Into the Fire

When a writer attempts to write a story with serious intent and hopes to, at the least, touch some hearts, make readers feel either positive or negative emotional responses, and leave a lingering association with them as the pages end, it's unsettling to realize there are no guarantees that even his/her best effort can accomplish this purpose. And I should note the negative emotional responses would be intended not as reactions to the writing style, plot, or anything other than the sought after direction and conclusion to the story.

I wrote this post to illustrate an additional purpose to putting words on the page to tell a story. While authors can speak modestly of their work or gloat about their multiple novels and sales, few of us can claim to have written a novel that transcends the "norm" in our genres. We hope to provide enjoyment for those who either purchase our work or receive it as a gift, but just because we invested a lot of time and even more work into perfecting that story, we face the obvious: Zero guarantees our intentions will be realized.

I absolutely do want to write those novels that will remain timeless in capturing the essence of the human condition with characters who depict our weaknesses and flaws, our singed emotions and our passionate desires, and who resonate in multiple ways with the readers who pick up the books to experience the stories.

Very few things can produce guaranteed satisfaction, certainly not in the arts. While skills and expertise can be appreciated in those pieces of art, those works of fiction, those sounds in music, few can give guarantees of satisfaction to the general populace who experience them. In spite of the talent – or lack thereof – most art has its devout followers and its sincere critics. The artist/writer/musician cannot please everyone. 

But they persist to please, to hold rapt, and to ascend to a heavenly purpose in spite of the no guarantees that perpetually accompany their creations. 

Father, we know the danger of trying to please man, especially over obedience to you. Help us all to do as you ask above all else. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.