Writing with Five Minute Friday on afraid. No editing or backtracking. Just writing for five minutes.
This one’s for the writers or the ones that ought to be…
We writers lay bare our lives. At times, it’s hard work–all that bleeding onto a page.
But the truth? The truth is there’s so much we’re dealing with that we can’t write about. It’s not our story to tell. Or, it is our story because we are a character of the story but it would lay another bare—cause them to bleed onto a page they don’t even know about.
Just in my small circle of influence there are people
unable to find a job,
on the brink of divorce,
dealing with wayward children,
losing their homes,
fighting depression,
miserable in their marriage,
having thoughts of suicide,
It’s disheartening that I could go on.
Some of you know those problems intimately. Even if you aren’t dealing with these individually, you’re dealing with them. We’ve all got family and friends that are struggling.
How can I lay bare in the writing to say I know how you feel? This is how we handled it. There’s no Pinterest board to pin “Top Ten Ways to Pull Your Mortgage Payment Together so You Avoid Sleeping in Your Car Tomorrow Night.”
Sure, we dance around it, but so many times we’re missing the heart of what everyone is REALLY struggling with.
I don’t have easy answers but I’m tired of people struggling so deeply without help or hope. I firmly believe we, as writers–as beacons of light–could provide that hope and must figure out a way to share it.
To the writers I say: bleed when you can and put down the pen when you must, but for goodness sakes, will you finally accept that we need your words–those deep ones that make you bleed–so desperately? If you have the freedom to write about it, but can’t seem to squeak it out, will you be brave and finally gift us with them? This world needs you. We really do.
A great reminder of the responsibility we all have as writers. Thank you for this!
You’re welcome. I think I needed the reminded as much as anyone else.
As someone whose life has been forever altered by words and the power of the Word, I say yes! Thank you for this.
Amy Corley recently posted…Five Minute Friday: Bare
Hi, another Amy AND my mom’s maiden name is Corley! So fun to see “Amy Corley”!
So true how we are changed by words.
Oh, yes. This.
Leann recently posted…Looking Forward and Some Progress
I love this: I firmly believe we, as writers–as beacons of light–could provide that hope and must figure out a way to share it.
That is what I hope I do when I share my own struggles. We are not alone out here, and we can encourage others as we go along.
Many blessings!
Beth
Beth @ My Destiny recently posted…I have been BEETen (not beaten)
Thank you, Beth. Your writing definitely encourages me!
I love this and it’s a message we all need to take to heart when we wrestle with the stories on the page. I’ve found that I am always willing to tell my stories but I have to use wisdom in how I tell ones that might affect others. Often it’s just not my story to tell and then I hope that someone else will pick up their pen and write about it because those words need to be said. Beautiful write, Amy and I couldn’t agree more! Preach! 😉
Alia Joy recently posted…Five Minute Friday: Bare
Thank you, Alia! Keep writing!
THIS is why I write the way I do. Once in a while someone will creep out of anonymity and tell me that my raw honesty and vulnerability have touched them deeply. More often I wonder if anyone even reads the words that I “bleed” onto the page. Then God reminds me … He has called me, simply to write, and He will handle calling those whom He wishes to read!
Beth Zimmerman recently posted…Bare
Definitely amazing to find out people are listening even when everything is silent. “He will handle calling those whom He wishes to read” So true!