I am beyond encouraged here. As a graphic artist and communications designer of 30+ years, I'm entering a similar experience, tapping into an invitation to explore the calling card of God: beauty. Your story has reminded me that the ultimate outcome of this journey is not necessarily an audience to share with (although that can be part of it) but our Divine companion throughout it all and the depths and heights we get to explore with God through the act of creating. Thank you for building this cairn for this fellow traveler to find.
Your humility and rootedness in God is so encouraging, Bailey! Thank you for sharing your journey, and encouraging me to keep following my dreams, too!
"Like stone-stacking, writing is an act of remembrance. Stories are the memorial stones. Storytelling is a way to bear witness, to mark what happened, and to weave something new and golden and beautiful from the shards of what was broken or lost. It’s kintsugi for word-spinners."
Thanks for sharing your encouraging thoughts and illustrations. As an aging and rarely published writer (a few academic articles, a dissertation which got me 13 bucks in royalties, and a couple poems that served for a yacht club publication) I often seem to be dwelling in the shadows wondering "What's the use in continuing with writing projects, poetic and otherwise?" Submissions of chapbooks, individual poems always elicit a note of regret from the editing teams. I think I have written a hundred plus poems -- plus a couple of drafts for "how to" books are in the hopper of my laptop -- and I think "Why do I continue to feel compelled to write beyond my daily journal?" It's funny, but not. Anyway, your guest post is restorative to my soul. Thank you. Blessings in your continued writing journey.
Here's an article you might like, Deborah. I have saved it to refer to often! Perhaps most of us are given gifts for our immediate community, not the whole world. That's an exciting thought.
So encouraging. The path to publication can feel endless to the point of "wandering in the desert." It's hard to consciously remind yourself that the wandering is also refining and preparing you for what comes next.
Yes, I hear you! Any long project like a book definitely has many moments of feeling endless. I have had to surrender my hopes and timelines so many times, trusting that if I am meant to do this work, things will come into alignment in God’s best timing. It is all formation. 💛
Bailey, this is so encouraging. Thank you for sharing your experience ❤️ congratulations!!
I am beyond encouraged here. As a graphic artist and communications designer of 30+ years, I'm entering a similar experience, tapping into an invitation to explore the calling card of God: beauty. Your story has reminded me that the ultimate outcome of this journey is not necessarily an audience to share with (although that can be part of it) but our Divine companion throughout it all and the depths and heights we get to explore with God through the act of creating. Thank you for building this cairn for this fellow traveler to find.
Your humility and rootedness in God is so encouraging, Bailey! Thank you for sharing your journey, and encouraging me to keep following my dreams, too!
Never, never give up... I am greatly encouraged! Thanks Bailey!
"Like stone-stacking, writing is an act of remembrance. Stories are the memorial stones. Storytelling is a way to bear witness, to mark what happened, and to weave something new and golden and beautiful from the shards of what was broken or lost. It’s kintsugi for word-spinners."
Love this! Yes!
A gift from God! I am so excited for you, Bailey! This was such an encouraging and beautiful read.
Love this for you, Bailey. 🙏🏼
Thanks for sharing your encouraging thoughts and illustrations. As an aging and rarely published writer (a few academic articles, a dissertation which got me 13 bucks in royalties, and a couple poems that served for a yacht club publication) I often seem to be dwelling in the shadows wondering "What's the use in continuing with writing projects, poetic and otherwise?" Submissions of chapbooks, individual poems always elicit a note of regret from the editing teams. I think I have written a hundred plus poems -- plus a couple of drafts for "how to" books are in the hopper of my laptop -- and I think "Why do I continue to feel compelled to write beyond my daily journal?" It's funny, but not. Anyway, your guest post is restorative to my soul. Thank you. Blessings in your continued writing journey.
Here's an article you might like, Deborah. I have saved it to refer to often! Perhaps most of us are given gifts for our immediate community, not the whole world. That's an exciting thought.
https://open.substack.com/pub/joffreswait/p/on-being-a-public-poet-especially?r=55fynn&utm_medium=ios
Thank you, Anna. I will be sure to read that one.
So delighted to read this. Congratulations Bailey! 🥳🎊🍾🥂✨
Found this article exactly when I needed it. I can't wait to read more of your work.
So encouraging. The path to publication can feel endless to the point of "wandering in the desert." It's hard to consciously remind yourself that the wandering is also refining and preparing you for what comes next.
Yes, I hear you! Any long project like a book definitely has many moments of feeling endless. I have had to surrender my hopes and timelines so many times, trusting that if I am meant to do this work, things will come into alignment in God’s best timing. It is all formation. 💛