To Pitch or Not To Pitch
Soon I will be attending my annual writers conference. For me, it’s a big production. A lot of things must be planned, collected, and packed.
I have to choose one conference a year because attending means travel, hotel, meals and that’s beside the registration and anything else one must do. It may be once a year, but I look forward to going and learning.
However, this year I don’t have a finished project to propose. It feels strange because conferences are the time to have items ready to present. My projects are all in varying stages of going somewhere (I’ll let you know when I have figured out where), but none are ready to pitch to an editor or agent. You know, there are times to pitch and times to refrain from pitching. This is a year of refraining for me.
This time, I am listening to the Lord as He has said to me, “Pitch at Me and let Me guide you.”
The Pitching Coach
When pitching, it matters where your fingers fit around the ball. That determines what kind of pitch will be delivered. I expect that can apply to a keyboard as well. When the right words get delivered, a good story is the result.
But if the pitcher doesn’t listen to the pitching coach, well, his career will be short lived. The coach is the one who knows the ins and outs of the game. The Coach is the only One who knows the whole story. In waiting and listening, the inspiration comes.
It takes time to train. It takes time to develop the story. But the wait is worth it.
When God Is The Pitcher
It seems to me that this analogy can work both ways: what if God is pitching? If I don’t stand at home base, feet apart, bat ready, and study where He places His fingers, I will miss hitting the ball!
Now why have I never thought to just be still at home plate—ready to lob a story right out of the ballpark? For somebody who comes from a baseball family, you’d think that idea would have occurred to me before now.
Though I sometimes feel like I am striking out. But if I have done my training and wait for God’s pitches, then connection will come with a loud POP and that ball will go over the fence!
The Next Pitch
This year, I get to anticipate the conference with joy. Yes—that’s right—joy! I am going to learn. I am looking forward to the daily class I chose and honing my craft. I can’t wait to see some friends that I haven’t seen in a while and catch up with our lives as well as our endeavors. I can focus on networking. And maybe I will come home refreshed and brimming with ideas.
And the next conference—I can pitch a story!
“Listen diligently to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance” Isaiah 55:2b (NKJ).
Nancy Bentz says
Enjoy your conference! Great shot of Jon too! You are well poised, LJo. Relax into it, looking forward ♥
Linda Jo Reed says
Hi Nance: Thank you for your encouragement. I so appreciate and love you!
Patti Lee says
I’ll be listening rather than pitching right alongside you. Hope to see you there!
Linda Jo Reed says
Hi Patti: I’ll be looking for you there. I’m really looking forward to attending the classes and learning all I can. A different focus this year, but I think it will be a great conference. Maybe we can manage a meal together?