More than Writers

  Cover of book photo taken from Vinod Sebastion/India Picture: Tree Tops, Oxford India Paperbacks I was recently looking into my ancestry, and although I am aware that some of my closest relatives were, and are still today, very creative, it was interesting to see just how many of my ancestors were writers, which makes sense to me why writing has been on my heart since my childhood, so it’s definitely in the blood, so to speak.    I find it amazing to think of them writing all those years ago and I wonder how different it would have all been then to how it is today, with all our modern technology.     Isn’t it funny how certain traits filter their way through to different members of the family.  You feel a special connection to the ones that have similar talents to you, as though somehow they are encouraging you with your gift, that has been passed down through the generations.   One of my ancestors is a man called Jim Corbett, who was born in Nainital, India on 25 July 1875.  He was

What a delight to discover that my scheduled post landed on National Poetry Day! Poetry is a huge passion of mine.   Some of  you might be thinking: 'Well, that’s alright for you!   I've never been into all that sentimental self-expression.”    Well, d on't stop reading quite yet!   You might be a poet, and not yet know it! (sorry, I couldn't resist!) Poetry is a form of artistic expression that uses language to evoke emotion, paint vivid imagery and convey complex ideas.   https://www.poetry.com Something we all aspire to as Christian writers, I think.  Whether we write short stories, or full length novels, articles or blog posts, we definitely want to connect with our readers.  We want our words to resonate.  To help and to heal.  To offer empathy and encouragement.  And maybe even shine a light on what might be thought of as complex ideas - especially spiritual truths. Writing poetry can be an excellent way of practicing all these skills. If you've never had

  A topic I’ve been pondering recently is: when your writing is explicitly Christian, how do you share it with those who are not Christians? Is it an opportunity to witness, or would it be seen as trying to force your faith on others?       Until recently, my main method of sharing has been occasional articles on social media, where I have friends and connections with a variety of different beliefs. I don’t share everything I write, probably only once every few months - pieces I’m particularly proud of or that I think people may find helpful.        Judging by the likes and comments I receive on those posts, it is mainly my Christian friends who engage with them, but of course others may have quietly clicked on the articles and read them. I like that it gives people that opportunity without any pressure to respond. Most of my writing is Bible-based, and I hold to God’s promise in Isaiah 55:11:        It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It wil

  Last month I reflected on motivations that drive our writing . Sometime these goals can seem a bit vague or too far off. As with any destination planning, knowing your route can be helpful. Not least because you can make decisions on how to get there and identify key obstacles to navigate. Writers often need to plan. Novelists may plot the storyline and accommodate any genre guidelines. Short/flash fiction writers may need less preparation but adhere to strict word limits. Poets may experiment with set forms or let the muse loose with free verse, but competitions will have topics or line counts to consider. Sometimes planning means looking a bit further ahead. When a freelance writer, I mostly reported on recent or due local events, writing about what was happening around me. When I speculatively contacted a Christian newspaper to ask if I could submit some articles, the editor offered a commission for a thirteen-week column. However, they also asked for an outline of the article