Comments on: Make it New: By being Rigorously Honest in our Writing, we Find Originality.

By: Anita

Anita — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:43:46 +0000

Thanks much, Rhoda and Florence!
@Florence, welcome to my blog:-)

By: Florence

Florence — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:19:16 +0000

"God gives each of us unique circles of influence, unique tribes. And our life-experience, personalities, and ways of expressing ourselves speak to our own tribe, in a way someone else’s might not. "

Thanks, needed to hear this today. :)

By: Rhoda

Rhoda — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:23:56 +0000

Thanks for the interesting and challenging post. This quote is the most challenging for me: 'To write in the fewest possible words'!! I often think of a sentence and then end up writing a page! I catch myself every so often thinking, why should I post this – everyone knows it already. But then I remind myself that my goal is to write what God is teaching me, not what no-one else has heard. And I agree about the circles of influence – that often keeps me going where otherwise I would have given up. Thanks for linking up and for the encouragement to post that last post on my blog 🙂

By: Leah Atha

Leah Atha — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:59:49 +0000

In reply to Anita. Great, thanks!

By: Anita

Anita — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:23:01 +0000

Hi Leah,
Well, she has a highly poetic style, but no, I didn't find anything objectionable. The medieval female mystics use highly emotional, romantic, and even sexual imagery to describe their relationship with God!!

By: Leah Atha

Leah Atha — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:33:37 +0000

You've given me much to think about!

On a slightly related topic, I've heard that 1,000 Gifts took a Song of Songs-esque descriptor of her relationship to God too far. As you have read the book, do you have any thoughts about it?

By: Anita

Anita — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:06:20 +0000

Claudia, reading your comment makes me realise that all of us Christian bloggers just have to be honest about our struggles (and take the risk that we might discourage, rather than encourage people).
Each of us has our circle of influence God gives us, whom we uniquely touch. And I guess the parable of the talents,and real life experiences shows that the more faithful one is with sharing one's honest, real, spiritual lives and inspirations, the wider that circle of influence grows.
I am constantly trying to be more and more real and honest. Otherwise, there is little value in a spiritual writing ministry!:-)

By: Claudia

Claudia — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:12:49 +0000

I reached a point last year being very discouraged in my writing, because my experiences were nothing like those of some of the blogs I was reading. There was even a couple I stopped following because they seemed so far above me I was feeling depressed by the comparison.

I've now realised all I can do is write about my own experience. And if what I'm learning is old news to everyone else so be it. And even if I only have 13 followers all I can do is to be faithful to my own journey.

By: Anita

Anita — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:07:29 +0000

Do revisit it. 1000 Gifts is a very capacious form for telling a story and Ann has a life-changing insight to share. But your book will be Kim's, not Ann's because you are Kim, not Ann. Follow the dream God has sown in your heart, and it will lead you along surprising paths, and to surprising places! Blessings, Anita

By: kd sullivan

kd sullivan — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:02:44 +0000

This is such encouragement to me. I will have to meditate on this. I had an idea similar to 1000 Gifts years ago, but felt like I shouldn't bother now…but maybe I should revisit? hmmmm….