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Is Your Writing (a) Calling?


Writing is a calling. If you have it on your heart to write, that call is there for a reason. 
Recently I heard Denzel Washington, (you know that ol'
 actor?,) say that. He’s shared other phrases of wisdom too. But this one really struck me. Probably because it was what I wanted or even needed to hear. 
And Mr. Washington even went so far as to say that that reason is because God (the divine, Higher power, etc. whatever you believe) who is already in tomorrow, KNOWS that you will in fact succeed. 
Can that be any more comforting?
Can that be any more intimidating? 
No, you don’t need to know the timing or even the “if” in the “What if?”  You just need to answer the call. 
So, there it is.
Pick up the phone. Answer the text. The email. You’re being summoned. Someone out there needs what you have to share.  Your exact voice. Your stories. To learn of your experiences that you can tell in only the way that you know how to tell them. 
I heard once that if you have it on your heart a true desire to write, that the Divine put that desire there. He’s already seen and sees your success, and now you just need to see it. 
OK, so this is your dream. BUT- is it your destiny? According to Mr. Washington, yes. 
One thing is certain, creatives feel an urge to create something out of (almost) nothing, something tangible out of the intangible. To craft an idea into a world, and a plot, and a vision into a well-rounded, faults and all, endearing protagonist who faces a relatable yet not fully hated antagonist. Or a poem that sings and floats in the air and takes up residence in the reader’s soul. A song or composition that leaves a melody listeners can’t get out of their heads.  And characters readers fall in love with and learn to CARE about. 
Creating and shipping is a gift; how fun is it to have something you want to say to the world, a message, or a theme to share, to somehow lighten the heavy load of this human experience, and help give others hope, or inspiration to answer the call in their own heart? 
But I haven’t found my voice. People will think what I have to say, is dumb. (Been there, done that.) Practice. I’m still practicing. Doctors and lawyers are “practicing” too, ministers “practice what they preach.” Musicians practice. Athletes practice. And, yeah, writers practice. Painters practice. Creatives practice. 
Which is just to say we think as we are, and we show up often. To do that thing.
I think of myself as a writer. Man, that didn’t come right away. What keeps coming is “who you? A writer. Scoff. More like an imposter. Capital "I." Imposter. Yeah, but an Imposter Posing as a writer.
Eat those words, inner critic. Naysayers. 
Since college, maybe ever since I discovered them, I play with and in words.
I silently correct your grammar when you are speaking texting or emailing with me.
And so it goes. 
Everyone has a desire. Each one of us has an urge to unwrap the hidden gift inside, enjoy it, grow it use it, and then give it out to others.
So, Fellow Creative, what’s your calling?  Are you answering it?
Are you taking steps every day to go after it? 


(Cross posted at my short story blog at Simily.co)

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