Cautious, compliant writing is not only boring to read it’s boring to write. Our job as writers is to stimulate and engage our readers to not only believe what we’ve written, but to persuade them to think differently.
In Annie Dillard’s book, The writing life, she’s says this, “One of the things I know about writing is this: Spend it all, shoot it, play it, lose it, all, right away, every time. Do not hoard what seems good for a later place in the book or for another book; give it, give it all, give it now. The impulse to save something good for a better place later is the signal to spend it now. Something more will arise for later, something better.”
Give it, Give it all, Give it now.
Annie’s right, we can become so reluctant to spend all our hard-earned words on something that we feel we will have nothing left to cash in. Like Smaug the dragon, we hoard our words like treasure, too frightened to lose every syllable in one sitting.
I wrote and performed a play in church a few years ago. It was about Mary’s thoughts on who Jesus was and why he had to come to save everyone. To create atmosphere, I had the lights down, music played to go with the highs and lows of the script, and a huge screen playing a video my husband had created ran in the background as I acted out the play. Our Pastor did an altar call after my performance, and people responded with tears rolling down their cheeks.
My friend said something I’ll never forget. She said that my writing was God-breathed, and for me to be able to read a story or play I’d written and lead people to salvation was a very special and unique gift that God had given to me.
I want my words to change people. I’m sure you do too, my friend. Even if what I’ve written reaches only one person, the effort would have been worth it. So we have to give it, give it all, and give it now. Tomorrow may be too late for someone who believes they won’t make the next twenty-four hours. Pour out everything God puts on your heart. Be brave and bold in your creativity because God needs your courage to reach people.
Spend it all, every last syllable. Give it everything you’ve got. Don’t save anything for another day. Just remember 2 Corinthians 6:2 when you’re tempted to hoard words and save them for another time…
“…I tell you now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation.”
Give it, Give it all, Give it now!
Wendy xo
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