Should You Be Writing?

“All initiative to write is not inspired.”This is my thought reading February 16th in My Utmost for His Highest. “Arise from the dead,” Chambers quotes (Ephesians 5:14) and then uses it to draw a distinction between divine and human initiative.

I sense a key here, another connection to the journey of authorship.

And I want this wisdom because it seems most writing gurus have missed this. “Butt-in-chair.” But beyond butts, there iswhat. Despite the myriad influences sparking through my day, daily writing time can have only one ideal use. And most writing instruction seems ignorant of this, opting for mindless formulas and blinding us to the broader questions, like, Should I outline or write the next chapter? And what is the “next” chapter? Is it the one following the last, or something else?

There are earlier considerations than this. Is this the ideal use of my writing time?

But wait. There’s even one before that. Is writing a wise use of this time?

This is quicksand, I think. I’ll never answer all of these.But no! Of course I will. This is essential, this deep discernment. Writing in the wrong direction, with the wrong motive, or ignorantly neglecting the more important matter will absolutely destroy any chance of attaining greater wisdom, the wisdom authorship truly requires. So, do I believe that whether I’m writing or not, a higher purpose drives me ineluctably toward my goal? Do I trust I’m destined for this—that authorship is not “created” but always was there, slowly revealed one discerning step at a time?

Yes. Yes! I do. And I will live by it.

Setting aside personal ambition may not sell more writing programs, but it does encourage the patience to accept the time it takes to gain wisdom.

Eventually, I fall back into the solution. As all solutions, the only definitive answer is the more discerning question. How am I conducting my time to produce the best, most appropriate work? Are my senses attuned to the primary source of inspiration? Do I have the time, or am I able to find it? Where might I find it, and must I change something to do so? And then, what does that mean I need to let go of?

And when I’ve answered all of that, there’s just one last question: Can I?

Can you? O wise emerging author, find that answer! And then, only IF the answer is yes, don’t hesitate to begin.