Giving Back
This week I have the privilege of coaching a group of writers at the Oregon Christian Writers’ Coaching Conference in Portland. I’m flying there today, in fact. This wonderful event offers writers a chance to meet with editors, authors, publishers and literary agents during the four-day conference. I’m really looking forward to being part of it!
Ever since I was asked to speak to writers for the first time years ago, I have leaped at the chance. It’s one of my favorite things to do, and my way of giving back to the wonderful, generous people who have mentored me along the way. I think especially of my first mentor, a dear Christian author named Alma Barkman. We first met more than thirty years ago.
I lived in Canada back then and had just begun to write. But I was too timid to tell anyone except my husband about the novel I was working on during my children’s nap time. One day I felt God challenging me not to keep it a secret anymore. I needed to have the courage and faith to admit to anyone and everyone that I felt called to write Christian fiction. It was a scary step to take. What if people laughed at me? What if I failed?
One morning when my husband Ken was teaching music lessons at our home, one of his students, a friendly young fellow who was waiting for his turn, noticed me typing away at my desk. “Whatcha doing?” he asked.
I could have replied, “Just typing,” but I decided to be brave and admit the truth. “Well, I’m working on a novel. I want to be a writer.”
I waited for him to laugh or make a joke of it, but he smiled and said, “That’s really cool! My mom is a writer. You should meet her sometime.” When I asked what kind of writing she did, he got a little shy and said, “Well, we’re Christians. She writes devotions for a publisher called Moody Press in Chicago.”
I was astounded! The next week his mother, Alma Barkman, came with him to his lesson. For the next few years, this amazing woman took me under her wing and taught me everything I needed to know about writing and getting published. She invited me to join her critique group and took me to my first writers’ conference. When my book was finally published, Alma said, “I feel like a proud, new grandmother!”
We lived in a city of some 300,000 people at the time, and yet God had brought one of the few published Christian writers right to my door! I still wonder where I would be today if I hadn’t taken that step of faith and found the courage to admit that God might be calling me to write.
I understand the hopes and dreams of the writers I’ll be coaching in my class this week. And I can’t wait to encourage them to have faith, and to put their dreams in His hands, because God “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine! (Ephesians 3:20).
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Hi Lynn, what a touching story! That’s wonderful to hear how God used Alma to mentor you and guide you into your writing career! I also was blessed to be mentored by an author I met at my first ACFW Conference, Kristy Dykes, who took me under her wing and mentored me. I am so grateful for her kindness, encouragement, and practical help. Portland, OR, is my hometown. I hope you enjoy your time at the Oregon Christian Writers’ Coaching Conference. That sounds like a neat opportunity to give back. Blessings, Carrie
I’m loving Portland, Carrie. What a beautiful place. This conference is so well-organized, too. It’s such fun to meet new friends!
I’ve never heard that part of your story, Lynn! That’s amazing and inspiring! I, too, told only a couple of people that I was “trying” to write a novel. It seemed like such a lofty pursuit, and yet, like you, I felt God tugging at my heart to do so. So glad our paths have crossed and God is still challenging and leading.
God is so good to keep us plugging along, isn’t He? He has confidence in us even when we don’t.
We are continuing to read/listen to Keeers of the Covenant as a family! My kids keep up by asking if they can listen to “Zacki”. Can’t wait for them to connect him with Zechariah in the OT, when they read the biblical account!!!
Thank you for being brave the first time!
How fun to read books as a family! I’m honored that you’ve chosen mine, Sarah.
Have fun, Lynn, in Oregon. I did a keynote address for this group earlier this year and had a wonderful time.
Thanks, Robin. Portland is a beautiful place and the conference is very well organized.
Amazing story Lynn! Thanks for sharing it with us. Got works in amazing ways. We just need to follow His lead and be obedient. He truly does supply all our needs. Your books have blessed and encouraged so many people!Thanks for blessing us today. And thanks for passing on your talents and expertise to the next generation of writers and your conference.
Yes, God certainly does supply all our needs–including our need for great friends!!!
Welcome to the Pacific Northwest! I hope you’ll follow up on how the conference went and if you did any extra curricular activities here!
Thanks, Sandy. I’m loving the view of Mt. Hood, so far. What a beautiful part of the world! I’ve never been to this area before.
That is a great story, Lynn. I agreed that boldly proclaiming we are writers gives us the strength to become writers. I always wanted to write but I declared it on a Sunday afternoon in the last 1980s. I went to a lecture about Southern writers at a downtown library and felt a strange lightness coming over me. I met my husband later at a fish-fry and told him “I’m a writer.” He smiled and said, “I know that.” I said, “But I’m going to do it. I’m going to write books.” I think God nudged me toward the library that day. I love your story. There are such moments that show God is in the details. I’m so happy to know you!
God is so faithful, isn’t He! You should blog about your beginnings as a writer, someday. I would love to hear the whole story.
I loved reading about Alma. She sounds like a faithful committed Christian & a best friend. You have been blessed & bless others with your writing. Thank you for sharing.