Walking Through the Writing Door

Edie here. Today,

I'm excited to introduce you to an amazing young woman. Paige Snedeker is an author, illustrator and speaker. She does all of this in spite of the fact that she suffers from a rare neuromuscular disorder called Riboflavin Transporter Deficiency (RTD) Type 2, which has caused her to be deaf, legally blind, confined to a wheelchair and dependent on breathing assistance. 

I've known Paige for several years and I'm proud to call her my friend. This month her foundation is raising money and awareness for RTD. When I found out, I insisted she come on as a guest. I know you'll be blessed by her post and hope you'll give her a warm TWC welcome. Be sure to visit her website and find out how you can help cure RTD.

Walking Through the Writing Door
by Paige Snedeker @paige_project 

“...for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”

1 Corinthians 16:9 ESV

I had a strange dream that took me back to my childhood home. That single dream itself change my life forever. I appeared in the dream as an invisible ghost, witnessing everything with my own eyes. 

A young woman, dressed in a wedding gown, stood at the front door. She peered inside as if she was waiting for someone. Her arms, covered in delicate lace, held something dear to her. 

A book with an image of a flower on the cover. 

I never felt the calling to write and yet I had to get recreate the book I saw in her arms. After I wrote a children’s book titledSofia and Her Morningstar inspired by my dream, I illustrated and published my work in 2013. Sofia the flower stared as the main character. 

Most of my life through my high school years, my heart was set on becoming a detective. After graduation, I would go to college to achieve my dream. However, God had a different plan in mind. 

Sitting in the midst of rebellion, I didn’t want to be called by the Lord to do His purpose. Despite myplans, God guided me onto the path that would ultimately soften my heart and change the course of my life forever. 

In my college pursuit, doors began to shut. It simply wasn’t working out. It was during that time that I felt a tug at my conscience as if someone was trying to catch my attention. Still, I ignored the tugging sensation. 

I did not want to write. Sofia and Her Morningstarwas it. I did not have the passion for writing. I was too dumb and helpless to be a writer... or so I thought. 

In my mind I kept hearing a whisper.

Write.

But...writing another book would be too difficult to accomplish; too much responsibility on my shoulders. 

Write, the voice came again.

I lashed back to the voice who was calling me to write. No! What good is writing anyway?

Write, the voice said loud and clear. You will impact many lives. 

I grew tired of resisting. The work that God called me to do became increasingly difficult to disregard. God continually opened doors of opportunity to write. Finally, I stepped through the door in faith and followed the path into my writing journey. 

My world flipped upside down. 

Despair overcame me every time I tried to write. I could not make anything perfect and even if I could write eloquently, I didn’t want the world to recognize me. Since my disorder had crippled my body, shame was an ever present friend. I wanted people to look at the Creator. (Read more about my disorder below.)

Putting my work out for others to see was hard. I felt vulnerable, especially due to my deafness. My English skills needed some practice. 

In hopes of improving my writing skills, I decided to attend a writer’s conference. It felt as though my fried brain could spill out of my ears at any moment. 

The knowledge that I obtained reignited my passion for writing with a blazing fire.  I came home, inspired by the people I met and all the new information I had learned.

Attending this conference encouraged me to write with confidence. 

Since then, I have published my second children’s book and worked on many other projects such as starting my very own blog. I have experienced something with the Lord that I would not have experienced if I chose another path. I felt a sense of peace and purpose by following His calling. My work here on earth is not done. I knowthere is more for me to tell. 

Reader, I challenge you... 

If God has called you to write, then, do it! Write straight from your heart. If God has called you to do something else, do it! No matter what He has called you to do, following His plan for you is the best place you can be. Don’t expect perfection of yourself—God doesn’t call us to be perfect, anyway. Writing can be a stressful task BUT it if you stick with it, your relationship with the One True God will strengthen and you will learn more about yourself than you ever thought possible.

In the comments below, tell me why you decided to start writing and what motivates you to keep going! 

TWEETABLES

Walking through the #writing door - Paige Snedeker, @paige_project on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Inspiration to follow your #writing dreams from author Paige Sneaker, @Paige_Project on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Paige Snedeker has written and illustrated two children’s books, Sofia and Her Morningstar and Camo’s Journey as well as illustrated I Love You the Mostest. Paige is the founder of a non-profit, The Paige Project and has a rare neuromuscular disorder called Riboflavin Transporter Deficiency (RTD) Type 2, which has caused her to be deaf, legally blind, confined to a wheelchair and dependent on breathing assistance. For more information, visit www.thepaigeproject.org.