So long, farewell... by Jane Walters

I would say that I stopped the title where I did because I couldn’t spell Auf Wiedersehen, but it wouldn’t be true. Obviously. Suffice to say, though, that this blog is by way of a cheerio. Having occupied the 5^th of the month slot since October 2015, I sensed a few weeks ago that it was time to step down and make space for someone else. So, I have great pleasure in handing over to Kathleen McAnear Smith, who, as Tony Blackburn might have said, is moving up from number 19. (Bizarrely, I first met Kathleen on Saturday at my Norfolk town’s train station – despite her living in Surrey – where we were both, unknown to each other, travelling to the British Christian Writers Conference…)

There’s a story right here about how we need to hold things lightly – even things we consider precious. The ACW blog isn’t the only thing God has recently asked me to lay down and, having trusted Him in the past, I have done so gladly, knowing He knows best. Often when God is speaking to me about spiritual matters, He prompts me in practical ways, too. I’ve recently had the urge to purge (spot the sheer poetry there) my wardrobe of things I no longer wear. (An embarrassingly large amount, it turns out). Perhaps God is making way for something new in my life. It would be exciting to see!

My focus every month for these seven years has been to tune into what God might be wanting to say to us all regarding our writing. I have aimed to be honest and at times vulnerable in my musings, always hoping that my sometimes-tortuous journey as a writer might find some like-minded companions. I hope I have managed to offer encouragement and maybe even a little wisdom. I’d love to think I’d enabled some of you to take some more teetering steps on your own writing path.

So, in signing off, I’d like to offer a few final tips.

·         Enjoy your writing. If it’s not flowing, don’t force it. Get up, do something else. Eat chocolate.

·         Aim high but don’t beat yourself up for coming woefully short. God simply doesn’t see things the way we do. He’s thrilled that we even try.

·         Don’t – please, please, don’t – try to do the writing stuff on your own. Meet up with other writers often. There’s loads of us out there to choose from.

·         Pray this genius prayer that I heard from Bishop Jill Duff: “Unleash your words in me, O God.” Try it. God seems to love answering this one.

·         Laugh more. Even if it’s aimed at yourself. In fact, especially if it’s aimed at yourself. God meant this life to be fun. I’m sure of it.

Keep in touch!

Jane Walters is vice chair of ACW and leader of two affiliated ACW groups in Norfolk. She is currently working on her latest novel and learning how to be a dog owner. www.janewyattwalters.com

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