The Writing Choice
Author Beth Mende Conny wrote the following powerful words:
"No one is asking, let alone demanding, that you write. The world is not waiting with bated breath for your article or book. Whether or not you get a single word on paper, the sun will rise, the earth will spin, the universe will expand. Writing is forever and always a choice -- your choice."
YOUR CHOICE. That's the good news. YOUR CHOICE. That's also the bad news.
Over the years, I've heard--and refused to listen to--the complaints of many "wannabe" writers. Their list of excuses is endless and tells me they are unwilling to pay the price that consistent writing requires.
The truth is that, bottom line, we do what we really want to do. If we really want to write, we'll make time to write--even if it's for only five minutes a day.
We can tell what we really value by the priority we assign to that activity. If we spend more time watching TV than we do writing, then we value watching TV more than we value writing.
It's OK if we value watching TV more than we value writing. But if we do, let's not call ourselves professional writers. Let's call ourselves hobbyists. Writing as a hobby is great, if that's what we really want to do. But if we believe God has called us to write--and that our writing is more than a hobby--then we need to take our writing seriously. We need to make the choice to write.
So, if you really want to write, JUST DO IT! :-)
And that's my "musing that matters" for today. What's yours? :-)
Blessings,
MaryAnn
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Copyright 2007 by MaryAnn Diorio, Ph.D. All rights reserved. This blog entry may NOT be reproduced, reprinted, or published in any form whatsoever without the written permission of Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. You may, however, forward it to others, but please do so IN ITS ENTIRETY. Thank you for your cooperation.
Comments
Good Morning MaryAnn....
Powerful words from Beth and you to those of us who are called by God to be writers. We should keep them in mind when we let too many things distract us from our goal. Needless to say, our personal time with the Lord is our greatest asset. Without that, our words will have no power. It's so easy to let our "to do" lists take our focus off of God's plans for us. That's why accountability is so important. Thanks for always stressing that too.
Your words to us are an indication that you are living in God's will. May He bless you and all of the writers on your blog.
It goes back again to what do we really believe. If we honestly believe that we are called by God to write, our choice must then be to remove all that distracts and might hinder us. I have found over the years that the more I submit to His Lordship it all flows naturally from my heart. Its more about being in oneness with Him then trying in our own strength. Birds sing. Sheep baa. And we write.
So true, Maryann. It's really all about priorities, and allowing God to establish what needs to be done when. I home school my 2 children, lead a small group at church, lead a writers group, etc. Yet I am still responsible for the gift of writing that the Lord has put in me. I must choose to nurture and grow the gift.
Ah Maryann, your "gentle" diatribe provokes me to confess. Alas,I do not measure up to all the
positive qualities in your essay....by choice.
Looking at myself through the structure of your words I admit that my choice has been a wannabe. In writing I have never done what I really want to do except spasmodically. In the Spring of 2005 I had four articles published in a couple months. I have not written for submision since.
I do not feel the relationship that you, Fran and Sharon have with God.
TV - no! Reading - yes! I read many books on writing.
Action - no. Dreams - yes.
Your essay was a touch of grace for me. When I reached the end I said "WOW." It made me look at me, be aware of me and as my six year old grandaughter Gretchen might ask me; "And that's a good thing, PopPop?"
. I can come from behind the curtain in the Great Hall of Oz, just for me....and that's a good thing, Gretchen.
Thank you MaryAnn.
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Yes, Mary Ann! I've found when people who come to me for advice often stop writing when they find out what it entails. If you are serious about writing, you'll become what I used to think was fanatic.
When I first attended a conference, I thought, wow, these people are fanatics! I liked making up stories, but had not clue about the craft of writing.
Now, I try to learn all I can. I spend time writing as well as reading good stuff. I belong to two writers groups and am about to start a third one. That doesn't count the on line stuff.
I'm a fanatic! HA!
And I find that God blesses my feeble efforts. When I go back and read what I've written, I'm amazed at how much I can get done in the short amount of time I have.
Thanks, Mary Ann, for being so faithful in your blogging. It's one of the places I love to start my writing day.