My blog post today is later than usual; but as I learned to say during my three year stint in the tenth grade, “I have a really good excuse this time.” Just kidding!
Several weeks ago, I completed my second novel. I asked several trusted individuals to read the manuscript for three main reasons. First, I asked them to help me find typos, spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors. Let’s just say I’m sure glad I did. All total, nearly two hundred corrections were made as a result.
The second reason was to check some of my facts as my novel is set in the local area during World War Two. It turns out that I got some things right. But other things I had to change as a result of their input.
The third reason was to seek input and feedback on the plot, characters, etc… I did this because I learned long ago that there is benefit in seeking and heeding advice from others. Solomon tells us in the book of Proverbs (27:17) that “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
In another place, he writes (in Proverbs 15:22-23): “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. A person finds joy in giving an apt reply, and how good is a timely word!”
As a result of their beneficial feedback, I have now undertaken rewrite after rewrite. Hopefully, through the wise counsel and timely words I received, my novel will be now be better than my first draft ever was.
Still, the harshest critic, so to speak, was, of all people, my very own daughter! She may have spilled more ink in her marginal notes than I ever did in composing the actual novel. At times, I wanted to scream as I turned the page and found yet another river of red ink! Of course, I am being a little facetious here. In truth, I slogged my way through her voluminous recommendations, and eventually implemented a great many of what I judged to be truly worthwhile suggestions.
I am reminded in all of this that we are often the hardest on the very people we love the most. And why is this so? Because when we truly love someone, we genuinely want them to succeed at whatever it is that they feel led to undertake. My daughter clearly wants me to be a halfway decent novelist. And for this reason, she took my request for feedback seriously. It is a testament to her love for me.
It works much the same for our Heavenly Father. He clearly wants what is best for us. And for this reason, the Bible tells us over and over again (in Deuteronomy 8:5, Proverbs 3:12, I Corinthians 11:32, Hebrews 12:6, and Revelation 3:19) that those whom the Lord loves, He also disciplines.
We may not like having to take our medicine, as it were; but when He dispenses it, it is for our own good!
Just as a novel is improved by heeding the advice and input of others, so is a life improved by heeding the admonitions of our Heavenly Father.
By the way, to learn more about my novel writing endeavors, check out my other website at: www.cleojackson.org.
SCRIPTURE:
https://biblehub.com/proverbs/27-17.htm;
https://biblehub.com/niv/proverbs/15.htm;
https://biblehub.com/revelation/3-19.htm.
Several weeks ago, I completed my second novel. I asked several trusted individuals to read the manuscript for three main reasons. First, I asked them to help me find typos, spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors. Let’s just say I’m sure glad I did. All total, nearly two hundred corrections were made as a result.
The second reason was to check some of my facts as my novel is set in the local area during World War Two. It turns out that I got some things right. But other things I had to change as a result of their input.
The third reason was to seek input and feedback on the plot, characters, etc… I did this because I learned long ago that there is benefit in seeking and heeding advice from others. Solomon tells us in the book of Proverbs (27:17) that “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
In another place, he writes (in Proverbs 15:22-23): “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. A person finds joy in giving an apt reply, and how good is a timely word!”
As a result of their beneficial feedback, I have now undertaken rewrite after rewrite. Hopefully, through the wise counsel and timely words I received, my novel will be now be better than my first draft ever was.
Still, the harshest critic, so to speak, was, of all people, my very own daughter! She may have spilled more ink in her marginal notes than I ever did in composing the actual novel. At times, I wanted to scream as I turned the page and found yet another river of red ink! Of course, I am being a little facetious here. In truth, I slogged my way through her voluminous recommendations, and eventually implemented a great many of what I judged to be truly worthwhile suggestions.
I am reminded in all of this that we are often the hardest on the very people we love the most. And why is this so? Because when we truly love someone, we genuinely want them to succeed at whatever it is that they feel led to undertake. My daughter clearly wants me to be a halfway decent novelist. And for this reason, she took my request for feedback seriously. It is a testament to her love for me.
It works much the same for our Heavenly Father. He clearly wants what is best for us. And for this reason, the Bible tells us over and over again (in Deuteronomy 8:5, Proverbs 3:12, I Corinthians 11:32, Hebrews 12:6, and Revelation 3:19) that those whom the Lord loves, He also disciplines.
We may not like having to take our medicine, as it were; but when He dispenses it, it is for our own good!
Just as a novel is improved by heeding the advice and input of others, so is a life improved by heeding the admonitions of our Heavenly Father.
By the way, to learn more about my novel writing endeavors, check out my other website at: www.cleojackson.org.
SCRIPTURE:
https://biblehub.com/proverbs/27-17.htm;
https://biblehub.com/niv/proverbs/15.htm;
https://biblehub.com/revelation/3-19.htm.