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Jessica Ferguson

Author, Writing Coach, Speaker

I is for Invisible, Inspiration and Instruction

April 11, 2016 By Jessica Ferguson 6 Comments

IFunny how the words we blog about during this A to Z Challenge come to us out of the blue. Or not. I had such a block with my G words but the minute I sat down to write about I—Invisible, Instruction and Inspiration popped into my head. Okay, I have a point, but it’s still a little murky in my mind so bear with me while I work it out—at your expense. 🙂

Most of you know I interview authors for Southern Writers Magazine. I send questions to the interviewee—anywhere from 15 to 20—and then I write an article from their answers.Southern Writers_Lori

Sometimes I’ll read their response to my questions, feel inspired and recognize a hook and theme right away. Sometimes I struggle. Even though they’ve gone into wonderful detail with their answers, there are times I don’t see anything I consider interesting—and by interesting I mean something that gives instruction and inspiration to our audience who are other writers. When their answers don’t interest me, I have to make myself work on the article. Talk about a struggle!

This struggle comes from within me–not because of who I’m interviewing or their answers. Sometimes I’m resisting writing. Writing anything!

But, it never fails that when I force myself to start creating, I discover an invisible thread of instruction and inspiration within myself and within the story.

I looked up the definition of invisible and read the following sentence:

She feels as if her success is being blocked by an invisible barrier.

How appropriate.

I know from experience that if we play around with our articles, our chapters, our short stories, almost anything we’re working on … that invisible bone structure will reveal itself to us; that invisible barrier will disappear. That’s because we’re calling forth what we know–and creating our own inspiration.

I have inspiration and instruction deep down inside me. It’s an essential part of my make up. You have it too.

Believe me, if you’ve read how-to books and the writing magazines … if you’ve attended writers’ meetings and conferences, listened to professional authors speak … if you’ve read instructive blog posts, then you have deep within you sufficient instruction and inspiration that’s invisible to you—until you force yourself to create. Too often, we get frustrated and give up too soon. We lose faith in ourselves and our abilities and everything we know about creating.

Don’t wait until you feel inspired because that’s almost like taking backwards steps; leap into your project and success will follow. Try it. Just try it … and let me know what happens.

Filed Under: A to Z 2016 Tagged With: Inspiration, Instruction, Invisible

Y is for YouTube

April 29, 2015 By Jessica Ferguson Leave a Comment

We’re closing in on the end of our A to Z Blogging Challenge. For more information on the challenge and its creator visit:   http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com

Today I’m honoring YouTube because that’s the one place you can find the answers to anything and everything. Seriously, if you want to know how to lay flooring, pull up flooring, build shelves in your garage or kitchen, connect your toilet, you can find instruction on YouTube. You can even post instruction on YouTube if you want to share your expertise with others. 

Let’s take it a step further: Even if you aren’t planning to do these renovation jobs yourself, watching and listening to the YouTube presentations will give you knowledge about how the job should be done and the right questions to ask a contractor or handyman.

Want to make a pretty scarf: try YouTube.
Interested in making jewelry: it’s on YouTube.
Want to plot a book: yep, go to YouTube
Want to learn how to fold fitted sheets: it’s on YouTube
How about demolishing a house? Need I say more? It’s on YouTube

Filed Under: A to Z 2015 Tagged With: A to Z Challenge 2015, Instruction, renovation, Uncategorized, YouTube

Reality Faith.
Reality Fiction.

"As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
Acts 4:20

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