World Magazine recently published their "book" issue which includes a slew of book reviews and interviews with Christian authors. Thanks go to Grandpa Ashlock for putting a couple of its articles into my hands.
In an excerpted interview with Ann Voskamp from an earlier World issue, the author cites organization, reading, and "waiting on the Lord" as important aspects of her writer's life.
I can see why organization would be important for Voskamp. She lives on a farm, she's a mother of six, and she homeschools some of those six. "I stayed up late for too long and wrote a book." She humbly refers to best-seller One Thousand Gifts. Needless to say, I'm impressed.
Voskamp finds reading theology is helpful in making it "for the kitchen sink." Breaking down theology can be a difficult task, especially in the company of CS Lewis and John Piper, two of her favorites.
Her breaking down spiritual concepts finds its way onto her web journal, whose tagline, "because God has burning bushes everywhere" I find to be a vivid message, filled with hope and belief in promises. Even in the company of a burning bush in Exodus, Moses was hesitant to follow God's order to lead his people, but eventually Moses did so with humility.
Voskamp's unique poetic flair sets her apart in the popular genre of spiritual testimony. Joe Bunting writes in his blog her deft ability to "drop her article" to construct a jarring image. For example, reading "pick it up and watch it sink into sink" sticks out more than saying "the sink," which we are trained to look for.
Not every author can expect to find themselves successfully on the map like Voskamp. But adding your flair goes a long way toward making you stick out, as does knowing your limits. By "waiting on the Lord," Voskamp wills herself to work hard but chooses to not take full credit for her success.
Some have muses, others a faith, and I guess most of subscribe to a combination thereof for our inspiration.
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