Joining ‘x-real’ as we affectionately call our group, The Christian Realists, has been challenging for me as a writer and comforting for me as a Christian. How can I begin to convey the depth of insight I’ve gleaned from reading posts and getting feedback on what I share? from submitting freshly written poetry and receiving astute and caring ‘crits’ from my fellow Christian Realists?
Two years ago, I would have described myself as an intelligent, creative person with fairly keen sensibilities for such things as art and music. Today, I am a writer. Most often I write poetry; however, I have begun work on a full-length play as well. What began with the small step of joining an on-line discussion list or two has blossomed into a true avocation.
Professionally, I am a teacher of students with learning and behavior challenges who require one-on-one teaching. The nourishment I get from writing enables me to share the abundance of living with my young students.
Currently, I have two collections of poetry progressing. The first is an interactive collaboration with a painter I met on another discussion group (TSM: The Spiritual Mind). This work is entitled Intersections. The other project is a collection of poems [untitled] based on the sculpture of Henry Moore. A trip to Toronto in the summer of 1999 inspired me to respond to his work poetically. Both of these projects will be produced with music/sounds written and performed by a musician from The Spiritual Mind and put on CDs. Hopefully, both will be published as ‘real’ books as well.
My published work consists of ‘Reflections’ (on this site) being published in a coffee-table book coming out in 2000; my poem ‘Driving South’ which was published in a collection entitled Into the Light; poems on The Spiritual Mind website and several of my early poems published in a church magazine.
I want to take this opportunity to offer advice to anyone who feels they are on the verge of taking the step toward exercising their talents and abilities. First, I would encourage anyone reading this to seek out an on-line or in-person group of like-minded people to encourage and challenge you in developing your talents. I believe you will find, as I did, that there are many people who are interested and willing to encourage and support you as you move toward expressing yourself creatively. Second, start journaling each day as a way of recording your impressions, thoughts, feelings and aspirations. Third, spend time pondering and then writing based on ideas or topics that excite you, on a regular (preferably daily) basis. Four, develop your own mission statement which will inform all that you do. A book that I used recently to develop my statement is The Path by Laurie Beth Jones, which guides you through the process.
Come back and visit our site often and please give us some feedback on our work.
Many blessings to you,
Sandra Barrett Leroux