The Life of a Writer

A friend of mine suggested bookstore readers might be interested in what I do all day. Movies make freelance writing look pretty glamorous, but the fact is writing is a job that requires discipline and tenacity. Reading and research is part of my work, so is blogging, speaking, and writing every day. It doesn’t pay much, but it’s my chosen career.

Often people ask, “Do you work?”

“Yes, I’m a freelance writer.”

“Oh,” they say, “do you think you’ll eventually get a job?” Others respond, “I’m a writer too. People think I should write my life story. How do I get it published?” And the completely clueless, “I don’t know how you do it. I could never stay at home and just sit around all day.”

Many Christian writers consider their work a calling as well as a gift. My first writing memory is scribbling out a poem called “The Wind” after watching the trees in my grandma's backyard. In fifth grade I learned the power of words to reach people’s hearts for God.

I stood by my teacher as she read my original song in her Christmas card:

He Was Born

He was born in a stable,

to save He was willing and able,

to die on the cross for our sin,

because we need cleansing within.

And that's why He came to this earth,

to be born by a regular birth.

To be born like a man,

to live like a man,

and to suffer like a man on earth.

She looked at me, her fake eyelashes coming unglued, and pulled me to her. I was hooked. I knew I wanted to do that for the rest of my life.

After college, I got a full time job and wrote every evening after dinner from 8:00-10:00. A year or so later, I began to write full time. The next year my husband and I did volunteer work in New York and I wrote at odd times, finishing my first book and jotting thoughts for future publication. I was five months pregnant when we settled in Oregon.

While our children were little I wrote articles, Bible studies, and a monthly newsletter during naps, and whenever I could carve out time. During the ten years I homeschooled, I wrote after class from 3:00-5:00, and published two devotionals for homeschool teachers.  

I went through an unexpected divorce when my youngest reached high school, and worked outside the home for several years. Even then, I couldn’t stop writing; it was always on my mind.

Now that I’m remarried, I’m enjoying my chosen career. In the morning I spend 1-2 hours in the Word. Then I’m off to exercise, run errands, work in the yard or other household chores. By one o’clock I’m at my computer – working on my current book, blogs, research, teaching material, and short pieces for publication. I wrap up the day with an hour of reading – to learn and be refreshed.

I’m doing the job I love for the God I love, to bring others into the kingdom of God’s love and forgiveness.