Sunday, March 27, 2011

A Worker/Writer is Worthy of his Pay


Getting paid for your writing effort isn't bad. It is expected that now or later you will get paid for your labors. 1 Timothy 5:18 KJV (For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer [is] worthy of his reward. ) A problem occurs when your misuse of a writing gift creates a negative or harmful result. For example, if you have a gift of writing and decide to write material that leads another to sin, isn't your writing creating a stumbling block for others? Romans 14:13 KJV (Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in [his] brother's way.)

You can write a story for the right reason, but deliver it in the wrong manner. As Nissa pointed out in her comment, a preachy, negative tone gets in the way of a story. What is your reason for writing the story? Is it a sincere attempt to aid others through your writing, or are you using the story as a soapbox to pound someone over the head until a desired belief is accepted? Fictional stories can contain a theme and a message. A story shouted too loudlyat the reader to persuade them of a certain view may prevent the reader from staying to hear either the theme or the message because they have already closed the book.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Are you Called to Writing?

During a recent discussion the question came up whether writers should view writing as a calling. If you are crafting words merely as a way to make lots of money, then your writing may not be a calling. That's not to say you won't ever make money as a writer, but what is your primary purpose in writing? If it is to become rich, then you may view writing as a way to support you and your family. If you write to share your faith or help others strengthen their faith, your writing focus has a spiritual focus .

In that case, if you are called to write and fail to write that for which you are called and gifted, are you not a little like Jonah? Jonah was called to take the word of God to Nineveh, but kept getting side-tracked. God had a plan for what he wanted Jonah to tell the Ninevites. Someone may need to read that story you keep putting off until a better time comes round. Your story may not make the New York Times bestseller list, but your story may make a difference in another person's life. What you wrote even make a difference in your own life.

You'll never find out until you place yourself before a keyboard and start typing.




Saturday, March 19, 2011


The Catholic Writers Conference Online

http://www.catholicwritersconference.com/


March 21 - March 27, 2011

Workshops, Chats, and Pitches gathered on one website.