Hello, Blog-o-sphere!
I must admit, I’m really not used to the idea of keeping a blog; however, I very much want to write a book. I’m so close to being done with my very first manuscript I can almost taste it. I’m super excited about it!
So, what does that have to do with keeping a blog? In short, I’ve been taking a class through the Great Courses Plus called How to Publish Your Book. It’s a great class and I highly recommend all of the content on the Great Courses. In that course, the very skilled lecturer talks about how it is very important for authors to develop a “brand.” She states that it is important for authors to develop an online presence and to create content. She also encouraged students to generate followers on Twitter and Instagram. She said that showing that you have “influence,” could help to attract potential publishers to your book. That is what gave me the idea to start a blog.
I’m actually very excited about the idea of starting a blog. I greatly enjoy looking at all the resources curated on TextThisWeek.com in order to prepare and research my sermons. Perhaps some of my thoughts regarding the lectionary texts or sermon ideas could be helpful to someone else in the same way that thoughtful blogs written by others have been helpful to me. It makes me think of those beautiful lines by Emily Dickinson,
“If I can stop on heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin,
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.”
I’m certainly no Emily Dickinson, but perhaps my thoughts and ideas can help someone else out there. I truly believe that the world needs more diverse stories and that every voice deserves to be heard, especially those that have been traditionally overlooked in the past, such as the voices of women and people of color.
At the very least, keeping a blog will be a fun and unique experience that will encourage me to be more disciplined about my writing and my faith. I have no wish to live the “unexamined life.” Therefore, I am going to take up the challenge of #blogtober. Yes, I know that I am very late to the party and that October is half over already, but better late than never! I am going to try to blog every day for the rest of October, even if it is only brief.
Wish me luck!
And remember- the world needs your story! Keep writing, blog buddies!
-Rev. Rebecca
Rev. Rebecca Writes 