If you are here from the Proverbs 31 Devotion, I’m so glad you’re visiting.
I’m leaving my post up from yesterday because if you are a writer, you may find what I wrote below helpful. But first, I want to link three other posts you’ll find encouraging if you’re in the midst of waiting.
Waiting can be hard, frustrating, maddening. I know. But there are things in the midst of a time of waiting that are beautiful if only we can see them. Here are three more articles to encourage you in your time of wait:
I’ve loved to write for as long as I can remember knowing words. But, learning to write words that connect took a while. A long while.
You see there’s a big difference between writing and connecting. Writing is the craft of stringing words together under the guidelines of certain standards. Connecting is crafting words with movement. Words that stir and pop and buzz and linger and best of all mess with the reader.
That’s the connection I want when I read. So, I sho’ nuff better make sure that’s the connection I create when I write.
Let’s be honest, no one wants their words to be scanned. We want them to be read, ingested, and best of all digested. Digested to the point where they become part of what the reader is pondering for that day. Maybe even part of what the reader brings up in conversation with their friends.
That’s when you know your words have movement. Words that leap from the flat page and start traveling from this conversation to the next… those are words that connect. Saturate those words with God’s truth and they’ll change the world.
And maybe it’s a bit lofty to think a simple redneck girl whose dog peed on her recently and who stood in front of 4500 women wondering if her pants were split open from falling backstage- could craft words that move. But I’m daring to try.
Care to join me?
Whatever you’re writing today be it a blog post, an article, or even an email where you need to move people to action, ask yourself three questions before sending your words forth:
1. Does this have emotion? It’s hard to create “motion” without some sort of “emotion.” Be it passion, laughter, tears, inspiration, encouragement or even challenge- will this connect on a heart level of some sort. We don’t scan things that make us go hmmm, ha!, or ohhh.
2. Do I need to store any of these words in my junk drawer? Strange question, I know. But think about that junk drawer. It’s where you put the extra stuff you’ll need one day but not right now. We should have a place like that for points we want to make but shouldn’t make today. Sometimes we sacrifice saying one great thing because we’re trying to say too many things all at once. Stick with one great point. Use the fewest words possible to make that point. And put all those other points in your junk drawer to use another day.
3. Have landed my plane in the right city? Stick with me through this quirky question too. When you start your writing piece you need to alert people where you’re going on this journey. Most people do that. But then too many writers veer off course and land their article in a completely different place by the end. Make sure to re-read your beginning sentences and complete your journey exactly as you promised.
Writing. Connecting.
Two words that seem so similar and yet are world’s apart.
Like I said, I don’t want to be a writer. I want to be a connector… one who connects the world with movement that might not have been found if I hadn’t dared to write.
Exactly the idea I was groping for : I read recently : If you want to be remembered, write something worthy of ready or DO something worthy of writing.
I like the idea of ‘connecting’ so much better. I remember those I connect with whether in person or through written word! Thanks Lysa!
Someday when I grow-up I hope to be a writer just like you! Thanks for your insight and wisdom. “Keep looking up!”
CHASING THE WIND
The wind blows to the south and turns to the north,
Round and round it goes, ever returning on its course.
The streams flow to the sea, yet the sea is never full.
To the place the streams come from, there they return again.
The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its full of hearing;
Though we never stop chasing the wind.
We search for wisdom to teach us what is the right path to take in life,
The more learned we become the less we seem to know.
What is twisted cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted.
The pleasures we seek to sustain us are gone with the morning’s light,
And we ask are we wise or a fool, but in the end fate overtakes them both;
Though we never stop chasing the wind.
The latter of success is an endless climb to rise above all,
And to be recognized for all of our great accomplishments.
For man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill,
And then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it.
In the midst of all the gathering and storing of wealth who did we thank?
Though we never stop chasing the wind.
It is not good to be alone on this journey we take through life,
For two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work,
And if one should fall down, then the other can help him up again.
Also, if two lie down together, they can keep each other warm,
But how can one weather the storms of life alone?
Though we never stop chasing the wind.
Whoever loves money never has money enough, and is always seeking more;
If a man loves wealth he is never satisfied with his income.
Cast your wealth upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again.
Give to the needy, yes the needy, for you do not know when you will need.
Sow your seed of love, and love you will reap for your good deeds;
Though we never stop chasing the wind.
Solomon with all his wisdom did not understand the path of the wind,
Or how a body is formed in a mother’s womb, so we too cannot understand
The work of God, the maker of all things…
Live your days and be happy without anxiety, for God will judge all in the end,
And remember the dust returns to the ground, and your spirit returns to God;
Though these words you may not believe, but in time you also will stop…
“chasing the wind.”
Epaphroditus© July ‘00
thank you very much for sharing, lysa
this message goes well in composing songs, too. a foot-long bridge to connect into the hearts of the listeners is vital and i finally got it here.
Hmm, I don’t want to be a writer either. Who knew?! I needed to read every one of these points, Lysa. Thank you for sharing your words of wisdom.
One of your Iowa Friends,
Rachel
“I want to be a connector… one who connects the world with movement that might not have been found if I hadn’t dared to write.”
I love that sentence. I want to be a connector, as well. Thank you, so much, for sharing as you have. The 3 questions you asked were amazing. I never would have thought of it that way, but now I think I need to print them out and post them, somehow, on my computer as reminders as I’m writing. I certainly connect to your words, and I pray others will connect to mine in the same way.
As I’m faced with the exciting yet terrifying task of writing my first professional article for publication, your words have shed much needed prospective, encouragement and technical advice. I’ll reread this often. Thank you, Lysa.
I read this the day you posted it and I absolutely loved it. I am a copywriter/editor at work, and what you said made so much sense. I printed your post out and put it up on my wall. It also made me rethink my own personal blog posts and what I hoped to accomplish with them. You are right connecting is so much more important. This morning I realized that another thing writers crave is feedback, and althought I loved the points you made, I hadn’t taken the time to tell you. So, I came back here today to let you know that you had connected with me. Thanks so much for your words and for sharing your heart.