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Step Two – “Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore our writing to sanity”

 

How do you remain spiritually sane? There are many methods that will keep you grounded, solid and living in truth. The same practices that keep you balanced in your personal spiritual life will keep your writing grounded. Below are some of the practical ways to remain faithful.

Talk to your parish priest – When I first started religious writing, I went to my parish priest for advice. That may not seem like much to you, but for me it was monumental. I was raised in the era when priests were called by their last name and the most you (as a woman) said to them was “Good morning Father” or “God bless you Father.” There was no such thing as “Father Joe” or “Father Bill.”   I really only had what resembled a conversation with a priest in the confessional, safely hidden behind the screen. I loved my parish priest. I loved his homilies and teachings. He heard my first confession when I came back to Mother Church. However, I was afraid to tell him that I was writing religious articles and that to my surprise they were being published. I finally broke down and told him when I was writing my first novel. There were things I needed to check and he was always there to answer my questions. He has become one of my greatest supporters and even now that he is retired he is always ready to help. When I wrote my second novel, I didn’t hesitate to ask for his guidance. Both he and my Bishop have been accommodating and willing to help.

The Catholic Catechism There are many ways to be sure that you are literally correct, but one of the best resources is the latest catechism that was published during the reign of John Paul II. I always turn to this wonderful resource whenever I am in doubt about the validity of what I am including in fiction. For example, my novels contain numerous references to the angelic. I personally have great devotion to my angel and all in the angelic realm. However, I could easily become confused because of what I was taught as a child and by how the secular world portrays angels. When in doubt I double check what the church believes in my catechism. I keep it on my shelf right next to my dictionary and thesaurus.

Fellow writers, readers and friends Some writers are afraid to share their work with others. They seem to have a deep seated fear of their ideas or themes being stolen. I think the fear limits them and some valuable resources that would make their work shine. Getting the opinion of people of various backgrounds is a wonderful way to find mistakes, flaws and just plain bad writing or thought in your work. First, you have to pick your ‘readers’ carefully. Don’t pick friends or family who will tell you how wonderful your work is no matter the truth. Pick readers who feel safe enough to tell you where you have strayed from the truth. Secondly, be sure that you don’t pick readers who agree with all the ideas you hold. People tend to associate with like-minded people. Conservatives hang with and commiserate with conservatives. Liberals attract other liberals. That is not only true in politics but in religious circles also. If your beliefs tend to the conservative, find a moderate or liberal believer to read. Find a few non-believers to read your tale. Some of the most valuable advice I receive is from atheists and agnostics who aren’t afraid to tell me when the story is too preachy or I am out of touch with main stream opinion. That doesn’t mean that I want to change it. It means that I have to consider my audience. If I am writing for a practicing Catholic, what I wrote may be fitting. If I am writing for the general public and hope to touch them with a Catholic truth, it doesn’t pay to be preachy or overly dogmatic. Creating a circle of people from various beliefs and backgrounds will not water down your writing. It will sharpen and hone your skills and help you create a larger fan base. Join a secular writing group. I find it one of the best ways to expose yourself and your writing to different opinions and interesting discussions. Don’t be afraid of dissention. Your faith should be strong enough to weather other viewpoints. Remember Jesus never avoided the faithless or confused. He avoided the judgmental Pharisees. You can’t reach the world if you are afraid of it.

Next Blog, let’s explore the Spiritual practices to keep your writing balanced and sane.

Karen Kelly Boyce is a mother of two and grandmother of two who lives on a farm in N.J. with her retired husband. She and her husband love to camp and take ‘road trips’ around the country. She has published four novels and three children’s books. Her website is www.karenkellyboyce.com

Karen Kelly Boyce lives on a farm in N.J. with her retired husband. She is a mother and grandmother. She is the author of “The Sisters of the Last Straw” series published by Tan Books. You can see her work and learn more about her on her website: www,kkboyce.com