You Want Me to Write WHAT? Manuscript in Motion Monday!

Welcome back to Manuscript in Motion Mondays! Remember, last week was your freebie- this week, use the Mr. Linky tool below to link up your post you wrote about last week's "assigned" topic/challenge: your favorite passage from literature and what it can teach you about writing.

Now, on to a new challenge!

Chances are, if you've been writing for awhile, your skills have most likely not gone unnoticed. Have your writing talents ever been solicited for something unusual?

This has been happening to me a lot lately, and I'll admit, it's mostly my own fault. Because personally, I feel that God gave me this gift for a reason, and if I'm not using a gift from God to help others, then I'm pretty sure I'm doing something wrong.

Recently, I've done everything from helping a friend in the film industry rewrite a commercial to assisting a family member with her personal memoirs. I appreciate these opportunities not only because I love to be able to serve others with my talents, but because I enjoy the challenge it presents, and the chance it gives me to strengthen my writing skills. Not to mention that sometimes it's nice to step away from your WIP and stretch your writing muscles a bit.

By far, the most extreme example of, "You Want Me to Write WHAT?" (Shall we call it YWMTWW? No, you're right, way too long.) was a few months ago when a friend found herself in an extremely stressful legal situation. She had fired her lawyer and was attempting to get a motion for a rehearing due to his lousy representation. She was jobless, on her own with no family, and was near tears when explaining the situation to me. Now, I know I'm not a lawyer, and I know nothing about legal stuff. But by golly I can write (well, that's what the Spirit was telling me at the time anyway), and so I told her to come over and we'd sit down together and see what we could do. I sent the kids outside to play and we got to work.

Our challenge: My friend had written a well-researched and well-thought-out document that was about 30 pages long outlining her reasons for desiring a rehearing. The powers that be had sent back their own 8-page document refusing her rehearing. She now had 350 words in which to make her final argument, and 1 week to write it.

No problem, right? Gah.

Well, long story short, after about 5 hours (and lots of silent prayers on my part) my friend had gone from pulling her hair out to grinning from ear to ear. She held our finished document in her hands and breathed a sigh of relief. She had been told by some lawyer friends that this effort was a long shot, but she was willing to try anything.

Fast forward about 6 weeks after that: I get a phone call from my friend, who says, "Kasey, I just want to thank you." I said, "For what?" She said, "They granted my rehearing." I said, "SHUT UP!!!!!" (I meant that in the nicest way, of course.)

The funny thing is, when I go back and read over that document we wrote, I hardly understand a word of it. I look at my notes I took as we were preparing it and it's like I'm reading another language. I have no doubt that the Holy Ghost was my guide in giving me the knowledge and ability I needed to help my friend, and it's just another testament to me of the power of the Lord when are seeking to do His will and serve Him.

So your question this week is this: How have you used your writing talents to bless others? If you feel you haven't had the opportunity to do so, I encourage you to pray about it this week and keep your eyes open, for "...there are chances for good all around just now, opportunities right in your way. Do not let them pass by, saying sometime I'll try, but go and do something today!"

Write your post sharing your story on your blog this week, then come back next Monday to link it up to us. Don't forget to add your Manuscript in Motion Mondays @ Mormon Mommy Writers button (it's over there on the right sidebar) to your post! I can't wait to see how our MMWs are using their talents to serve! :-)