First of all, minor housekeeping note: I’ve been super absentee around these parts lately. I’m sorry…and yet not. Because April was thrillingly full with book stuff and speaking engagements and May is thrillingly carefree with lots of family and friend fun. I do hope to churn out a post in the next week or so, but thankfully I’ve got some guests in the meantime…
Including the super awesome, super adorable Meghan M. Gorecki. I’ve had the joy of getting to know Meghan online and I have a feeling we’d be bffs in person. And this post…this post! It reflects my own heart in so many ways. I hope you’ll give it a read.
AND be sure to check out Meghan’s book, God’s Will. It sounds amazing…and it’s downloading on my own kindle as I type. -Melissa
*****
Ernest Hemingway once wrote, “Write hard and clear about what hurts.” But what do you do when the very writing just hurts? Hits too close to home? Maybe this is why it took me seven years to write my novel, God’s Will. Because in those seven years, art imitated life and there were times I leaned into that—and also times I took long breaks from writing. Looking back—the writing was cathartic, long as it took me, hard as it was. It was all worth it.
Diagnosed with hip dysplasia at the age of eleven, limitations, a limp and increasing pain were ushered into my life and became a new normal. Then add to that my little brother going through a major surgery (for the same hip condition!) two years later put our family in crisis mode, “Just do the next thing” for almost a full year. My senior year of high school my mom’s fibromyalgia flare had not abated, and when she finally went to the doctor she was diagnosed with severe rheumatoid arthritis. The heart and soul of our home, my best friend, I had to watch struggle to adapt, live with so much pain and chronic fatigue—it just wasn’t fair. Any of it.
But I kept writing.
And through the wrestling of it all—what was clearly God’s will and conduits to draw us closer to Himself—I watched faith deepen in my family. We bonded together to be stronger. We learned how to adapt and constantly count our blessings instead of sheep. No, not always everyday. Many were, and are, still hard. But there is so much good to be found despite the challenges and heartache that come with chronic pain in a family.
And so I wrote and rewrote and cut scenes and added scenes that both allowed me to be whisked away into the Depression-era Midwest to a makeshift family on a farm not unlike The Waltons. And it helped me process. Those early drafts of God’s Will cut me to the quick just thinking about them as I cried out, sometimes outright railed at God through my fictional heroine, Kathy Andrews. The circumstances I put all the characters through are far worse than any I’ve gone through—but the struggles and uphill climb they faced to hold to hope and God’s hand, mirrored my own.
And that is why it is so important to write hard and clear about what hurts. It is when we crack open our hearts and dig deep—not separating our hearts from the process of writing—that the story is allowed to shine for all its worth. All to the glory of the Ultimate Author.
*****
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Meghan M. Gorecki is an author of inspirational fiction, a blogger, book reviewer and voracious reader. Taking her life a day at a time as God leads, she is pursuing a career in the publishing industry as an editor in training and as a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. A hopeless romantic, history and Marvel nut, she’s also a redhead (thanks to a box), who knows way too much trivia about movie musicals and the Civil War. Find her on social media and at her blog, A Northern Belle (www.northernbellemeg.com)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Website || Facebook || Twitter || Instagram || Pinterest
PURCHASE LINKS:
Paperback: http://bit.ly/1W8YCcY
Kindle: http://bit.ly/1ZfqlXD
Comments 16
Thank you for having me here, my friend!
Author
You are so welcome. I love your post and I know I will love your book, too!
What a great post, Meghan. Thank you for sharing your heart with us, and for pouring yourself into your book, even though it hurt! All for God’s glory–there is nothing better than that.
(And hi Melissa! I’m glad I’m not the only author who blogs in spurts! 🙂 )
Thank you, my friend! 200% all to God. Couldn’t have written it, finished it and released it (twice now) without Him nudging/pulling me along and continually lifting my eyes to HIM.
Author
Oh yes, blogging in spurts! Glad I’m not alone too. I used to be so scheduled about it, I really did. And I honestly really do love blogging. But lately it’s had to take a backseat. And that’s okay. 🙂
Meghan, you never cease to amaze me and touch my life in some way! I adore you, my God-loving sister. ❤️
I adore YOU, Mikal. God is SO good to have dropped your friendship into my lap. <3
Author
<3 <3 <3
Meghan, so true! When art reflects life, the pain spills onto the page, but my-oh-my what healing we can bring to those going through the same trials we are! You made Kathy so relatable 🙂 We feel her hurt, we identify with her struggles, we root for her to overcome! That’s what I love about Christian fiction—we are ministered to and entertained at the same time. 🙂
And Melissa, I just finished Like Never Before yesterday. And speaking of relating to characters, I knew exactly how Logan felt when Charlie started talking! My own little girl was non-verbal for the early stages of life. I waited and waited just like Logan. When she started calling me “mommy,” I can’t express the emotion I felt. Then when the sentences came, I still gush over it. God has done a mighty work in her, and He’s not finished 😉 So yes, I totally related to your story as well.
So Meghan and Melissa, you guys both knocked it out of the ballpark with your characters. 🙂
Aww Rachel–your words made my day. Wow. It is all and more I could’ve ever asked for out of this book of mine. Thank you.
Author
Rachel, your comment brought tears to my eyes. I can only imagine how amazing it must have been that first time your daughter called you “mommy.” <3 <3 <3
What an inspiring post! It’s good to “meet” you Meghan. I’ve seen you around on Facebook and have heard great things about your book. It’s definitely going on my TBR list. Thanks so much for sharing your feelings and your talents!
Hi Melissa! Thanks for the post. I have your book on my TBR list, too. I’ve been hoping to win a copy, but so far I haven’t been lucky, so I might have to break down and buy it. 🙂 I’m sure it will be worth it!
Author
🙂 🙂 🙂
Hi Winnie! Good to meet you too–I’m so glad this post was inspiring for you. <3 Let me know what you think of God's Will whenever you read it. <3
A hello to both Melissa and Meghan! 🙂
Just wanted to pop in and say you are both such inspiring people – with your writing, yes, and also with your lives. (Shout-out to Emma Jane from A Lantern In Her Hand for showing me your blogs. :D) I always get encouraged about how you live your life so joyfully in the Lord, and share your life adventures so genuinely and honestly.
This post, also, was something I was very glad to read. I’m only fifteen (from Australia!) but I have a ‘hobby’ of writing stories, and one thing I’ve learnt is that stories that will make an impact or tell a real story, are ones that are heartfelt by the author. So thank you, to both of you! 🙂
Aww Meg–I am SO glad you stopped by here! Keep at that writing, girl.