Thoughts on Writing and Speech (mainly writing)

As many of you know, I've been working on a book lately...well two books really. The first one is fiction - Stars in the Storm - and although it has meaning to me, upon starting my non-fiction book on singleness, I've realized something. Both of these books mean something to me. Stars in the Storm is more about seeing God's light in the midst of the great tempest that may be surrounding you. It has a lot of meaning for me, as I'm making a story and applying how God taught me to look for his light. Although the story is not really about my situation or my life, it's still made personal for me, but it's lying underneath a heavy blanket of dramatics and fiction.

My "Single Seasons" book however, I'm already learning that it's going to be a little harder. Writing this requires a lot of vulnerability on my part as the author. Who honestly wants to make themselves vulnerable to the criticism of others? Any hands here? Hrm. Just as I thought- No one! We don't like to feel weak. We put walls around ourselves. We like to portray a story in our lives that is a fairy tale. Or maybe not even a fairy tale, but what we like to portray is a life that we got all together. Perfection. When it comes to writing, the best comes from the heart. It comes from truth. And it comes with meaning. For years I've kept what I knew to be my best writing to myself. My school papers and such were never as good as what I wrote and never showed. It came down to vulnerability. I never wanted to make myself vulnerable, and that's what true writing does. Consider what comes from your mind to pen to paper. When it is something that no one will ever see, is that not when the words flow the most? We hide inside of ourselves. That's what I've done for so long. But in the process of beginning to write this book, I'm finding that is no longer possible. To write this book and not open up with it, is to write without passion, it is to write in a shadow. I could beat around the bush, and touch up on the bare edges of my heart, but to do that would be to fail. I would fail not only as an author, but I would fail my goal. This book has a purpose. So I must write it with that purpose in mind.

Everyone has their secrets or thoughts that they don't want to come out. Some because they're ashamed of them, and some because they do not want to ruin the illusion of their perfect life that they have portrayed. Good writing gets personal. You can learn a lot about an author from reading their writing. Just as you can learn a lot about a friend just from listening or from watching them.

To make yourself vulnerable is to open yourself to criticism. It hurts sometimes. You keep everything in and nurse your thoughts and plans in your heart, then when you finally open up to show them, sometimes you might get shot down. Sometimes it hurts. But other times it can be very rewarding.


It's ones most guarded thoughts that sometimes really truly get the point across. It is those thoughts that really hit home.

For instance, I've never been a big fan of history. It was a most dull subject for me to endure. But when it came to the books I was reading, it wasn't the normal text book that I remember reading from, it was the personal diaries or works of the people who lived in that day. I believe that there is a power in the passionate vulnerable writing. When all is turned to paper, you get the whole picture. Boarder-line doesn't cut it. At least not here.

The journals of Rachel Scott come to mind here. For those who don't know, Rachel Scott was one of the Columbine Martyr victims. Now, I realize that she did not mean for her journals to become a book, but what she wrote was meant for her and God. She wrote so openly holding nothing back. She was honest in her writing. And I couldn't help but when reading her story and reading her journals to feel inspired. She was transparent in her writing. She was passionate. She was honest. And you know what? Her story is powerful. Her words were powerful.

Where would we all be today if we held nothing back?. If we wrote honestly and if we spoke our thoughts? Words can be powerful. They can build up and they can tear down. One word to encourage one to pursue their dream or to keep going, but one word can also kill a dream.

Vulnerability. Transparency. Truth. Passion. Those are what make up a true power in writing. When we expose ourselves, we may be subject to ridicule. But who are others to ridicule us? What lies behind their portrayal of perfection? I realize that taking down the walls that we fortify around ourselves can be hard to do. I still find it hard today. And I've found that at times, it can make you feel weak, but it makes you stronger.

So from here on, this is how my words will be. Both spoken and written.

My words will be truth. My words will be real. My words will reveal what is in me. My heart, my thoughts. My words will be passionate and spoken from the heart. My words will be kind and gentle and warm. My words will be pure. My words will inspire. My words will be given to me by God. He's promised that He will give me the words - now I just have to listen for them.

This note hasn't quite gone the way I thought it would. I planned to end one place and went to another. But these are my thoughts. And thoughts can take you on a new road every time. :)

~Brittany