Welcome to My Worlds: A Bipolar Christian Tells All

A teachable spirit is a major key to success in all areas of your life–family, work, any kind of relationship. You obtain wisdom when you become teachable. Giftedness is a dime a dozen, teachableness is a great treasure.

All through the book of Proverbs, we are admonished to learn. We can’t do that if we don’t have a teachable spirit. Pride, independence or rebellion, and insecurity lead to an unteachable spirit.

When we have a teachable spirit, we graciously accept correction. We seek wise counsel. We submit to authority and stay accountable. How does this apply to our writing lives?

Seeking wise counsel from the right people will help us grow in our craft. Critique partners can be a major asset as we grow. Use critique partners who understand the call of God on your life. They need to be honest in their assessment of what you wrote. Not someone who will flatter and not someone who will tear you down. Always filter what you’re told through the Lord. Just because you listen to the partner doesn’t mean you must accept every single thing they say. You need balance.

Others who will be wise counselors in your life are editors. Those you’re trying to sell to as well as those who have bought your book. Two things you need to understand about editors are:

It is an editor’s job to make books better.

Without authors, they wouldn’t have a job. You should form a mutually beneficial working partnership.

The key to your success as a writer is having a teachable spirit–but keep everything in perspective, in balance, and in Jesus.

                                              Copyright 2008 – Lena Nelson Dooley 

I host a critique group in my home and have for over 20 years. You’d be surprised to see how many people bring a very good story, filled with emotion and conflict, but completely bare of setting. That’s what I call “talking heads, bare stage.”

What is setting? It’s the description of the place surrounding characters. Many elements make up setting.

Time is part of the setting. In a contemporary novel, the time is present day, and in a historical novel, it denotes the time period. In the book, it could be winter, summer, autumn, or spring, or the book could span all the seasons. Each of these elements adds to the fabric of the story.

Place should be revealed early in each scene. Does the scene take place indoors or out? If inside, what kind of building, with what kind of furnishings? If outside, is it rural or urban? There are a lot of varying settings that paint your book.

Another important element is the weather. And weather can add to the tone of the book. We all know that stormy weather increases the darkness of a brooding mystery or gothic novel. Sunshine can add to the feeling of well-being.

Some authors use the setting almost as another character in the book. One that comes to mind immediately is my friend Colleen Coble. Study her work to see how she uses these elements.

Why do we need setting? It anchors the reader in a time and place. It enhances the story whether a dark mystery, a tender love story, a family tragedy, or a myriad of other scenarios.

How should you use setting? When I first started writing, I dumped large sections of description of setting into one place. Tracie Peterson, my editor at the time, told me that she didn’t want a laundry list description of the setting. Her words really revealed to me what I was doing. Thank you, Tracie.

Don’t overload the reader with unnecessary information. It’s best to include setting in snippets woven throughout the story. And reveal the snippets from the viewpoint of the POV character. How that person responds to the particular part of the setting will add to the overall feel of the story.

Setting should always be tied to the POV character’s perceptions. And that character will be affected by what is going on emotionally in his or her life. Depicting these emotions in a graphic way draws the readers deeper into the story and keeps them turning pages.

Another place to include elements of setting is in conversation beats. I hardly ever use a conversation tag (he said, she said). Instead I utilize the beats to describe setting and other characters in the scene as well as depict the emotions of the Point of View character.

If you’re an author, you should read multi-published authors and see how they include setting in their books. I will add this caveat. Many authors who write suspense don’t use as much setting, because it can slow down the pace of certain scenes – those edge-of-your-seat scenes. But they use setting snippets in other places.
                                                ©2008, Lena Nelson Dooley

The easy answer to this is: Because God created me to be a writer.

Let me explain. God created every person on earth to be unique, with the specific characteristics He wanted them to have. To many people, He gave the ability to put words together in a way that sounds pleasing to the ear and can express His message in unique ways. I’m one of those people. 

He also made me a storyteller. I like to weave together a good story that will keep the reader turning pages until the end. One that will stay in their minds and hearts for a time, continuing to bless them with how the characters interacted with our Almighty God. How they grew through the process and became more the people God wanted them to be. Because He also gave me the stories and the characters to live them out. 

When I first started speaking to other writers, I would tell them that I didn’t know that not everyone was a writer. I just figured that everyone was just like me. Then I married a man who didn’t read or write. He wasn’t illiterate; he just didn’t like to read or write. As he’s matured, he has started reading a lot more, but he still doesn’t like to write. And that’s okay, because God didn’t create him to be a writer. He has read almost all of my seventeen books.  

Did God create you to be a writer? If you have the ability to put words together in a pleasing manner, the answer is a resounding yes. 

That doesn’t mean you will be a published author. You will be if it’s in His plan for you.  

Some people who write are supposed to bless people by writing notes of encouragement to them in hard times. Other people minister to hurting persons either on their own blog or maybe in an Internet community such as Shoutlife, Facebook, or Myspace. 

Perhaps you’re supposed to be the family historian who makes sure the stories of your family don’t fade away. Or you’re supposed to write devotionals, lessons, or other things for your church. You could made a name for yourself as a writer of articles for newspapers or magazines. 

In addition to writing novels, I have written a Christmas short story almost every year since the Lord told me to become a professional writer. People around the world are blessed by these stories my husband and I send out instead of Christmas cards. 

What I’m trying to say to you is: Find out why God gave you the ability to write, then pursue His purpose for your words.

Copyright 2008, Lena Nelson Dooley

What happens when we compare ourselves to others? 

It gives the Enemy of Our Soul a foothold in our minds. He has a set of tapes ready to replay in our thoughts. Tapes from our past. He has a unique set of tapes for each of us. He doesn’t even have to work hard on it. I don’t know what your tapes say, but some of mine are: 

You’re not as good as they are. . .You’ll never be as good. . .They never have liked you. . .Why can’t I have what they have? . . .Why even bother trying? . . .Your other books were good, but this one isn’t. . .The editor won’t like this one. . .And on. . .and on. . .and on. 

I’ve had to learn to reject them when he tries to speak these curses into my mind. That’s what they are–word curses. 

Listening to the enemy’s tapes causes discouragement. Replace your discouragement with encouragement. First let’s look at the reasons he’s able to get us to listen to the tapes. 

A. Tiredness - He can really breach our defenses if we’re burning the candle at both ends. 

B. Frustration - This of often brought on by a series of unmet expectations. You have to learn to give your expectations to God and let Him give them back to you as privileges. . .in His timing. 

C. Failure - This is part of everyone’s journey. Anyone who experiences success also experiences  failure along the way. There won’t be any success if you don’t step out knowing you might fail. Soon though, there will be more successes and fewer failures. 

D. Fear - Whatever you’re afraid of will control you. Instead, cast out fear and trust the Lord to guide and protect you. 

Let’s look at discouragement. Here are some facts we need to face. 

A. It’s common - All people experience it, some more often than others. 

B. It’s chronic - You can’t build up immunity to it. You have to deal with it immediately, so it won’t get a foothold in your mind. 

C. It’s contagious - Satan targets people of influence because when they are discouraged, it filters down to all the people in their sphere of influence. Don’t pick up the discouragement from those who influence you.           

The best place to battle discouragement is in the Bible. One good place to go is Psalm 34. Here it is from The Message: 

1 I bless GOD every chance I get; my lungs expand with his praise.

 2 I live and breathe GOD; if things aren’t going well, hear this and be happy:

3 Join me in spreading the news; together let’s get the word out.

4 GOD met me more than halfway, he freed me from my anxious fears.

5 Look at him; give him your warmest smile. Never hide your feelings from him.

6 When I was desperate, I called out, and GOD got me out of a tight spot.

 7 GOD’s angel sets up a circle of protection around us while we pray.

8 Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see — how good GOD is. Blessed are you who run to him.

9 Worship GOD if you want the best; worship opens doors to all his goodness.

10 Young lions on the prowl get hungry, but GOD-seekers are full of God.

11 Come, children, listen closely; I’ll give you a lesson in GOD worship.

12 Who out there has a lust for life? Can’t wait each day to come upon beauty?

13 Guard your tongue from profanity, and no more lying through your teeth.

14 Turn your back on sin; do something good. Embrace peace — don’t let it get away!

15 GOD keeps an eye on his friends, his ears pick up every moan and groan.

16 GOD won’t put up with rebels; he’ll cull them from the pack.

17 Is anyone crying for help? GOD is listening, ready to rescue you.

18 If your heart is broken, you’ll find GOD right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath.

19 Disciples so often get into trouble; still, GOD is there every time.

20 He’s your bodyguard, shielding every bone; not even a finger gets broken.

21 The wicked commit slow suicide; they waste their lives hating the good.

22 GOD pays for each slave’s freedom; no one who runs to him loses out. 

To break free from discouragement, use the two powerful P’s–Praise and Prayer. When you praise, you shift the focus from you to Him. Prayer shifts the burden from you to Him. 

Philippians 4:6-7 tells us:“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” The Message 

When you pray:

1. Worry leaves

2. Courage returns

3. The answers come

Copyright 2008, Lena Nelson Dooley

Lena Nelson Dooley is a multi-published author who has hosted a critique group in her home for over twenty years. She’s been a member of ACFW since a few months after its inception. She’s taught several online courses, and she hasn’t missed any of the regional or national conferences. In 2005, she helped establish the first Texas local chapter. This is her second year as vice president.

In addition, Lena has spoken to both Christian and secular writing groups in Texas and Oklahoma. Helping other authors grow in their walk with the Lord and in their craft is one of her favorite things to do. That brought her recognition when ACFW gave her the Mentor of the Year award in 2006. She’s had a number of books voted as top ten favorites in the Heartsong Readers Poll, and she was voted a top ten favorite author in 2005. His Brother’s Castoff took second place in the Book of the Year contest in 2004. She also had books final in that contest the last two years. In 2006, Pirate’s Prize went to #1 on the list in the UK, and two other books were in the top 25. Scraps of Love, The Spinster Brides of Cactus Corner, and Montana Mistletoe have been top 25 bestsellers on CBD.

www.lenanelsondooley.com http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com   

Lena is married to the love of her life, and they enjoy spending time with their family. Two daughters, two sons-in-law, two granddaughters, two grandsons, one granddaughter-in-law, and one great grandson. The Dooleys are members of Gateway Church, where Lena volunteers in the bookstore, with the Global ministry, and with the altar prayer ministry.

Comparisons Equal Discouragement, Part 1