Meet Colleen: Writer + Delight Girl

We’re featuring another beautiful Delight Girl today, this time from our talented Writing group! We owe a huge thank you to her for all her help behind the scenes with our blog, too.

Make sure you say hello to her in the comments, and read some of her latest work in the links below.

Colleen : Writer

SOMETHING SHORT AND SWEET ABOUT YOU: WHO ARE YOU?

Hey friends, my name is Colleen! My favorite things are ice cream, power outages, Beyoncé, smelly lotion, dancing, waves, candles, Friends, and sudoku. I love meeting new people and making them feel welcome. Often, I change inappropriate lyrics to Jesus lyrics while listening to pop music. My favorite phrases include, “What the fruit?” “AMIRIGHTLADIES?!” and “lawl” (lol). Most importantly, I take comfort in the fact that I am relentlessly pursued and unconditionally loved by a Man who walked on water.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WRITING?

This question makes me giggle because I’m not used to calling myself a writer. In fact, most days I really don’t feel qualified for that title. But, let’s be honest here, WHO IS? Anyway, I’ve been “writing” for forever. When I was younger, I would write scripts and books and short stories and journal entries. Were any of them good? No. But then again what seven-year-old’s writings are? I would say that some classes in high school really fostered my writing and gave me my voice. I haven’t stopped “speaking” since.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE GENRE, OR WHAT DO YOU WRITE MOST ABOUT? 

I like reading real, authentic, and vulnerable pieces of writing. They’re easiest to relate to, and it feels as if the reader and the writer are good friends. I try to do the same. I like to be conversational because I think that’s when my personality shows through my writing the most. Besides that, I really am in love with mystery novels. It always amazes me how everything lines up and makes sense in the end. You guys, those authors are straight geniuses.

DOES WRITING CHALLENGE YOU? IF SO, HOW?

One of my fears is not being good enough. Writing challenges me to face that fear with every piece I post. Instead of worrying about what other people will think, I’m forced to focus on what God thinks. Also, in order for me to be real with my audience, I first have to be real with myself and that’s something I think we all struggle with. Looking your weaknesses and problems in the face, recognizing they exist, and then putting them on display isn’t easy.

WHY WRITING?

Why writing? I’m not sure. I don’t know why God has given me this platform. I don’t understand why I word-vomit and He allows it to make sense. I don’t know how writing brings me joy, yet at the exact same time scares the crap out of me. Maybe because this fear makes me cling to Him and run back to the One who is writing my future. Either way, I’m excited to see how He continues to use it for His glory.

HOW DOES YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS AFFECT YOUR WORK? WHAT HAS JESUS DONE IN YOUR JOURNEY WITH WRITING? 

I’m really only writing because of Him. I started my blog with the intentions of only a few people reading it. God decided to give me a slightly bigger audience, and I realized that my writings needed to reflect, glorify, and proclaim Jesus in a way that would appeal to my friends who don’t know Him, as well as teach something to my friends who do. He’s allowed me to so, and has blessed me with people in 50 different countries who have viewed my blog. *What the fruit?!* Fifty countries? C’mon. That’s gotta be God. I’m super excited about it, but at the same time He’s also teaching me that my value and worth aren’t found in my viewership. They are instead found in the One who has viewed me as worthy and valuable.

WHAT ARE A FEW OF YOUR FAVORITE PIECES?

• A Year Without Makeup (Losing the mask)— https://colleensclutter.wordpress.com/2016/08/27/a-year-without-makeup/
• My Biggest Bully (How I found hope in a tough situation)— https://colleensclutter.wordpress.com/2016/01/10/my-biggest-bully/
• Love Won (My thoughts on gay marriage)— https://colleensclutter.wordpress.com/2015/06/27/love-won/
• Prayers for Paris (Why does God let bad things happen to good people?)— https://colleensclutter.wordpress.com/2015/11/14/prayers-for-paris-and-lebanon-and-baghdad/
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You can find me online here! —->
Facebook: Colleen Eschweiler
Twitter: colleen_grace
Instagram: colleen_grace97
WordPress: www.colleensclutter.wordpress.com

I am also a part of the Writing group (surprise) and the Graphic Design group on Facebook! But I also feel like I should be in the Culinary Arts one simply because I’m a terrible cook and need to learn how to do that soon if I wanna be wifed. AMIRIGHTLADIES?! (I’m only half kidding).

 

Read more from Colleen on her blog, or connect with her in our Writing Facebook group!

Photos by @adventures_of_rebekah on Instagram.