By Melinda Eye Cooper
Last fall, I made an important decision about work. Not about my full-time accounting job where my paycheck comes from. But about the work I know God has called me to do. Writing.
My first memory of writing a story was in the third grade. I don’t remember exactly what it was about but it made the teacher laugh and she asked if she could keep it. I loved that she asked to keep it.
These past few years, I’ve taken more seriously what I know God has called me to do.
The important decision I made was to grow up. I knew I needed to learn to be a better writer. So, I committed myself to learning.
I attended my first writer’s conference this past spring and learned so much. If you’ve never attended one, I highly recommend it. I met many other writers just like me.
After that, I joined a writer’s guild and learned even more. Then I searched the internet for podcasts on writing and listened each day while working my regular accounting job. I figured if I could listen to music all day at work then I could listen to someone help me become a better writer just as well.
To be completely honest, I didn’t realize I had quite so much to learn until I set my focus on learning more.
I thought I knew how to write pretty well. But that was the problem for me and other writers might have the same problem. We don’t realize that we have a lot more to learn. We don’t know we’re making mistakes until we intentionally study craft.
I now feel indebted to successful writers who have graciously shared what they’ve learned through the years with us. Thank you for having a writer’s guild we can join to learn how to write better. Thank you for putting together writing conferences we can attend. Thank you for free podcasts on the internet. I am grateful!
Looking back, I believe it was definitely the right decision. I feel satisfied in a way I can’t quite describe. The satisfaction comes in knowing I’m following God’s calling but also, in learning how to do what He’s called me to do in the best way possible.
Since last fall, I’ve had an article published and several devotionals. It’s a wonderful feeling to receive an email that says, your submission has been accepted.
Above all, I want to write what is good and acceptable to God. I want to represent Him well. Learning to learn more is a good place to start.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14 (NKJV)
I didn’t realize I had quite so much to learn until I set my focus on learning more. @eye_melinda #ACFWBlogs #amwriting Click To Tweet
Melinda Eye Cooper grew up in the Missouri Ozarks but moved to Tennessee in 1992 with her husband. They have three boys, two daughters-in-law, and a grand-daughter. She’s a member of ACFW and Word Weavers, int. Melinda’s work can be found on Christiandevotions.us, Nashville Christian Voice and her personal blog.