Speaking and Writing…Training or Talent?
Why I Believe in Helping Creatives Learn Everything I Know
Rumor is that you can’t be a real writer if you don’t own the book Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott.
This does not bode well for me. 20 years in, after having written 9 books and 5 Bible studies, I’ve still never read it.
Don’t get me wrong – I love learning, Anne Lamott is a brilliant wordsmith, and I highly believe in utilizing good tools to sharpen skills in your craft.
It is, in fact, a major reason why I joined with a fellow author, speaker and business coach, Alli Worthington, 5 years ago and started an online community for writers, speakers, podcasters, and all kinds of creatives, called Called Creatives.
But there’s the other side of things that says that writing and speaking is all creative instinct. That you either have the gift or you don’t, and you shouldn’t need something to teach you how to do it.
That sounds great, but what do you do when you have a gift, feel called to a message or to share your story but don’t know where to start?
This is a familiar place for many and it was the boat I found myself in as well some years ago when I realized that the DNA I was born with included a strong preaching gene – one that was simply undeniable.
My father was an incredible orator, and I loved that for him and for those of us who got to listen to his masterful preaching, but I wanted to be an interior decorator, thank you very much.
The reality, though, was -- I was gifted to share God’s Word with a similar fervor as my father. I did not go looking for this job. It was something I was simply gifted by God to do.
One day – I can remember it like yesterday – well into my father’s retirement, I walked into his living room to find him sitting in his favorite chair. “Dad, how do you write a sermon?” I asked him.
He paused for a minute, tilted his head to the right, and said simply, “Honey, I’m not sure how to even tell you. I just write it. That’s all I know.”
I left my parent’s house that day, a bit frustrated and certainly not better informed. I needed tangible help in putting together my sermon for an upcoming event. My fate appeared to be to write a clunky sermon.
The truth is, yes, the Lord has been good to me all these years, clunky sermons and all.
At the same time, my whole writing and speaking life has been me learning on the job. I do not despise a minute of this type of bootcamp. However, it has not always been ideal.
I have been slowed, if not set back at times, by a lack of clarity and understanding, simply because I have lacked practical guidance.
This is crucial because so much important time is wasted by many of us overthinking, dwelling on insecurities, getting in the weed over systems with lingering questions with no one to ask. Meanwhile, our gifts lie dormant due to “technical difficulties.”
I decided that day with my father that though my counsel would never substitute for the Holy Spirit’s natural gifting and leadership in someone’s life, if I ever got to the place to gather enough experience, I would put it to good use to help someone behind me.
I am so grateful to say that I’ve been able to keep that promise.
Alli and I still believe in Called Creatives as much 5 years later as we did when we started it. We’ve seen 100’s of women move forward in their gifts, speak all over the world, start writing, launch a podcast, and get their questions answered. We’ve published books for them with our partner publishing house. Served as their once-a-month coach. Connected them with like-hearted women. It’s truly been the greatest community of women I’ve ever met, and I especially love watching them cheer each other on.
We are only open 2 times a year, and we are open now. Will you let us help train you in your gift and calling?