Room to write - Tania Vaughan
In recent weeks I have bored my friends and plastered my Facebook wall with pictures of the work in progress that is my new office, my new writing room.
At last I have a dedicated space just for me, just for my writing and my ministry work and I love it - I have a room to write in.
It has been completed for a few days, but I am sitting at the dining room table writing this and not in that dedicated space.
Why am I not using this room to write?
The main reason is, my chair hasn't arrived yet! The other reason is I have had a hectic week and haven't had time to sit and dedicate time to write.
Some of my writer friends have commented about how lucky I am to have this room to write in and I remember feeling envious when other writers posted pictures of their work space. I knew that if I had a room to write in then I could write all day long!
There is a little problem with my dream of writing all day long. I have a room to write in, but no room to write! My diary is littered with things to do, the housework is still there and my procrastination tendency did not disappear with the rooms arrival.
Whatever I want to do in my life, whether it be writing, mentoring women, dating my husband or catching a coffee with friends, I need to be intentional. I need to make room in my life to do the things I want to do.
Having a room to write in is wonderful but if I am not intentional about giving myself room to write, then it is just a rather lovely empty room.
Paul talks in 1 Corinthians 13 about love. Without God's love flowing through us our words are empty noise and our actions useless. We are like an empty room, fit for purpose but not being used. We need to make room for God, we need to be intentional about seeking him out and fueling our lives with that love.
Whatever you want to do in your life, be intentional about it. God says when we seek him we will find him, if we seek him, there is an intent there. If you want to to write carve out the time to do it. If you want to spend more time with others, book it in your diary.
I have now blocked out time in my diary when I will be 'at work', I will be in my writing room unavailable giving myself room to write.
There will be interruptions and there are things that I have had to put down in order to make that room, but I am happy that it will not be an empty room.
What is it that you need to be intentional about? Is God challenging you to make more room to allow him to use you?
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Tania Vaughan started Let's Talk About Ministries after writing her book "Let's Talk About Sex and Relationships - A Bible study for single women".
Through Bibles studies, mentoring and teaching, Tania seeks to encourage every woman to claim the full life that Jesus came to give them. Online Bible studies and her blog can be found on her website www.taniavaughan.com
It has been completed for a few days, but I am sitting at the dining room table writing this and not in that dedicated space.
Why am I not using this room to write?
The main reason is, my chair hasn't arrived yet! The other reason is I have had a hectic week and haven't had time to sit and dedicate time to write.
Some of my writer friends have commented about how lucky I am to have this room to write in and I remember feeling envious when other writers posted pictures of their work space. I knew that if I had a room to write in then I could write all day long!
There is a little problem with my dream of writing all day long. I have a room to write in, but no room to write! My diary is littered with things to do, the housework is still there and my procrastination tendency did not disappear with the rooms arrival.
Whatever I want to do in my life, whether it be writing, mentoring women, dating my husband or catching a coffee with friends, I need to be intentional. I need to make room in my life to do the things I want to do.
Having a room to write in is wonderful but if I am not intentional about giving myself room to write, then it is just a rather lovely empty room.
Paul talks in 1 Corinthians 13 about love. Without God's love flowing through us our words are empty noise and our actions useless. We are like an empty room, fit for purpose but not being used. We need to make room for God, we need to be intentional about seeking him out and fueling our lives with that love.
Whatever you want to do in your life, be intentional about it. God says when we seek him we will find him, if we seek him, there is an intent there. If you want to to write carve out the time to do it. If you want to spend more time with others, book it in your diary.
There will be interruptions and there are things that I have had to put down in order to make that room, but I am happy that it will not be an empty room.
What is it that you need to be intentional about? Is God challenging you to make more room to allow him to use you?
Tania Vaughan started Let's Talk About Ministries after writing her book "Let's Talk About Sex and Relationships - A Bible study for single women".
Through Bibles studies, mentoring and teaching, Tania seeks to encourage every woman to claim the full life that Jesus came to give them. Online Bible studies and her blog can be found on her website www.taniavaughan.com
Excellent post Tania. You have hit the nail on the head. We need to dedicate time to our writing. I love the new office by the wayn
ReplyDeleteThanks Wendy - it is not getting as much use as I'd like right now! Let me just read this post again :)
DeleteA room of her own... fabulous and inspiring!
ReplyDeletethank you Amy :)
DeleteLove your room, Tania, and timely message about making time ...
ReplyDeleteExcellent post, Tan. Especially if you're struggling, as I am, with other people's expectations of you. All the harder when you're judged by non-believers. Have to keep reminding myself that even Jesus needed to withdraw from the world at times. Keep up the good work gal!
ReplyDeleteThanks Merrilyn you are such an encourager to others I am glad this encouraged you and thaks for sharing :) x
DeletePS I've shared your post on various groups as well as my own status.
ReplyDeleteI suspect that if I had my own writing room I still wouldn't use it. You're so right - we have to make time to do the things that matter, and part of that is accepting that writing DOES matter.
ReplyDeleteIt is certainly not getting the use it deserves yet - I'm still building the habit of going down into the garden!
DeleteI am jealous! But, yes, you're right. We have to block out time to write. My husband is heading to Spain for a week's golfing soon and I am promising myself that I will retreat from the world for at least 4 of the 7 days, preferably consecutive and WRITE. Not facebook posts, not blog comments, not email replies - REAL writing. That novel WILL progress!
ReplyDeleteFran I pray that you are strong in your promise to yourself and I look forward to seeing that novel :)
DeleteWonderful! It looks great, Tania, and I'm praying it'll be a huge blessing to you and in your ministry. Now, to make a little space for me to do the same.... :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for this. Inspiring post.
Bless you Helen thank you for your comments xx
DeleteLooks like a great space. Do you have a view?
ReplyDelete.. because, it occurs to me, that if you had A Room with a View as well as a Room of One's Own you'd be channelling so much literary genius.
ReplyDeleteOnly of my garden Fran - which is in need of a good tidy - so it may actually become a distraction as spring steps up!
DeleteTania, this is so great I really need to be more intentional about writing time. Thanks for linking up at #raralinkup. Have a great day, Kim Stewart
ReplyDeletewww.kimstewartinspired.com
Great post. I may not have a dedicated room to write but I easily have adequate facilities for it. I am not being intentional about it though. Encouraging and challenging at the same time! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lynda for your encouragement :)
DeleteExcellent post! I am in love with your writing room, Tania. You are so very blessed to have a space to retreat to and write. I'm encouraged to be more intentional with not only my writing, but the time I spend in The Word beforehand. Currently I'm doing both "when I feel like it" and I'm learning the hard way that I'm setting myself up for failure. Thank you for sharing today via #RaRaLinkup. I am blessed by your inspiring words. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for your encouragement - I have now diaried in preparation time for meetings and mentorings and time with God before I write - It makes for a colourful diary!
DeleteYou could always grab a kitchen chair before the special chair arrives. That's an incredible writing space and you are truly blesses to have one.
ReplyDeleteI'm fairly good at making time to write, but making time for studying my Bible? That's a different story. I think I need to make more room for God in my life because He should come first. The room for writing can come next.
Can you combine them Kellie-Ann? Give God some of the time you are making to write :)
DeleteGreat post, Tania, agreed. I have set aside every Tuesday as a minimum as my writing day and I guard it from everything e.g. appointments etc. Good to be intentional.
ReplyDelete