What, me? by Fiona Lloyd

I'm not sure this is the right way...

I've been studying the weather forecast more closely than usual this past week. By the time you read this, I'll just have got back - snow permitting - from our annual ACW committee retreat. This time away together gives us a valuable opportunity to pray and plan together, as well as providing space to relax and get to know one other better. We share what progress we're making (or not!) with our own writing projects, and hopefully come away with advice and encouragement to “keep at it”.


Writing can be a lonely business, and I've found it makes a real difference when I can engage with other writers; whether that's online or face-to-face. It’s a privilege to pick the brains of those who are much more experienced and knowledgeable than I, and I’m sure my work has improved as a result.


It can be tempting, however, to sit back and hoover up other people’s expertise without considering what we ourselves have to offer. Sometimes we dream up a list of excuses rather than reaching out to help others. What, me? I’m only just starting out! Since when did my opinion count for anything? My books are hardly in the same league as JK Rowlings’.


One of the wonderful things about being a part of God’s family is that we all have a role to play in encouraging and supporting one another. God doesn’t call us to be mega-Christians (whatever one of those is) before we can minister to others. And I’m sure we can all point to occasions when someone else has said something at exactly the right moment, or has done something that has a dramatic impact on our spiritual life. Often it can be a small action or a seemingly innocuous comment that makes all the difference.

Encouragement comes in many forms...

As Christians who write, we can choose to take an active role in encouraging other writers, whatever our previous experience (or lack of it.) Taking time to read someone else’s work, writing a book review, commenting on a blog post (and no, that isn’t meant to be an elephant-sized hint) are all things we can do to support one another.  Maybe we could join a new writing group, or respond positively to a prayer request from a fellow writer.


So, as we settle into the rhythm of a new year, let’s ask God to show us ways in which we can encourage and build each other up, so that – as a writing community – we can bless other people and shine His light into our world.

Fiona Lloyd works part-time as a music teacher, and serves on the worship leading team at her local church. She enjoys writing short stories, and is working on her first novel. Fiona self-published a violin tutor book in 2013, and blogs at www.fjlloyd.wordpress.com. She is married with three grown-up children. Fiona is ACW's membership secretary.