New Job and Next Writing Course

Well, I ordered the next course. I'm starting the Journeyman Level with The Christian Writer's Guild, excuse me The Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writer's Guild. I'm kind of excited. Both for that and for the new job. My pastor hired me on as Worship Arts Director of Mosaic Fellowship.


It will cut into time for writing but will also help me afford to. Well, maybe....I'm also directing a show for CYT next semester so the next Writing for the Soul Conference is definitely out.

The New Executive Artistic Director for CYT...

Is not going to be me. I got the call just after 9:30 PM last night. They’re going with Laura Little. Needless to say, I’m a bit disappointed in the decision. I’m even a bit depressed about it. I’m not quite ready for the “Oh, God has something better for yous” quite yet. I’m not yet convinced of that in my heart. I’m more in the mood to hear, “Laura turned down the job.” Not that I have anything against Laura. She’s much more attuned to what has been happening with the program while I’ve been away and I’m sure she’s very qualified for the job. I’m sure a lot of prayer went into this process and I have to believe, if only in my rational mind, that God is behind this decision and is still sovereign. I’m not happy about it though and I wonder at that wasted month of application and interviews. What was that about? I now realize that I wanted this more than I’ve wanted anything in a while.

I guess I also feel hurt and rejected. Jerry White had some nice things to say about me and that is encouraging, but I struggle with the feeling that I came up short, that I’m not good enough. I know that’s not true either though.

I’m sure I’ll snap out of this in a day or so. The good news, I can start to stop planning my schedule around the potentiality of working full time for CYT and get on with other things that need my more focused attention. Maybe even writing.

I Find Out Tomorrow...

I just got my first issue of my re-subsription to WD. I'm so excited. I look forward to turning each page while sitting at McDonald's sipping coffee despite my mild allergic reaction to caffeine. Ahh, paradise. I get so inspired and just all, "I want to do it and I want to do it now!"

There is a frustration though. As I mentioned in my previous post, I am once again torn between the potential of being the Artistic Director for CYT Spokane (what I perceive to be a very important position) and being a full time writer.

The decision will slip further away from my hands tomorrow night when the CYT Spokane Board makes its decision about who will be the next Executive Artist Director

I was excited last night as I helped out at their $65 a head fundraiser dinner. I was emceeing for the improv kids. They were wonderful and in top form. This reflected well on me as I led them and it also gave me a chance to schmooze a little more with a few of the board members.

One of the parents pulled me aside and pointed out what an asset I am to CYT whether or not I get the job. I was blessed.

The Next Step

Well, I finished my correspondence course with The Christian Writer's Guild. I want to take the next course of The Journeyman level. Time is the key thing though. I need to get a full time job and I'm being considered for a position as the Executive Artistic Director of CYT Spokane. I'm excited about it. I've it through two interviews and I have a third round tonight. I am still pursuing my passion through the arts. I'm teaching a sketch comedy writing class and if I am hired as the director I will have a quarterly publication to write and edit...The CYT Times. Unfortunately, I fear that it will interfere with other writing of dramas and other fiction. I trust that this is God's leading and his opening of a door. I will walk through it as far as he will allow.

A Professional Writer In Japan or America?

I wrote a play for a church in Japan. They wanted to do it this Christmas originally but they realized they just didn't have the administrative ability to pull it off. I was disappointed. I spent a few months writing the thing. It's the first full length three act play that I have ever written. There may be a way to see it through if I am willing to stay in Japan for another four months past our intended stay. The rest of my family would go back to the States in August and I would join them to help them transition but I would come back and direct the play that would go up at Christmas time.


It's daunting for me. I can't get a commitment out of the pastor. I do desire to get the story of The Nativity in front of a Japanese audience. All they seem to get is Ho! Ho! Ho! commercialism without the hope of the Christ child. I share that vision with the pastors, but I am also now called upon to stir up the troops and get them (the Japanese Christians) excited about supporting such a project.

I know that it won't pay money, but that's not the point. If I got it up on its feet I could get it published afterwards.

I'm praying about it. I think this will be an interesting experience. I've directed a few productions, but never in a foreign language.

Fruits of Advertising

I got one! I got one! I got my second official sale on Melodramerica! Over 10,000 ad impressions later, someone bit and bought a short drama for $10. It's all electronic so I can't exactly frame it and put it on the wall. But it's neat and I feel this impetus to update the site and write some more Christmas dramas now that the season is upon us. I know, it's only ten bucks, but it is kind of exciting. The last twenty-five I made was more of a negotiated donation than it actually was a purchase and I learned the hard way that if I don't value my work then nobody else will either.

So between my drama income on this purchase and Adsense, I've broken even with AdWords.

Drama, it's what I like to do!

I got an e-mail from a friend back home:

"I'm on an women's outreach creative team. The leader asked me to write a sketch.........because of all my CYT experience. You and I both know what a laugh that is. People of great faith and prayer.........or on the flip-side great ignorance and needing a slap up-side the head ask things like that. But, I've been here before . . . My platform of recovery and breaking forth is to never go back. Going back is beige and comfortable, boring and without change. I loved all your dramas because they were real and in-your-face. I can't do anything that won't at least provoke thought.

I have the message I'm suppose to bring and some thoughts. Do you have any interest in doing this project, or the time? I hope I've left enough info, but if not, just ask."

I want to do it. I have an assignment with Christian Writer's Guild that involves writing drama anyway so why not? I felt weird of course because I have my drama website going and I am trying to make money at this. If I agree to do this I don't want to charge her money because she has helped me out on a number of occasions and never charged me a fee. Besides it is again an opportunity to write what I love writing the most...drama.

Also, I have been praying about what God would have me do with my time. Blogging and the management thereof can be so addictive. You might not know it from this site, but I have a few others that have more posts.

I love her line about beige and comfortable.

That's All I Get?

I've been working on my drama website tonight. Sometimes I just get so frustrated because I reread my dramas and I like them so much. I can't even believe I wrote them and I am frustrated that they were only performed that one day two times. That's all the mileage I get out of them. There must be a way to get those plays performed again.