• Home
    • About Us
  • Services
  • Portfolio
    • Ghostwriting
    • Editing
    • Critiques
    • Formatting
    • My Byline
    • Testimonials
  • Free Reads
  • Reviews
  • Events
  • Blog
  • Contact
HEN HOUSE PUBLISHING
  • Home
    • About Us
  • Services
  • Portfolio
    • Ghostwriting
    • Editing
    • Critiques
    • Formatting
    • My Byline
    • Testimonials
  • Free Reads
  • Reviews
  • Events
  • Blog
  • Contact

Hens Lay Eggs

food for thought

Journey To Writing - #SpringfieldOHBookFair Author Blog

6/6/2018

 
By Craig H. Smith
Picture

I delight in the creative process of writing. When scattered thoughts become clear reflections ... when tweaked sentences bring sharp focus and new perspective ... and, when the light bulb goes on and aha(!) happens, excitement pulls up a chair and plops down right beside me. Searching for and finding the right words, the right phrase, or the right image to express a stirring victory, a human failure, a deep learning, a raw frustration, or one of life’s God-moments is pure delight.  

My journey to writing had a rather shaky beginning. As a college freshman, I declared a double major in both English and physical education. As a student athlete, I played both baseball and football. In the spring, midway through baseball season, I was summoned to the office of Dr. Klingler, Dean of the English Department. He invited me to sit. Then, without cordial small talk, he looked me straight in the eyes and said, “Mr. Smith, do you want to be an English major or …  [pause for dramatic emphasis] do you want to play baseball?”

Honestly, I could see his point. I had missed nine of his classes because of road trips to “away” baseball games. He had the right to question my commitment to English. And, so he did! With all the maturity and arrogance of a college freshman, I quickly responded, “Dr. Klingler, I want to play baseball!” And, I walked out. He gave me a “D” for the semester’s work. (There’s more to the story down the road.)

Once I entered the work-a-day world, writing opportunities were wide-ranging. As a businessman, pastor, denominational church executive, and later as a leadership and health coach, I had a wide—some might say weird—backdrop to my writing. Putting words on paper took on a many-sided approach. From business correspondence to sermons to notes of encouragement to motivational and inspirational prose for various publications, I adapted to writing for the “task at hand.”

I guess it has been this eclectic experience that has allowed me to blend the motivational with the practical and the inspirational with the down-to-earth. So, it has been my experience that, when heaven and earth touch and when God’s story and our story commingle, life comes alive in a whole new way. Meaning and purpose dance with the ordinary and the mundane, and, in some miraculous way, we live life at a higher level. 

Thanks for listening!  

Oh, and as for Dr. Klingler ... this former brash baseball player had the occasion to bump into Dr. K. at a large church gathering right after the release of a Lenten devotional series I had written for our denominational publishing house. He walked right up to me—in the same manner with which he had approached me nearly 45 years before—and, holding a copy of my work, he piped, “Nice work, Craig. Nice work!” I smiled and replied, “Thank you, Charles.” 
​

Life!

​

Kim
6/10/2018 04:58:38 pm

Ahhh! Love this! What a great "rest of the story!"


Comments are closed.

    Share!

    Picture

    Author

    Hard boiled, scrambled, over easy, and sunny side up: eggs are the musings of Holly Bargo, the pseudonym for the author.

    Follow
    Karen (Holly)

    Blog Swaps
    View Guest Author Posts
    Looking for a place to swap blogs? Holly Bargo at Hen House Publishing is happy to reciprocate Blog Swaps in 2019.
    For more information: 
    Email Us

    Get Your Copy of
    Hen House Publishing Blog via Email:

    Delivered by FeedBurner


    Categories

    All
    Books By Holly Bargo
    Egg Reviews
    Events
    Guest Author
    Interviews
    Mfrw
    Mfrwauthor
    #MFRWHooks
    Reviews
    #SpringfieldOHBookFair
    Status
    #WinterBookFair

    Share

    Archives

    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015

HOME | ABOUT US | SERVICES | PORTFOLIO | TESTIMONIALS | BOOK CATALOG | FREE READS | BLOG | EVENTS | CONTACT
Copyright © 2015 - 2021
  • Home
    • About Us
  • Services
  • Portfolio
    • Ghostwriting
    • Editing
    • Critiques
    • Formatting
    • My Byline
    • Testimonials
  • Free Reads
  • Reviews
  • Events
  • Blog
  • Contact