As some of you may know, the song Blessings by Laura Story has a special meaning to me, since long story short, it periodically “coincidentally” comes on at just the right time or in a certain pattern, to only be meant to me as a greeting from my sweet mom. (It was the song we used for a video we made for her memorial service. I cannot even count the number of times this song played from the radio as described above.)
I had started a major writing project which involves the story of 3 generations of women in my family. I have not been able to write anything for a while as I often feel my creativity is zapped by the time I get home after a mentally-exhausting day at work. Somehow, I need to press on and still write. I have been listening to various authors and trying to refocus on my creativity lately.
Of course, I pray about this matter time and again, sometimes in exasperation and sometimes with great humility. I have had several affirmations that this writing is what I’m meant to do. Again through music, I feel I’m given promptings from songs, such as after meditating about this recently, what song should come on but Write Your Story? Wow… (And various other affirmations…)
I envision my story as a musical. I love musicals. I started writing this as a musical. I’ve envisioned what the set might look like, movements, how people are transitioned on and off stage, etc. I’ve written songs—music and lyrics--for the various scenes. I’ve envisioned what certain scenes must have been like in real life, as if I were the person in that scene. And, I’ve relived some of the sorrowful scenes in which I was an actual participant.
Listening to a writers conference recently, one speaker commented on Steven’s King concept of writing with the door closed then writing with the door open. Here is the quote: Write with the door closed, rewrite with the door open. Your stuff starts out being just for you, in other words, but then it goes out. Once you know what the story is and get it right — as right as you can, anyway — it belongs to anyone who wants to read it. Or criticize it.― Stephen King
Writing a musical in finished form, songs and all, as one’s first major writing feat, is just a SMALL endeavor to tackle. I realized I was writing with the door open. A musical is meant to be seen and heard by others. It is meant to be experienced. It is meant to fill the senses. I envision all of that. I envision the stage and the audience, lights and music. However, perhaps I need to take a step back and try writing this with the door closed. Perhaps I should first write this in book form without the descriptions of the stage and such. I don’t know. I know I have not been able to re-start my writing for this endeavor, and I need to and want to. It is a great story to be told and I pray that it will be a blessing to many.
I thought it would be good to start reading in my spare time again, so I am currently thoroughly enjoying a book which is also historical fiction about life in Korea (and Japan). My story will cover some of this as well.
As I’ve tried to reset my compass--change my trajectory--for my writing project this past week, I find it amazing that Blessings just HAPPENED to come on THREE times for me in the last 5 days. That must be close to a record, even from when the song was newer. I pray that God will continue to give His blessings in this writing project, and especially for blessings from my mom and grandma. From the frequency of hearing Blessings this week, I cannot help but wonder if my mom is saying, “Nina, it’s ok. Write our story.”
So, I encourage you all to reach into what feeds and fuels your soul—your creativity. It is God’s gift to us, and with it, we can do marvelous things which results in a salve to our soul and a blessing to others.
If anyone has actually read this lengthy post, haha, I ask for your prayers and encouragement for my writing project. My employer will not allow me to reduce my hours as I’d like and I’m not finding a proper balance with all that I want to juggle in life right now; I need to write… And let’s not even mention all of the things going on during 2020… So, I will be praying for my readers as well, whomever you may be. I appreciate your love and support. ~~BLESSINGS!~~
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