Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Started by Alex J. Cavanaugh, Ninja Captain!
Co-hosted this month by:
T. Powell Coltrin, Victoria Marie Lees, Stephen Tremp, Renee Scattergood, and J.H. Moncrieff!
IWSG AND MY WRITING JOURNEY
OPTIONAL QUESTION: What started you on your writing journey? Was it a particular book, movie, story, or series? Was it a teacher/coach/spouse/friend/parent? Did you just "know" suddenly you wanted to write?
When I was really small, my grandmother told me stories from her childhood, and mixed in some fairy tales. My parents read to me and told me stories. I wanted to tell stories, but struggled with getting the words out in the right order.
My first short story I remember feeling good about included a top hat that sang and danced (3rd grade).
In sixth grade, a teacher asked me if I wanted to be an author during a creative writing unit. She encouraged me to keep writing and working at my skill. In seventh, eight, ninth, and tenth grades, I had teachers who encouraged me to write and grow into my potential as a would-be author. The trend continued in college. And yet, I still doubted. All the time. (More on that in a moment.)
The earliest story worlds which amazed me as a child included: Peter Pan's Neverland, Star Wars, fairy tales and folk tales, the Bible, Middle Earth, and Narnia. I wanted to write stories like those. I still do.
I love to write. It's bone deep, built into my soul, my memories, my DNA - a combination of nature and nurture.
But, so much of my life I have wasted with self-doubt. When we doubt the passion, purpose, and work God has given us, we lose sight of who we really are.
I am super thankful for the people in my life who have encouraged and supported me - that includes all of my IWSG buddies! Thank you!!!
So, my main goal this year is: Creative Confidence (in Christ).
My secondary goal is the same as last year's primary goal: Small Steps.
All other goals fit under those - even my fantasy/speculative writer mission statement.
I came up with a statement for why I write fantasy because I have been asked why I write fantasy as a Christian. Here it is:
I write fantasy for the children who walk into the school library at lunch recess and the teens who go there during lunch, after they've been pushed on the playground or had tobacco chew spit on their locker. I write to remind them that evil can be defeated with a bucket of water, a lion's roar, an arrow to the heart of a dragon, or a bar of chocolate.
I believe in Jesus as the ultimate hero, but I know fantasy is a great way to show evil overcome by Good. I know because even though I knew the truth of God's love, I was the kid who was pushed and the teen who found tobacco chew spit on my locker. I went to the school library for an escape and needed the reminder that dragons can be defeated by Good.
(This is not meant as a tiny violin whine "my life was so bad" but as the reason I know fantasy can be meaningful.)
THE NEWS FOR IWSG THIS MONTH IS FULL OF AWESOME!
The IWSG made the Write Life List!!!
Voyagers: The Third Ghost is coming on May 5, 2020!
Congrats to all of the authors who made it into the anthology!
The IWSG Twitter Pitch is next week!!!
Are you ready?
Tip: Ask other authors for help refining your pitch and query!
The IWSG Goodreads Book Club is reading On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft this month!
THE IWSG Instagram plan for January is already going!
My Writing News:
As you may have heard, I had two poems published in Z Publishing's Washington's Best Emerging Poets of 2019 book!
