In the spacious opening of a piano factory-turned church, conference attendees heard from prominent Christian writers as the autumnal winds swept over the nearby beach.

 

The Breathe Conference took place on Oct. 10-11 at the Covenant Life Church in Grand Haven. Headlining the conference was Lynn Austin, author of “Hidden Places” and a three-time Christy award winner for Christian fiction.

 

Following the first day of workshops and a keynote address from Austin the previous night, she spoke again on Saturday morning.

 

Before giving specific encouragement to the audience, Austin shared her own journey to becoming a writer.

 

When she was living in Winnipeg, Canada, Austin was only beginning to venture into the writing world. She was not overly confident in the vocation and did not necessarily consider herself a writer. Often times, Austin would dodge questions or hide the fact she was pursuing writing as a career.

 

One day when her son had friends over, one of the children wandered over to Austin who was writing at her desk. When asked what she was doing, Austin finally found the courage to call herself a writer. The boy replied that his mother was also a writer, which led the boy’s mother to take Austin under her wing.

 

The women’s role as a mentor propelled Austin to excel into a writing career. If she had not taken a risk in saying she was a writer, Austin did not know where she would be today.

 

“We have to believe what God has called us to be,” Austin said.

 

Austin outlined three things needed to be a writer. The first was a calling, or as she preferred terming it, an assignment. She reiterated the fact that Christians are called to follow Christ and this is any believer’s calling.

 

Secondly, talent is needed. The good thing about a calling, Austin said, is that talent comes with it. She admitted that looking at other people’s writing has made her think, “I can’t write that,” Austin said. She set aside the negative thought and said that “God will give you the measure of talent you need to write those things.”

 

The final necessity for writers is that they need partnership.

 

“You need something to accompany the talent,” Austin said and cited that her husband’s trumpet playing inspires her.

 

Austin’s keynote address was full of insights and realistic encouragement.

 

“Writing is hard work,” Austin said, “and we have to constantly keep honing our craft.”

 

Austin also explained what she thought was the hardest part about writing.

 

“The chair. Staying in the chair,” Austin said. “Writing has to be a priority.”

 

In dealing with a writer’s everyday situations, Austin commented on life, stress and all the things that come along with it. Her solution to the problem was simple.

 

“When life interferes, journal it,” Austin said.

 

Looking back to her experience after Sept. 11, Austin recalled when she was writing a book on the Civil War. The events of the attack in New York City helped show Austin how her character in the book would have felt.

 

“What I was using in my journal went directly into how the character felt,” Austin said.

 

Continuing her speech to the audience, Austin told them to figure out what refills your creativity. She told the writers to “keep that curiosity and child-like learning.”

 

Beyond the inner-being of a writer, Austin hoped to extend the aim of the writers.

 

“Watch. Look. Listen to the world around you,” she said.

 

Austin referenced Julia Cameron’s book “The Artist’s Way” and pulled an illustration from it. She used a child as a metaphor for writing. Like a child, a writer may try to please someone else, show off, and fear to be made fun of.

 

While examining this thought, there may be things that have hurt a writer’s creative child. When Austin is blocked in the writing process, she goes back to look at what happened to her creative child. She then asks, where was the creative child hurt at?

 

For moving beyond hurt or difficulty in writing, Austin recommends writing something for the fun of it.

 

“I made up my mind to just have fun,” Austin said. “I am not going to think of publishing it. Even after all the fears, you know what? I ended up winning a Christy Award.”

 

Libby Burton, a sophomore and elementary education major, found the morning speech edifying and helpful.

 

“I think my favorite part was coming to terms of the importance of quality writing,” Burton said. “I thought she was very challenging to writers and also very encouraging to use God-given talents.”

 

Austin ended the morning address hoping that writers in attendance would be encouraged in their writing but to also look to a future hope.

 

“The only praise or criticism that matters in the long-run is to hear, ‘Well done,’” Austin said. “Only God can make you feel fulfilled.”