I thought I’d start this series off on a fun literary note.  First up: writing.

Do you like to write?  I know not everyone does.  I know that there are even writers and authors who, as much as they enjoy getting their message and story out there and are quite skilled at doing so, struggle with liking the task itself.

This has never been the case with me.

What do I like about it?  I love the process of bringing thoughts, ideas, and worlds to life through the means of printed symbols.  I love trying to figure out what sounds the best, which combinations of words and phrases create the best rhythm and flow. 

I love everything about the process and yet, writing means so much more to me than the typing of letters upon a page.

Two years ago, Faithwriters.com asked the question, why do you write?  This was my response, originally posted on my Faithwriters.com profile.

My Unspoken Universe

Thoughts unknown

Words unspoken

A universe waiting to be explored but lacking a vehicle to take me there

Until my fingers picked up the pen and unlocked the unspoken thoughts of my soul.

___

I was known, throughout my school days, as the quiet one.  Parent-teacher conferences would generally include some version of, “Jenny is a great student, but I just wish she would speak up more in class.”

At some point, I realized that I didn’t want to speak up unless I knew exactly what I was going to say and how I was going to say it.  Socially, I was the same way.  My mind would play out a million options for the conversation and analyze each possibility, along with the potential outcomes.  By the time it settled on one it deemed “safe,” the real conversation would have already moved on.

Everything was different when I was alone and could pick up a beautiful, blank sheet of paper.  My fingers would reach down, pick up the pen, and say for me on paper what I could never seem to say in person.  Thoughts that were too numerous and too complicated to understand suddenly came pouring out through my fingers.   Things that didn’t make sense in my brain suddenly made sense on paper.  My spirit was given full, unhindered access as it raced through the pen and revealed itself in visible words. 

___

In these moments, I was free.

My thoughts were known.

My spirit was given a voice.

— End of Faithwriters Post —

It’s Not About Me

Writing began as something very personal that I would rarely share.  Although some teachers caught on to my interest through the quality of work I turned in, I don’t think anyone else knew.  Even now, when I share with friends and relatives about the work I’m doing, I will sometimes get the response, “I didn’t know you liked to write.”

This response is an honest and understandable one.  They didn’t know because I rarely, if ever, talked about it.  It was mine.  It was for me.

And then, it slowly became more than that.

In the ten years since I began to open up and publicly share this love and gift God has given me, I have come to realize that God has always intended it to be so much more than mine.

Although writing is still one of the primary ways in which I connect to God and receive His joy, life, and understanding, the reason I write has changed.  Instead of writing for myself, I write for God and for others.  I write from a heart that desires to serve others with my words and to share the life He has given me.

I love the feeling of connecting with God and the glorious sensation of peace and excitement I receive as words flow through my soul onto the computer.  I love being able to share those words publicly, trusting all the while that God is able to speak through them to bring joy, help, and encouragement to others.

Thank you, God, for giving me this way to connect to you.  Thank you for giving me avenues in which to share it with others.

Join me!

Do you like to write?  If so, post what you like about it in the comments below.

Next Week: What I like about… literary genres.

I will be focusing on literary genres next week.  What is your favorite genre to read?  What do you like about it?  Send me an email this week (jennyannlitfin@gmail.com) stating what you like about that genre. and I’ll include it in next week’s post. 

In addition, If there is a what-I-like-about topic you would like to write about and submit as a guest posting, you can type it up and send it to me, along with your picture and short bio, at jennyannlitfin@gmail.com. 

*Note: I do reserve the right to filter submissions for guest postings.   

That’s all for this week.  May you all have a good, God-filled week!