Jerry B. Jenkins's Blog, page 39
June 28, 2011
Paying Your Dues
Wednesday's Writing on Writing
I don't believe in luck.
I believe in faithfully, steadily paying your dues. You grow as a writer, and one
assignment leads to another. Sorry, but there are rarely shortcuts.
After a few rejections, a few ego scrapings, someone's going to publish something you've written. You might not make much money, but pretty soon you'll hear from others: "You ought to interview my sister; she has a story," or "My brother works for a newspaper, and he's looking for this kind of story." People will notice your writing.
Regardless where you are in your writing journey, always strive for the freedom to write about what really matters to you. Whatever else the writing life offers, nothing compares with the dream of actually changing lives with words. And if you plan to make a life of writing, you must stand for something, have a carefully considered and lived-out worldview.
Know your passion. Discover what it is that can keep you in front of that keyboard day after day. If it's money, fame, and power, you'll find yourself quitting once you have achieved those – or you'll have found that you can't achieve those. Write because you believe in something. I write because I believe that's what God wants me to do.
At a recent Christian Writers Guild reception, someone insightfully asked, "What did you have to sacrifice to have the writing career you've had?"
I had to think about that one, because the rewards have far outweighed any sacrifices. As I've said, one thing I was not willing to give up was my family – time with my kids and my wife. I've seen people do that. Until they have enough work or success to write full time, they work full time and write part time.
Something has to give, usually the family. The writer is behind a closed door, or a book, or a computer screen, in essence telling her family they rank lower than writing on her list of priorities.
So what did I give up by relegating my freelance career to late nights? A little privacy. Some television. Some sleep. Was it worth is? You decide.
June 21, 2011
Revival Begins in the Mirror
Wednesday's Writing on Writing
Most Christians can recall an experience sometime following their conversion where they came back to God after a period of spiritual dryness. Sometimes the rededication experience is so meaningful, emotional, or dramatic, it may be mistaken for salvation.
I remember mine clearly. As a teenager, I was working at a summer camp where a young evangelist, John Ankerberg,
was to speak. He'd been one of my spiritual models and I was secretly proud that he would ask me what he should speak about that night.
"Phoniness," I said with confidence. "There are a lot of phonies out here this week." I was sincere. I didn't count myself among them.
John recruited me. I sat in the back, ready to counsel the phonies who saw the error of their ways during John's message. But as he spoke, God got through to me instead. I fell under conviction — heart-pounding, mind-racing, guilt-ridden conviction — that I had been living in sin.
Truly, I had not intended to be a phony. I didn't run with a bad crowd, didn't get into trouble. But neither did anyone outside the Christian community know I was a believer.
John challenged us to say, "I'll stand for Christ by God's grace if I have to stand alone." As soon as John invited people to stand and be counted, I leaped to my feet. He said, "Counselors are already standing, ready to pray with you," and he sent a young camper my way for counseling.
If you've never tried counseling someone about your own spiritual problem while under conviction, I don't recommend it. As soon as I finished, I ran to the privacy of a friend's car and got right with God.
What refreshment! What peace of mind! What joy! And what corresponding sense of sadness and loss that I had not been revived earlier.
June 19, 2011
On with Dr. Dobson Today…
…discussing Hedges:LOvin gYour Marriage Enough to Protect It
June 18, 2011
I'll Be On with Dr. Dobson…
…Monday and Tuesday (check local listings) to discuss Hedges: Loving Your Marriage Enough to Protect It
June 17, 2011
Hedges: Loving Your Marriage Enough to Protect It…
…will be Dr. Dobson's and my topic Monday and Tuesday (check local listings).
June 16, 2011
Hear Dr. Dobson and Me…
…discuss Hedges: Loving Your Marriage Enough to Protect It, Monday and Tuesday (check local listings). 
June 15, 2011
I'll Be On with Dr. Dobson…
…Monday and Tuesday, discussing Hedges: Loving Your Marriage Enough to Protect It
June 14, 2011
Writers Are Readers
Wednesday's Writing on Writing
I was raised by a crossword-puzzling, poetic father and an anagramming, word-loving, Latin-knowing, grammarian
mother. My two older brothers are smart and were good students, so I learned to speak and write correctly by osmosis, which frustrated my English teachers to no end. I could pick out the correct sentence, but I couldn't say why it was better than the poor example – it just sounded right. The right one sounded the way my mother spoke.
I learned to read before kindergarten, and in those days learning to read wasn't supposed to happen until the first grade. I'd have gone stir crazy waiting that long, so I read to my kindergarten colleagues and got a reputation for being smart.
From early reading came a love for newspapers and magazines—something fresh and new to read every day! And from all that reading, I think, came an ear or an eye for good writing. I was great in arithmetic until it became math, and I was good in science until it became biology and chemistry. But give me a writing assignment, and I was in heaven. That I could do. The fact that most kids loved all that other stuff but dreaded writing made me unique.
Writers must love words. That's a prerequisite. I especially love anagrams, interesting turns of phrase, mistakes, typographical errors, unintentionally funny signs (Discount Foods & Salvage), and the like.
I drive family and friends crazy when I see an interesting word and notice it's an anagram for else (an anagram is a word formed from the same letters as another word). For instance, I'll drive past a car and call out, "an anagram for Pontiac!) A lover of words will soon come up with caption. Or we'll pull into a hotel and I'll say, "Anagram for Hampton." Phantom.
I also love beautiful writing. Writers are readers. Good writers are good readers. Great writers are great readers. If you don't like to read, you may want to consider another profession.
Update on Sam
Our grandson, 10, fell from a tree two weeks ago and suffered a severe break (not sure there's another kind; see below) of his right femur and right wrist. Because of the wrist, he can't use crutches, though he must keep weight off that leg for six weeks. So, he'll be in a wheelchair for at least a month.
He's sad about missing summer camp, going to the pool, and had hoped to try football in the Fall, but otherwise he's coming along. Here he is with Grandpa and Grandma and his sisters Maya and Elle.
