G    GOD
R    REWARDS
O    OUR
W   WRITING

The GROW workshop will look at inspirational writing overall, but I admit, as I write fiction, it leans heavily in that direction. This workshop is not only for beginning writers, but also for writers who want to analyze how they feel about their careers and where they want to go from here.

Think back on the most trying time in your life, the most painful experience you ever had. That time when you said, "God, I can't do this without You. I need your help." Do you remember how you felt when He touched your heart and offered you a big dose of His healing grace in your time of desperate sorrow or disappointment?

Untold people around the world need only a single moment in His presence to change their lives forever. How does He reach out to those who need him, not just the lost who never knew Jesus but Christians who feel overwhelmed by the secular world around them? Christians who have lost the fire somewhere along the way, and need inspiration from writers like you to rekindle the flame?

Picture a young girl getting on a bus alone. Her eyes red and swollen, she's been crying. She shuffles down the narrow aisle until she finds an empty seat next to an old woman. She sits down and shoves her backpack between her feet. The old woman looks up from her magazine, smiles at the girl, and then continues reading. They ride along for a while and then the old woman touches the girl's hand. "I have to get off at the next stop." She hands the magazine to the girl. "You read this while you ride along, it might make you feel better." The warmth of the woman's hand on hers has a surprising effect, and brings new tears to the girl's eyes.

With the magazine in her lap, the girl watches the woman make her way up the aisle and out of the bus. She scoots over to the window and watches the old lady walk down the sidewalk. As the bus speeds along, she begins to read an article, "Abortion--When Does Life Begin?" That article changes her mind—and changes her life forever.

At what point did God begin working on that miracle? When the author began writing the article? When the old woman got up that morning? Most likely, He planned it when He created the very foundations of the world. We do know God planned it in His time and in His way. We also know He planned on that author to assist in getting the job done.

It doesn't matter if you write Christian fiction, self-help articles, or devotionals; millions of reader's lives can change forever by one sentence, paragraph or situation. Someone might be waiting to hear what you alone can share through your testimony.  

I'm sure some of you are asking this question right now.
"Okay, we're Christians, we know all about this. When are we going to get to the nuts and bolts of this class? When are we going to talk about writing?"

Well, Christian, God is the nuts and bolts of GROW—GOD REWARDS OUR WRITING. He is the golden thread winding through our prose. Whatever genre you choose to write, when you place "Christian" after your name that makes God the true author of every word you write.

The most important lesson you can ever learn as writers is to trust God for every word, every time. He reaches out to your readers through you. His wisdom assures them of His love. With Him, you can do a splendid work in a troubled world that needs you. Without Him, the words are just hollow letters on the page.

Welcome, to the New Grow Workshop. I hope you find this a journey full of information, inspiration and open doors. Right now, there are nine lessons. I hope to add more before we are finished. I'm sure I'll add to it in the future and those lessons should turn up in your email no matter when I add them. In the days to come, as part of this workshop, you will have an opportunity to submit a devotional and a short story. I will post some of these on the website with a by-line and a link to your website (if applicable). All submissions will receive a critique and helpful comments.

You will receive all the lessons at once, but try to do them daily--give yourself a little time between lessons. If you can't get to it on a daily basis, don’t worry--put it aside and do it later. Please do the lessons in order. This isn't a competition and we have no deadlines. If you have questions, email me. I will answer every one as soon as possible. Please be patient, it may take time as I get a lot of mail.

Keep in mind as you go through the GROW workshop, you will learn craft and technique over time through abundant resources available to you (books, classes, workshops, critique groups and conferences--only to name a few), but as cliché as it sounds, experience is your best teacher. Like any artist, the more you practice and study your art, the better you become.

I believe inspirational writing, in whatever genre we choose, brings us closer to God.  Even though you'll rarely meet your readers, or indeed, ever hear from them, if you invite Him to join in your writing you will touch hearts in ways you never thought possible. Remember, some till the soil, some sew the seeds, others water and some tend the plants. Only God harvests the fruit.

"Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day."  ~Habakkuk 2:3 (MSG)
 
God Rewards Our Writing.

If you would like to have the FREE Grow Workshop, please email the information below to jacki@jackimcguyer.com

Name:
Email Address:
Date:
Please put (FREE GROW) in the subject line.

BLESSINGS

Notes:

• Sending for this workshop grants Jacqueline McGuyer permission to list your name as the winner of any writing awards perrtaining to this workshop on the website and to add you to Jacqueline's mailing list.
• Your name and information will never be given or sold to anyone.