Writing a Novel . . .

The Power of Our Stories

If I want to get to know you I don’t look at a resume or the list of letters after your name.  If I want to get to know you I will listen to your stories. I can know about you from what people tell me, but knowing you comes from your stories. This way I can learn about your character and your heart.  I learn what you value and what you love.

We tell about ourselves every day through anecdotes and conversations.  We write our stories in blogs and emails.  We tell our stories indirectly through fiction. ( Yes, Little Bunny often has our same issues and reveals our inmost fears and feelings.) The stories we tell and write reveal who we are.

God reveals Himself through the stories in the Bible.  I can know about God from what people tell me, but knowing God comes from reading and valuing His stories. This way I can learn about God’s character and His heart.  I learn what He values and what He loves.

Stories move us. This is their power. Written stories are frozen voices that come to life when we read them. No other art form involves us in the same way—allows us to be with another human being—to feel joy when he laughs, to share her sorrow, to follow the twists and turns of his plotting and scheming, to realize her insufficiencies and failures and absurdities, to grasp the tools of her resistance—from within the mind itself. Such experience—such knowledge from within—makes us feel that we are not alone in our flawed humanity.” ~ Margaret Atwood

Are you telling your story today?  Are you listening, reading and valuing the stories of the people around you? Are you reading God’s stories?

What do stories mean to you?

Laurie and Betsy

Related Articles:

Writing With Insight

Writing With Healing

Flowing? Dripping? Or Dry?

the old faucet (Photo credit: her’91)

Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.

LOUIS L’AMOUR

How is your writing flowing today?  Is it coming in a strong, steady stream? A slow drip?  Or is your faucet stone dry?

Nothing can happen in my writing if I don’t sit down and begin.  There are a million things to do besides writing.  Today I am at my desk and one chapter is here that did not exist when I woke up this morning!

Madeleine L’Engle said,  ”Inspiration usually comes during work rather than before it.”  I have found that to be true in my writing. I don’t get much done if I wait for inspiration.

What about your spiritual life?  Is it flowing? Dripping? Dry?

When I make time to sit still and pray and reflect on scripture I find a connection to God that I would have missed in my busyness. “The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.” The time I spent with God this morning gave its benefits in peace and confidence.

Are you writing today. Have you had time for God?

How is it flowing?

Laurie and Betsy