Why NOT Being a Prolific Writer is a Godsend

Georgette Heyer - 50 + works in varying genres.  Rosemary Sutcliff - 60+ works in varying genres.  Dorothy Sayers - 139+ works in varying genres.Let's not even try looking at Rudyard Kipling.    
Some writers write A LOT.  You look at their work + their lifespan, and you think, "These people must not even stop to poop!"  NONE OF MY EXAMPLES EVEN HAD COMPUTERS.  You stare at your manuscript that you've been working on for the past five years and you DESPAIR.

In the Christian culture, I think in some ways this pressure to create is magnified because it's seen as a "ministry" (that word in itself has many ills to answer for).   We feel the pressure to create art that is true + meaningful + opens up the mysteries of the kingdom through fantasy (??), and all that sounds good because truthful art is a good thing.  We need to flood the reading market with Scripture-based fiction that isn't too preachy, because we need to take back ground + win souls + be a witness + write, write, WRITE.  That sounds good.  But is it?  Is it, though...?

"these our hells + our heavens, so few inches apart, we must be awfully small + not has strong as we think we are"

If you think you're going to look at the Penslayer Girl's bio + read about how she's writing for the Lord, YOU WOULD BE TOWERINGLY MISTAKEN.  I am not writing for the Lord.  And you probably shouldn't try it either.  It is a horrendous piece of cheek which has crept into our culture, and found a nice nesting place in girls' blogs.  You know the phrase: "daughter of the true King! writing for the Lord!"  You might even have that as your own bio.  I'm sorry.

The Lord doesn't need you + you don't know what you're talking about.  |  If you possibly think you know enough to "write" for the Lord, you know nothing of the smallness of man nor the immensity of God.  Do as Job did, and put your hand over your mouth.  Be humble.  God has left his written witness.  My fiction - your fiction - none of it is necessary.

"the best things which we do have somewhat in them to be pardoned"

Art < God  |  It is true that art, in its accuracy, will be a truthful representation or exposition of reality.  That is a beneficial thing to man + it is wonderful that God gave us the capacity to see the world more clearly through a microcosm of creativity.  But art never - and will never - hold a candle to the revelation which God himself has given, and we are dangerous fools to suppose we can add to the impact of the simple scripture with our poor, uneducated, proud, silly, childish, fanciful stories.

so don't despair if you don't write much

You may smell less of smoke in the judgment than others.  |  Every work I create, from "Plenilune" to my dying manuscript, will be held up in the last day and examined.  I can already tell you their peacock feathers will be burnt.  I can already tell you they have a great deal of chaff to be beat out of them, too much earthiness to be any spiritual good.  There is too much of my old man in them.  What good they may to do the souls of others, I pray to God that may be abundant.  But everything in them which is not worthy of God will be stripped out of my soul - and it will not be pleasant.

"Take comfort in your smallness."  |  Don't be hell-bent on writing a lot.  Write well.  Write truthfully.  Write humbly.  But don't strive to get to the gates with a mountain of work which will only be burnt up as stubble.

the day will show
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