7QT Fridays- When Work Becomes Play

Posted in Catholic, communication, writing, spirituality

 

7 quick takes sm1 7 Quick Takes Friday (vol. 228)

This week:

How I rediscovered joyful, play writing

and surrendered self-important, work writing.

  • When I remember that I am a writer, a born writer, not someone trying hard to write on their own, then work becomes play.  God gave me a love of books and an artistic gift of writing and drawing. When I simply relax and enjoy life as a child of God, then I can allow Him to work through my fingers and my imagination. Now we create together. It is a joyful experience.
  • MY FAMILY’S LOVE AFFAIR WITH BOOKS IS A GENERATIONAL BLESSING. My maternal grandfather, uncles and my mother love to read. I in turn love books.In fact,  I have always loved books, reading voraciously as a child. I remember walking slowly home from the library with a tall stack of exciting choices, reading my first choice even before I managed to walk through the front door. My mother would cajole me in the summer,

Well, at least read outside in the fresh air

  • I read to all my nine children, they in turn read to younger siblings.

Now my oldest grandchild who is turning two absolutely adores books. Standing below the book shelves,,,,, she stretches out her arm, pointing until someone lifts her up. Marie knows exactly which book she wants. She sits absolutely still, absorbing every word as my son, daughter-in-law or any of her aunts, uncles and grandparents all take turns, reading yet another book.

.

  • I have written about 300 stories and/or article in the 18 months, after not writing for 30 years. The stories well up from a hidden spring because I have collected them for decades. I simply told oral stories about 9 kids on a hobby farm but I simple could not get them written. Now since I have polished over 3oo on BrooWaHa and 54 on ReadWave. The question now is,

“How do I approach publishing?

  • As other writers commented on my stories on ReadWave, they hit the top of the Trending Page every day within an hour or so,,, I realized that I have several short stories, actually MANY stories that would make great kids’ books about our family and farm animals and pets… Even more fun than writing for adults.

After living for 32 years with people 18 and younger, I still take great delight in their world view.

Iggy the Bold Bunny, Renegade Raccoons 

I am Batman Foevaaa, The Smart Fox and the Dumb Dog

       But I felt lost and started to worry, become grim. instead of listening to God, relying on Him, I tried to get down to work, to do it on my own, with my own intellectwriting Florent_Willems_-_The_Important_Response_-_Walters_37140
  • Then my fellow bloggers once again, stepped in as mentors and God spoke through them

Middlemay Farm

  • I love kids books, too. My experience when feeling lost is to start small and remember the best art comes from play. If you plan to illustrate or provide visuals for your books (which is so much fun) then just sketch or take pictures or whatever for fun–don’t think about figuring out formatting until you really have some ideas that excite you. There’s always people around to help you with technical stuff. :)

  • Once I stopped immediately judging my first drafts everything fell into place for me. I still have moments of doubt but I realize that’s perfectly normal and then I get back to work (play). :)

Published by melanie jean juneau

Melanie Jean Juneau serves as the Editor in Chief of Catholic Stand. She is a mother of nine children who has edited her kid's university term papers for over a decade. She blogs at joy of nine9 and mother of nine9. Her writing is humorous and heart warming; thoughtful and thought-provoking. Part of her call and her witness is to write the truth about children, family, marriage and the sacredness of life. Melanie is the administrator of ACWB, a columnist at CatholicLane, CatholicStand, Catholic365 , CAPC, author of Echoes of the Divine and Oopsy Daisy, and coauthor of Love Rebel: Reclaiming Motherhood.

14 thoughts on “7QT Fridays- When Work Becomes Play”

  1. Sorry Melanie … once again the computer froze just as I was sending the last comment. Don’t know if it went through.

    I congratulate you and wish you well with your writing success. Hitting the top spot of readers’ favorites is quite an achievement. Well done and well deserved. I envy you.

    God bless you and your family.

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    1. Forget that sentiment;you are a master story teller. In fact i don’t have a clue how many actually write..so that is a sobering thought. wWen people say, “well written”. i actually have to re-read the thing. ps. this post was NOT

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  2. Pingback: 7QT Fridays- When Work Becomes Play | Catholic Canada

  5. I appreciate seeing the brushstrokes of the Lord throughout your creativity (especially the appearance of your blog) and writings. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is creativity. He certainly abides in you! Thanks for blessing me often with your words and courage to take on giants that leave me trembling in my boots!

    Your admirer –
    \o/

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