Meeting this Saturday

October 7, 10 a.m. - noon

 Cornerstone Christian Church, Wyckoff,

in the Barn (red building on the right when you enter)

 Saturday's Focus: Face Forward

Image courtesy of sqlmag.com

Whether an experienced writer or a novice, you will find encouragement and camaraderie at our meetings. Visit and see if NJCWG is a fit for you. 

Members, come prepared to pitch your book, article or blog, prioritizing your why. See the Simon Sinek video and read September's Focus Point below. If you bring pages for critique, please review the guidelines on our website. 

Hope to see you Saturday,

Barbara

barbarahigbyhope.com

September’s Focus Point

First of All, “Why?”

Why do we write? In general and, specifically, why this book, blog or article? Defining our why reveals our motivation but also becomes a connecting point with readers, agents and publishers.  

Jean Matthew Hall* tells the story of swinging in the back yard with her grandson. He wanted to go higher & higher—to touch the clouds. Of course, they didn’t touch the clouds, but in Jean’s words, “It sure was fun trying. It was exhilarating.”

She later realized that she does the same thing with writing—stretching herself, straining to become a better writer and to attain publication. Not satisfied with merely writing her thoughts in a private journal, her heart shouts, “Higher, God. I want to go higher—to touch the clouds with you, Lord!”

Then she wonders why—why does she want to touch the clouds? Why do we?

Jean asks, “Is it that seed of creativity God planted in my heart before I was born? Is it some innate unrest I have? Is it pride? Do I have a burning message to spread? Or, is it God’s Holy Spirit urging me upward?

“I suspect it is a mixture of all these things. But mostly, it’s because I want my life to have a wider circle of influence... I want to impact as many people as I can for Christ in my lifetime and beyond.

“Writing… is one way I can do that. It is one way I can reach for the clouds. And even if I don’t touch them it is fun trying. It is exhilarating to stretch myself and use the gifts that God has placed within me. It adds beauty and joy to my life and… that makes writing and rewriting worth the extra effort.”

In Job we read, “The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life” and “…it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding” (33:4 and 32:8).

We write because God has breathed life and understanding into us. As Christian writers uniquely made and individually called, our personal why is the motivation for what we are writing. Our mouths speak and pens write out of the fullness of our hearts.

Take away thought: Remember your why. Let your Spirit-breathed calling, gifts and inspiration be the impetus for your writing.

* Jean Matthew Hall

Hear about identifying your why with Simon Sinek.