An Excerpt from Kathy Mackel's Keynote Address

Rebirth

Writers are always pregnant with ideas. But no one says to you, “Congratulations! You’re with story!”
Conception—when you commit time and energy
Stretching—having to go further and deeper

Isaiah 26:17-18 – "As the pregnant woman approaches the time to give birth, she writhes and cries out in her labor pains, thus we were before you, O Lord. We were pregnant, we writhed in labor, we gave birth, as it seems, only to wind. We could not accomplish deliverance for the earth, nor were inhabitants of the world born."

Make sure that your writing gives birth to more than wind. How disappointing would that be? To work on something for so long, but since you didn't do it for God it amounts to nothing?

At some point, those faithful to God will meet God in their writing.

Not everything we write will see the light of day, but everything will see the light of life.

You might have to go back and re-birth it.

Ezekiel 37:1-10 (Valley of dry bones)
- what God is asking of you
- be born again as a writer
- re-birth each other!

Will you surrender to love?

*End Keynote Address*

That part about giving birth to wind--yeah, that's when I started bawling. It's something I worry about a lot. What am I doing all this for? I think I'm listening to God and letting him lead me through my writing, but what if it's just me? Writing for the Lord is a heavy responsibility, which is why you might need to rebirth your story to make sure it produces more than just wind. Rebirth each other. Renew, refresh, rebirth, recharge. Be reinspired!