Hi, Christian Indies,
Last week on the podcast we covered Trauma in your writing. This week, we are going to talk about writing about joy – how they can be used to make your writing better. I confess, last week’s newsletter felt easier to write than this one, perhaps because we are currently struggling, on a national basis, to find something in life to feel optimistic about.
In an effort to get my creative juices flowing, I started to think about the times that I’ve felt joy – on my wedding day, for example, when my heart was full to bursting with it. I cried with joyful tears at the births of my niece and nephew, and, for sure, nothing could top the joy I felt at the birthing of my own children.
Holidays also came to mind, particularly the seasons when the cultural focus seems to be on the gift that is the salvation and redemption of our creator. Now, I enjoy a turkey dinner in November, and appreciate a good fireworks show on the fourth of July as much as anyone, but I often wonder why we only celebrate certain moments, when every moment of life is equally worth celebrating with the fullness of joy that we are promised in Christ. The present, as the old saying goes, is an actual gift from God.
So, I encourage you, find a little bit of joy in your life today, whether it is in the look of wonder on a child’s face as she encounters an insect for the very first time, the simplicity of a beam of sunlight on a blade of grass, or the mere fact that in Christ, you live and move and heve your being. Then, take that joy and carry it into the pages of your novel, where it can inspire others to look for joy in the everyday.
See you soon,
Jamie
