If . . .

"If you hear a voice within you say, 'You cannot paint,' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced."  ~Vincent van Gogh

Does the same advice apply to writers?

Write on!
Because of Christ,
Sharon

A Writerly Question

 

What do you call a group of writers? 

A Gathering of Inky Sisters

Four friends recently met at my little nest to talk about our shared passion: writing. It had been far too long since we had come together--well over a year.

We met through the now-dissolved Southern Indiana Writers' Salon, a group I co-founded in 2001. Since SIWS's demise early in 2010, some former members--I among them--have felt a bit like a motherless child, wanting to start another group, but hesitant to take the risks of such an undertaking. You see, SIWS did not end well, but that's a subject for different blog entry.

Clustered around my dining room table, we shared current projects, nibbled on fresh veggies and still-warm oatmeal cookies, and exercised our problem-solving skills to address rough spots in our writing. Beyond that, we encouraged and inspired one another. (Hey, oft-pubbed Ramona K. Cecil came up with the name for the novella I'm working on--and that was within five minutes of her arrival!)

Most important, we hold one another in prayer. We seek God's guidance in our writing, our meeting, and our families.

We are a diverse band. Ramona writes historical romance fiction and poetry. Kathi Linz writes whatever suits her fancy. She is an information specialist at our local library, so her interests are like a sunburst, pointing off in many directions. Most of her writing, both fiction and non-fiction, is for children. Natalie Bray, who participates in Renaissance festivals, writes in the genre of speculative fiction, the sub-genre of fantasy. As she unfolds the many layers of her current work, the room becomes crowded with strange, unimaginable creatures, dragons, monsters, courageous heroes and silver-haired heroines. I write middle-grade novels and some poetry. I'm also working on a historical novella and some children's magazine pieces.

So what is the future of this new aggregate of wordsmiths? That vision is still under construction. But this we know. We will maintain our Christian identity. Further, we will remain a small, informal gathering of inky friends, running no notices in the newspaper inviting others to join us. Does that mean we would not accept more writers to our circle? Certainly not. But we won't advertise toward that end.

Writing often is an isolated endeavor. Sure, we leave our writer's caves to conduct research and to be active members of our families, churches and communities, but the actual nitty-gritty work of our craft usually is done apart from the gaping crowd. Nonetheless, we need our fellow scribes. I highly recommend participating in writers' organizations, online communities, and critique groups, but don't neglect the face-to-face meetings, also. We say it often because it's true: Iron sharpens iron.

Your Turn:  Do you belong to a local writers' group? What have you gained from participation? What advice or warnings would you give to others considering starting such a group? Please respond by leaving a "Comment."

On the Move

The past month has been consumed with moving from one town to another, both in southern Indiana. I like my new nest, and I'm eager to get back to writing.

My first official apartment guests are coming to lunch today--and they're both writers! Fellowshipping with sisters in faith and writing will be a sweet way to launch me back into a writing routine. Huzzah!

Got to get back to making my famous chicken salad.

Write on!

Because of Christ,
Sharon

When I Grow Up...

...I want to write like Kate DiCamillo, author of

• The Tiger Rising
• Because of Winn Dixie
• The Magician's Elephant
• The Tale of Despereaux
• The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane 

Okay, so I don't really want to write like her, since I have my own style, my own voice, but I do admire her work. She reminds me of another writer whose work I really like: Annie Dillard. The two women differ in what they write, but both consciously observe the world around them.  On DiCamillo's website, she says, "...each time you look at the world and the people in it closely, imaginatively, the effort changes you. The world, under the microscope of your attention, opens up like a beautiful, strange flower and gives itself back to you in ways you could never imagine."

Additional recommended reading: "Seeing," an essay by Annie Dillard.

At the Cross

I huddle at the foot of the Cross,
My arms stretch to encompass it around,
My head bowed,
My eyes pinched so tightly they hurt.
Silent sobs wrack my being.

The men are gone.
The Brotherhood, save one, has forsaken the Master.
Other women stand,
Bow,
Lie prostrate nearby,
Each alone,
Forsaken,
Desperate,
Desolate.
I hear their weeping off in the distance,
At the perimeter of my own sorrow.

Roman soldiers stand silent,
Trying to understand,
Yet bound merely to a duty.
Scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees
Cluster together and mutter into their self-righteous beards,
Rehearsing their excuses.
Their mumbling blends, segues into the rumbling of a gathering storm.

Messiah, on the Cross, lifts His head to Heaven.
With one last lingering remnant of strength,
He pushes against the spike that holds His feet,
Pulls up on the nails that pierce His wrists,
Draws in a gurgling breath,
Licks His lips to moisten them, to make speech possible,
And cries out to the Father Whose Face is turned away.

"It is finished!"

A pronouncement that will echo throughout Eternity.

I look up as His weary, abused head
Sinks
To His bosom,
Where so many children had rested their heads
And received His blessing.

A drop of His vermillion Blood
Rolls down one of the thorns
That comprises a crude crown.
In one interminable moment,
I watch it
Fall;
I tip my face downward in shame,
Knowing my own unworthiness,
Yet yearning for His anointing.
That Sacred Drop
Splashes on my head and covers me over.

The Earth begins to tremble.

Copyright 2007 by Sharon Kirk Clifton

QUIRKY QUILL Launched Yesterday!

I'm excited. Yesterday I launched a new blog aimed at "tweenage" readers and writers. It seemed the natural thing to do since that's the age group I write for primarily. Will you help me out, please?

• Stop by at QUIRKY QUILL, look it over, and give me your opinion;
• Tell the 'tweens in your life about it, and give them the link;
• Click to "Join" the  Quirky Quill community;
• Help spread the word to parents and grands, teachers, library professionals, children's ministry staff, and fellow writers who work with, write for, and are interested in, 'tweens.

Thanks!

Write on!
Because of Christ,
Sharon

Writerly Advice

Write On!

This morning, I read literary agent Rachelle Gardner's blog article "Do You Have a Thick Skin." It was so refreshing, going beyond the usual "buck up, little camper" advice writers get after criticism or rejection.

I smiled as I read her response. Like Rachelle, I'll never have so tough a skin that criticism or rejection won't hurt. God didn't wire me that way.

Of course, it hurts. First I cry. Then I grumble to a friend or daughter. Next, I do what I should have done first--climb up in Abba's lap and pour out my heart to Him.

Lastly, I remember what Mama always, always said when classmates would laugh at my clothes or my nose or my little crooked toes: "Consider the source, Sharon Kay." Does that person's opinion really matter in the grand scheme of things? Did he raise valid points? Is she being snarky or honest? Does he know what he's talking about?

After my pity party and my time with the Lord, I'm in a frame of mind to sort through the criticism, glean the gold and toss the dross.

And though it's been a long time coming, I've learned to get my bohonkus back in the chair and write, in spite of disappointment.

Write on!

Because of Christ,
Sharon

And the Winner Is...

TAMMIE EDINGTON SHAW! Thank you, Tammie, for reading the interview with Ramona K. Cecil and leaving a comment. My grandson Eli, 6, drew your name from the envelope. Now I need your address. Please send it to skc [dot and no spaces] storyteller ["at" sign and no spaces] ballstate [dot, no spaces] bsu [dot, no spaces] edu.