Elizabeth Sherrill Master’s Writing Workshop—Introduction

Authors of such Christian classics as The Hiding Place (Corrie Ten Boom), Cross and the Switchblade (David Wilkerson), and God's Smuggler (Bro. Andrew), Elizabeth and John Sherrill have ghostwritten, co-authored and edited more books and articles than I can grasp. They were editors and contributors of the Guideposts Magazine back in the day when people thought it was a travel magazine, if they’d heard of it all. The Sherrills traveled coast-to-coast, up to Alaska and around the world, writing over two thousand stories of real people and the great work God had performed in their lives. In April 2012, I had the privilege of attending Elizabeth Sherrill’s Master’s Writers Workshop. The week I spent at YWAM (Youth with a Mission) Woodcrest was so huge it’s hard to approach in a mere blog post. So I’m going to make it a six part series, taking it one day at a time with the hope I can be as interesting my witty teachers.

Sarah Elisabeth with Elizabeth Sherrill

Sunday—New Friends

Last minute plans in place, a week’s worth of work done in a day, frantic packing, and then we were on the rainy road for the thirty minute drive to YWAM Woodcrest on that Sunday evening. I hadn’t been there before, but it wasn’t hard to find back in the lovely piney woods of East Texas.

My mama helped me unload at the building that contained the classroom, Resonate News office, and upstairs’ dorm. With no one around, we found the office with my new friend, the copy machine. After playing with it a bit, my other new friend, Joyce, arrived and showed me how to operate the machine we’d run manuscript copies through. I estimate we handled about 3600 sheets by the end of the week.

Joyce and I with a small stack of our duties. Help!

Finally, I met my roommate, Meliza. She settled me in my room, showed me where the important things were, i.e. restrooms and the separate kitchen building.

Meliza, my sweet Philippine friend!

I spent an hour and a half making copies and stapling them together. Four manuscripts, 4-6 pages each, 25 stacks. This is what’s known as “working your way through.” I was blessed with that opportunity.

Too much excitement pumping through my veins, I laid awake that night, only imagining what meeting Elizabeth and John Sherrill in person would be like.

In the next post, you’ll read about the first day of the workshop and a special visit and stories from Loren Cunningham, founder of Youth with a Mission (YWAM).

Have you read one of Elizabeth and John Sherrill’s books? How did it impact your life?

Update: I recently saw on Facebook where the Sherrills were flying to London for their 65th wedding anniversary!

Right at Home—Confessions of a Homeschooler, Home Business Owner, Stay-at-Home Daughter

  If I were a place, I’d be home

Sarah Elisabeth

Whether you’re one or all three of the above, you know it takes more than a simple explanation when asked things like,

“Where do you go to school?”

“What kind of work do you do?”

“So you still live at home with your parents?”

My Education

The first question usually makes me laugh, because I look more seventeen than twenty-seven. I still have people ask what high school I go to. Flattering, I know. A laughing “I’m passed that,” is usually followed with, “Oh, so you’re in college?”

“Um, no, I decided to bypass college.”

“Oh. So what do you do, exactly?”

Not an easy question or a short answer. I must admit, answering the home school question is safer than it used to be when I was a kid and most home school families were hiding out. Because of early pioneers like my parents, home schooling is a different story today. But it doesn’t shorten the answer, because it’s still a novelty to some people and the stereotype questions take a bit to diffuse.

After graduating, I chose to continue education at home, creating studies to advance my business and writing skills. One term for this is Self-Educated, but I can’t take all the credit. My mama’s still the best teacher in the world! We’ve created our own terms, such as LEP: Life Experience Portfolio. I’ll have to do a blog post on that someday.

My Business

A home business is another novelty people dream of and want to know more about when they meet a real live home business owner. I love talking to people about my work and lifestyle because I’m passionate about it and would love to see more people living the call God put on their heart. But how do I explain my many endeavors fast enough to keep eyes from glazing over, or the undo awe that I’m some kind of smart person?

I never have a pat answer. I don’t practice ahead of time what I’m going to say or how to explain the life I live. Each person I meet is unique and deserves a custom answer.

I start off with, “I’m a writer.” If they’re still interested, the conversation goes from there.

My Home

Ah, and the last question. Embarrassing for some, perhaps, but it’s a badge of pride for me. The good kind of pride that allows me to look people in the eye and say, “Yes, I’m still at home with my mama. That’s what affords me to do all the creative stuff God’s called me to do.”

Because we synergize our incomes and share expenses, neither of us has to work a full time job. My mama pursues her filmmaking. I pursue my writing and businesses.

And if I were a place, I’d be home.

 

Which of the three are you, or that you desire to be? Share a piece of your life in the comments.

My Writing Life Today - National Museum of the American, Choctaw Spirit, Book Fun Magazine, First Monday Insider, Camp NaNoWriMo…

When my dad passed, I cleared everything off my agenda I possibly could, including this blog. After over seven months and nearly completing my NMAI Program, I’m slowly taking things back on again. I’m starting back up here with a quick overview of my writing life as it looks today.  

Sarah Elisabeth

Sarah Elisabeth

Book Fun Magazine Column: Choctaw Spirit

I haven’t mentioned I have a monthly column in Book Fun Magazine, have I? You can find direct links to my past articles in this blog post: Choctaw Spirit in Book Fun Magazine. (Sorry, these articles are no longer available online).

Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian Artist Leadership Program

I just completed my Workshop portion of the program. I’m thrilled with how it went overall. The 20 participants I had were amazing, and I look forward to working with them more as we complete the final phase of the program: publishing an anthology of Choctaw Trail of Tears stories. More on that soon.

First Monday Insider

Just past its one year anniversary, I love our micro business, First Monday Insider. I produce two newsletters a month for it, and my mama keeps the Facebook page brimming with great shopper photos and stories. And of course, a blog.

Camp NaNoWriMo

Who says camp is only for the summer and kids? Writers need a retreat too, a time to focus on the bliss of writing. The best part: no bug spray, no packing, no sleeping on the ground is required.

You also don’t get campfire cooking and roasted marshmallows, but you can’t have everything.

In my “spare” time, I’m participating in Camp NaNoWriMo, the April edition. Hey, I need to be churning out my next manuscript anyway, so why not have a little fun? You can keep up with my progress over at my LIGHT series blog, www.sesawyer.blogspot.com

That’s mostly what my writing life looks like currently. God keeps opening new doors, and that feeling of excitement at what may be next is coming over me. At the same time, the shock of my dad’s passing is wearing off and reality is setting in. I will never hug my daddy again this side of Heaven. I don’t know how to deal with that yet. I can only rest in the hope of Jesus Christ.

Writing helps.

What’s going on in your life right now? Share in the comments

NMAI Artist Leadership Program, and My Life

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." There are not many ways to describe this season in life. One of the worst summers of my life, and it ended with my dad’s passing. Then I got a phone call.

DSCN8343

DSCN8343

In May, 2012, I had applied for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian’s Artist Leadership Program. Amid the disasters of the summer, I still checked the mailbox every day in August, catching myself going out there on Sundays too. Waiting, waiting for a letter that would either accept me or a say a polite try again.

When I couldn’t stand the suspense anymore, I emailed the director, Keevin Lewis, on August 25. He emailed back with the news he’d been trying to contact my referral, Assistant Chief Gary Batton (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma) with a few questions.

I went through the roof, but tried to keep a lid on my excitement. My application was receiving serious consideration, but not granted yet. A few emails later and I had a call time set up for Keevin to reach Gary.

That was Saturday, August 25.

Sunday, August 26

We weren’t expecting it. It shocked. It hurt. It left me empty.

I wrote a poem. We made funeral arrangements. I got another email.

The phone call had gone well, and could Keevin call me today?

No, not today. Tomorrow.

He called. I’d been chosen for the Artist Leadership Program. I cried, extreme happiness and extreme sadness fighting for dominance in my heart. The battle still rages today.

A few of my recent Facebook statuses:

…Life hurts. God heals. In the in between time, we take it day by day and live in His grace and love…

…I'd rather feel pain than feel nothing. Pain lets you know you're still alive. A time of worship can bring everything out, including pain. Not something we want, but something we need…

…Blowing kisses to the sky…

On the happy end, we’re preparing for a two week research trip in Washington, D.C. as part of the Artist program. I’ll conduct research on our Choctaw ancestry at half a dozen facilities, present lunchtime talks to the NMAI staff, and perform two storytelling concerts at the ImagiNations Center at NMAI. How thankful I am to be doing it all with my mama!

An all-expense paid trip to D.C., plus. Yeah, I’m started to feel some excitement. It’s sinking in. Just in time, too. We leave in a few weeks.

Part Two of the program means putting on an Advanced Writing Workshop for the Choctaw Nation in March. Not a bad credit in my writing portfolio.

Split Focus

A day hasn’t passed that I don’t see scenes from August 26. The event shoved me off the cliff for a shattering landing. God put out deep padding to catch us.

This is the best of times, this is the worst of times. But it's all God's time.

Have you lived through the best and the worst at the same time? I’d like to hear your story.

He's Not Really Gone

Sunday, August 26, 2012, my daddy left his earth suit behind to be with his mama, brother and Jesus in Heaven. Through this unexpected loss, God’s provided friends and family to engulf us in love, prayers and support.

Monday, August 27, 2012, I wrote the following piece. May God use it to comfort those who mourn.

 

He’s not really gone

Over and over I repeat the words

They’re not true

Nurse, do something, Doctor, do something

Somebody do something

He’s not really gone

Lord, just one more day, one more hour

One more minute to say “I love you” one more time

At home, the first thing I see is your shirt on the arm of the couch

I clutch your walking stick and weep

He’s not really gone

You’ll be home later in the morning

It’ll be time for Mama to fix your eggs and make sure you take your vitamins

Tonight we’ll have a Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Big Valley marathon

Then I’ll fix your computer and explain Facebook again

This weekend you’ll play your guitar and sing for the nursing home residents

You’ll sing the song you wrote, “Tell Mama her boy is coming home.”

He’s not really gone

I see him that final time before they take his earthly body away

I touch him, touch my heart and I know

He’s right here with me forever

Thank You, Lord Jesus, He’s not really gone

Ara C. Sawyer 1946-2012