I love research yes I do…

I love research, how about you?

Okay, I admit it. I was a cheerleader for a while. But not because I could do the splits or do a cartwheel very well. I was just tall – for my age. And it was a small school and there were only three girls on the varsity cheerleading squad, and you get the idea.

from fotolia.com

 Anyway, I’m not writing this month about cheerleading (although I can get happy enough to cheer when I think about this). I am writing about RESEARCH. Research is awesome. I’m kind of hearing “Everything is awesome” from the LEGO movie in the back of my mind right now. Because, for me, everything is awesome when I have something to research.

When a writer researches something she is like Indiana Jones exploring ancient places seeking out a highly valuable bit of a civilization long forgotten “that belongs in a museum!” Only instead of tucking away the highly valuable bit (what she learns) in the back corner of a museum or in a stenciled box at Area 51, she shares it through “story.” And while Indy’s whip and right cross are pretty impressive, “story” has got to be one of the most powerful tools given to humankind.

And what, at least in part, makes “story” so powerful? Research! It is through proper research that readers aren’t sucked out of the world created by the writer. Everything lines up. There aren’t little discrepancies that make the reader halt and say, “Wait a minute. Is that right? I thought…” Yes, it’s all achieved through research, lovely research.

from graphicstock.com

What doesn’t help my personal obsession for research is the fact that I work in a university library. It’s a little cruel, actually. All those books about every conceivable subject, every time period known to man, from every country in the world just a few steps away. I think God’s trying to teach me something. I think it’s working, maybe, this week. But that’s not the point!

The point is that research well done is important for a believable story. I have to pray a lot while I’m researching because it’s so easy for me be lose myself in all of the information. It’s fascinating to me. Probably how a moth regards the open flame of a taper candle. With God’s help, though, I get what I need and I am safely drawn back out of the sea of facts to write the story He has placed on my heart.

If you’re reading this, you’re probably a writer. And if you’re a writer, I just imagine you have some inkling of what I’m talking about. But if you’re a writer who struggles with research and doesn’t find it as awesome as I do, be encouraged. God will equip you with everything you need to walk in the purpose He has for your life. He promised, and He doesn’t lie.

from graphicstock.com

Humbly submitted by H.T. Lord

A few of my favorite things… about writing

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I thought I wind down 2014 by talking about four of my favorite things about writing:

1.       Closeness

2.       Freedom

3.       Research

4.       Sharing

My absolute, number one, most favorite thing about writing is how close it brings me to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It sounds strange but in a way, writing is an act of worship for me. There are times when it almost feels like He’s sitting beside me, and in those times my writing shows it. 

Being creative with THE Creator is mind blowing, isn’t it? And the idea that He also wants to be creative with me is almost too much to take in. But the fact remains that God did not withhold even His son to make a way for us to have a relationship. Don’t even think He hasn’t done that for you, too, because He has. He has given the gift of Himself to all of us, all of us who will turn away from sin and receive Him instead.

So, yeah, writing is one of the ways I connect with God. No matter how I try, I cannot separate my spiritual journey from my journey as a writer. They are so intricately woven together they can’t be considered two different things.  One feeds off the other and vice versa.

I have around nine or so stories bouncing around in my head at any given time, and half of them were inspired by scripture and/or while I was at church worshipping or listening to a sermon. Of course, my listening pretty much stops until I can find a piece of paper to write down what just popped into my head.

Once I actually caught myself shushing my pastor during service because his incessant talking was interrupting my train of thought.  I know. I’m terrible. But I get so inspired in God’s presence, and if I don’t write it down I forget. Our youngest daughter has autism and I’m constantly shushing her during service so as far as anyone around us was concerned, things were just status quo, unless, of course, they read this blog entry.

The Book of James, chapter 4, verse 8a says, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” It is clearly to my advantage, and to future readers of my stories, that I draw near to God when I settle down to write. It is also my preference for I am fully aware that I do nothing very well without Him. But with Him, all things are possible.

Humbly submitted by H.T. Lord