's first, then Mom's, so I'm choosing to write this between the two so it's for both of them.

God gives us each different gifts in our lives. Some are given the gift of a beautiful voice they can use to praise Him, some the gift of writing to bring glory to His name, some the gift of speaking to teach others about Him but one of the best gifts He's ever given me is the gift of my godly parents. Parents who raised me to love the Lord, to follow Him, to serve Him with all my heart, soul, mind and strength.

Dad and Mom taught me about faith, about trusting God even when you felt like you were walking off a cliff and there was no bridge visible. They made an effort to raise me in church so that I would be around people who loved the Lord and would set an example for me to follow in their footsteps. And my own parents set that example for me too, showing me how to step out in faith, how to follow the Lord, to study His word and how to listen for that still, small voice that is the Holy Spirit showing me the way.

Mom, you showed me so many things about faith, and life, I can't say thank you for all of them but thank you for teaching me to call out to God in my distress. That no matter what storms are  in my life or how hopeless and alone I feel that He is still with me, walking beside me, and carrying me when I can't walk on my own.

Dad, how can I begin to list all that you've taught me? Thank you for all the late night talks, the lengthy conversations, the patient explanations as you explained one spiritual concept after another to me, as you answered my questions and helped me learn not just about my faith but about why I believe what I believe.

Guys, I can never say thank you enough for everything you've taught me, and modeled for me. All I can say is thank you God, for the godly parents you gave me, who love you, who follow you and who have taught me to do the same.

Love you Mom and Dad! And Happy Birthday!