The 1st Young at Heart Writer's Contest has closed. Enjoy reading Christine Schwab's poems and Haley Robison's devotion  . Keep your eyes open for the next contest.

ALFRESCO

Out in the fresh air, soft fluffy clouds sweep gingerly, seeping sunshine through
A pleasant breeze cooling the skin, rustles trees and gives the field a somber sway
Lying on a blanket feeling the suns warm caress the skin, drawing in clean crisp drafts ripe with heavenly mixtures of outdoor smells
A rainbow of butterflies flutter, floating from flower to flower, birds reptiles and insects join one other in their choral tune
Fading into the moment, soaking in easy exquisite, peaceful, dreaminess, Alfresco

Christine Schwab

Simply Seeking

I see the ways my life can be used
Which can leave me so confused
Simply seeking your guidance oh Lord
Give me a Symbol, a sign or a word
Lead me with your loving hands
On the narrow path that you demand
Let my light shine throughout my days
With kind hearted wisdom of your ways
Simply seeking your guidance oh Lord
Bend my will to your humble accord
My broken spirit has taken flight
Another heart is bursting with your light
At times my vision will get blurred
Give me a Symbol, a sign or a word
Simply seeking your guidance oh Lord
In your punctured hands lies my reward

Christine Schwab

Love Justly Defined

by Haley Robison

Love: something so real that it can nearly be felt when the ties between two people are strong enough. One cannot simply explain love without first experiencing the attributes it possesses. Young girls long for the day that love is proven to them, the day they can finally feel for themselves that it does, indeed, exist.

Such are the thoughts of a teenager who had never experienced even the slightest sliver of affection from any man in her life. To her, love was impossible, unreal, abstract at best. From as far back as she could recall, she had never been hugged, kissed, or even encouraged. Therefore, she asks herself, “What is love?” The example set for her at home was nothing short of despicable. A father who rushed out of the picture before she was born, and a stepdad who lashed her for every mistake she made were the examples she had set before her by what she called her family.

The unforgiving question lingered in her mind for years, but she continued to push it to the back, refusing to let it get her down. When she came of age, this particular girl decided to engage in the biggest quest of her life: she was going to answer her own question. Leaving everything behind, she began the journey of a lifetime. As she set out, she promised herself that no matter what happened, she would find the answer not only for herself, but also for every other young girl who suffered from a loveless life such as herself. Her mission was to do a little bit of good any way that she could, and this was the best way that she knew how. So it began. She read books, magazines, articles, everything she could get her hands on. But still, she was no closer to the meaning behind love.

Almost desperate for answers, she did all that she knew to do: experiment. At the age of now 20 years old, she just knew that time was running out. If she did not find love now, then she never would. Taking frantic measures, her world was about to perform an about face. She made a hasty decision to turn to the “popular” things to do, seeking love in all the wrong places. Continuing her journey, she began to hit up all of the pubs, clubs, and hangouts of local teens. Many nights she spent in the house of strange men, or wherever she could find the alcohol and drugs to make her happy. Guys began giving her the attention she always longed for, and finally she told herself that she had found love.

One time, the night began like all the others, with drinking and partying and carrying on, when suddenly a man asked her to go back to his house for the night so he could show her a good time. For some reason she had an uneasy feeling and told the man no, and he seemingly accepted her answer and walked away. However, later that night, as she was walking home, she was attacked and taken by this same man. After he had his way with her, she was released, thrown out, with nothing but the clothes on her back left in her possession. Not only had he robbed her of her purity, but of her dignity and self-worth as well. Hurting and heartbroken, she told herself that she had, after all, gotten no closer to love, but further from what she had originally set out to do.

Deciding that beating herself up over the matter was useless, she reverted to the one place she had previously refused to search: the Bible. Swallowing her pride, she attended a church service and then another, and another. Eventually she had this overwhelming sense of identity and realized she had discovered something so real that she was baptized and vowed that day to seek refuge in the Lord. Although she took this step, she still was blind to the authenticity of love. As her journey continued, she asked herself once again, “What is love?”  By this time in her life, she had tried it all. Catching her off guard, the very next Sunday was a sermon on God’s love for each and every person alive. As the tears began to flow, she realized that finally, after all these years, love had been proven to her. From this moment on, she looked at each day as a new beginning, another opportunity to make a difference and live for the only One who had loved her from the start.

The most important thing for her was no longer to find love in earthly things, but to experience it in God’s house, and to show as many other people the unconditional love that is out there for each and every one of them. The rest of her life was dedicated to His work and eventually she fell in love with a man who not only religiously followed Christ, but who treated her with gentleness and respect; something she had never felt before.

If you were to ask that same girl today, “What is love?” she would respond, “It is something so real that it can be felt when the ties between two people are strong enough.” However, she would add onto the end that this tie is felt between someone and the Lord, and that no one here on Earth could ever appropriately display true love the way He does each and every day.

 You may be asking who is this nameless girl? I would respond: It is you, and me, and every other girl who has taken extreme measures, some more so than others, and searched in unthinkable places for a love that is not hidden, but omnipresent. It is called Jesus Christ, and His love is ready and waiting to be accepted by you. “We love, because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19.

Young at Heart Writers Contest

So for fun, I am going to hold a writing contest. To enter please go to Shawna Robison Young- author on facebook and like the page. Next write a poem or short story 1,000 words or less and post it on Shawna Robison Young- author page under the event Young at Heart for Writers Contest.... Entries are due by June 15th. Stories and poems will be judged by facebook readers from June 16th- June 30th. The winner's story or poem will be posted on facebook and my blog, Young at Heart for Writers, on July 1st . The winner will recieve bragging rights. Sorry no cash prizes or anything else like that. Just the fun of writing and sharing your work. Please pass this along.

The Agent and the Author of Life

My heart pounded with force.  My binder in my clammy hands. The story within, my baby. I had worked hours, months, years to perfect it. Staring at me was my first opportunity.  A best selling author, a client of the agent in front of me, said she liked my book and I had done an excellent job pitching it to her.  She said, "Tell him I think you have a good story." Now, I had to remember her name.  Remember to mention her.

 I sat down clutching my one sheet.  I had only heard of a one sheet the day before. So many new things to learn and yet I was given the chance to talk to this agent when so many others had tried for years and hadn't been as lucky. On the outside I looked cool and collected.  Inside my thoughts were a jumbled mess. Uncertain what to say as he stared at me, I forgot the author, his client. I handed him the one sheet. To my untrained eyes it was good.

From the beginning he was confused. "So this is non-fiction."

"No, fiction."

He began to critique my one sheet. Add Fiction, Add genre: Women's Fiction, Add word count, Add finished manuscript. My heart sank. I had failed my chance with this top literary agent. He looked at me.

"What are you looking for from this meeting?"

Um, uh, what did I want from the meeting? To be discovered. For him to fall in love with my story and become my agent.

"Well, I would love to make this a career, but if I have things to improve then I would like to know."

After hearing the quick synopsis, he decided I had a story without an ending. I disagreed internally and still do.  I had not done a good job revealing the story to him.  The next 10 minutes of my 15 minute meeting turned into me listening to him talk about a movie with a bad ending. 

I felt the empty pit in my stomach. This was not the way I thought the meeting was going to go. He asked to look at my manuscript. Alright, here we go. Now, he will see what a great story I have.

 I handed it to him. He looked it over. I couldn't read him, but I knew he had to like it.

"Yeah, there is still work to be done. It needs to be tightened up. Less telling and more showing."

I forced a smile.  He wasn't interested. What? But to be honest, I knew he was right.  I had added too much trying to meet the expectations of what I thought I needed to do rather than writing my way.

I shook his hand, "Thank you."

"Good luck."

I felt defeated. My acting skills came in handy as I appeared to walk away confidently. My spirit was broken. My skin wasn't tough enough.  I couldn't go through another rejection. I couldn't handle it. I would not be so vulnerable again. My story would be for me, now.  No one else needed to read it.  I was not good enough. For an introvert and a perfectionist, this was my biggest fear. Rejection.

The only place I could go to find comfort was in prayer.

"God, give me clarity. Make my day better tomorrow. I don't want today to overshadow the rest of the writing conference. "

I fell asleep the moment the prayer ended.

I woke up with new insight. Instead of defeat, I felt victory. I would fix my manuscript. I would listen to the positive criticism and turn my novel into an even better novel.  Right  now it was mediocre, but soon it would be powerful. The rest of the week was incredible.  I had been humbled. I had no expectations and took in every moment with joy. Another best selling author liked my book idea, a different agent wanted me to send my manuscript to her company, I meet incredible people. I learned many of the published authors at the conference had the same kind of experience with the first agent they meet.

Wow, God leading me to the mountains of North Carolina for my first writing conference was in His perfect plans. I learned I have a good story waiting to be great. God arranged a divine appointment with an agent that broke my heart, but taught me so much. That appointment changed me. But the most important appointment of the week was with God in my hotel room, broken and vulnerable. The Author of Life, God will direct me on a unforgettable journey.

Yes, I am a writer so this might be a novel when I finish. :) I have learned so much this week. Rejection will not defeat me. Criticism will not destroy my spirit. It will only make me stronger. Tuesday, I had my first ever meeting with an agent. I did everything wrong. The only thing I did right was listen with a smile and take it all in. I left the meeting feeling defeated. What? I was ...shocked. He didn't like my book? But my story is wonderful. I was devastated. I thought I would be the one in a million discovered my first time out of the gate. I put on a brave face. I told my mom how the interview went, and the flood gates opened wide. Later I meet with someone who critiqued the first few pages of my book. More news that broke my heart. Then bam it hit me. Reality check. I am not as good as I think I am. More tears. On came the headache and the absolute non-ability to concentrate the rest of the evening. I went to bed early and before falling asleep prayed for a better day the next day and clarity.

I woke up refreshed and with a feeling of excitement. The two meetings, the day prior, showed me how to improve my writing and improve my story. I was ready for the day. I had two meetings. First with a seasoned writer. She loved the idea. I told her I knew it needed some work and she made some great suggestions on how to learn the craft of writing. Wonderful meeting.

 

Later, I meet with another agent. I had no expectations. I knew I had a manuscript that needed work. I was prepared to just listen to any advice she had for me. I shared my book and series idea. She liked it. She asked me to submit it to an agent in her company. One of the best parts of the meeting was when she compared my style of storytelling to a well know author. I was elated. That is what I say: I am like ______ with a Christian Perspective. How exciting to have someone else see that.

It has been such a great week even in those trying moments when God was teaching me. I have a lot to learn about the writing industry, and it is going to be a lot of work, but I am ready for it. This week was inspiring. Praising God and learning about my passion with other Christian authors was humbling. God is revealing to me who He created me to be. Now it is time I give my everything to do the work He has created me for.