Thoughts from October's meeting

The Well is Deeper than You Think

Are you dismissing writing options because you come up empty? 

Do you feel limited in the scope of your writing?

Are there topics that interest you but you dare not tackle them?

Most people have greater capacity than they realize. Often this is evidenced when they are challenged and, amazingly, rise to the occasion in a better way than they thought possible.

I believe that as writers we have a greater writing capacity that we can tap into if we rise to the challenge.

Writing is a God-given talent, but we need something more from God than talent. We need writing wisdom.

• At what point in the story do I begin the telling? 

• What slant should I give this article?

• Is this the most powerful way I can word this sentence? 

• Is this a significant point or am I only including it because I like it?

And then there are the publishing questions:

• Which market is best to pursue?

• Will I retain my rights? Does it matter?

• E-publishing or paper? Do I self-publish or submit my piece… again?

Wisdom. You can probably anticipate the verse I’m going to refer to. James 1:5 assures us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God…” The Message Bible makes the point abundantly clear: “If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help...”

We know we can ask - we just read God’s invitation. But I know that often I walk away with a small portion of wisdom, content with just enough to get by. In life, but to our topic today, specifically in our writing, we need to learn to wait for God’s wisdom, His abundantly deep, rich wisdom (Romans 11:33). From the first keystroke of our manuscript, until we hit send, let’s ask, expect, and wait for greater wisdom from God in our writing.

Take-home thought: The well is deeper than you think - the well of our creativity and the well of God’s wisdom.

Next meeting: November 2.

The Well is Deeper than You Think

October meeting

Saturday, 10/5, 10:00-noon

High Mountain Church

681 High Mountain Road, North Haledon, NJ 07508

 

 

The Well is Deeper than You Think 

Are you dismissing writing options because you come up dry? 

Do you feel limited in the scope of your writing?

Are there topics that interest you but you dare not tackle them?

 

The well is deeper than you think. Be prepared for a writing exercise that will 

s-t-r-e-t-c-h you. Bring paper & pen, laptop or notebook and let your creativity flow.

Step by Step - the September meeting's Focus Point

There is a simple word that is critical to accomplishing our writing goals. That word is the verb step. 

There are many words to describe our steps. They can be sauntering or hurried; aimless or direct; baby steps or giant steps. Sometimes we step alone, other times with company. At times our steps are fruitless; thankfully, many times they are fruitful.

All steps have these three things in common:

• They move us from one location to another, from here to there. When we step, we move.

• Secondly, steps are subject to our decision. The choice to step or be idle is ours. The direction in which we move is also our choice. Will we take a familiar route or step into an adventure? Will we step forward or will we step back?

• Thirdly, a very basic truth is that every journey begins with a single step. That’s why, when we talk about goals, it's important to define our next step. Even Isaiah’s promise that we will soar like eagles and run w/o weariness, speaks of walking & not fainting (Isa 40:31).

Today’s focus is so basic, I could well have spoken about breathing - we don’t think about taking a breath much more than we think about taking a step. But if we do not take intentional steps, we will not progress in our writing journey. Physical exercise, spiritual growth, intellectual learning... all require a first step - as does our writing.

Take-home thought: My journey is defined by many steps. What is my next step?

A writer's prayer: "Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth" (Ps 86:11)... step by step.

Next meeting: October 5, 2013

Summer Success, Fall Focus

September meeting

Saturday, 9/14, 10:00-noon

High Mountain Church

681 High Mountain Road, North Haledon, NJ 07508

Summer Success, Fall Focus

We left our June meeting armed with goals for the summer. Come prepared to share your successes as well as a fresh focus for the fall.

Our meeting topic is Write Tight. Bring materials for writing exercises & note-taking.

NJCWG in the "news" !!

NJCWG is featured at Circles of Faith today! Check out www.circlesoffaith.org. Circles of Faith is a wonderful website that highlights issues of faith, life, and community. 

DEVELOP YOUR WRITING SKILLS THROUGH ENCOURAGEMENT AND CRITIQUE

What makes a writer, a writer?

A writer writes. It’s that simple.

It may be for publication or for personal reflection, but putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) to express one’s thoughts on a page qualifies.

Because writing tends to be a solitary endeavor, it’s essential for writers to gather together for encouragement and accountability.

The North Jersey Christian Writers Group is “a place where writers come together to encourage each other on their journey to publication, learning and developing their skills along the way.”

As a group, the NJCWG members are at varied levels of accomplishment and skills. Some are published and some are just starting out. We write for children, for women, for believers, and for the secular market, but mostly we write for the Lord. We write because He has called us to write.

The purpose of the NJCWG is twofold:

- to sharpen our skills through writing exercises and monthly focus topics.

- to keep ourselves accountable by sharing goals and critiquing each other's work.

NJCWG meets on the first (usually) Saturday of each month from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon. Our meetings consist of a short writer’s devotion by our facilitator, Barbara Higby, followed by a writing exercise and/or special presentation. The last half hour is dedicated to critiquing our previously submitted work. Personally, I know that I would not be published if it wasn’t for the helpful, constructive, no-holds-barred critique of this group. So consider joining us.

NEXT NORTH JERSEY CHRISTIAN WRITERS GROUP MEETING:

When:         Saturday, September 14

                   10:00 am

Where:       High Mountain Church

                  681 High Mountain Road

                  North Haledon, NJ 07508

For more information, send an email to njcwgroup@gmail.com.

Focus

Thoughts to ponder 

From the June 1, 2013 meeting

Productive, effective writing requires focus. Productivity & effectiveness in any arena requires focus.

A major challenge to maintaining focus is the vast array of choices begging for our attention. Many opportunities are good, but do they define our focus or blur it?

Paul tells Christians to “Run in such a way as to get the prize” (1 Cor. 9:24). In other words, stay focused, don’t stray from the path. This is true for our faith, but it is also a principle for life in general.

I confess, I lose my writing focus too easily. I get stirred up when I meet with other writers, but I’m making too many choices that draw my focus elsewhere. As writers, with a gift & passion from God, I want us to make choices that will hold our focus on task, on our calling. The first step in making those good choices is to clarify our focus.

Focus will help us make choices that bear fruit. This is true whether we are working on a piece for a publisher or creating a personal blog. So ask yourself, “What is my focus? What has God put on my heart to do now? Next?”

This is our last meeting until September. How fruitful will our writing be over the summer? Will we actually submit that magazine article, short story or book proposal? Will we create, re-create or tweak our blog?

Prayerfully choose a summer writing focus. This may be a project, a genre, an area of  research, the submission you've been putting off. Then get specific, flesh out your focus with attainable goals. Make this summer fruitful. 

Take-home thought: Write in such a way to get the prize -- sharing truth & offering hope -- whether published or not.