Yesterday I plugged Dan Allender’s new book. It got me wondering: Will I ever write one? What will it be about? Who will buy it? Or maybe more appropriate, given my own self-doubt: Will anyone buy it? And of utmost importance, what will propel me to do the work, spend the time, take the risk?
I’m reading a book right now called Writing to Change the World by Mary Pipher – of Reviving Ophelia fame. It’s good; sort of a treatise on the value, process, pit-falls, struggles, and triumphs of the whole industry and exercise. It motivates me to want to write more (far above and beyond these random and quickly composed blogs).
But what should I write about? Where is my deepest passion – at least at this point? Can I say something that no one else has said, or at least something previously said but in a far different way? What do I want to say?
I’m not sure if it’s so much that I can’t get started or that there’s so much internal editing going on that I won’t start for fear of not being good enough, profound enough, provocative enough… enough, period. Who knows?
What I do know is that I do have much I want to say – on many topics – but chief among them is how we might consider Scripture far more seriously and far more creatively as we seek to live life in ways that invite transformation – certainly our own, but also others’ and the world’s. That’s a tiny, little topic, don’t you think? I’d better get started…which implies stopping this entry and moving on to something a bit more substantive!
OK…not yet. One more thing:
Mary Pipher quotes James Baldwin and says: You write in order to change the world, knowing perfectly well that you probably can’t, but also knowing that literature is indispensable to the world…The world changes according to the way people see it, and if you alter, even by a millimeter, the way…people look at reality, then you can change it.
That’s worth any effort, don’t you think? It seems more than enough to propel me to do the work, spend the time, and take the risk. Watch for my shameless plug yet!
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I can’t wait to see what you write…you have at least 2 copies pre-ordered for the Dancause household.
How’s it coming along? Have your goals changed? It’s interesting how they do change sometimes! Have you written a book? If not, do you still want to write a book?
Positive Mitch´s last blog ..If you have nothing nice to say…
Always wanting to write a book. And getting SO much closer!!!