This post by Gayle M. Irwin
Last month I attended a simulcast of
the
Global
Leadership Summit
(GLS), an endeavor of the Willow Creek Association
located in Chicago that is broadcast to venues throughout the nation.
This two-day conference, held annually for more than 20 years,
features renowned speakers and leaders from businesses, non-profits,
and churches who encourage attendees to become better leaders. This
year’s faculty included Melinda Gates, Dr. Travis Bradberry, Bishop
T.D. Jakes, Bill Hybels, and Patrick Lencioni. As I’ve listened to
the stories and talks by the various presenters this year and during
previous years and pondered applications, I've come to recognize that
writers are leaders.
Have you ever considered that? The
journalist on the air or the page, the blogger online, the poet and
essayist in a literary magazine, the nature article writer, the book
author, songwriter, screenplay composer… they all contribute ideas,
share tales, and make people think. Writers engage, educate, and
inform; writers spark controversy, investigate rumors, research,
report, entertain, encourage.
Writers engage people. They teach and
inspire readers, and sometimes they teach and mentor one another. I’m
planning to attend a one-day writer’s workshop later this month;
the leader is fiction writer
Morgan
Callan Rogers. I have not written a book or short
story in a similar vein as Morgan; my work, mostly memoir and
children’s pet stories (the pet does not talk), primarily use
setting and action to tell the story, not dialogue or character
development. However, I have works in progress which will branch me
out and take me out of my comfort zone – for these, I need further
writing instruction and guidance, in particular developing characters
and generating strong dialogue. I feel I will become a better writer
by attending this conference and being tutored by a writing leader…
as well as learn from other attendees.
I, too, can be a leader with the works
I do produce. For example, I write inspirational pet stories for
children, in which I weave character traits and life lessons, such as
courage, perseverance, friendship, and self-confidence. When I visit
schools and libraries and share my words with youngsters, my hope is
to inspire them for the times in life in which they may face negative
things like divorce or bullying… as well as to create an engaging,
fun story for them to read.
I also see myself becoming more of a
leader in regard to pet and creation care. Animals and nature are my
passions; I desire to see people more greatly appreciate the beauty
around us and the pets which share our lives and need our help. I
recently had a short story published in Chicken Soup for the Soul:
The Spirit of America, in which I reflect upon the gems which are
America’s national parks. One of my works in progress is called
Jasmine’s Journey: The Story of a Rescue Dog, which will
teach children what pet rescue organizations do. I envision these
projects growing me as a writer-leader.
The major theme of the GLS is “Lead
where you are.” During a session at a previous Summit, the speaker
talked about “sowing seeds.” I enjoy sowing my word-seeds in
order to encourage, inspire, and entertain people, both adults and
children. Writers are leaders, and it’s an exciting journey!
Books are the treasured wealth of
the world and the fit inheritance of generations and nations.
~ Henry David Thoreau
