I am a science geek at heart. I spend my hours at work analyzing blood (and other fun body fluids), looking through a microscope, and reporting results.
And it’s fun.
In school, I despised English class. I HATED writing papers. I paid little attention to grammar lessons.
My worst grade at Auburn University was first semester English 101 (I got a B-…I’m a nerd, remember?) I DREADED sitting down to write an essay.
To this day, I struggle with where to put a comma, and whether or not to start a sentence with so, and, or but. Each post I write is riddled with fear that the grammar police are going to come and shut down my blog.
OK, so maybe I am being a bit dramatic, but I have felt incredibly hindered in my writing. I have more than 10 un-published posts sitting in my drafts, for fear of them not making sense, and of others critiques.
The most practical thing I came away with last weekend was being able to walk in confidence in who I am as a blogger-as a writer.
I finally feel able to call myself a writer.
I have grown to truly enjoy blogging. In my crazy life of three small children, dirty dishes, and nasty floors; my blogs are my little spaces which I can pour out my heart, create order, and use my passions and giftings in a way I just can’t do at home right now.
It is place where I can share my heart and my life, in hopes that God will somehow use it all for His glory.
I want to take my writing deeper. I haven’t been able to really write about the things I want to share with you all. Part of me is scared. Scared I won’t communicate correctly. Scared I will be misunderstood. Scared I will fail.
I want to throw away my reluctance and just write.
Write my heart, my life, my sorrows and joys.
I am no longer someone who just happens to have a blog. I am no longer a reluctant communicator.
I am a writer.
——
An idea was birthed thousands of miles in the sky, as my dear friend Stacey and I headed home from Relevant. As we were processing all we had learned over those three full days, I felt this settledness and excitement to finally be able to say “I am a writer”.
We both felt we were leaving feeling enabled to be the writer God created us to be, and we thought it would be fun to put out a challenge for others to join us.
Write It, Girl.
Whatever is on your heart, whatever is going on in your life. Write it, girl.
I am a writer; make that declaration. Regardless of your background, your giftings, your grammar. Write it, girl.
Write with confidence in your space; that little corner of the web He’s given you. Ask Him to give you a vision for what He wants with your words and write it, girl.
Come and share your words, bring it to this safe place where you can write what is on your heart, and encourage others in their writing, as well.
Write it, Girl!
Have you written something recently you want to share? Come and link it up!
Have a word on your heart? Go. Now. Write it, girl, then come back here and let us have it!
We will have a chance for you to share what you’ve written every Monday in November, and you can link up your posts here or over at Stacey’s. All we ask is you read the post before yours and give a word of encouragement!
Popping in from Stacey’s link, and I am so glad to meet you. As I read, “scared” I saw “sacred.” Isn’t that interesting? We are usually scared of sharing those thoughts we feel are sacred. Don’t you think? I hope to join you on this journey!
Blessings, abundantly,
Lisa
Yes, it’s the things that are scary to share that are probably the ones the Lord will use most. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by!
even more we have in common…love of science! kindred in so many ways…thanks for a chance to “write it”!!
Thanks for joining in, Heather! We’re you a science major?
It’s funny that we chose to write about the same topic. I can’t say that I have the confidence to call myself a write but I do love it. And I love jumping into others writing journeys like yours. You have encouraged me with your blog in many ways. I want to encourage you to write no matter your fears. I have them too. But we really want to hear what is on your heart. It is too amazing not to share!
Thanks Katie!
Thank you, Aubrey! I appreciate your encouragement!
A good idea, as we all need encouragement along the way. My husband has been drafted as my editor. He reads my posts before they are live and shows me the sentences that make no sense! I can understand how you feel. I’m scared to write comments on posts because he’s not here to help me. haha
Haha! What, you guys aren’t by each other’s side 24/7? Sheesh.
How absolutely perfect we were flying when this idea was born! I think God is giving us wings Katie and saying, Write!
Praying for all the sweet girls and their hearts to hear His voice too!
“Write my heart, my life, my sorrows and joys.” – love that!
Thanks for taking this crazy ride with me!
I love to know this about you, Katie! I am a science geek/writer at heart, too! Before kids, I worked in research. Loved it! But, I have been a closet writer since college. Blogging gave me an outlet for that. Although, I am not the greatest writer and sometimes my posts are just thought thrown out onto the screen. I am finding enjoyment and fulfillment. Love what you ladies have started here. It will be a great encouragement to many!
Thanks, Marci! What kind of research did you do?
I did cancer research on rats for a short time. I did food engineering and quality control. I managed a bioprocessing research lab for a few years. A little this and a little that. Now, I teach Apologia biology to homeschoolers 🙂
Katie, I’m learning to embrace the scared … because that’s the one thing that always pushes me into Him. When I’m confident, I go with gusto … in my own strength or words or wisdom or ability. But when I’m scared, those are the moments I lean in hard to the One who casts out fear.
Yes! {Stay needy.} That’s my mantra these days!
Thank you. I have been a reluctant communicator for several years now. I am the girl that loved the grammar, the sentence disection, etc. But, I see things from a different perspective and am afraid of judgement. A friend has recently urged me to get writing. This morning the Lord told me I just need to follow the shepherd and not be distressed of heart. So, write I will. I will link a post later on today.
Looking forward to it!
It’s funny, as I went to a few writing seminars at Relevant, and half hoping and expecting to take away a bunch of technical tips about writing. Instead, I kept hearing encouragement to find my voice, be me, and just write! It was quite liberating!
I have had the same ah-ha moment about writing. When I finally accepted it (after writing for pay for four years) it was freeing. Thanks for providing this opportunity to link up. I am a pastors wife too! Enjoy your blog.
Thanks, Shelly! Appreciate your encouragement!
I am so glad to know that I am not alone with my nasty floors. 🙂 Thanks for pioneering Write it, Girl. I wasn’t at the Relevant conference, but I’ll have to go next year! I’m an English teacher, and I echo the sentiment to “just write” and not worry about the technical matters. I tell this to my students all the time, especially with their earlier drafts. We only focus on those technical details for their final drafts. Thanks for providing a place here for women to share their hearts, their fears, and their dreams.
You are welcome, Denise.
I think I know enough grammar, etc to keep me hindered, but not enough that it is just engrained in me, to where I can “just write”. But, I am finding freedom (and drafting my posts MUCH quicker) but just writing, getting it all out, then editing later.
Thanks for linking up!
I have been struggling with writing lately and just returned from a week long blogging hiatus where God said “keep writing”. Then I found the link to this in my blog reader and felt confirmation. Looking forward to learning from everyone on this journey.
Isn’t it a joy to have confirmation like that? That is a bit about how I felt about this blog. My other blog, Do Not Depart is so specific, and I love it. I know that it is where He has had me, and it is my niche, for sure.
But, here? I really went into the conference asking Him to give me a vision for whether or not to keep going with this blog, and opportunities with other contributing sites.
He has overwhelmingly said “keep on going”! And, then this? This Write it, Girl? I cannot believe the response it has had! Seriously, was expecting like 3 to link up!
So fun!
Thanks for sharing!
Hi Katie! Thank you so much for writing this. I was at Relevant, but didn’t get a chance to sit down and have a “real” conversation with you. I saw your face on Twitter, but never really had the guts to come up to you and talk. Thank you for writing this, and reminding us bloggers that no matter what- we are writers. Thank you also for hosting this linky party. I am very excited about participating and actually putting things out there that are more like thunder instead of fluffy clouds.
Oh goodness! I wish you had! Although, it was a bit overwhelming to try to meet everyone, wasn’t it!?
Yes! I want to write THUNDER, and declare the glory of Jesus!
Thanks for linking up!
Thank you for this post and this wonderful experience. I am having a blast! Though I was not able to attend Relevant, I watched the Twitter action. I loved it. Blessings 2U.
I am so glad, Kim! Thanks for hanging out with us!
Katie, Thank you for offering this with Stacey, and for the encouragement to admit that we are writers, and embrace it! I’ve always wanted to be a writer and now see that all those years of writing for myself were years of preparation for what God planned for me to do. I’ve only just recently added “writer” to my Twitter profile.
In Christ,
Laura
It feels funny, doesn’t it? I had recently added “reluctant writer” to my blog profile…I need to remove that now!
Yes it does, I felt like I shouldn’t add it! But when you think about it, if I don’t consider my writing legitimate, will others? I just realized I haven’t added “writer” to my own blog! I’m going to do that right now. 🙂
Love, love this link-up — what a great idea. And rock on, writer girl! You are absolutely a writer — embrace it and own it!
{loved meeting you at Relevant by the way…we sat next to each other at dinner the first night!}
Haha, thank you, Michelle!
I enjoyed getting to chat with you at Relevant, through that first, awkward dinner. 🙂 I was a bit nervous/excited!
I love this, Katie! That being able to walk in that freedom of knowing who you are without qualification or comparison. So glad you and Stacey are hosting this link up this month
This post was incredibly encouraging to me! I have a degree in Biology/Nutrition and hated writing and reading in high school and college, but both are my passions now. And the whole grammar thing – I some how missed all of that in school or conveniently threw it out of my memory thinking I never needed it (or wanted it). Most of the bloggers Ive come across majored in English or Journalism. Ive been thinking, “how will I ever catch up when I don’t even know where to stick a comma?!” You’ve given me hope! Thank you!