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Writer's Encouragement Back to Writers Page Dear Lord, I'm sitting here with fingers poised over keys, waiting. Waiting to hear from You. Waiting for inspiration to strike. Then I remember that the word inspiration means to have life and breath and spirit breathed into me, into the works of my imagination. Your life, Your breath, Your Holy Spirit. Please give me wisdom, Lord, as I let myself create. Guide my thoughts. Give me the clear, intelligent, creative mind of Christ as I attempt to bring to life this little story and prepare this proposal. Give me wisdom as I research and find just the right publishers who might consider such a book. It would thrill my heart to see it in print on shiny cardboard sheets tough enough for a two-year old to drag it from cereal bowl to potty chair to bed day after day. The truth is, Lord, it would thrill me to see any of my children's manuscripts in print. But I'm at peace with the reality that such a thing is totally in Your capable hands. I work hard to craft the best manuscripts I can. I make every effort to polish them and present them as professionally as I can. I research publishing houses and try to find the exact few who might fit a particular book. But, I know without doubt that they are Your manuscripts and You are in charge of their destinies. I'm asking You to put them on the right desks before the right sets of eyes on the right days. Do with them what You will, Lord. What You have planned. What will bring You honor and glory. And give me the continued peace to wait. Yours forever, Jean Touching the Clouds When our grandsons were little I enjoyed sharing our creaky old porch swing with them. "Higher, MeMe!" Mikey often shouted. "I want to touch the clouds!" "Can you? Can you touch that cloud right over there?" I would ask him as I pointed to some marshmallow in the blue above. "I trying, MeMe." His three-year-old fingers would stretch upward while his other hand held on tight to my arm. Of course we never actually touched any clouds. But it sure was fun trying. And the higher we went the more we enjoyed the cool morning breeze on our faces. Sometimes I do the same thing in my life, especially in my writing. "Higher, God," my heart shouts. "I want to go higher. I want to touch the clouds with You, Lord." I catch myself wondering why I get involved in writing projects. Why do I stretch myself and strain to attain publication? Why can't I be content to just hover over my little family & meet their needs? Why can't I be satisfied with writing my thoughts in my private journal? Why do I want to touch the clouds? Is it that seed of creativity God planted in my heart before I was born? Is it some innate unrest I have? Is it pride? Or, is it God's Holy Spirit urging me upward into the clouds? I don't really know for sure. I want to be satisfied with home & family & friends. But I also want a much wider circle of influence. I want to impact as many people as I humanly can for Christ in my lifetime. Writing is one way that I can do that. It's one way I can reach for the clouds. Even if I don't touch them, it's fun trying. And that cool breeze on my face is worth the extra effort it takes. Meet The Mudskippers The Mudskippers are the people who contribute to my writing month after month after month. They are my critique group. We all share a love for children's literature and for writing. And we are all committed to helping each other become the best writers we can be. But, why the name Mudskippers you ask? One of our members submitted a manuscript featuring these determined little creatures of the sea. Mudskippers are fish that "walk" using their fins like feet. They are unique in the fishy world. Mudskippers spend much of their time out of water - out of their natural element. They display stubborn determination to get where they are going, and they stand out from all the other fish in the sea. We immediately saw the parallel between us as writers and those strange little fish. So, we adopted the name and the attitudes. Together we work on our craft, share what we learn about the publishing business, celebrate when someone has a success, and encourage each other when we feel discouraged. If you're not part of a critique group you're going to find the writing life to be a lonely one. Find a group, or start one. They'll not only help you achieve your writing goals, they'll make it a lot more fun. Mudskipper's pictures A Writer's Paraphrase of Luke 9:10-20 And when the writers returned from their writer's conference, they told the Lord all of the great things they learned and the famous people they had met. Then Jesus called them aside privately into a dry, deserted place. And when the readers knew that the Lord and the writers were getting ready for a new release, they sought them out and sent them emails and letters, interrupting the writers as they hacked away on their computers. But Jesus stopped and received all of the readers. He taught them about the Kingdom of God and brought them healing words to those in need. When the writers grew tired of trying to work on their new manuscripts they came to Jesus and said to Him, "Lord, send these readers away that they may go some other place to have their needs met. We are tired, and we are struggling to meet our deadlines." But Jesus said, "You meet their needs. You minister to them." And the writers said, "We have only a few weeks to meet our deadlines. Our computers are old and slow. We have research to do and queries to write. There are just too many interruptions!" Then the Master Writer said, "Divide your tasks into projects by priorities. Sit down, be still, and listen to Me." And the writers did as the Lord instructed them. Then Jesus took the book proposals, magazine articles, and manuscripts. He lifted them to Heaven and to The Father. Jesus blessed them and broke them until they were manageable, useful, and profitable for both the writers and the readers. He gave them back to the writers to share with their readers. Then all of them learned together and were satisfied. After their manuscripts were published the writers gathered up all of the bits of research that were left over, and there was an abundant supply for each writer to use in other projects. And it happened afterwards, as Jesus was enjoying time alone with His Father, that the writers came to His quiet place and interrupted Him. And Jesus asked them, "Now, tell me, who do your readers say that I am?" Several writers spoke up, "Some say You are a weird looking radical, some say you are a prophet and an evangelist, others say that You are a reincarnation of a dead master from the past." Then Jesus stared each of the writers in the eyes and asked each one, "But now that you have seen the miracles; now that you have walked and talked with Me, and experienced My power; now that you have spent time alone with Me, who do YOU say that I am?" All of the writers fell silent except for one, who was perhaps bolder or more willing to take a risk than the others. He spoke up and said, "Now I KNOW that You are the Christ of God, the Promised One." Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.