My Writing Journey so far... by Nicky Wilkinson
In the winter of 2024 I went to the ACW committee annual retreat. It was cold and misty and there was much fumbling to find the keypad to open the door. But there was a buzz amongst us; almost like rebels, we were breaking away from the time-honoured norms of how the committee had always worked and doing things our way. Armed with baskets of, pasta and basil, we gathered in an Airbnb, with a new agenda. Rather than interminably rehashing the old discussions and controversies we needed a new path. Cradling hot chocolate in our hands we huddled in the warmest room. Our intuitive new chair was seeking intimacy to encourage inspiration and hopefully innovation. With dynamic new members of the team and an ‘out of the box’ approach it felt like anything was possible. As the weekend progressed it became clear the old could not continue. Over washing up and glasses of red wine ideas were explored and formulated.
I had arrived conscious that my own time on the committee was coming to an end. I longed to start writing regularly. I had no idea how to make that happen. The multiple online writers’ days I had previously attended as part of the committee were both helpful and intimidating. How to start? How to reach an audience? Yes, you can publish on Amazon for very little, as long as you’re happy with your family and a few good friends being the recipients. For anything wider reaching, you have to up-skill your marketing credentials, building up a network of contacts and persuade an agent to take you on.
On the last day I led a meditative thought in our concluding service. Afterwards Rosemary, the then webmaster, casually said she was looking for more contributors for this MTB blog. I jumped at it. My devotion that morning became the inspiration for my first blog and here I am a year and a half into that two-year commitment. It has been thrilling to have the opportunity to discipline and develop my writing — never mind that every month I wrack my brain for an idea.
Someone else mentioned Together Magazine were looking for more book reviewers. I contacted the editor Luke Jeffrey and my first assignment was a Romanian pastor’s look at discipleship. Having lived in East Europe I was excited about the challenge. I absolutely loved getting book review commissions. I wrote about reconciliation, surrendering to Jesus more fully, how to argue agreeably. Each book that arrived through the mail seemed to speak to me, as I needed to think more about their topics in my own life. It has been very sad to hear about Luke’s health issues.
I am encouraged that God answered my prayer that January. Doors opened when I could see no way forward. Ideas that germinated out of a warm intimate gathering, have enriched my life and encouraged me that the God who puts these desires in our hearts, knows how to satisfy them.
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