Why I Read and Write Fiction – Confessions of a Bookworm
I read and write fiction because I am curious about the world. Fiction increases our awareness of the world around us and broadens our horizons beyond the confines of our daily life.
Fabulous Fridays
Why I Read and Write Fiction – Confessions of a Bookworm
I read and write fiction because I am curious about the world. Whether contemporary or historical, fiction transports the reader to another place and time. A well-written novel invites the reader to become part of the story. Fiction increases our awareness of the world around us and broadens our horizons beyond the confines of our daily life.
Fiction vs. Non-fiction
Non-fiction teaches facts. We learn about one topic in detail with little stimulus of our imagination. One problem in our world today is people’s desire to be heard above news media rhetoric. Talking heads with a set agenda tell us what to think.
A well-written novel invites the reader to become part of the story... #amwriting #amreading #fiction Share on XFiction, on the other hand, covers a broad range of experiences through the eyes of many different characters. One book enables us to enter the minds of a variety of people from different levels of society: rich and poor, educated and uneducated, management and employee, husband and wife. Points of view are expressed in a non-confrontational way. Readers experience what someone thinks, why they think that way, and develop empathy. Fiction opens us up to new ideas while stimulating pleasure areas in the brain.
Fiction and the Real World
For example, in my new romantic suspense, Within Golden Bands, the reader experiences the hurt and longing of a woman who craves motherhood but cannot become pregnant. I wrote from the heart about longings I experienced. My husband gave input on passages about the husband’s reactions. The story isn’t ours but we dealt with the emotions in real life.
In our world today, fearful of the COVID-19 pandemic, torn by protests over racial inequality, stress and anxiety run rampant. Fiction transports us away from the tension of non-stop news to a place where our brains can rest. Stimulating the imagination is therapeutic.
Fiction transports us to a place where our brains can rest... #anxiety #relaxation #bookworm Share on XWorks of fiction contain the truth about life, history, current events, and even faith. Christian fiction reveals how others might respond to personal crises, relationships, and world events from the standpoint of their faith. I watched my mother-in-law grow in her relationship to Christ through the fiction she read.
Benefits of Reading Fiction
All the best and worst of life is contained in fictional worlds. As we watch characters react to life events, we grow our minds with new possibilities. When based in fact and experience, the author’s imaginings can demonstrate scriptural truth.
Novels open our eyes to fresh perspectives by transporting us into an imaginary world... #amwriting #imagination #escape Share on XAll in all, fiction provides escape from stress and reveals new ways to respond to the world around us. Novels open our eyes to fresh perspectives by transporting us into an imaginary world. We escape everyday turmoil, satisfy our curiosity, expand our thinking, and rest our minds through the pages of a book.
© Copyright Norma Gail Holtman, June 16, 2020
Fiction transports the reader to another place and time... #booklover #novels #readingrocks Share on XAbout the author:
Norma Gail writes Fiction to Refresh Your Spirit. Her contemporary novels, Land of My Dreams, which won the 2016 Bookvana Religious Fiction Award, and Within Golden Bands (releasing May 19, 2020), explore the theme of women whose faith triumphs over trials. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, Inspire a Fire, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, Historical Writers of America, and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 44 years. They have two adult children. To connect with her, you can follow her blog, or join her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Goodreads, BookBub, or Amazon.
Read More
Love Others Well – A 2MefromHim Devotional
Let’s love each other well this Valentine’s Day!
Love Others Well
2MefromHim Devotional
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13
This Valentine's Day, let's do things differently and learn to love others well God's way. #ValentinesDay #love #God Share on XLearning to love others well
Valentine’s Day fills us with thoughts of love but not necessarily the right kind. A walk through the mall reveals that the love God speaks of is very different than what advertisements and entertainment portray. John said, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.” He should be our source of learning how to love others well.
Broken wedding vows. Broken hearts. Hurt feelings. Ruined friendships. Families destroyed. We don’t do a good job of loving.
Broken wedding vows. Broken hearts. Hurt feelings. Ruined friendships. Families destroyed. We don’t do a good job of loving. #relationships #family #marriage Share on XJesus’ commands
Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind, and the second is to love our neighbor as ourselves. However, the greatest insight comes from Paul. He uses action words such as patient and kind. Instead of being envious, boastful, or proud, we must aside personal feelings and needs and reach out to the very people who wounded us.
We must aside personal feelings and reach out to the very people who wounded us. #forgiveness #healing #reconciliation Share on XLearn to forgive
What if we let wrongs slide off our backs like heavy weights rather than dwelling on our differences? How would family and friends respond if instead of reacting in anger we set aside our perceived rights and forgave? Because we are forgiven, we must choose to follow His example. A failure to do so is to choose to sin against the Author of love.
In truth, the single greatest reason for failure is pride. My pride. Matthew 5:44 says, “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” Does it not, therefore, stand to reason that we are to forgive those closest to us? When I pray for those who injure me, my own hurt changes to concern for the well-being of others.
Love by putting others first
Paul says love always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres. Clearly, to love well, our emphasis must be on the other person, rather than ourselves. If I hold onto hurt and anger, pride, and refuse to seek forgiveness when someone believes I wronged them, I fail. Therefore, I must offer prayer instead of resentment and forgiveness rather than pride.
Who would God ask you to treat differently this Valentine’s Day?
What if we offered prayer instead of resentment and forgiveness rather than pride. What if we loved God's way? #God #love #forgiveness Share on X© Copyright by Norma Gail Holtman, February 10, 2020
About the author:
Norma Gail writes Fiction to Refresh Your Spirit. Her contemporary novels, Land of My Dreams, which won the 2016 Bookvana Religious Fiction Award, and Within Golden Bands (releasing in the summer of 2020), explore the theme of women whose faith triumphs over trials. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, Inspire a Fire, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, Historical Writers of America, and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 43 years. They have two adult children. If you’re interested in connecting with her, follow her blog, or join her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Goodreads, or Amazon.
Read MoreWait My Time – A 2MefromHim Devotional
Wait my time is a phrase God has spoken to me often in recent months. Times of trial often cause us to act out of fear and frustration. We long to resolve conflicts, but God will do far more than we can imagine if we only wait on his time and his way. I would love to hear your thoughts!
Read More