Answering the Call to Write

 


 

I should have clued in I was a writer, when I questioned my sanity. Journals, stories,  poems, and random thoughts cluttered my bed side drawer and every surface in my home and car.

 

My friends should have clued in that I was a writer when they thought I was opening birthday gifts year after year that could pay off my mortgage, but the tears and elation was a gift of paper or a new fresh white journal! OH JOY!!!!

 

“You have a very unique writing style” was something I heard of over and over again in IMG_6092University, and when I completed my first full length play, or wrote an essay. I thought it was a polite way of saying I was incomprehensible, but it turned out it was God pointing me in my direction.

 

I knew something was up when I made my writing professor tear up with laughter, reading my incomplete story of Gwenyth Gurth and the Shitiest Engagement Ever ( Dung Piles and Diamonds) . It was all fun, and exploration.

 

It wasn’t until I was at home several years later, with my 5th child, and I became desperate for an outlet so I started to blog.  I soon realized that I wasn’t writing because I wanted to anymore, I was writing because I HAD to. 

 

This exploration turned into passion, and then it grew a limb, and became a part of my being, like if it wasn’t allowed to be nourished and grow, the rest of the body would suffer.  It was then that I knew this was more than a random abnormal hobby, or an exploration of creativity, or even an expression of me, it was a call and it was time.

 

So now what? I asked

Get your behind to a writers conference, that’s what!

 

It was three years ago that I googled “Canadian Christian Writers Conference” and WRITE CANADA popped up. The trouble was, it was only 3 weeks away, and I was on the other side of Canada! BUT, when God opens a door, calls us forward, nothing gets in His way. 3 weeks later I found myself gripping my notepad and fiddling with my name tag, taking a deep breath and stepping into the unknown with counterfeit confidence. 

 

Here’s an excerpt from my 1st experience…

 

“But I don’t want to go among mad people,” Alice remarked.
“Oh, you can’t help that,” said the Cat: “we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.”
“How do you know I’m mad?” said Alice.
“You must be,” said the Cat, or you wouldn’t have come here.” 
 

Lured by the trail of a white rabbit, Alice in wonderland stood in the center of a new world. Lured by the prospects of a world outside of motherhood I have landed in Ontario, celebrated my first night alone in years, mourned the loss of my hair straightener, and shuttled my way with a BBQ master christian surfer dude, and another Alice,  to one of the most beautiful cities I have seen in Canada.

Today I have met the most unusual of God’s creations and have naively followed all the signs that say, Eat This, or Drink That. I have met characters whose passion for writing is driving them mad and just as the cat purred, the only reason I am here is because I am mad as well! I have indeed met my DNA!!! I cannot wait for more!

“have I gone mad?
I’m afraid so, but let me tell you something, the best people usually are.”
― Lewis CarrollAlice in Wonderland

 

It was transforming for me, and it changed me as a writer, but also as a person.

 

This June I am off to Write Canada for the 3rd time, it is a part of our yearly expenses now, like new bikes, and swimming lessons for 5 kids. However, this time the man is coming with me and we are off to Montreal after the conference for our first couples getaway in a very, very, very long time! 

 

 Kids, what kids?

 

DOUBLE BONUS!

 

So, I will be busy preparing, and editing and compiling, so my blog may be infested with crickets for a while, but all for a good purpose, the plague shall soon pass as I answer the call.

 

WRITE CANADA 2015

 

 

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