A while ago I wrote the post you are about to read. I was hesitant to post it, but I find that it fits in very well with what Mirriam had to say. This is a call to writers who want to write real, authentic stories that may not be "Christian", but are written deeply and from the heart. This post is also from my heart. It's very honest and open, which is why I was hesitant to post it—but if there's anything I want this blog to be, I want it to be real. So this is my soap box, if you will.
—
One night as I was laying in bed, I had a sudden burst of excitement as I thought about all the fellow young writers I know. Writers who love Jesus, who have a passion for the written word and want to change the world with it.And then I realized, that is exactly what we're going to do. We're going to change how people think, but subtly. We will hand out sheafs of paper with a gentle disclaimer: "This is the world the way I see it."
And that's why I'm so excited. Every person I've connected with through the internet, every person who reads this blog... everyone has a story. They have a mind. They have a heart. And this, the pursuit of the written word, is part of their story. The words bottled up in your brain are nothing short of genius.
Words are important. Words have power. Words are beautiful. Words are dark. Words can be anything you want them to be and more. As soon as they are out of our hands they sprout wings and plunge into someone else's mind, exploding with colors and ideas and thoughts and curiosity. Plumes of red, green, yellow, light blue. Your words may mean something totally different to another person.
And that is both the joy and the curse of writing.
Words matter. You matter. You have a story inside of you and it needs to be told. I swear to you, someone in this world needs your words. They need the words trapped deep inside your soul.
The world needs you, my dear.
The world is calling.
Will you answer them?
So come on. Grab your sword (or your pen, whichever you prefer). I've just got this picture in my mind of all of us on a hill, geared up for battle, and then charging down while screaming at the top of our lungs. (Though our writing isn't so much aggressive as it is passionate. That is what I picture.)
This is our battle cry. This is our calling, my friends. To write of love and peace and justice. To write of hurt and bitterness and pain. To write that there is always hope, even when it is darkest.
This is our legacy.
Are you with me?
“The ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”
— Steve Jobs
“Your life is an occasion. Rise to it.”
— Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
10 comments
I LOVED this (and not just because it was so very flattering to myself). I loved what you had to say afterwards, I may even print it out and put it in my folder of articles from blogs that I love. YOU'RE AWESOME.
ReplyDeleteOh, wonderful! Words do have power, and can change so many lives. I always feel it is important to tell whatever story lies within your heart, no matter what others think of the idea. More often than not, stories from the heart are the best that can be told, and they *will* change the lives of others!
ReplyDeletewww.notebookfromtheheart.blogspot.com
Indeed! Telling the stories that live in your heart -- I like that, and it's so true. Especially the part about stories from the heart changing the lives of others. That's some really great writing advice, and I completely agree. Thanks for sharing!
DeleteI think I can say that I am a Chrsitian writer - and though my story may be set in another place, with different Gods, the values are those I learned from Christianity (in all the forms I've experienced it).
ReplyDeleteI'll join your battle charge - You'll find me in the back, ready to bandage the wounded so they can grain hope and start all over again. That's where I like to be, smiling at watching those I encourage take flight (or fight) he he. :}
Ah, that last paragraph made me smile. ♥ That's also where I like to be... and what you said was very inspiring. Thank you for sharing those thoughts!
DeleteYes, exactly -- reading a weak story is extremely irritating. In order to truly reach the world, the stories have to be good. That's the first step in writing life-changing fiction, I think.
DeleteOh, I love this! I'm with you. And like Keaghan said, can I join your battle-charge? ;)
ReplyDeleteThis was fantastic and encouraged me greatly! You've gotten me wanting to charge down that hill with you, pen in hand of course, and make words that change the world.
ReplyDeleteWords are SO powerful, as you said. I've always had a passion to write stories of encouraging, truth, love--all those things God puts in our hearts. This post only made that passion stronger.
Your words right here, right now, were very powerful themselves.
Thank you for your encouraging words! ^_^
*grabs sword, trips over it, and ends up tangled in her cape*
ReplyDeleteGah! I knew I should have ordered a Small, curse it! I'll catch you up in a moment ... blast it, where did I leave my dragon?
As for Christian writers, I agree - I'm a very liberal Christian, I must say, and thus I say that any sort of faith is fine by me. And you are right - it's a passion, it's a commitment, and it's all the more fun when we do it together!
Now ... can someone help me up? I can't remember which leg is which...
I kinda loved this post. :3
ReplyDeleteI'm a Christian Science-Fiction writer. Many people have said that my stories sometimes do not entirely have Christian themes in every single word.
But the fact is, atheists and other such people are going to read our stories and if they see that it's all about one subject they hate, they'll run.
So that's why I use different Characters, X-Creatures, Aliens, things that they like. But not only do they love them, I love them as well!
Writing is my life. :) I've loved every second of it ever since I was little. And it is a very powerful thing, and it CAN change someone's life.
I do sometimes put scriptures that go with the chapter's theme inside my story, Virtus Fabula, so they are still getting a biblical message. Although I do have God and his Angels as part of the characters. ;)
I think it's time Christians stop changing the way they think and write to fit in with the rest of the world, though. We need to say, "This is who I am, this is what I write, this is who I believe in, so accept it."
Again, lovely post! ^_^
God Bless,
Sarah Demens