Nuggets for Personal Journaling
by Claudia N. Tynes

Spring Forward

Spring is here. This new season is a time of reflection. It's a time to begin again. Hypothetically, let's say you were given a chance to start a brand new life. Would you remain who you are, or would you become someone else? As you reflect on your present life as a writer, can you identify one change you wish you could reverse? Identify the change, and write how you would do it differently?

Watching the talk shows and the House and Garden channel (HGTV) has given me some great ideas for makeovers for my home and myself too. Makeovers score high ratings for the talk-show hosts and producers. You can get a physical makeover performed from the crown of your head to the soles of your feet. Or you can give your home a complete or partial "makeover" by remodeling or redecorating a single room or your entire home.

Let's entertain the thought of a "makeover" for writers. Spring is the season usually associated with new beginnings. It's a time to begin afresh and anew. Perhaps you did not complete all you had set out to accomplish with your writing, speaking, publishing, etc., before the doors closed for 2006. Well, don't fret or get discouraged. It is not too late. God has opened some brand new doors for you to pursue your goals in 2007. And, Spring, the season of new beginnings, is a great time to start.

As writers, we are always looking for fresh and innovative ways of honing our writing, speaking, and publishing skills. A new season brings about change. I have often heard people say, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting to get different results." Change is a process. It takes time for changes to occur. Martin Luther said, "If you want to change the world, pick up your pen."

Are you ready to take your writing to the next level? In this column, I want to focus your attention to handwriting. What do I mean by handwriting? Handwriting is taking your pencil or pen in your hand and scribbling on a pad or paper. Handwriting has almost become an extinct art with the inventions of so many electronic gadgets and new technologies.

Robert B. Waller, Jr., Executive Director for the Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association (WIMA), says, "Though computers and e-mail play an important part in our lives, nothing will ever replace the sincerity and individualism expressed through the handwritten word." He expressed my sentiments exactly. Sometimes my husband calls me "old-fashioned," but I still like putting my pen to paper when writing personal letters, journaling, etc.

Here are some practical tips and journaling exercises to aid you in putting your pen to paper. They will help you to spring forward in your writing.

Start with prayer. Take a few minutes during your devotional time with the Lord. Whisper a prayer to Him. In your own way, let Him know that you are available to do His will. Let Him know that you will glorify Him through your writing. Seek Him in prayer concerning how and where He wants you to take your writing to the next level. Follow His leading as directed. Read and meditate in the Word of God and let it speak to your heart. Afterwards, worship and praise Him because you know He has heard and answered your prayer. Listen for His answer.

Prompt: Write his answer.

One of my assignments in the school of ministry was to seek God in prayer for a fresh word for the upcoming week. The word "direct" kept coming into my spirit. I searched the scriptures and jotted down the references that contained the word "direct." When the assignment was completed, God gave me fresh manna for a particular phase of my life.

Focus on your present writing level. Primarily, I am a non-fiction writer. While I have dabbled into some fiction writing, most are works in progress (WIP) with the exception of one published short story to my credit.

Visualize where you want God to take your writing this Spring, through the end of 2007 and beyond. For 2007, my desire and goal is to hone my skills in writing of fiction. My heart's desire is to continue to write non-fiction. In 2007, my short-range goals are to become a published writer of short stories, songs, plays and children's picture books. One of my long-range goals beyond 2007 is to pen a novel. Now this is really stepping out of the box for me.

It is vital for us to pray about those new areas where we want God to direct or redirect our steps if we want to see the glorious manifestations of these accomplishments in 2007 or beyond. For we walk by our faith and not by our sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Prompt: Jot down your short-range goals (up to two years) and your long-range goals (three years and over). After each goal, establish realistic timeframes for accomplishing them.

Learn how to love yourself. In completing your writer's makeover for Spring, learn how to love yourself all over again. We are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). God knows everything there is to know about us. Sometimes, as writers, we are our own worst critic. Sometimes, we spin such a tight web of creativity; it results in us entrapping ourselves while our prey escapes.

Prompt: Read and meditate on Psalm 139 in its entirety. With pen in hand, jot down the message this Psalm spoke to your heart.

Concluding your writer's makeover. For a few days, try turning off the faucet that controls the flow of your creative juices. For this exercise, forget about the rules of grammar. Write as raw as you like because this exercise is exclusively for your eyes.
With your pad and pen in hand, journal every fleeting thought that comes into your mind. If you want to doodle, go for it. There are no limits or boundaries to this exercise. You may be surprised to find out what is really on your mind and what is really in your heart.

To begin again means, "We have stepped out of the box." Remember, with man our possibilities are limited, but with God they are limitless (Matthew 19:26).

Happy Journaling!