You’re probably like me: a few choice one-liners have danced around in your mind for years.
Take, for example, Lee Roddy’s “An unfinished manuscript cannot change lives.” Years ago I read it for the first time in Marlene Bagnull’s Write His Answer, and it has always stuck with me.
Here’s Roddy’s entire quote:
“… An unfinished manuscript cannot change lives. Even a finished one cannot minister in a drawer or filing cabinet. Only in published form can a book go where you and I will never go, to people we will never meet. Only in published form can a book make a difference in eternity.”
(Interpret Roddy’s use of the word “published” as “finished and in the hands of your readers.” Today you have dozens of ways to publish your stories, so please don’t assume you have to find an agent and publisher for your memoir. We’ll consider your publishing options on another day.)
Roddy’s words hit close to home since, as you know from Saturday’s post, I’m struggling to write a vignette about Tom Durr. My heart and mind tell me that my kids, grandkids and, in the future, my great-grandkids need to know Tom’s story.
Like Andrew Zahn said, I have this story in me that’s begging to get out.
“Having a story of redemption and deliverance
isn’t enough.
It’s the telling of my story that brings victory.
As I put words to what God has done in my life,
I continue to overcome.
But if I keep it to myself,
God doesn’t get glorified in it
and I don’t move forward.…
We have to put words to our testimony.
You’ve got a story to tell.
Tell it."
by Alece at Grit and Glory blog,
http://www.gritandglory.com/2010/03/02/speak-up
Many thanks to those who left comments and advice for my vignette. I’ve taken every message to heart and you all have encouraged me to continue working on the story.
I’ve also puttered around The Bookshelf Muse blog, especially their Emotional Thesaurus, where I’ve found specific words and phrases to use in my vignette. (You’ll find a link to The Bookshelf Muse toward the bottom right column.)
Since your stories and mine serve as a ministry to our family and other readers, praying for God’s help is a must!
What else is a must for your writing?
