More than Writers

  Being a Christian writer comes with unique challenges. One of the most difficult things can be facing those who look down on you because of your faith or the perspective you bring to your work. Whether it’s criticism from peers, dismissive comments online, or scepticism from the publishing world, it can be tough not to take it personally. However, responding with maturity and grace not only reflects your values but can also influence others more powerfully than any argument. 1. Stay Rooted in Your Identity Remember that your worth is not determined by others' opinions. Your identity lies in Christ, not in the approval of readers, critics, or colleagues. When negative remarks come your way, pause and remind yourself of your purpose as a writer and who you ultimately serve. 2. Respond, Don’t React When you encounter disrespectful comments or condescension, it’s natural to feel upset. However, knee-jerk reactions rarely resolve anything. Take a deep breath before answering (if you c...

It’s a strange expression , if you slow to a stop and think through the words, ‘took my breath away’ it seems to have two meanings; something utterly shocking or beautiful that causes you to gasp – to breathe in, or to suddenly exhale.  Does anyone travel through life without having a few such moments? It seems unlikely. I’ve had a few.  One was a piece of music on a Radio 4 programme I was listening to whilst driving. It was so beautiful I had to stop, it wasn’t safe to continue through a blur of tears. Or a beautiful woman I had the honour of meeting and knowing. My socks were truly blown clean off and away. And two paintings. One, as far as I know, is still in the Bristol Museum, and the other (a relatively inexpensive print, not, alas, the original) hangs in my house. Both made me stand and stare. Then there’s mist in the hollows on an autumnal morning, a sunset across the ocean, the crash of a wave on shingle beach, or the particular blue of a cold January sky…I could go ...

Image by Jenneth from Pixabay This month I’m diving into Narnia, one of the crown jewels of children’s literature and a great example of fantastic fiction – ‘fantastic’ in the original meaning of the word, ‘imaginary’ or ‘related to fantasy’, hence the variation on the noun ‘fantastical.’ I imagine that most ACW members are aware of Narnia and have probably read The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe – or have read it to their children. Many Christians are fans of the fantasy worlds of CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien, which is hardly surprising given the Christian themes in both. How many of you have read all seven Chronicles of Narnia? *shoots own hand up* I read them all as a child and am currently on a reread. I’m halfway through The Voyage of the Dawn Treader , one of my favourites. Reading Narnia as an adult hits differently. I can see what Lewis is doing with his story and his imaginary world, and where he’s going with it. I don’t mind that Prince Caspian sounds rather like an...

                                                                                  Picture Credit: Author's own  Not a headline I thought I’d ever write. Apologies if you've just choked on your cornflakes or sprayed your laptop with hot coffee. I know, and I'm with you.  Whenever I’m at the supermarket, my eyes get drawn to the selection of books their buyers choose to stock. I don’t know why I do this, because I’ve never bought a book there; I prefer to support bookshops. More than that, though, I’m always irritated by the relentless increase of celebrity authors. I’m not referring to those who have become famous by selling a ton of books, but to celebrities from other fields who suddenly ‘discover’ a hidden talent for casually knocking...

  I love walking, especially in the summer months, and have recently tried to get into a routine of having an early evening walk, when the sun is still shining, but it is getting cooler.    Sometimes we walk around the parks, or just around our lovely neighbourhood, looking at the houses and gardens, and appreciating the beauty in creation.    We usually manage to stop and chat to someone on the way, and sometimes it can be quite an adventure.    It is also surprising to see how much inspiration you can get for writing, just by walking and taking in the world around us.  And sometimes, God sends us out on a divine appointment. A few weeks ago John and I left the house for an early evening walk. We got to a crossroads and John felt that we should turn left. While walking, I noticed an elderly gentleman walking out of a front garden from one of the houses to the pavement in front of us, and as we overtook him he called out to us and asked us if we k...

  The last few weeks have been a time of reflection and remembering for our church as we prepared for a significant milestone last Sunday – our pastor’s final service before moving to take up a new position.       For any church, this would be a substantial change, but as our nine-year-old church plant has never existed with any other pastor, I think it is particularly daunting. However, amidst all the praying, planning, and emotional goodbyes, the opportunity to reflect has been helpful.       It has been encouraging to take time to remember the history of our church – the ups and downs, and the many ways we have seen God working. It has also been reinvigorating to remember why our church was planted in the first place, to recall our vision for our community, to reflect on what led us each to be part of it.       I think for many of us this period of remembering and reflecting has been helpful in reinforcing our cal...

It's easy to feel second best as a writer. Especially when you see so many others report on their successes while you can barely string a few words together. Though I guess this feeling is often relative. I suspect even those who have some success will look at those with multiple novels or daily social media posts and yearn to be more prolific and popular. I’ve already noted my current but constant struggle with writing and often wonder if I should pack up my writerly ambitions and avoid doing something else with my time instead. However, I still feel called to be a writer. Although I also feel I’m still missing the path that God is calling down and where I should focus my output. For now, this blog is my only home. The most frustrating thing is that throughout each month I have loads of ideas about topics to write about. Yet they never get beyond the doom pile of lists onto my poetry or faith blog. Although not working, life still seems to have taken my energy and brain capaci...

  Summer is here. Picture from Pixabay Goldie and I love the sunshine and the heat, which is useful these weeks. My children hide inside, out of daylight, although they were happy to come out for our Cotswold trip last Friday as we took Richard’s aunt and a friend for a Cream Tea (food is a great motivator for labradors and children!). It made me think of pressure as well, as it’s another way to look at heat. There are a lot of changes in our family at the moment, and it brings out a lot of stress and worry with too many unanswered questions. As writers, this is something that will affect our poor characters as well. Is the main character laid back, telling his nervous sidekick, “Never mind about that now, we’ll sort that out when we get to the house.” Does your character need lists to make sure everything has been packed for the trip? Or do they open a suitcase, shovelling in clothes and a few other random items they come across? What about rushing around when the heat is on? ...

Image Credits:  Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay images. Contrasts are great in stories. An obvious one to use is that of light and dark. Which of your characters will be “light”? Which will be “dark” in terms of attitude and behaviour? Could your story explore them going to the “dark” or coming over to the “light”? Star Wars famously played on this theme when it came to the Jedi “force”.  We are believers in redemption and our stories (and articles) can reflect on that. Stories often hold a mirror up to our foibles. Jesus shared His message so often through stories. People remember stories. What could your readers (potential or otherwise) take from your character’s redemption story? Does your character realise they are on the “dark side” and see the need to escape it? What or whom makes them face up to the need to change? What obstacles, including their weaknesses, could get in the way? Answering those questions will trigger ideas.  I think most of us, aware o...