What's Your Message?

One of the members of our writers group has just signed with an agent--and all of us who gather on Monday nights will be celebrating with him. If we're not careful, we'll take some of the credit! But this guy, Chuck Bagby, deserves all the kudos here because he has done two things.

First, he was obedient to God's call to write. Second, he remained true to his message.

Now, every writer I know--published and pre-published--has the first one down. We obey; we write. And whether or not we become best-sellers or bargain-bin-babies, that obedience will not go unmerited. I've had my heart broken over proposals that will never find a home between a front-and-back cover, but I obeyed the Holy Spririt in crafting the idea. And, often, those rejected ideas often find homes in newer, better ones--ones that stay truer to who I am in this writing world.

The second, though, is hard. A writer has to ask: What is my message? The novelist has to be careful not to let the message interfere with a good story. The non-fiction writer needs to make his or her message sound out louder than all the other books out there. How do you find your message? And how do you know if it's a message the world wants/needs to hear? Can we ever, really, separate the message from the market?

We hope you'll join us Friday and Saturday, March 9-10, for a day dedicated to finding and sharpening that message.

You Can't Spell "Goal" without "Go!"

By Allison Pittman

So, the hype of the New Year is over. Christmas decorations have been packed away (or they should be by now, people, really...), the bills for all that shopping are just coming in, and the resolutions... Remember those?

Personally, I am not a resolution-maker. Why? Because I'm far too likely to be a resolution-breaker. To me, a resolution comes from a negative place. I resolve to lose weight because I think I'm too fat. Then, I don't lose weight, and voila--I've failed. I resolve to write 2,000 words a day. Why? Because I don't feel like I'm writing enough every day. On Thursday, I write nothing. Voila--I've failed. So I make myself feel better with chocolate. And--I've failed again.

But a goal? That's different. A goal starts from where you are, and propels you forward. You can set a goal without the subconcious beat-up of previous behavior. A goal is long-term, multi-faceted. Measurable and accountable. A goal promises reward. A goal give you somewhere to go.

To me, a "resolution" seems to be self-centered. Something "I" resolve to do. A goal is a team effort. When I set a goal for myself, I know it is only through the power of Christ that I can achieve it. I will fail myself, but Jesus Christ will strive with me, unceasingly. In my resolutions, I am alone. On the other hand, I have a host of people enlisted to help me with my goals--my family, my friends, my writers group, my critique partners.

So--in these next few days before you turn that first page on the 2012 calendar--what are your goals?