Tuesday, January 27, 2009

My magnum opus...

Tuesday, January 27

I resolve to take more self-portraits doing things I enjoy.

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I am my worst critic (can you relate?) so I often talk myself away from what I enjoy the very most~ writing.
Some years ago I started writing a novel. Never do I feel more alive than when I am working on it. It feels me with such joy and is a testament to the fact that I am indeed a daughter of God, of divine nature, born to create.
As President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency of the LDS church, explained at the last women's conference:
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The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before.
Everyone can create. You don’t need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty.
Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty.
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I know that this is true and yet so often I tell myself--whether the excuse be a lack of time, inspiration, or talent--that I cannot create. So my novel gets tucked away in my top drawer for months, even years at a time. Until those quiet moments of reflection when the spirit whispers to me, "Finish your book."
This has happened to me on several occasions as I have pondered and prayed about my life. "Finish your book." The counsel is clear, unmistakable, but even with this perfect, loving reassurance I let my self-doubt win.
"Why?" I wonder. "Why should I finish it? Who am I to think that I can write a book? And what does it matter anyway?"
And yet the promptings keep coming. "Finish your book. Finish your book."
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So this is where you'll find me in the coming months,
doing what I enjoy the most and...
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Finishing my book!


11 comments:

Dacia said...

How awesome! Good for your for working on it. I'm under no illusions that I can write, but I read, so that counts for something right ;)

4boyzmdmom said...

I hope you do finish it! I'm sure it will be wonderful...you write beautifully on your blog.

MaryRC said...

look what happened to stephenie meyer, by writing down a dream, she didnt even finish it before she shopped it. come on jeanette, im not the spirit whispering im youre friend pleading. you are such an amazing writer and what a gift to those around you your talents are. and think what the possibilities for your family a novel could be... stephenies husband doesnt have to work and her children's educations are taken care of and she gets to write all the time :-) wish i was you, id never leave this computer...

Herbsgirl said...

Ohh please finish it. I was just reading that article the other night. One of my favorite articles from the whole conference issue. I read a conference article to justify my reading 130 pages of the Twilight series!! Good Luck. Please post snibbets of your book and we will be happy to be your online editors...

Kate said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog! please post 'snibbets' as herbsgirl said. i too love to read and enjoy your blog posts.

shannon said...

Wow!--you're writing a novel! How awesome is that! Good for you, my friend!--Great SP--cute picture of you...

Lori Ashton said...

I would love to read it when you finish. You are so talented (and beautiful, you go girl!!)

Alisha said...

Yeah! I LOVED that talk by Pres. Uchtdorf, too. Very inspiring. Good luck with your writing!!

Missy said...

can't wait to read it!! good luck!

Lene said...

I bet it is wonderful. Writing is such a personal and amazing talent.

Vandee said...

Can't wait to read it. Keep going! We need another famous author in Snowflake!