Julie and Julia--We finished watching Julie and Julia and I have to say I was very inspired. Both of these people were inspired to write books and they had to go about it the long way, one through a blog and the other just do the passion of their craft. They both got the job done. I think I want that for myself. I watched as Julia Child just went from place to place and it took her years to accomplish that which you want to accomplish.

I've been silent for a while now...but since going to the last Writing for the Soul Conference this last February...I'm excited to start writing again even if in little bits.

My Calling

Psalm 127:1 (NIV)
1 Unless the LORD builds the house,
its builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchmen stand guard in vain.
Acts 20:24 (NIV)
24However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.

Personal Reflection
I was planning on working out my plan to be a writer today. So, my knee jerk reaction to the first verse is to want to throw the bible across the room. I didn' though. I actually felt a little peace about it.

There is no use in fighting it and there is no us complaining. God knows what is best for me and he knows how I would best be fulfilled. What do I do though? Because I did feel that this resurgence of passion to write was from God, what do I do with it?

I guess I really need to put it before the Lord first. If I want it to happen He has to build it.

The second scripture does give me insight though. Paul's lifetime task was to present the gospel. Maybe my calling to be a writer must be tempered with a calling to preach the gospel. Maybe while preach the gospel. Maybe while setting out to plan a writing career I'm mounting up on Balaam's donkey.

Religulous

I just saw Religulous by Bill Maher. I expected to be angered by it. I was a little but more importantly I realized the necessity for Christian ideas to be in the market place and for me to be the one to put them in there.

Recently, I registered for the next Christian Writer's Guild Writer's for the Soul conference.

I was starting to relinquish the idea of being a writer because I just haven't been able to make the time to be a writer.

I need to make it happen though.

Something to Hide?

The first person I would think ready to comment on the subject of ethics in journalism would be a Christian newspaper or other ultra-right-wing-fundamentalist monthly. Hmmm. Not so much. In the search for answers about ethics in journalism, this author found that the major local newspaper of the area was eager to answer questions about ethics in journalism but some the Christian publications, both local and abroad, preferred a more “loose lips sink ships” approach. “Und jus’ who are you writink zis awtikal for? Vat is yoouer nem und identifikashun numba? Und ‘ow can I confirm, vat iz zis, Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writer’s Guild, is a legitimate organization?” Or the other extreme, “Are you recording this conversation? You never know who might be listening. No, actually, we’re getting out of the newspaper business, you may have heard . . . never mind what I meant by that! I’m actually selling this rag, you want to buy it? I’m getting out of the business, see . . . no, I don’t want to answer any questions! Gotta go! [click]”

I couldn’t believe that last conversation really took place until I heard the familiar automaton on the other end of the line, “If you’d like to make call, please hang up and dial again . . . “ Of course, I exaggerate slightly, I do mean slightly though. Those snippets really do capture the essence of the responses I got from the Christian publications that I contacted.

Jim Kershner of the Spokesman Review newspaper, on the other hand, was kind enough to answer my questions.

E: For you, when is the line crossed between serving journalism and serving the subject of your journalism? In your opinion, does accepting discounts or freebies blur that line?

JK: We never accept freebies or discounts. Anything beyond a cup of coffee or something trivial like that crosses the line. There is no reason to accept anything, except possibly a homemade brownie. That would be just rude to turn that down. But in general, accepting something like free lodging puts you in the awkward position of having accepted something that other people would pay for. It is much simpler to simply turn it down. Otherwise, you always have that nagging question in the back of your mind about whether you were swayed or not.

Also, he provided a link to their values statement online. It turns out that editors had just been hashing this out as I contacted Mr. Kershner. The values statement is very well done. After I read parts of it, I got the impression that the SR considers itself very mission oriented. They believe that they are there to serve the public not themselves or their Pulitzer Prize seeking egos.

In contrast, the negative or null responses I got from the half-dozen or so Christian publications, plus what I’ve read of them, give me an unfavorable impression. I am given the impression that whenever there is an agenda to be imposed, the temptation to make that the sole reason for the publication is dangerously tempting. Christian journalism all too easily becomes Christian propaganda.

Having said that, I do exclude more reputable mags like Christianity Today and Weekly World Magazine from that generalization. It does make me wonder though why “Christian” journalism as a label is necessary. Why shouldn’t it just be good journalism that flows out of a believer who seeks truth and the faithful reporting of it?

Morning Pages..

Money. I'll have a little bit of it now. This is good. I was worried for a while that I would. Our budget indicated that I needed a part time job in order to make things work out. John hired me as Worship Arts Director for Mosaic. yues, I'm intimidated by it. It's people like Kirk and nathan that keep me from going over the edge.I think I'ld lose it... this was an area closed off but the people of Town Center which used to be called Tara Hill needed to be above suspicion from the police so they unenclosed it...was that while it was called Tara Hill, here. I'll give you the tour, I used to live here. Really. the girls wanted to go out with me. Come here and take your medicine you useless pup. I finished The Shining by Stephen King. It's been ten years or more since I read that novel. I forgot how much more to it there was than the movie. 10 pages a day. Could I do it? Should I even try. What if I just tried for a few pages a day. I'd accomplish something that at least something to edit. Maybe if I wasn't so hung up on structure it could work. Is that what I'm meant for though is that what I really want. A career as a writer. Is this stuff with Mosaic just a side think whilie I take the necessar steps and time to get established [as a writer].

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 Shining

I've been listening to Stephen King's The Shining in audio book form, read by Campbell Scott. I just thing King is amazing the way he takes his time to set up and tell his story. It is obvious that he is so into what he is doing. He enjoys writing.

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.

Writing for the Soul Conference, III

Prospects

I did have some edifying appointments there. I met with an educational publishing company that specializes in church resources. She was very encouraging.

I met with a magazine publisher who tore apart my article but I learned a lot from the process and will submit the article to CBN who was sitting right next to the one who tore it apart.

The best is that I met an editor at Saturday dinner who is interested in seeing more of The Bowery Jumpers. That is exciting. I didn't think I was going to be able to pitch that idea and did.

I hope to make something happen with all that.

Take Away Value

I was encouraged. I am a writer I know that and I feel that I do have the go ahead to pursue this in the States with an view to returning to Japan in the future. I can still go on learning the language and such and I will serve at Crossroad as best I can in the meantime.

Writing for the Soul Conference, II

The Conference

The conference kicked off Thursday evening. I got my apprentice name tag and then joined a few people for drinks at a tavern who are involved in The Christian Writer's Forum. That was OK. I met Julie Marx there. She was nice. I also met another guy there named Eugene. He was kind of boring.

Overall, I really felt that I knew many of these people already. I was concerned that I would come away from the conference conflicted about my call to Japan and my call to be a writer. I was the first day or so. I remember arguing with God about it and thinking that I would just go my own way and use self-determination to succeed. God corrected that notion. He is the one who decides not me. So, I got more conflicted about it. I didn't want to be inspired to write because that would all be a long way off after I got to know the language better in Japan.

God wasn't finished speaking with me. I did get excited about the classes. I was being challenged to be a better writer--in English. And Saturday night it hit me as one of the Keynote speakers was up there. Liz talked about how when she became a Christian she felt that she was supposed to be a missionary but then she found out that wasn't her calling. She wasn't allowed to go to Indonesia. She became a writer instead and twenty years later her books were being translated into the native languages of Indonesia and she was called upon to go there and see it happen. I cried when she said this.

Also, I had the opportunity to talk with Jack Lewis over Skype about the matter and he concurred with an earlier POV that it takes time to answer a call to ministry. It isn't overnight. Even the disciples took three years of intense training before they went out on their own. Paul took fourteen years before he was a major player in church doctrine.

The more I thought about it the more it made sense to me. This thing with Japan is going to take some time. It isn't going to be overnight. I started thinking about my wife's insecurities. They are well founded. It's not that she doesn't believe that everything isn't going to work out. There are some big things here. Now, she is the primary breadwinner. I need to step into that role in America before I can step into it in Japan. That is going to take some time. It is not as simple as just swinging over. My wife needs to feel secure and I need to provide that for her. That is a need that I need to meet.

I will meet that need as a writer. I will get my self established and start pulling down an income from it.

Writing for the Soul Conference

The Flight

That was mostly uneventful. I was delayed coming out of Kansai a few hours. Lightening had struck the airplane a before it landed and it took them a few hours to do all the necessary maintenance checks to make sure everything was working properly. I was concerned that it would mess up my connections but it didn't because I originally had a three hour layover in San Francisco.

I sat next to a fellow gaijin. We didn't talk much on the way. We both tried to get a fair amount of sleep. He was friendly though. He and his wife are doing the same thing that Brenda and I are doing. He is teaching English part time and his wife is teaching full time. They don't have kids and his Japanese is horrible.

On the jump from SFO to COS I sat by a fellow conferee, Gretchen Ricker. She is also the administrator for The Christian Writer's Forum. What a coincidence. I pegged her by the Grammar for Dummies book on her lap. I asked her why she was going to Colorado Springs and we chatted happily for the next few hours.

It was snowing when I arrived in Colorado Springs. Everything was in order though. My car was ready for me. I found my way to the Inn after a stop at a Carls Junior. It got dark and I skidded in the snow a few times.

As bed and breakfasts go this one struck me as unusual. The innkeepers don't stay on the premises and neither are the owners the innkeepers. There was an envelope taped to the door with my key in it. It was kind of impersonal. My room was nice but very cold. It was equipped with all the niceties of a hotel room though. There was a phone, Cable TV, VCR and wireless Internet. I thought that was odd for a B&B. It was convenient for me so I won't complain too loudly. This was my room.

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.

My New Toy

My screenwriting software, Movie Magic Screenwriter. came in the other day. It's a neat toy, I can't wait to use it.

Time Management

I am trying to get a hold of my schedule. I spent a few hours over the last few days really trying to figure out how much time I have to work with and how much I can juggle between learning Japanese, my teaching job, writing (!!) and trying to take care of my family (emotionally, physically and spiritually.)
I did that thing where you write down on paper how many hours there are in a week and then subtract the amounts for all the mandatory items like sleep, eating, going to work and such.





Trying to make time for writing is time consuming in itself. I think I would look forward to a time when I don't have all the added responsibilities that I do now, but how much more efficient will a be when that time comes if I can get a handle on things in this set of circumstances.

Google AdWords

I decided to advertise Melodramerica! using Google AdWords. We'll see what happens.

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.