Over the last decade since Thom
as Nelson published my first two books, encouraging readers have asked questions about my “writing process”: Do you write every day? Where do you get your ideas? Do you start writing a book from the beginning? Have you ever had writer’s block? Do you have any new projects in the works?
To be honest, process may be too strong of a word to describe what it is like for me to craft a book or blog. Several of my author-friends truly have a process: they write as a discipline in a certain place for a specific period of time on scheduled days. It is truly beautiful…and it is not my story.
I will briefly address these questions in the next blog, but for today, allow me to share a recent experience at the Grand Canyon.
My mother is extraordinary—the most generous soul I have ever known. She has dreamed of seeing Alaska (check), Austria (working on it), and the Grand Canyon (which our family is driving back from as I type).
Pulling into the parking lot this past Friday, it began to rain and by the time we reached Mather Point, shuttle routes were closing due to inclement weather and rain hid the canyon like an impenetrable veil. We left, ate, slept, and returned to the point around 7 a.m on Saturday.
The fog from overnight rain was extremely dense but every once in a while it would roll up from the canyon depths as though stirred by a giant spoon, and an opening in the fog would reveal the other side of the canyon for a few moments. It was enough to take my breath away. So I stood still, awaiting the next stir, the next roll, the next window.
This is what writing is like for me. This is my process: waiting in all of its glory. Waiting, for me, is not the prelude to writing. Waiting is the main event.
Writing fuses attentiveness with expectation and being present with being treasured. Writing is simply an overflow of listening and listening is simply an overflow of love.
Yes, there is certainly work to be done. However, it all feels like invitation. Just as my family researched, planned, drove, and then walked in order to experience various points on the canyon rim, I study and reflect to position myself to hear and see anew.
Most of that research and reflection will never make it into the book or the blog at hand. Yet it is all still gain because it is all done in the context of relationship with Jesus.
And at day’s end, my life goal is not writing. My life goal is practicing the presence of God.
Dear Alicia,
I wish I could really tell you how excited I am that I’ve found you. I’ve been following you for a couple months now. I had asked God for a writing mentor. Someone free spirited and artistic like me that I could learn from.
Here you are. And you’re so beautiful. Your eyes are like Jesus. Just so much like Jesus. I can see His light coming out of your cheeks, even. : )
Thank you, thank you for writing and sharing your journey. I’ve been watching your videos and look forward to your newsletter each month. I’m a young momma with three kiddos, a writer and a beauty seeker.
You are sooo precious. I’m thanking Jesus for you today.
Love,
Maggie
‘Waiting is the main event.’ I’ve never thought of the wait before writing as the main event. It is in that wait that lots of prayer takes place. I feel like writing for me is a two ring circus. Prayer and waiting in one ring, then the actual writing in another. Both can happen simultaneously, especially if I am writing a Bible study. I can be writing on one chapter, while still praying through and waiting on the words for another chapter. Always there is prayer. It is interesting the different analogies that can be conjured up for writing.
Amen, to your life goal and may it ever more be mine as well!
Thank-you for sharing how you study, listen, and write.
God used prayer journaling to help me become more present to Him; revealing hidden areas of my heart and making me aware of the work He was doing to change me.
Most recently, I have begun blogging in response to the sense that this was another way He wanted to use to draw me out of hiding. I am discovering a wellspring of joy as I write with an awareness that He is drawing this gift out of me!
You may not know it but your Spirit led words have encouraged me to say, “yes,” to this avenue of expression and communication.
Wendy, your description sounds like a hidden, deep, pure spring is about to water lives deeply. I am so grateful for your journey!
Wow! Your words have really affirmed where I am at right now! I have never considered myself a writer. However, I recently wrote something about my current journey with God. It’s an image I received and the words just came, I can’t really claim them as my own. I have been waiting since then to see how God wants to respond to this image. I haven’t been impatient, rather, more attentive than usual and expectant. I almost got up late one night to start writing down some words and ideas that were coming to me, but really felt that I was supposed to wait and just listen, be present, that I would know when it was time to write.
“This is what writing is like for me. This is my process: waiting in all of its glory. Waiting, for me, is not the prelude to writing. Waiting is the main event.
“Writing fuses attentiveness with expectation and being present with being treasured. Writing is simply an overflow of listening and listening is simply an overflow of love.”
I have never heard anyone talk about their writing process in this way, but this recent writing experience has me desiring to start a Commonplace Book for myself and your words are the encouragement and affirmation I needed to begin and to have faith that waiting is part of my process. The end goal is not a well written commonplace book, but practicing the presence of God day by day.
Erika, thank you for sharing. Your comments truly encourage me this morning. I was not sure if sharing my experience would be helpful for others. Thank you.