Greetings!! May is here and we are close to celebrating our 2 year anniversary as a group!! Time flies when you're having fun and writing. Last Sunday was Mother's Day so I pray that all the mothers had a wonderful day of being celebrated for who you are and what you do. When I think of mothers, the one characteristic that stands out to me is the nurturing spirit of mothers. To nurture means to "care for and encourage the growth and development of others." Mothers are the first teachers of their children with the natural ability to pour into them, making sure they have everything they need so they can be the best in life. I can remember my love for books and writing began at a young age when I was given my first set of bible stories, novels, and journal. It was that encouragement at an early age that brought forth a desire to be disciplined in my reading and writing. The same goes for us as writers. To be disciplined means to have a "controlled form of behavior or way of working." Most of us have busy schedules and several obligations that occupy our time. Sometimes we make a choice to exercise discipline in those things we feel like doing as oppose to what needs to be done. The same way we nurture our friendships, jobs, network, and other relationships is the same way we have to nurture the words that God has given us.
One of our most important relationships is a relationship with God and what His Word says. As Christians, we cultivate our relationship with God by disciplining ourselves to spend time in His Word, praying, listening for His instructions, and adhering to those instructions. Those instructions most likely include those books that are stored in us that are ready to be released. I am a visual person so when I pondered on this topic, I was reminded of Kim's book, "Seasons of Intentional Relationships" and she used the garden metaphor to describe relationships. That's how I look at the writing process. Nurturing those words and stories in us is like tending to a garden. Our words (seeds) in us need to be written down (planted in fertile ground) with constant diligence and discipline (watered, with sunlight) so that they can be books and shared with the world (blossomed into beautiful flowers). For the month of May I have been completing Whole Magazine's Scripture Writing Plan and during my quiet time on Friday, I came across Colossians 4:17, which says, "And say to Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it." Most of us in Just Write have identified that we are literary agents with the gift of the scribe. Because we have recognized and received what God has given us, we need to be careful to not neglect the discipline it takes to be fruitful writers. If you're reading this and striving to be more disciplined, check out this: http://www.writersdigest.com/qp7-migration-all-articles/qp7-migration-fiction/10_disciplines_for_fiction_writers. The article targets fiction writers but I think the following 10 disciplines applies to all writers regardless of the genre:1. Motivation- Find something that stimulates your writing vision, whether it's a favorite scripture, quote, favorite author, or a vision board.
2. Momentum-Begin with a daily goal and stick with it. Write a certain amount of words a day and make it a habit.
3. The nifty 350- Starting a writing goal with 350 words a day will motivate you to write more.
4. The furious 500-Extend your writing goal from 350 to a furious 500 words a day.
5. Super Tuesday-Designate Tuesday, or any day of the week you choose, as your day to work on your writing projects. Schedule that day as an appointment.
6. Celebrate-When you meet your goals, celebrate them! Treat yourself to dinner, movie, or light a candle in a cupcake. Whatever you do, rejoice and be happy!
7. A kick in the rear- Find ways to pep yourself up to write. Get back on track.
8. Keep a log- Track how many times you write per week based on your daily goals.
9. Get Healthy- When you care for your body, it increases your productivity and creativity in writing.
10. Retreat and advance- Go on a yearly writing retreat and create a master plan for completing your writing goals. Use that as inspiration to become better with each goal.
Hopefully you find these tips helpful as you complete your projects. As I close, I want to encourage you to not allow the task of writing to kill your desire and discipline. Stay focused and JUST WRITE!!
In His service,
~Lequvia Ousley~
No comments:
Post a Comment