Into the Fire

. . . to write. I always find it interesting to learn how different authors write. There are all kinds of ways for inspiration to transform itself into the written word. Some writers are methodical, highly organized, outliners. Others write as the words come—as if those words are being transported through their bloodstreams and pouring out of opened wounds.

So many ways for inspiration to come—arriving in a dream, in the garage, at church, in a shopping mall, watching TV, or taking a walk. I cannot escape the passage in James which reminds me that every “good and perfect gift” comes down from the Father of heavenly light. Oh yes. Without Him where would decent ideas originate? But let’s face it, writing a novel requires more than a good or decent idea. Writing an exceptional novel demands inspiration.

I spoke a little bit about this on Monday’s post. Many can learn the craft of writing and how to pull together a novel according to all the instructions that have been taught, demonstrated, and read in manuals on writing. But without the passion of inspiration, they become just more novels on the shelves. Now I might not catch the evident passion in a cleverly written chick lit novel because they don’t appeal to me, but those novels do appeal to a section of readers and when those readers can come away with something besides a good laugh to carry along with them in their life experiences . . . well, who’s going to knock that?

I don’t think you can disguise passion in writing—I know: why would you? What I mean to say is the story grabs at some level and won’t let go when passion infiltrates its pages. The thing is with novels—everybody has their certain kinds of reads. No one can take that away from them.

I do think some professionals get to the place where they produce what I’ve called “utility” books—something they wrote because they were asked to work up a story, and they complied. But it didn’t inspire the passion in them so they used their professional writing and storytelling capabilities and came up with a utility novel. Not bad, not particularly great either. Just okay. A book you read when your TBR pile is gone, and this is the one you read until you get your next stack started. Somewhat enjoyable but easily forgotten when you close the cover.

I’m one of those writers who cannot write word one without divine inspiration. I have no ideas of my own—at least none that make it onto the screen and insist on being written. The words come from something in me that God has built into me because I see images of people traits, not necessarily their faces but their hair or eyes, their demeanors, their personalities, their insecurities and imperfections . . . and the words come. I can’t take any credit for them.

So, do you write outlines, have a zillion ideas and need to learn to pick just one? Are you highly organized or spontaneous combustive? How do you write? What inspires you?

Father, you are my inspiration, my source, my motivator, my teacher, my encourager. Apart from you, I can do nothing. Help me to do what you desire. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.