Who is Your Obi-Wan Kenobi?

Who is Your Obi-Wan Kenobi?

Without him, Luke Skywalker wouldn’t be Luke Skywalker. Obi-Wan Kenobi’s presence awakened him to a larger story, taught him the ways of a Jedi, and steered him to his truer destiny.

Every hero’s journey–including yours–begins with a call out of the ordinary and into adventure. But as we take that step, we soon realize how alone we feel and how impossible the task appears. This is the moment in every great novel and movie where the seasoned sage appears to propel the hero forward. 

So who is the sage in your writing journey?

Yes, first and foremost we have God.

But God also provides human guidance. For writers, these are the sages strong enough to handle our hang-ups and meltdowns, brave enough to speak the hard realities others avoid, and loyal enough to read every draft of our work. They can think like your most passionate fan without being in awe of your gifts (which rules out your spouse and your mom). And they consistently offer ideas that lift your story to the next level by making your story sound even more like you. Though they can be your editor or agent, they often are ones not financially tied to the success of your book.

So who is your Obi-Wan Kenobi?

If you don’t have one yet, don’t despair. Perhaps you haven’t been ready until now. There’s an ancient saying: “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” Sometimes it’s hard for best-selling, proven authors to still see themselves as students. Yet no matter how accomplished we are, there’s always someone further down the road than us.

If you’re ready to be the student, ask God to bring a sage into your life and remain expectant. He will.

Equally important, there are people around you that desperately need wisdom. You may feel you have little to offer. Even so, be their sage. Not as a work-for-hire project or quid pro quo – but simply because at this moment you have eyes to see their story more clearly than they do.

The biggest trap is for writers to believe they are alone in this journey.

Do whatever it takes to find your Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Just don’t forget to be one too.

Allen Arnold loves the epic adventure God has set before him. From the mountains of Colorado, he leads Content & Resources for Ransomed Heart Ministries (led by John Eldredge). Before that, he spent 20 years in Christian Publishing - overseeing  the development of more than 500 novels as founder and Publisher of Thomas Nelson Fiction. He was awarded the ACFW Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. But that doesn't really describe the man. Allen savors time with his family, craves the beach, drinks salsa by the glass, is hooked on the TV series "Once Upon a Time" and is passionate about helping storytellers tell better stories from an awakened heart. 

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A Good Mentor

By Marcia Lee Laycock

 

It’s been six months since we began, my mentor and I. She sends me a lecture on various aspects of playwriting, then the assignment comes. After a few weeks of that routine I was instructed to begin working on a one act play. This involved a lot of thinking and planning before even beginning to write. Then, at last, I was allowed to begin. Then the real work started as my mentor edited, critiqued and corrected my work. Then other assignments came – there were plays to read and dissect, quizzes on content and questions that took me deep into my own feelings, opinions and ethics.

Then more work on my one act, more comments and corrections, more nudges to go deeper, to question why my characters did or said what I had made them do or say, more research to do. 

I have loved this process. It has pushed my writing to a new level and caused me to do some needed soul-searching at times. There have been moments when I wanted to stop, moments when the research, which took me to the horror camp of Bergen-Belsen, was too dark, moments when I despaired of ever being able to do justice to the story I wanted to tell. But my mentor kept me going. Sometimes it was just a few words – “oh, I love this,” typed at the end of a line, or a well placed question mark that made me stop and examine what I really wanted to say.

That’s what good mentors do, and I have greatly appreciated mine. 

It’s also what our God does. He walks with us, showing us where our weaknesses are and how to correct them. He provides us with the depth of His wisdom and then leads us into experiences that show us how it all works. Sometimes the lessons are a challenge but He whispers encouragement, always revealing a part of Himself in just the right way at just the right time. His Spirit, living in us, guides and directs. As writers of faith we have the best mentor, the best “muse” possible. He is available to us 24/7 and He has promised that He will never fail us. 

One of the most well known prophecies, spoken by the prophet Isaiah generations before the birth of Jesus, described Him this way – “And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). 

His name is Jesus.

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Marcia Lee Laycock writes from central Alberta Canada where she is a pastor's wife and mother of three adult daughters. She was the winner of The Best New Canadian Christian Author Award for her novel, One Smooth Stone. Her second novel, A Tumbled Stone was recently short listed in the contemporary fiction category of The Word Awards. Marcia also has two devotional books in print. Her work has been endorsed by Sigmund Brouwer, Janette Oke, Phil Callaway and Mark Buchanan.

Abundant Rain, an ebook devotional for writers can be downloaded here.

Her most recent release is the first book in a fantasy series, The Ambassadors

Visit Marcia’s Website

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