Writing is a Gift

by Bruce Brady @BDBrady007

“Writing is an extreme privilege but it’s also a gift. It’s a gift to yourself and it’s a gift of giving a story to someone.” – Amy Tan

Amy’s words reminded me the Lord has blessed me with the privilege and gift of writing. It’s in my blood. I must write. Oh, I can ignore it for a season, but I can’t quit.

And I don’t want to.

You see, I loved creative writing as a child and young man. I read more than most. Constantly created stories in my head and acted out most of them with my friends. Books, movies, and TV were my passions.

But when I attended college, I allowed financial pressures to steer me toward a degree and career in business. I wasn’t walking with God. Personal recognition, a hefty bank account, and expensive things became my focus. I spent the next 30 years chasing those things by making career choices that seemed the best way to achieve my goals. However, I fell short of reaching most of my goals because I was never really happy with any job I had.

During most of those working years, I was saved, but more of a church-goer than a man of faith. I’d forgotten my love for stories, and mostly used my creative talents to make one more sale.

Fortunately, the Lord didn’t give up on me. In 2006, He blessed me with cancer. I say blessed because I was forced to rely solely on Him for healing. I even bragged about Him to my doctors and nurses. I not only relied on Him, I developed a passion for knowing Him as well as anybody could.

In the fall of 2010, my love for Him was rewarded when the Music Minister of my church asked me to write a dramatic script to accompany the annual Christmas Musical. This re-ignited my ardor for creating stories that would touch hearts. The musical was a success and afforded me the opportunity to pen four additional scripts to accompany the Easter and Christmas Musicals for the next two years before a family illness demanded my attention.

It also led me to a wonderful group of writers who met at my church to share knowledge, and critique one another’s writing. Their loving, but honest criticism of my work taught me so much that I expanded my writing interest to include additional media. I went on to have an article published by a major periodical, and a devotion published by a well-read online publication.

At that time, my wife and I were in our eighth year of teaching children’s Sunday school. We love children and want them to know about God before they have too much worldly baggage to overcome. That’s why I decided to write a middle-grade novel.

Amy’s quote ends with the statement that this gift we have is meant to be given to others as stories. Stories that I believe should not only entertain, but also inform, uplift, and offer hope.

These are my reasons for writing. What are yours? Let’s keep the conversation going in the comments.

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Writing is a gift, and we're meant to share it with others - @BDBrady007 (Click to Tweet)

Bruce Brady is an author, writer and playwright. His work has appeared in Focus on the Family’s Thriving Family, www.ChristianDevotions.us, and on stage. Currently, Bruce is working on a Young Adult Novel about a boy who must deal with the death of his dad, being bullied, and helping his mom through her grief. His first five pages took third place in the ACFW South Carolina Chapter’s “First Five Pages” contest.
When he’s not writing, Bruce spends time learning from and helping other writers. He serves as Mentor of Word Weavers International’s Online Chapter, and as a member of Cross ‘N’ Pens, The Writer’s Plot, ACFW’s National and South Carolina Chapters.

“My dream is to entertain my readers and give them hope as they travel the rocky road of life.”