Utter the Unutterable

"As Christians, we constantly struggle to utter the unutterable. We long to share concepts beyond our human ability to understand--the transcendence of God's holiness, the potency of forgiveness, the depth of God's love for us. Fiction helps us find ways to express those truths of magnitude because it is relatable, symbolic, and engages the emotion--qualities that make it a vital art form." -- Sharon Hinck in A Novel Idea

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Just Show Up

On the bulletin board behind me in my office I used to have a little recipe card that said, "Show up on every page."

It was a reminder to me that I need to "bring it" each day that I sit down to write. I guess that's true for us all, in whatever jobs we have . . . we need to show up.

The cool thing is, when we show up each day, and make ourselves available to God, He is able to do more with the raw materials than we could ever hope.

How did you "show up" today? Please post a comment. I'd love to hear your story!

Serving the Story

 

"A book comes and says, 'Write me.' My job is to try to serve it to the best of my ability, which is never good enough, but all I can do is listen to it, do what it tells me and collaborate." -- Madeleine L'Engle

Lord, do You have stories for us to tell? Inspire, equip, and help us listen. Let us serve the story and thus serve You. Amen.

Blessings!

Sharon Hinck

author of The Deliverer

The Joy of Waiting

Since there aren't any new submissions for the "Song of Lyric" contest to post today, I decided to pull up something I wrote TEN YEARS AGO (whew!!!) about the writing life. I think perhaps at that time, I was waiting for news about whether a publisher wanted "The Restorer."

The Joy of Waiting

Last week, I began composing a list of the good things about being a writer. Since I tend to get cranky and melancholy, I figured I needed a reminder of what I should be grateful for.

1. I can work in my pajamas
2. I can take a notebook and pen for a hike in the woods and work in beautiful settings
3. I sometimes get free books to review or endorse
4. I've met the best, most amazing people
5. I get to practice waiting.

Okay, that last one wasn't on my list. Being a writer involves a tortuous amount of waiting. Nail-biting while waiting for an agent’s opinion on my latest idea. Pacing while hoping for news from my editor on whether my manuscript has potential. Checking emails obsessively to see what my critique partners thought of a recent chapter.

Last week, I read a chapter in Marlene Bagnull’s wonderful book, Write His Answer. She wrote about waiting expectantly, productively, and patiently.

My vivid imagination jumps to worst-case scenarios when I’m waiting. “The publisher will finally catch on that I don’t know what I’m doing and reject my new proposal. The editors are sitting around laughing at my clumsy prose.”

So, in an effort to wait expectantly, I worked on expecting God’s good surprises . . . whatever shape they might take. Once when the phone rang, I even thought, “That could be my agent calling with a contract offer.” Amazing how much more fun my writing became when I shushed the negative assumptions.

Waiting productively isn’t difficult for me. As a recovering workaholic, I comfort my anxiety by working. So I kept writing during my weeks of waiting for news on a new project. And I also asked God to make the time productive in other ways. Strengthening relationships, caring for physical health, studying and improving my skills.

Patiently? Well, that’s another story. I’m the kind of person who is so desperate to see what’s around the next corner I barely notice the street I’m on at the moment. But God was providing me a chance to practice. To remind myself that His timing is spot on. To acknowledge that most of life happens BETWEEN desired events, so I better embrace the between times.

One of the joys of being a writer really IS the experience of waiting. Writing chapter after chapter with uncertainty about whether it will be published. Revising manuscripts that might never be read. Trusting that God has called me to this path. Every day is raw and frightening and blazing with potential. And that propels me straight into God’s arms.

And that’s another one of the joys of writing.

Blessings!
Sharon Hinck

Write or Retreat

Chatting with my son over a scratchy phone connection, I told him about a recent writer retreat.

"So which did you do?" he asked.

"Huh?"

"You said you were going to write or retreat."

"Not write-OR retreat, writER retreat." I laughed.

Later, the words lingered ... a great theme for me to consider.

Write or retreat.

Which will I choose each day?

Writers face new challenges and questions. Traditional publisher, small press, self publish? How much time to spend engaging with readers and doing activities other than writing to build a following? And the one that makes my fingers pause each time I sit at my keyboard: Now that everyone has an easy-to-publish voice through social media, ebooks, and print-on-demand, there are oceans of voices sharing their words - is there really a need for my stories in the mix?

Every voice matters. Each life, each perspective has value. But perhaps my stories are best shared in quiet conversations with family or a letter to a friend. 

I sit at my desk to work on another scene for a novel, uncertain if any publisher will want this genre, unsure if my skill is strong enough to captivate readers, unconvinced the ideas are unique enough to bother adding this story to the zillions already out there.

Write or retreat?

As a follower of Christ, I ask Him. Will my efforts to craft a story help me know You more? Will it bring You joy? Can You possibly bless or encourage someone through this work?

No clarion angel chorus answers, but His Spirit nudges me forward.

So today, I write, entrusting my uncertainties to Him.

Where are you today? Is it a time to share your thoughts, your gifts, your skills, or is it a time to retreat (perhaps to rest and regroup--retreating isn't always a bad thing)? May He grant you courage for either calling!

Blessings!
Sharon Hinck
www.sharonhinck.com

Wrestling the Bear

Some days finding the right words is wrestling with a bear.

A cranky grizzly with sharp claws and rotten-salmon breath.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Several years ago, I was tossing around ideas for a novel about a woman longing to be "more" than she believed she was. I remembered a short story by James Thurber: "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty." Perhaps we studied it in high school, or even earlier. (Thank you to all my wonderful English teachers over the years!)

The very brief story clearly made an impact, because after so many years, I still remembered the image of a hen-pecked husband escaping into adventurous daydreams.  That concept inspired The Secret Life of Becky Miller, my first published novel.


Becky loses herself in grandiose daydreams, but finds herself in the trials of her real life. She grapples with spiritual questions, laughs and cries with her quirky friends, and pours her heart into her family.

I was delighted to hear that a new movie inspired by "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" has been released. I haven't seen it yet (I'm a "wait for Redbox" sort), but have heard good things.

Hearing about the movie's release also reminded me that I'd been procrastinating about getting my Becky Miller novels available as e-books.

I'll be officially launching the e-book versions soon, but you can get a sneak peek of the first book now.
 


Order The Secret Life of Becky Miller on Kindle here.

Order The Secret Life of Becky Miller on Nook here.

I love that Becky dreams big. But I also love that she finds her real life--loved by God, and able to share that love with others--is a grander adventure than any that her imagination can create.

Blessings!
Sharon Hinck

Something New

Happy New Year!

As I think about the coming year, and my writing goals, I've been thinking about adaptation and change.

I have visceral memories of writing one of my first stories in pencil on multi-lined paper in the second grade. In fourth grade I typed a story about a horse on an old manual typewriter using onionskin paper and a carbon to make a spare copy. Anyone else remember working with carbon paper?

I was thrilled to upgrade to an electric typewriter in eighth grade. But I also filled blank journals with dreams and musings using a ballpoint pen.

Computers and word processors revolutionized the work of writing, but required more adjustment. I've used a computer to write all my novels, and don't know how I would have managed revisions without one.

Yet I wonder if my writing voice changes with each medium.

One of my grad school professors believed that poetry should never be written on a computer or typewriter all. Poetry required a fountain pen and quality paper.

I continue to look for ways to adapt as a writer.

I'm writing this blog using my Christmas present: voice recognition software. Can I adapt?  I'm not sure. This brief blog has taken many minutes of grappling with the software's misunderstandings. Yet if I can adapt this may be another helpful step forward.

As I have practiced storytelling aloud, letting the software notate the words, I told my computer this was very Star Trek, and I was gratified to discover my computer recognized and knew how to spell, "Star Trek."

On the other hand, my earlier reference to onion skin  was typed as "masculine."

So I fear I have a long way to go.

How about you? Anyone else trying a new skill in the new year?

Blessings,

Sharon Hinck

There Will Be News

I'm working on my next Book Buddy newsletter, which will be released soon.

As always, there will be a devotional thought, exciting updates on writing projects...plus a little bit of fun personal news.

I try to send out the Book Buddy update about four times a year. If your email has changed, be sure to resubscribe with your new email.

Also, I use a double-opt-in service, to protect you from being signed up to anything you don't want (and to make it easy to unsub at any time). So if you signed up and never received newsletters, it may be because you missed the confirmation email. Be sure to take that second step and also add the newsletter to your address book so your program recognizes and accepts the newsletter.

Subscribe for free at my website.

Blessings!
Sharon Hinck

Blessed Thanksgiving Day!

"All good gifts around us...are sent from heaven above...so thank the Lord, O thank the Lord... for all His love."

Blessed Thanksgiving everyone!

I'm thankful you are in my life.

By the way, several writers (including me) shared why we're grateful to be writers over at the "Working Writer" blog.

Hugs,
Sharon