Saturday, June 15, 2019

Living the Writing Dream—Even When You Don’t Know What It Is Anymore


by Emme Gannon @GannonEmme

I’ve learned to never lock myself into an idea. Complacency sets in which can show up like arthritis on a rainy day. 

My southern grandmother could predict when her joints would act up by observing nature. “The cows are layin’ down. It’s gonna’ rain today,” she’d say. Sure enough, those cows were spot on. 

We moderns don’t bother with that sort of thing. We’re too busy checking our cell phones or grinding away on our computers. Of course, we can ask Alexa and she’ll give us a detailed weather report and just about anything else we want to know. 

My car warns me when weather is bad or traffic is slow along my route which, incidentally, it knows on any given day. Reminds me of Hal in 2001 Space Odyssey, a film that gave me nightmares well into my twenties. 

Our computers do have limitations, though. They can’t tell us how to live our dream when we wonder if we still know what it is. We thought we knew, but then life interfered and challenged us at every turn. Until, at last, we agreed to the metamorphosis that God had been planning all along. That reminder—that turning back to the path He’d directed us to long ago.

God, who do you say that I am? That was the question I posed while at Blue Ridge Christian Writer’s Conference a few weeks ago. I needed a reminder. A fresh anointing. His answer came in a unique and individual way. Because that’s the kind of God we serve. Unlike the drone-like voice of Alexa, God speaks our name and leads in ways that are far from text-book ready. 

In my quest, God did notshow me a technicolor vision of tomorrow. Instead, He spoke in the quiet solitude of the mountains. He showed me to let go. To release the constraining fear that keeps one walking in circles on the same path. Frightening at first. But then freedom. And it is only when we give ourselves permission to be free to fail can we be free to create.

As writers, the ever present rejection and harsh critiques can often tear at our self-image and remove us from the path God has designed for us. However, when we take those comments to the Lord who called us to be what we are, they take on new meaning. 

We spend hours of solitary putting words and stories together. When our work is rejected, we hurt. God showed me the importance of asking Him what that rejection triggered in me. What emotions did it evoke? God is always eager to reveal that which we’ve been holding onto that needs His perspective. His healing. His peace. 

We tend to lock ourselves into what worked in the past, instead of always reaching for that to which the Holy Spirit breathes energy. God is very eager to climb into the skin of our life’s story and, with perfect execution, turn it into His story. The story He planned for us before we were created in our mother’s wombs. For the writer, that means our creativity explodes. 

My grandmother taught me that learning often comes from observing. My time in the mountains linked her lesson to the Lord who allows us to see His truth. Always through surrender. Surrender of ourselves, our writing, and, yes, even those dreaded rejections. He works all to reveal the image He has of us and the work He has called us to do.

TWEETABLE

Emme Gannon is a wife, mother, and grandmother who loves to write stories that stir the heart. Her award-winning writing has appeared in Focus on the Family magazine, several anthologies, and numerous newsletters. She just completed her first novel.

13 comments:

  1. What a great article. I'm in a time of questioning whether I should continue to write. I'm waiting for responses from two proposals. Praying for God's guidance as to whether I'm to continue to write.

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    1. Blessings, Jann, as you yield your writing to the Lord. Our writing is so subjective, so don't give up if you receive a rejection from those two proposals. God will give wisdom to a yielded heart. Proverbs 3:5,6.

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  2. Love this post, Emme! It was SO nice meeting you at Blue Ridge and being in the same class. You make excellent points in this post. Thanks for the reminder. God bless!

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    1. Thank you for your kind words, Darlene. It was such a joy meeting you at Blue Ridge, as well as our occasional online chats. We must keep them going. Richest blessings to you in your writing.

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  3. It was wonderful seeing you at the Blue Ridge again, Emme. And yes, I've had the Lord tell me to let go. It is scary. I was over 30,000 words into a novel when in frustration, I cried out to Him. He told me it wasn't my brand and to let it go. Finally I did. What sweet relief and peace!

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    1. I loved seeing you too, Ane. Yes, it is scary when God shows us our way isn't His. How wise you were to listen to His prompting. Blessings as you write His stories, to the joy of your readers.

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  4. What a powerful article, Emme. Surrender to God. Love it!

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    1. Thank you, Ingmar. Your comments always encourage. Such a gift. Blessings to you as you surrender and live out the amazing call God has on your life.

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  5. This quote alone was worth reading your inspiring post, Emme: "It is only when we give ourselves permission to be free to fail can we be free to create." Amen! Blessings to you!

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    1. Thank you for your comments, Dr. Mary Ann. Low self-esteem had robbed me of this truth for so many years. There's such freedom in honoring God with your best and leaving the consequences to Him. Blessings in all you do.

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  6. Ms. Emme, may we always surrender our writing and ourselves to His will for us my friend. Rejection hurts, but sometimes that's what I need to compel me to get better. Almost always, God gives me another project, allowing me to rest, recharge, and grow before the next manuscript He guides. What an encouraging post my friend. It's as though you were writing directly to me today. God's blessings ma'am.

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    1. You are so right, J.D. Rejection does hurt. It's such a comfort to know that the Lord moves us forward and, as you said so well, "we grow before the next manuscript." Isn't it true that as we write, God is also ministering to us. Blessings to you, J.D.

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  7. Attending the Blue Ridge Conference was full of special moments. There's lots to ponder and treasure in this post. Like MaryAnn Diorio, your comment "it is only when we give ourselves permission to be free to fail can we be free to create" spoke volumes to me.

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