Novel Struggles

Carnival of Christian Writers Today -- Good Stuff to Read!

Today is the Carnival of Christian Writers, and I'm honored to be included. Click here for some inspiring and helpful words from working Christian writers.

A Fluid Start

The alarm went off and at first I couldn't figure out what that noise was. Then I remembered. Then I remembered I had set it to get a head start on my novel, because the first thing I do in the morning is usually the only thing I can be sure will get done during the day.

But I am allowed coffee, so I padded into the kitchen in my sock-feet and got an extra surprise when my feet got wet. Water on the floor is never a good thing. Either the refrigerator or dishwasher has broken, or maybe just some plumbing somewhere. Water everywhere.

And I had the first line for my novel: They call me Noah.

Not the novel I want to write, though.

My first thought was, DANGER! DEFEAT! YOU'LL NEVER WRITE YOUR NOVEL! THERE'S WATER ON THE KITCHEN FLOOR. OH NOES! And as I was mopping it up I thought, "This book I'm going to write must be really good because look at the trouble the Forces of Evil have gone to to stop me."

Then I wiped up some more and thought, "Maybe God knows what a shambles I'm going to make of this so He flooded the place to keep me from wasting my time."

Then I thought, "Maybe you just have a leak under the sink. Wipe it up and get writing!"

Sometimes a leak is just a leak.

So, I was slightly delayed to my first writing appointment but the detour gave me more inspiration and I ended up writing more than I planned, more than I expected and enjoyed it more than I feared. I want to find out what happens next.

A great start, though I may throw away every word. And I left myself notes for tomorrow.

Faith and Fiction

I believe that writing is an act of faith. And I believe that God uses non-believers as well as believers to tell the stories he wants told.

Sorry I can't quote line and verse, but it's something like this: "If we were silent, even the rocks themselves  would shout out."

We aren't silent. And as writers, we are trying desperately to shout out. Some of us are open to be used by God (knowingly or unknowingly) and some of us are not. I think I've been both.

Temperament and this faith are why I'm a Pantser. But it's certainly a difficult path. I think that I'm like Peter. I step out of the boat to walk to Jesus on the water, and suddenly realize what I've done and I sink.

Have you ever been waterskiing and have the boat stop? That's what it feels like. One minute you're skimming the water; the next you are sinking. It's creepy. I've certainly been there in life and in my writing. I step out -- and, overcome by my own fear, I sink.

Several years ago I taught two Sunday school courses that were about faith and fiction. The series is called Listening for God. (This is not an ad or something I will be paid anything for -- I'm just passing along a good thing.) I loved reading the short stories, then watching the author (if living) discuss the work and the writing process. You can hear God in these stories, yet the author didn't even know it was happening. That's just about the most exciting thing I've ever heard.

I pray that God will use me in my writing and in my life. This time, I'll try not to run away.