Adam Woods, who reads this blog and subscribes to my monthly e-bulletin, was kind enough to respond to my survey of the greatest writing-related challenges, and included a story about a recent experience. I found it touching, and he's agreed to let me share it with you here:
"I am in hospital writing this (ah, the joys of Blackberries!) & was in a long conversation last night with a lovely lady who had been admitted like me with heart problems. She alluded momentarily to a 'difficult life' & how stress had played a part in bringing her into this ward, like me. We got talking, & got onto the subject of
dreams.
She was the most modest, self-effacing lady I had met for a long-time, & I like nothing more than to encourage people to talk about their innermost hopes & desires. Gradually I teased out of her that she loves writing, as I do. Not only that, but this summer she had finished five short stories in quick succession. But she was very quick to dismiss them as 'childish', not treating them as worthy of others' attentions.
As the lights went out, the snuffles & snores retreated, I got to thinking how quick we are in discounting our own unique gifts. I was wheeled out of the ward soon after midnight as all my tests had proved clear, and as I said gooodbye, seeing her surrounded by wires, monitors, & hooked up by tubes, I took her hand & wished her speedy recovery (this was her second heart-attack). But something wasn't right.
I got out of my wheelchair (there's nothing like being wheeled around to make one feel helpless) & gave her my card, asking her to keep in touch. I prayed for her last night, that she will be out soon, before Christmas Day I hope, & that she will get in touch. I knew as I left her that one small thing I could do would be to give her as much encouragement as possible to realise her writing 'dreams'.
So my greatest challenge that relates to Creativity is to take our own God-given gifts seriously, to cherish them, & find people who nurture us & them. Too many pressures to 'perform' in our results-obsessed lives leave imagination & 'childish' ideas with little space to breathe. My earnest hope & desire as a new
year approaches is to everyday pass on encouragement to others, & would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your work in this sphere. I wish you & your readers a safe, happy, healthy & creative Christmas and New Year, Very best, Adam."
Adam, I wish you excellent health in the New Year, and thank you for a message that I'll endeavour to keep in mind all through 2008.
That excellent publication, The Writer, is a bit more excellent this month (on the cover, it's the February issue). It has the first of a series of little "Write It Right!" text and cartoon features that I'm doing for them bi-monthy for the next year. If you see it and like it, please shoot them an email! 