The Most Important Story That Has Influenced My Writing

 

The Most Important Story That Has Influenced My Writing 

| the greatest story ever told & my writing partner |

Hello, Sweet Friend! 

In today’s post I’m sharing my greatest writing influence—aka the story that most helped shape me into the writer I am today! 

I have found that the best writing advice I can get is from stories and reading books! From books I find what works, what doesn’t, how to write, and so much more! Every writer is different and every writer will have their own stories and books that influence them. Not every book or advice I give will work for you but maybe you’ll be able to understand a bit of who I am and my writing journey. I’ll probably do another post soon on more books that have influenced me but for today, I just want to share the book that most influenced my writing and me. 

Edit: Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I didn’t realize until my mom and sister said that today is St. Patrick’s Day. I’m not sure what we’ll do today but I’m hoping to read or watch a video on St. Patrick. He has such an incredible missionary story and I highly recommend you learn about him! He is a Christian who taught about God and was a missionary! One of the parts of His story that always stood out to me was one of the ways He taught about the Holy Trinity. He used a three leaf flower and used it as an analogy to show how God the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit are three in one. I always really liked that! 

Also…sorry this post is a bit late today. Yesterday evening I wasn’t feeling great so this post and email are coming to you later my normal time but that’s alright. One of the things I love about blogging is the freedom I feel to write and post when I like! Anyways…back to the post! 

Also, if you have a prayer request, please let me know! I’d love to pray for you! I hope you can find something encouraging in this post! Thanks for reading and letting me process here! <3 

THE MOST IMPORTANT STORY THAT HAS INFLUENCED MY WRITING 

This is a pretty big statement but it’s 100% true. The Bible has and will always be my greatest source of inspiration and advice—not just for writing but in life! 

If you’ve been around my blog for a while then there is a chance you’ve heard about my salvation story. Basically, God did incredible things in my life—He saved my life. Something incredible is that He gave me the gift of reading. Previous to giving my life to Jesus, I despised reading and writing with everything in me. That was because I couldn’t read. Words and writing made no sense to my brain. Most school days would end with me and my mom crying. It was so frustrating that I couldn’t read. It wasn’t like I wasn’t trying—I was but it never made sense. The moment I gave my life to Jesus I broke down crying. I couldn’t stop crying and I didn’t understand all that was happening, just that something was different. Mom then explained to me that Jesus was now in my heart and He had saved me. From that moment on I could read. The girl who couldn’t read a thing was now able to daily read the Bible. That’s the other thing, I couldn’t read any books but the Bible for maybe over a year. No other book made any sense. No other book held my attention. No other book compared to the Bible and that was all I read—all I wanted to read. 

So hands down, the Bible has been the most influential book on my writing. With that, God has been the most influential person in my writing. I have talked in other posts and in conversations about how He is my writing partner. It’s so true. Quite literally I cannot write a book till He tells me to. Until I feel Him moving inside me and making it the right timing, no words can I write. Sometimes this can be frustrating because I’ll have a book I want to write but no matter how much I want to write I cannot. At the same time I’m so grateful for it. 

Before 2021, I had story ideas before and thoughts of stories and worlds but it was only ever a thought and nothing tangible. After a few years of working on outlines for a story, I felt like it was time to write. I was terrified. I didn’t think I could write. So I started praying. I prayed God would give me the words and inspiration for this story. I prayed that He would be with me and write with me. I prayed He would write with me and it would be clear that He is a part of my writing. I prayed that ALL my writing would point to Him. 

Guess what? He answered that prayer. So much so I cannot write books and stories without Him. Isn’t that amazing? I wanted my stories to be a partnership with God, I wanted Him to speak to and through me in my writing. I wanted that. He answered me. He answered me. Now I don’t write without Him, even if I could, I wouldn’t want to. I want to write with Him because there is no one better to write with. Going into my first written story, I knew I could not write this book and finish it on my own. Only with God could I and it’s incredibly clear. 

Before November 2021, I could barely write 2,000 in one month for a paper on deadline. I would need like three months to do that. But, come November 2021, I wrote with God and in a single month wrote over 70,000 words. That was completely God, I could NEVER do that on my own but I did it with God and that’s how it was possible. 

“With God nothing is impossible”

(Literally, I kid you not, while I’m writing this (on March 12th at 10:42)  there is the BRIGHTEST lightning and LOUDEST thunder BOOMING outside. I’m not sure why I’m including this, but I kinda like that right after I wrote, “With God nothing is impossible” lightning flashes, thunder cracks, and rain pounds down against the windows like a loud waterfall pelting down on the ground. Now it’s beginning to quiet (hopefully enough that I can sleep) and die down though the wind is rushing quite loudly. Anyways, Moriyah of Sunday night is going to bed and then I’ll probably edit this and there will be more text tomorrow or one of the next days down below. bonne nuit chers amis!).  

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Hi! It’s me again! So I wanted to elaborate on a tad more on what I wrote above…to leave you with a bit of encouragement. 

With God NOTHING is impossible. He can change your life in incredible ways. He can change everything in an instant. But it’s also our choice. God has given us free will. He loves us and wants a personal relationship with us (not sacrifices but a relationship). In that He gave us free will to choose Him and love Him because without that choice it is not true real love. He gave us free will as a gift—a gift not to force us but to let us choose. We aren’t perfect so we make mistakes. We can choose not to choose or love Him. 

He will do wonders in your life but many times (most) He wants us to come to Him. He wants a relationship with us. He is also a good Father. He wants to bless His children. As a good Father He can also take things away and discipline but that’s another topic for later. 

If you want change in your life then go to Him! Pray to Him! You want to move mountains, write books & stories that help people, make music that touches people’s hearts, do art, and anything it is you want to do…then GO TO HIM! Seek Him out and you will find Him! But you must take time with Him! Read the Bible, get to know Him, pray and build a relationship with Him! He loves you! He wants to work with you and be in a relationship with you. 

If my writing has taught me anything about God (which is SO MUCH! I’ve learned SO many things about Him) it’s that He wants a relationship with you and to work with you—not controlling your life in a way that makes you a robot or you controlling and leaving God. There can be a beautiful partnership when you open your life to God and give Him control and work and trust in Him. That’s my writing. That’s my life. I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

CRAFTS & FUN STUFF I'VE BEEN DOING THIS WEEK 

Hello again friend! I’m back! For fun, I thought I’d share some fun things I've been doing this week because I want to write something fun! 

This week I’ve been struggling…some things came up in my personal life that was messing with me and making me depressed. But through some prayer time, lots of crying, and having some time to process, I am now feeling much better, energized, and creative! 

This week I got some new books (IRON by Madisyn Carlin and The Blood Race by K.A. Emmons), I got a TON of writing in (I have about half-ish of my dystopian Ruth retelling short outline finished), I started a reading Journal, designed some cards and graphs for my mom’s business, watched some really sweet movies, watched the new The Little Mermaid trailer (which I’m both excited for and then nervous that it’s going to be awful and have bad things in it), watched both Cinderella movies (classic and 2015) and discussed it with my mom and sister (we all agree it’s the best of the live action remakes, has lots of Christian themes, and represents girls being feminine and a girl beautifully and…it’s just so amazing and I could talk about this for an entire post (which may or may not happen now)), and started making a handmade chunky knit blanket that I’m loving!!! 

Hand knitting this chunky blanket is so calming and just makes me happy! I’ve watched three movies while working on it so far (including both Cinderella’s) and I’m almost done! It’s so fun and easy to make! I am a bit sad it’s almost finished but then IT’S ALMOST FINISHED!!! 

I’ll include a link to the blog and video I used to learn how to do this if you are interested in learning too! 

Blog & video: https://doitonadimeblog.com/2018/12/diy-giant-chunky-blanket-easiest-budget-gift-idea/ 

The Best video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blhNJFVc2f4 

And…here are some photos & a mini vlog I put together on Thursday! 

Book haul video link: https://www.instagram.com/p/CpyAl2ZrGTO/ 

Thanks for reading & watching! 

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BEHOLD PEACE Update: 

The first Bible study in BEHOLD PEACE  is on Esther! Esther Chapter SEVEN, the third post in the Esther Study (Chosen, Favored, & Planned by God), is now published and ready to read!  

I’m so excited to be starting this Bible study with you! I hope you check it out! Make sure to come back to BEHOLD PEACE this Monday because we will be reading and discussing Esther chapter 7!!! 

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More posts…

• The Chasm  

• 1 year blogiversary!   

• Annie May On The Train (a short story)

• Broken Ballerina: Celebrating Writing My 4th Novel     

• January 2023 Book Reviews  

• My Favorite Books 2022  

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Discussion Time

Thank you so much for reading this post! Thank you so much for reading this! I hope you find something encouraging or fun in this post! 

I also have a very exciting post coming out this Tuesday!!! Hint: It's a cover reveal for a retelling that may have something to do with a looking-glass! Eek! I’m SO excited to share it with you all! 

I want to hear from you! Meet me in the comments and tell me what you thought of today’s post? Is there anything fun you are doing for St. Patrick’s Day? Anything good you’ve read lately? Is there a topic you want me to cover? I would love to chat and pray for you! 

If you have any questions or want to talk (or have a prayer request), make sure to comment down below! Be sure to subscribe to this blog to stay in the know because I post new content here every week. ALSO, If you want to hear more about my writing and what I’m reading, make sure you are subscribed because I am doing special updates for BLOG SUBSCRIBERS ONLY! 

XOXO Moriyah 🤎