The Dead Don't Always Die
I wrote the following when I first started this blog. Totally forgot about it too, but since I'm feeling exhausted and my brain is on post-freeze, I thought I'd repost it. Wish I had the link because it was really an amazing story.
Yesterday I logged onto Yahoo and got the shock of a lifetime. Okay, not really, but it was a surprise. A man who'd been pronounced brain dead by doctors suddenly, on the day of the plug-pulling, moved. Yes, he moved, then woke up, and forty-eight hours later went home. How incredible is that? How awesome! So I was in a really good mood and decided that maybe I don't want Dear Hubby to pull the plug on me if I'm ever brain dead. 'Cause obviously the doctors were wrong.
And then my mind started thinking about books, which is a common ailment of mine. The thinking about books thingy, that is.
There was a time historicals were considered dead. And now everyone's saying, NO More Chick-Lit! And guess what? Historicals are back in a big way.
The experts said they were dead. The experts were wrong.
My purpose in this is to encourage writers to never give up what they love to write, even if the market doesn't seem to be swinging that way. The market is always changing and nothing is ever really dead. It only morphs into something new.
Isn't that some kind of scientific law? Probably could be said for spiritual things as well.
Back to the point of this: Write what God has placed on your heart to write.
What do you write? Is it popular? Have you heard any cool stories like this?
Yesterday I logged onto Yahoo and got the shock of a lifetime. Okay, not really, but it was a surprise. A man who'd been pronounced brain dead by doctors suddenly, on the day of the plug-pulling, moved. Yes, he moved, then woke up, and forty-eight hours later went home. How incredible is that? How awesome! So I was in a really good mood and decided that maybe I don't want Dear Hubby to pull the plug on me if I'm ever brain dead. 'Cause obviously the doctors were wrong.
And then my mind started thinking about books, which is a common ailment of mine. The thinking about books thingy, that is.
There was a time historicals were considered dead. And now everyone's saying, NO More Chick-Lit! And guess what? Historicals are back in a big way.
The experts said they were dead. The experts were wrong.
My purpose in this is to encourage writers to never give up what they love to write, even if the market doesn't seem to be swinging that way. The market is always changing and nothing is ever really dead. It only morphs into something new.
Isn't that some kind of scientific law? Probably could be said for spiritual things as well.
Back to the point of this: Write what God has placed on your heart to write.
What do you write? Is it popular? Have you heard any cool stories like this?
Comments
After a co-authored inspirational book, I'm revising a women's fiction ms now. Don't care if it's popular or not. Gotta do it! :D
At times I feel driven to write a novel because everyone else is doing it and I want to be with the "in crowd". But my joy of writing is short stories and I'm not making any excuses that I'm not a writer because I'm not writing a novel.
By the way, I'm in awe of those who make that incredible commitment to write novels and rejoice with them on their success of publication.
Write on!
That story about the brain dead man is amazing though!
I agree, Angela. :-)
I'm writing memoir now, which is either dead or alive, depending which article you read on which day.
Bravo! Like clothing styles, literary tastes seem to run in cycles. If you look at pictures from the 1940's, the big padded shoulders were popular. Then they came back in the 1990's.
Never say "die" when it comes to your writing style. It will experience a resurgence. Of course, you may have to wait 30 or 40 years. :)
Blessings,
Susan
Nancy, a bamboo shoot? That's so interesting!
Deb, great way to put it. I don't think I saw that in my own post. LOL But it's such a true thing. I'm hoping my stuff is alive. :-)
LOL Susan! I've seen that, esp. with the pants styles.
The unknown is fun to explore Karen! I'll bet your books are wonderful. :-)
Yes, I do remember you! Thank you so much for finding my blog! :-)
Hi Jessie,
Hmmm, I don't know. Do you think they'll come back? I think they might, but don't know when.
Cheers back at you, Nancy! Have a great weekend.
I write general fiction or southern fiction - I love family sagas! Stories of family, home, belonging, and place - that's what I like to write in my novels. my short stories are darker usually.
As for pulling the plug, I guess you eventually come to the place where you decide if what you're writing from the heart needs honing to give it new life or if those changes would be the equivelent of killing your voice: the element that makes your writing unique to begin with.
That's where I'm at right now...staring at the plug in my agent's hand and debating whether or not to yank it away and cut her out of my literary living will. Eeps! Big decision.
Genre craze is definitely cyclical, you're right, never give up on your favorite genre, it will come around again!!!
Hey, have I been really sick lately, or did you just change your blog background. It looks great, but when did this happen, and where's that fish?
Sorry my crit is taking so long, I got slowed by the cold, but am back into it while juggling family and my own writing. Will get it back to you within the next couple weeks, promise!
And yesterday I read - in 2 Kings or 1 Chronicles, don't remember - about a dead man who came back to life after his body touched Elisha's bones. There was one verse which mentioned that little fact and then nothing more was said about it. I'm thinking, WHAT? Where's the rest of the story???
Hmmm, "Write what God has placed on your heart to write." Good words, Jessica!
Thanks everyone for your comments. I love reading them but have just been real busy so I couldn't comment back. :-)