Blog #2: Chapter 1: Novel Approach by Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy

HOW THIS NOVEL APPROACH CAME INTO BEING

The first of July 2009 brought a major turning point in my life when I moved from the only home I've ever known to another state. I'm a third generation Colorado native; consequently, moving to Nebraska meant leaving most of my family and friends.

I had to set up a new home and help my husband prepare and get used to his new job here in Omaha as well. Needless to say, my writing suffered. It was not only my writing that suffered, though. My writing vision did.

Busyness also consumed me as I had family come to visit and I went back home for a visit.

Then, after returning from Colorado, I had a spiritual breakdown for a couple of days. I hadn't realized at all how much I missed home until I went back for a couple of days for the Broncos home opener against the Cleveland Browns (Denver won, by the way). Watching the Rocky Mountains disappear to my back and having the realization of how much I missed Colorado and my family sent me into the spiritual abyss for two days until God finally got my attention.

God told me to lose myself in Him and forget all about my blogs, my website, my email, twitter, and Facebook.

He is a jealous lover of my soul (and of me) and He demanded time with me. So, between 23 September and now, I've spent 10 hours a day in the Word and tried to pray without ceasing throughout the day and night during that time.

I realized during that time I was the epitome of lukewarm from Revelation 3:16 and was stagnate in faith and in my writing.

Here's what Revelation 3:16 from the NIV states:

16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

(New International Version: Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica.)

I also spent some time writing by hand in a journal and am always amazed by:

1. How much my quality of writing improves,

2. How I get more ideas from writing with a pen (by the way, PaperMate PROFILE pens are the best on the market, if you like ballpoint pens),

3. How I'm more focused, and

4. How much I enjoy it.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, God introduced me to the idea of writing using fiction as a tool for Bible Study. I have to admit it sounded--unusual to me. I've learned since 23 September to proceed by faith regardless of how strange it may sound. My obedience and faith matter far more than my understanding and far more than what I want.

After a while, the use of fiction as a tool for Bible Study made perfect sense. I could write a story to make a specific point about faith and how to live a life of faith today, let alone apply an ancient text to modern living in 2009. Hence, I thought God might have a really good idea. (It was absolutely true. I just let my sense of humor come through and I just wanted to make sure you understood.)

Life was plugging away just fine between being in the Word and in prayer when I made a prayer request nine days ago that I heard God clearly about what He wanted from my writing. When you get a group of women to pray, things change. Prayers are heard and then answered by God. Trust me.

I knew the ladies prayed because last night, God woke me at 12:30 in the morning. (I'm writing this by had on Thursday, 15 October 2009 in the afternoon.) He spoke to me very clearly for the next two hours and now I have a very specific vision and mission for my writing and now know how to go about it for the rest of my life. I took ten pages of notes of what God told me and how I was supposed to accomplish this feat.

I've written about 50 novels I've started, some I've finished, some I almost finished, some I stopped halfway, some I stopped a quarter of the way through, and others I just stopped with an idea. Now I know why. God made it crystal clear why. However, before I tell you why, I need to go down a rabbit/bunny trail for a moment.

More to follow...
 
By Stacy Duplease
of Stories by Stacy