writer's block

I'm trying to find a good balance in my blogging at this writing school. In attempt to post every week, I find myself already falling short. I started working on a short story painting a picture of us girls, laying on the dock watching the stars and talking about life. It was beautiful, really.

Until about 3 paragraphs in.

... when the critic came out to investigate

* what is the takeaway you're trying to accomplish?

* are there two strong forces? where do they meet?

* am I writing strong characters? or just figures?

* are narrative and thematic formats colliding?

* which viewpoint is the strongest?

As you might have guessed, that story never made it past paragraph 3.

I am learning so much at this school, it has been incredible. frustrating. exciting. stressful. affirming. and more relational than I could have hoped for. Each day is loaded with its own set of adventures - from writing a 10 page story 4 hours to climbing trees in the forrest. I haven't done this much homework since my junior year of high school. Yet in a month I've also spent more time at coffee shops, around bonfires and on lakeside docks than I can remember. Each day is new in its challenges - and in it's blessings.

I have a quick praise report I want to add in. The past two weeks my biggest prayer has been for contentment -- to be completely satisfied in the here and now of life. to find joy in the day to day blessings. to let tomorrow's worries come tomorrow and yesterday's memories push me forward instead of pull me back. & every day God has been faithful. If you're curious how you can be praying for me during this semester, that is my biggest request. It amazes me

what a difference it makes just being content and how fulfilling life really is when I'm in that place.

I want to give out a big shout-out of thanks. For reading my poor sentence structure. and improper adverbs. and letting me put dashes in wherever I don't feel a comma or a period do justice. and not having a strong takeaway or rising action or conflicting forces. and loving me anyway.

I promise I don't write like this in class.

[but I hope you can see the heart of my words through the bulk of imperfections]