Defining My Voice As a Writer

I know it seems this should be posted on Godly Graffiti blog, but I think what I have experienced tonight is about more than writing--it is about finding my voice!

Tonight I wrote my first column for Take Root and Write. I've spent a couple of weeks reading the words of many of the women who are already established there and I have been really awestruck. I've also spent some intentional time visiting other Christian women's blogs--mainly some I've found through links at the the blogs I have been regularly visiting. I realize that our collective voice is powerful and strong and sure. I've tried to leave at least one comment on each blog that uplifts and encourages the women.

I researched my column. I did a lot of reading and praying and thinking. I struggled for every word. Part of the reason I know is because it was my first one and I was half thinking the site owner was going to read it and tell me she changed her mind! Not really -- but kind of. I sent off a copy of the post to one of my Christian sisters who was in a critique group with me a few years ago and asked for her feedback. After I reread it, though, I felt good about it.

I kept thinking about how a woman who is being abused can consider herself God's Wonder Woman--which is the column title. I thought about a single mom, living in poverty, working two jobs and wondered if she ever felt valued. I considered the drug addicts and the prostitutes. I anguished over all my sisters everywhere. I really want them to know how much they are loved, how precious they are and how they are perfect in God's eyes.

That's what I hope my words conveyed. The exercise of writing the column - the first one that will set the tone and make the first impression helped me define my voice. I can speak these words of hope and love to other women because I am learning to believe them myself - and to live them out.

One blog post isn't going to say all there is to say. One statement or one book won't cover everything I want to convey. I'm just going to keep praying that God gives me the words others need to hear to help them in whatever situation they may find themselves.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. [Hebrews 12:1]