DOES GOD REVEAL HIMSELF TO YOU IN YOUR WRITING?

By Marion Ueckermann

Earlier this evening I shared this story with Shirl that I’m about to share with you.  She immediately said, “Blog about it on CWOSA.” I agreed.

                                                

In penning this, however, I wanted to find some scriptures that were appropriate.  I started searching the words guide, write ... and it struck me how much God loves writing. Just go and check the book of Revelation how many times God tells his servants to WRITE.

Before I share my story though, I wanted to quote a few verses from my favourite passage in the Bible, Psalm 139. Ponder on these words when you write … God knows us so well, and he knows the way we must take, the words we must write, long before we even think them.

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. (OR ON THE TIP OF MY PEN, THE WRITER IN ME LIKES TO THINK) You hem me in behind and before and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!

And then from Isaiah 58: The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

This afternoon I was busy writing a scene in The Piano, my 2012 Nanowrimo Novel. My protagonist, Lizzy, had just invited the Antagonist, a German concert player, Carl von Henselt, to a bible study at her house.  She’s attracted to the piano player and initially it slipped her mind that they are studying Song of Solomon Chapter 2. Lizzy might have reconsidered inviting him had she remembered, and to make matter’s worse, Lizzy is leading the study.

Now  to backtrack a little, in the beginning of The Piano, Carl reminisces on a wilder time in Bogota, Columbia (backstory titbit to his wilder womanising days). Initially I could not remember why I chose Bogota Columbia, but then on checking back in the story, it was because the portfolio case for his Macbook Air was made of Columbian leather (and that was a researched fact on the Mac products).

Anyway, so here I am literally sweating up in my writing loft, thinking of the next scene in which Lizzy is driving home. She tells me she wants to crank up the radio and play her favourite Christian CD so that she can sing while she’s driving.  I agree, and “randomly” decide on the music of Delirious? (yes, there is supposed to be a question mark after their name) as the song “Did you hear the mountains tremble” pops into my head.  The archaeologist in Lizzy tells me that’s a great song and instantly it becomes one of her favourites.

It is here where my story takes an interesting turn, and I realised just how involved God is in my writing, how he is continually before me and behind me, guiding me in the way I should go (or write). For in this research, I discover a song called God's Romance by Delirious? and I think to myself that it sounds like a great song to go in with the Bible study Song of Solomon theme. I’m certain I can find a way to write it into the story.

So I Google the song to see the words and listen to it, and you won't believe what I discover—it was recorded live in ... BOGOTA, COLUMBIA.  Well, I know that the German pianist is going to find that very interesting –that something other than wine, women and song has come out of Bogota—like 12,000 Colombian Christians who’ve found Jesus as the Lover of their Souls and aren’t afraid to sing it out into the night sky. Far more people—and far more enthusiastic—than those who attended his Bogota concert.

I’ve no doubt that making this discovery tonight is all part of a thread that will lead to the culmination of the story, the small, still voice that Lizzy hears as she contemplates what Solomon's words will do for Carl tonight—to draw him to the greatest love he'll ever find.

So, next time you’re on a writing spree, look for God in your writing. He’s actively at work in the background, setting the stage for your story.

OVER TO YOU: So what is Marion? A Planner or a Panster?

What inspires you?

There are many things that can inspire us in our daily life. However, the question here is not directed at those things. What I’d like to know is, “What inspires you to write?” Does facing a deadline inspire you to write? Does the spurring on from a family member inspire you to write? Or encouragement from a friend? A piece of music? A certain setting? Your own private space … your writing corner?

And what does this inspiration look like?

In his book, Plot and Structure, James Scott Bell gives some useful tips on getting motivated:

·                 Write a statement of purpose and put it in a place that you can see daily. But it must be one that excites you!
·                 Have the word “Writer” printed across your coffee mug. Every time you take a sip you’ll be reminded of your commitment to write. This will not only give you a caffeine boost, but a fresh jolt of enthusiasm too!
·                 Browse the bestseller section in bookstores – look at the authors’ pics and bios, read their openings, and imagine what your face would look like on the back of that book. Think to yourself, I can do this! And then, the most important piece of advice, rush back to your office and start writing.

The next tip was the one I liked – probably because I had already been doing this long before I read this great writer’s advice. And I felt a whole lot less silly because of my approach to getting myself inspired.

·                 Find your own item of visual motivation – inspirational words taped to your computer, a photograph of an admired writer, or your own rendering of your first novel’s cover (you could even put your own critical praise on the back … and if you’re going to do that, be lavish in that praise!)

You see, after getting an idea for a book, the first thing I tend to do is come up with a working title. The next thing I always do, and this has been the greatest source of inspiration to me, is design a book cover. Yes, I know that cover will probably never see the light of day, but it is the one thing that has spurred me on to continue writing, time and time again.

Here are the covers my finished (unpublished) novels, and others that are still under construction (yes, I do tend to multitask!)

 

Prodigal:  My first novel – complete, but have some reworking to do.

Scarlett:  The sequel to Prodigal – about 70% complete.

The Red Floor:  My first NaNoWriMo win in 2009. Based on the story of my mother’s life. About 90% complete.

Diplomatic Immunity:  A great story line, but a difficult project. Only just started on this project that a friend and I were going to do together. This story is based on her life as a diplomat’s wife but due to the sensitivity of this project, we’re unsure how to proceed – fiction or non-fiction?

Hungry:  My second NaNoWriMo win in 2010 and my first attempt at a historical novel – about 70% complete.

Pebbles in my Pocket:  My first non-fiction project I will be attempting in November with WNFIN (which stands for Write Non-Fiction In November) – and hence, sadly, I will not be taking part in NaNoWriMo this year. Such a pity, but I can’t do them both, and this project is far more important to me.

Looking at all these covers, I feel inspired all over again. I think I might just put them all up at the same time in my writing attic … maybe that will inspire me to finish these works in progress.

Please take time to share with the group, not in a comment below, but in a separate blog, your writing inspiration/s.