This month I am taking part in the “Your Calling—Your Story” writing contest provided by the Positive Writer website.
“Pa, Pa! Injuns!”
Back when Little House on the Prairie, a television show based on the book by Laura Ingalls Wilder, was popular, I began my first attempt at fiction writing. Anything I wrote back then developed purely by instinct gained from the many books I read. Did I share my work? No way. Or if I did, it was only with those I trusted wouldn’t crush my spirit.
Through the years I have experimented with a variety of writing: non-fiction, poems, even songs. However, I only shared with a select few. Even now, I grapple with confidence in my work, but I have come to this conclusion: if God has given me a story or a message, I have the responsibility to share it to the best of my ability. He will take care of the rest.
Do I always feel compelled to write? No. At times I struggle with inspiration, other times with motivation. God has been relentless in pursuing me. He keeps placing ideas for stories, articles, and devotions in my mind and on my heart. They stew in my thoughts until I’m compelled to write them down, not knowing if they are for my eyes only or to be shared with others.
In 2005, I published my first written work, an article for Life Applications, a small, local magazine, with no monetary value attached. It was exciting to see my name and words in print. A few months later, Life Applications published another of my articles. Boy, did that boost my confidence!
I began attending writers’ conferences and reading about the art of writing. I learned more, gained more skill, and continued practicing. Joining an on-line guild and taking an on-line writers’ course caused me to grow even more. In 2018, I finished the rough draft of my first novella, had a teacher friend edit for me, and am now working on revisions.
So, what did I learn from this journey? As the title says, “I am enough”.
If God calls you to do something, He will equip you to do it. Yes, your work may be a bumbling mess at first, but it is a process. You can learn. Be open. Keep learning. Practice. And most of all, don’t quit.
www.LyndleeAdams.com 