The other evening, I gave a talk and read a couple stories at California State University, San Marcos. One of the stories, which I'm going to post on my web site, had a scene at a long ago Billy Graham crusade. After the story, during question time, a student asked me if I had an agenda for my work.

A thought provoking question. I tried in my rambling way to explain that with each piece, I might have a the kind of agenda that is my view of the world in the context of the happenings in the story. For example, in The Vagabond Virgins, I wanted to portray the people of Mexico in a way that might increase readers’ understanding of their struggles. But the only overall agenda I’m conscious of is to suggest to people that they seek the truth with an open heart and open mind.

Some of my work might appear to promote Christian beliefs but that truly is not my intention. I only would hope readers might choose to look into Christian beliefs and reconsider their attitudes toward them. And that would apply to people who already believe as well as people who don’t. Once we think we have the truth and don’t need to seek it any longer, we’re dangerous and often evil.

Maybe a hundred times I’ve heard writers comment that if you take this vocation seriously, you need to write every day. Well, they all must live in a different dimension than the one I live in. Here, stuff happens.

Like occasional burnout. Tax time. Catching up on all the nonsense such as bill paying, household chores, yard work, and family outings I didn’t do when I was writing every day. Not to mention another job, which for me at this point is trying to do justice to teaching and serving as president of Perelandra College.

No whining intended. I’m preparing to make a point. Which is, the most valid reason for writing every day is that once you take days off (let alone a month or two), getting started and finding momentum again is an arduous proposition.

It’s likely I won’t return to the current novel, book one of the Hickey family series (described in part in previous posts) until around March 1. So, in order to jump start the reentry, I hope to arrive at that date with a solid outline of the rest of the novel. I’m much better at outlining once I’m in the middle of the story and have lived with it for some time. And even if I feel no need to stick to the outline, having a solid one urges me on, so I can reach those scenes I most long to write and read.