The characters I wrote are better human beings than I am

Wow! I wrote a book?

With my first novel on the Coming Soon! list on the publisher’s listings, a second and third book in the writing and editing stages and a couple more ideas being fleshed out around the dinner table, I laugh and cry a little about where these characters come from.

The year was 2020… but this is not a COVID story.

While fiddling around with a doll pattern and then looking into the eyes I saw a story. This skinny, lopsided, flat-footed kid wanted to tell me something. I wasn’t sure if they would be in a short story or just a character study for a online class. It might have been someone that just made my kids laugh and probably did. A little blurb that sparked a flame and now the words run like wildfires across my page. Though writing was something I always did: Journals, half-filled science notebooks, left over printer paper with the hole strips down the edges – all fair game for the words that I needed to get down. I never realized that it might be the one activity that could heal my wounds, give me hope, and force me back into life.

Not another Creative Journey or How I got my Life Back

I am not really a ‘share every aspect of my life’ type of person but I will probably include you in some parts of my day to day life from here on out. I have been called to do something a little more. Not to grump about editing or cheer for my kids, not to show you goofy pics of my dogs or tell you how to get things done. These might be the ways that I connect with you but they are not the reason I am here. I have been called to bring joy, build faith, speak truth and ultimately, change the world. That sounds a little egotistical but stick with me for a minute, I’m not doing this alone.

I see you out there, as I walk along with my dog or reach out to get my mail- you wave, or nod in my direction-I wave or nod back. Hardly speaking, never knowing each other’s name. A small emptiness is filling us up. We need each other. You need me and don’t really know it; I forgot that I needed you, too! All of us bobbing our heads up and down, waving our arms and drowning in this sea of apathy and disconnections. So, as I extend my hand to you, and take this new step, take hold and let’s see where we go together.

Photo by Elijah Grimm on Unsplash

I will do my best every week to give you something to think about, read out loud to your family or friends, or share with a neighbour. I also intend to give you questions and challenges to encourage you along your journey. I pray that I will put positive words into your world and I hope you will put them into mine. I need you to reach out, to leave a message, challenge me or question me. Keep me on my toes and push me to be better.

I am not asking for you to buy a paid subscription. Subscribing (on this platform) simply means that you will get my link to a newsletter or posts. Its free and only needs an email. Nothing else is necessary. My writing here is to encourage you and for you to encourage me, nothing more.

My outreach at the moment includes publishing a book for mid-grade or junior high students. It is a story about kids finding out what being a human is all about, regardless if they have wings or fins. Not a classic fantasy, just young people coming together to learn from each other and maybe change their world. Buy it for your children, grandchildren, friend’s kids or the your school library. It is my first book. It has been professionally edited and printed but I can already see that my writing is improving as I write my next books.

Are you ready to build your character? Will you join me in weekly challenges to build connections? Can I count on you to push me to be a better person? This is what we have all been called to do. Grab a hold of my hand, let’s do this together.