Behind the Poem: Two Pieces of Wood

Behind the Poem: Two Pieces of Wood

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Welcome to the first “Behind the Poem” blog post, where I’ll be giving a bit of a story behind a poem from my book, Write Your Heart. Enjoy the glimpse behind the curtain of poetic words!

Around 1:00 in the morning, those of us who were participating in our youth group’s late night worship entered the dimly-lit sanctuary. From the sound booth in the back, our youth pastor started the music and I settled onto the carpet in the left corner of the stage, sitting in the shadows with my notebook next to me.

2024: One Step at a Time

2024: One Step at a Time

Reading Time: 4 minutes

2024 was the fastest year I’ve ever experienced, and looking back, it was filled with little things (like watching my 1-yr-old niece pet bluebells in the yard and seeing an otter while kayaking down a creek) and bigger things (such as watching the solar eclipse in my backyard with tears welling in my eyes in awe of God’s incredible creation). Will you join me on a journey through 2024?

Why “Write Your Heart”

Why “Write Your Heart”

Reading Time: 1 minute

I’m fairly certain that when I first told people the title of my poetry collection, they weren’t very impressed.

In all fairness, it does sound a little…sappy? Cliché? However, in reality, it is anything but.

It came from gentle instruction from Jesus.

God cares about what’s in and on our hearts, and He was calling me to write it out. To write to Him, and for Him. And so, when I decided my first book would be a poetry book, that is the title that pulled them all together.

An Uncomfortable Calling

An Uncomfortable Calling

Reading Time: 3 minutes

In all honesty, the calling to write is uncomfortable. When you’re a kid, being a “gifted writer,” as some teachers would say, is great. The teachers love it, you get used to the accolades and winning Young Writer Awards, and your plan is to one day be a writer. It’s not as simple after that….

The Importance of a Writing Community

The Importance of a Writing Community

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Writing in itself may be a solitary activity, but being a writer is not. Community is important, and as humans, we acknowledge this in the many communities we are a part of: family, friends, neighborhoods, church, sport activities and clubs, and many more. The communities that we immerse ourselves in help us to grow and…