by Kariss Lynch, @Kariss_Lynch
Does your world feel noisy right now? Between the media, social channels, and your own circle of people, there are a lot of opinions and messages flying through the air. I’ll be honest…my head has felt too crowded, too overrun to write. But I have been giving a good bit of thought to messaging and how it drives the world.
Ironically, a couple years ago, I began working on a book that addresses some of the social justice issues I see in my own city. I researched, interviewed the heads of organizations, schools, and non-profits and then began to weave the story. I’m going through my final (hopefully) rewrite. With all the recent heightened awareness, however, I texted a group of friends, terrified of the criticism that might come if I release this book soon. Let’s be honest, people aren’t kind and many conversations are the farthest thing from calm right now. No matter where you stand on issues currently, one wrong word can reignite a fuse. That can create a lot of fear for healthy conversation, and to be honest, it can block out good messaging.
So I’ve wrestled and prayed and considered other stories I’m working on, and I’ve drawn some conclusions about how to focus on messaging.
- My responsibility
I can’t control the world, but I can impact my sphere. My job is to do my research, write the best story I can, bathe it in prayer, and hope that it encourages. As I worked on my story I realized a common thread: everyone wants a team who accepts them and partners with them through life’s ups and downs. I can start with a commonality, something I personally crave. I can write from that lens, and hope readers relate, too.
- My voice
There are a lot of wise and good voices in culture right now speaking to current events. There are also too many voices lacking discernment yet speaking anyway. But I can’t take up the gauntlet of someone else’s story and words. God made me individually and uniquely. My job is to ask questions, respond with compassion and empathy, and be exactly who God made me to be. That means using my voice, my story, and the stories God lays on my heart to be a voice that hopefully adds an edifying element and quality story in the market.
- My words
My words matter, and your words matter, too. Which is why we have to use them wisely. Scripture has a lot to say about the power of the tongue to build up or tear down. Your words are POWERFUL. Your story is INFLUENTIAL. Because a story well-crafted has the ability to sway people, to influence culture. We see how the media and politicians can sway the minds and hearts of people with a well-crafted argument. We must be authors who realize the power of our words and the power of stories and use that gift well.
Sometimes I’m tempted to quit writing, at least writing for others. Let’s face it…if God has wired you to write, it’s impossible to do anything else, even if you never share it. But I would also argue that if we have been given the gift of “story,” then it is wasteful not to use it to impact the world, or at least our piece of it. Your voice matters. Your story matters. And the world needs stories that point to hope. Figure out what you have to say, what your story needs to share, and then write confidently. We’re in this together. And together, we’ve got this.
She’s ready to leave it all behind.
Recent college graduate Kaylan Richards has spent her entire life following a plan. Go to school. Get good grades. Do what you love. Love what you do. Only what Kaylan loves requires a sought after internship. She doesn’t want to wait. She wants to help people now. And on the eve of her decision to leave her life-long plans behind, the man she wants to forget walks back into her life.
He’s ready to win her heart.
Navy SEAL Nick Carmichael never dreamed he would love a woman more than he loves serving his country. Now he’s finally ready to win her heart, but this time she’s the one who wants to leave for the most poverty-stricken country in the western hemisphere. And it’s his turn to watch her go.
Something deadly is about to strike.
It’s the worst earthquake Haiti has ever seen. Kaylan is trapped in the aftermath, and Nick is a world away on a mission to catch a terrorist. As they find their way back to one another, Kaylan and Nick must learn that love grown in the midst of tragedy can truly conquer all. But only if they have the courage to fight for it.
Kariss Lynch is the author of the Heart of a Warrior series and loves writing romance about characters with big dreams, adventurous hearts, and enduring hope. In her free time, Kariss goes on adventures with her own personal handsome hero, explores the great outdoors, and tries not to plot five stories at once. Connect with her at karisslynch.com, or on Facebook, Instagram, or Goodreads.