by Carolyn Bolz
Nearly twenty years ago when I was attending a Cascade Christian Writers summer conference, I went to an afternoon workshop taught by an editor from a Christian publishing company. As he began speaking, our instructor suddenly spotted a woman he recognized in the room. He called out her name, then announced with great admiration, “Now there’s a real writer!”
The middle-aged woman smiled sweetly as the rest of us looked at her in awe. All these years later, I still have no idea who that mysterious woman was. Maybe she had written several best-selling books. Or perhaps she was an author who worked for the publishing company our instructor represented. Although I can’t recall the woman’s name, I always remembered the phrase that the editor had used to describe her: a real writer.
I liked the sound of those words and the alliteration too. After I returned to my job later that summer, teaching fourth grade at the local public school, I started calling my students real writers each day when they worked in their journals. I also reminded my pupils that they were all real writers at the end of the school year when they finished the short books they had written and illustrated.
One Sunday morning after our worship service, I even called my pastor a real writer when I complimented him on his article in the latest church newsletter. Although I immediately felt embarrassed and silly for using that term, fortunately he smiled at my remarks.
Then, several years after attending that CCW summer conference, the neurological disorder I had dealt with for most of my life suddenly worsened. I became so weak that I had to give up my teaching career. Since I had taught school for the past 25 years and was only 46 years old, this was devastating for me. What am I going to do now? I wondered.
Eventually I lost my ability to walk independently or even sit up without assistance. My breathing was seriously impacted too. After being discharged from the hospital, then a convalescent home, I had to go through two years of physical therapy. When those sessions ended, I finally realized I would never make the full recovery that I had hoped.
Both frustration and disappointment built up inside me. But through my tears and heartfelt prayers, I discovered that even though my dream of continuing to work as a teacher was gone, I could still pursue my other passion—of becoming a writer. Now at last, I had the time I had always wanted to devote to this dream, even though my stamina was limited.
As soon as I felt strong enough, I resumed submitting my articles, prayers, and poems to the publications I had written for before my health crisis: a Christian women’s magazine, Chicken Soup for the Soul books, neurological magazines, and local poetry contests too.
As more of my true stories and inspirational articles were published, I felt very grateful. One afternoon when I finally made it all the way to my mailbox with my walker, I reached inside and pulled out two magazines with my articles in them. “I’m a real writer!” I exclaimed in surprise.
Are you a real writer too? Whether published or not, God calls you one. After all, He is the one who gave you the gift and desire. Your answer should be a resounding yes!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Carolyn Bolz writes for various publications including Guideposts Magazine, Chicken Soup for the Soul books, and several neurological magazines. She also enjoys reciting her poetry at special events. Carolyn has a passion for advocating for others, who like herself, are physically disabled.
