​FREEWHEELING WRITING By Author Sophia - September 28, 2021
 
 
This is my maiden post for the blessed team of More Than Writers. When I thought about what to write, I picked on the advice I had gotten from one of the ACW sessions I had attended in July 2020 that no writing should ever go to waste.   Just like our Heavenly Father took a part of Adam's rib to create Eve, his wife, it made me think of every part of the human anatomy – no matter how minuscule or large the human parts are, the Lord God found some use and purpose for their role in the human body. Nothing is wasted. So, welcome to my ‘NOTHING IS WASTED SERIES,’ in which my first episode springs from  a 10 minutes freewheeling writing exercise we were asked to engage in.

The topic of the ACW session was ‘Creating amidst Chaos' - about God’s creation and creativity. God created a magnificent world in the midst of chaos! That tells me that like our Father, we must continue to be creative no matter the ‘chaos’ we are in. Beauty will come out of the ashes. Be encouraged to make a start if you are still hesitating. Below is that writing exercise - raw and undiluted!

 Just letting my thoughts fly anywhere to no purposeful destination in subject matter is amazing. There is no stopping – just like the invisible wind freely blowing in any direction. As I freely write, I become conscious of my mind – is it empty? What is in there? There is no time to pause or think – my writing like the wind is just blowing whither it wants, not caring about rubbish, mistakes, common sense,  beauty or not – or like the chaos we have talked today.

 Well, just as the wind carries up dust particles, objects and anything in its wake so goes my writing in this page picking up anything that my mind throws at it as it scribbles on. The wind gets fast, busy, cold or even hot and sometimes even dangerous.  I can think of times when I have felt the teeth of the wind on my skin and inside my nose – These were not pleasant. How about when the wind is still and absent? I felt hot and uncomfortable. And then I remember those times when the wind was beautiful to feel on my entire body. I thought about the majesty of Abba my Father in Heaven and blew him invisible kisses for sending such feelings of love from the wind,  caressing my entire being and making my soul at one with Him.

At that moment, there was definitely satisfaction, contentment, peace and the feeling to fly and be carried away or to ride with the wind to wherever it would take me!!
 

 My Review of Creativity Matters by Wendy Jones
‘Creativity Matters’ by Wendy Jones is a handy and useful work of art that impacts anyone who has the calling to be a writer. An array of genres in both fiction and non-fiction, like a buffet, have been presented by carefully selected renowned published authors in their speciality of flash, fantasy, romance, historical , drama, poetry, science, memoir and much more. As W. Jones has said, it is not a 'how to do’ book. Reading through the different contributions, it was obvious to me that writers are encouraged to enlarge their coast in terms of variety in their writing, while would- be and new writers are encouraged to become published! By reading each presentation of the different genres, writers and readers develop the - ‘I can try that’ attitude. Wendy Jones, herself has presented here four different genres: Romance, historical non –fiction, Crime and Mystery, making her a multi genre author!  This is what writers reading this book are stimulated to become. Why not? As Nanette Fairley advises, ‘ To stay healthy and happy, we need to continue to grow and learn even in our ‘Third Age.’ Find out what the ‘Third Age’ is! My desire to try my hands on Flash and Biblical fiction has been strongly ignited, but it could be different for you!

It could also be that you are not yet a writer because you have not yet discovered where your passion lies. This is the practical book for you.  Reading through each author’s Bio, one gleans a lot of information such as offers to teach creative writing to new and aspiring writers.  Each chapter begins with a question: ‘Why write…?’ This prompts the reader’s choice to engage in a specific genre after reading convincing and encouraging excerpts, quotes and experiences of what is involved by each contributor.  For instance, Fay Rowland says, ‘It is your invention.’  Janet Wilson says, ‘Books help readers feel understood.’ Some books are borne from the writer’s own personal experience as Joy Margetts confirms. Maressa Mortimer tells us that, ‘It is a great way to use imagination.’ Lizzie Ngulube mentions her love for writing memoir and hopes she has instilled that passion in readers!  Sub genres are mentioned but what grabbed my attention was my learning of a new genre: Cat Tales! Kirsten Bett quoted Goodreads having 257 best Cat books. So you can write about your own pets! If you are science inclined, A.J Chamberlain’s contribution would interest you. You will also discover as I did, that you don’t need to have studied Creative Writing! Some of the authors are nurses, civil servants, mathematicians and other disciplines.
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Like the Bible, which is a compilation of different books to bless readers, I can say that ‘Creativity Matters’ is a highly recommended book worth its 5 stars and you will be greatly blessed to get one for yourself!