Being a writer is one of the hardest things I do.
It makes me think harder, step outside of my comfort zone, and research more. It makes me learn to type quickly on a keyboard, stress about deadlines, and write every day. Yet, being a writer is my favorite job in the world. Because being a writer makes me smile bigger, raise my voice, and gives me opportunities to make a difference. It gives me purpose and chances to impact people. And maybe most important of all, it draws me closer to the heart of God. When I write, I feel God’s presence. I feel closer to Him than at any other time. I was nine years old when I first realized that picking up my pen and creating stories caused me more happiness than anything else. My first “book” was only seven pages long and I called it Best Friends Forever. I had notebooks with stories written in them stacked so high I couldn’t keep up with all of them. I created my own “book series” about a girl named Jenna and her horse, Midnight! Each “book” was a page long but I had about ten of them. I was twelve years old when I wrote my first book of 101 pages, each word written carefully in a notebook that I carried with me everywhere. Only a couple months later, I got my first laptop. I learned to let my fingers fly across the keyboard without looking at the keys. On that keyboard I would type out the next 11 books I would write, 9 of them being fiction and 3 being non-fiction. And May 20, 2014 something changed for me completely. Today it's been two years since that day. I had written non-fiction before, but this was different. God had asked me to write a book about my own personal story, a book that was my soul on paper. And on this day I wrote the final words of that book, “I Dare You.” It was written for my eyes only and for the eyes of God. It was written to inspire a generation to do something big with their lives and trust God to write a beautiful story with it. I had no way of knowing on that day I wrote the last words that God would ask me to publish this book first. And on June 26, 2015, “I Dare You” released for the world to read. If you have read this book, I pray that you can see my heart on those pages and that you can feel the presence of God as you read. When God asked me to publish this book I was hesitant. I didn't want to do it. This book was my heart and I was scared to give it to others to see. Yet in my heart I wanted to inspire even just one person. I would always pray that I could inspire someone. I saw it as holding a candle, a single flame. But when you extend that flame to one more candle, that one more candle can light another flame and eventually the darkness is filled with thousands of glowing candles. This is how I viewed inspiration and this is how I wanted my life to be. Then May 20, 2014 I finished "I Dare You." Then God asked me to publish it. And He showed me. It was my candle. So when you look on the printed cover of my book today, you will see a candle, shining in the darkness. For one candle can change the world. I look back on the last ten years I've been writing and I am amazed. When I wrote Best Friends Forever out in a little notebook of mine, I had no idea that so many years later I would be the published author of two books that God had inspired in my heart to write. And it makes it all worth it. All those days of holding in the backspace button as I deleted whole pages of what I had written. All those days of yelling at my computer because it lost stories I had written or it did not save like it was supposed to. All those days of crying because I could not figure out page numbers and all I wanted to do was throw my computer out the window and pull out my hair screaming. All those days of worrying what readers would think of my writing because I didn’t feel good enough. All those days of typing hour after hour and staring at the computer screen. All those hours of editing that I never looked forward to. I look down at the two books sitting in a box beside me and I see my name on the front cover. Isabella D. Morganthal. I’d dreamt of that moment since the day my fingers first picked up a pen and starting creating something I never knew I could create. And I know it was worth it. So no matter how many days I will continue to yell at my computer and hold in that backspace button to delete pages, I will keep writing. Because one of the most important things being a writer has taught me is that the story is never just ours to tell. There has not been a book I have written where I have not sat down at the computer and prayed “God, I give You this book. Write through me, and please write something amazing.” Because God is the pen of each of my stories, I am a writer today. Because God is the author of each of my pages, He has given me the opportunity to tell the world what I believe. And that is why, when I write, I feel the pleasure of God more than in anything else. Because when I am writing, I am laughing with God and talking with God and smiling with God. Over each word, each page, every story. We are writing together and I’ve never been happier, writing and dreaming with my Hero. No matter who you are or where you live, you have a story to tell. There is a desire to create something deep inside of you because you were made in the image of your Creator. No, I don’t think everyone has been called to write or has the desire to write. But you do have a story to tell. And you can tell it in countless ways. Your story isn’t always a fiction novel that portrays things you’ve learned or aspects of your own life. It isn’t always a devotional that draws people to the feet of God with the personal stories from your own life and how you found your own purpose at the feet of God. But God has given you a story to tell. A story of beauty. A story of faithfulness, a story of trust, a story of love, a story of grace. Maybe you can see your story in the music you create that causes people to stop and listen to a sound that speaks of a beautiful Creator. Maybe you can see your story in your photographs that you take behind the lens of your camera. A story of a beautiful mountain with hills golden from the sun, that causes people to look towards the Creator of it all. Maybe you can see your story in the paintings you draw that capture a beauty or a sadness that inspire people to create something too. Maybe you can see your story in the beautiful things you sew, crochet, or knit that bring smiles to the faces of people you give it to and comfort them to know that there is a Creator who loves them even more than you. Or maybe you are a writer and your story is through the pages on your computer screen or notebook. You write to understand, you write to inspire, you write to feel close to God. So write, dear writer. Being published will come, but for now just write. Pour your heart onto those pages and give every word to the One who created you. Write a story of God’s love and beauty and He will do something amazing with it. Before I close, thank you to the one reading this now. Thank you for believing in me enough to read the simple words I have to write on a page. Thank you for believing in me enough to keep on reading even if I lost you at the first paragraph. And to my God, for being the reason I write, I thank You with all of my heart. Now, dear readers, if you don’t mind, I have another story to write. God bless you.
6 Comments
Grace
5/21/2016 09:28:23 am
I love this!! Thank you so much for following God's leading and publishing I Dare You! It inspires me!
Reply
Bella Morganthal
5/21/2016 11:25:34 am
Thank you, Grace! :) I'm so glad!
Reply
Olivia Bell
5/21/2016 03:36:47 pm
What a wonderful post, Bella! You are a powerful writer! I really look forward to reading your new book "The King's Princess"!!
Reply
Bella Morganthal
5/21/2016 07:40:50 pm
Thank you so much, Livy! :) That means so much!
Reply
Bella Morganthal
5/21/2016 07:41:16 pm
Thanks so much, Beth!! :) <3
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
October 2019
Categories |