On Writing

One of my new favorite authors is Anne Lamott. She writes with honesty and clarity and truth--and humor! The first book I ready by her is Blue Shoe. It's a fictional story of a very human woman who is trying to love her family well but keeps falling into old habits. I could relate to so much in this character and yet it encouraged me to seek God's help in relationships more than any Christian "how-to" book has.

The most recent book I am reading by her is bird by bird. It's her instructions on writing and life. In it she said someone asked her why she writes and she answered, "Because I like it. And, because I'm good at it." It has taken me a while to say that I'm a good writer. Something in me rebels against calling myself good at anything, as if that is boastful or conceited. I've even resisted giving myself any labels at all,  like "a stay-at-home mom", or "a runner", or "a writer." I just don't want to be put in a box, like once I'm labeled with that title someone will have a picture of who I am and neatly pin me to that picture. I am a mom, and I do like to run, and I do like to write, but not one of them sums up me as a whole person.

However, there is one thing that has been a part of my life since I can remember being alive and that is writing. As a child, it was my outlet to write in my journal every night. At school, English was my favorite subject and then my major. I feel beautiful and alive when I write. So I think I'm okay to call myself a writer (albeit a writer who doesn't write very much). And if it is a way God has wired me, shouldn't I make time to develop that gift and do it? There is more to me, of course, but this is a big part of me.

Anne's father was a writer and he gave her some advice about writing that I would like to take:
"Do it every day for a while. Do it as you would scales on a piano. Do it by prearrangement with yourself. Do it as a debt of honor. And make a commitment to finishing things."
Writing is something I've felt was a luxury or a hobby that I should only do once everyone and everything else was taken care of. But what if I became better at taking care of my people if I make time to do what I love? And what if I can bring glory to God by doing it, better than speaking to someone in person? Then I think these are good reasons to make time for it, "as a debt of honor."

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