New Chapter's Resolution

Hi there, and welcome to my new blog!

You, kind reader, have caught me at what I sincerely hope is the beginning of a fresh life chapter-- one where I treat writing as a purposeful and professional pursuit, even if it is not yet my job. I will explain, without using too many paragraphs, what this means to me… but first I feel an introduction is due.

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My name is Taylor Lewis, with T.C. Lewis being my pen name.

I am twenty years old, though as someone who has been called a mature adolescent but is now uncharacteristically youthful for an adult, I have to wonder what an objective age is meant tell about a person.

I’m trusted with (and paid for) the weekly set up of chairs and tables at Clovis Christian Church-- a humbly built yet modestly adorned structure despite the stained glass stereotype, which houses a similarly normal-seeming yet living and loving community. I also volunteer as a youth teacher and tech team member here.

I am the youngest of two sons, currently living with my parents and two birds (an Indian Ringneck and Cockatiel). God has blessed me with my captivating and strengthening girlfriend, who I have better befriended, persistently pursued, and delightedly dated, beginning halfway into this year after a frustrating (but far from meaningless!) season of singleness.

I was raised with Christian beliefs, but questioned them during high school, eventually considering myself an atheist. Since I was holding tightly to this skeptical stance even as my parents brought me to Clovis Christian, it came as a pleasant surprise that meeting real imitators of Jesus and finding genuine acceptance among them catalyzed the development my own faith. I found answers to my questions along the way, too, but mainly it was seeing God’s love through people that drew me in and transformed me.

I enjoy reading, writing, and video games… but in all three, what I love is immersing myself in a good story. Until now, I shared my writing in two blogs: one featuring works of fiction based in the Warcraft universe, and another dealing with weightier matters of Truth through apologetics and Biblical teaching (which contains my full testimony, too, if you’re one of those rare folks that does enjoy having a life story thrown at their face).

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I already shared my hope that today marks the start of a new life chapter, marked by diligent efforts at writing in a higher quality, and so it seemed fitting I create this new blog.

T.C. Logos.

My first pick was actually “T.C. Lewis”, but one cannot always be so choosy while using a popular website, and I really liked the meanings of this Greek word in the end. Each of them contain a part of what I pray my writing will reflect-- a personal yet compelling story, reasoned perspectives at relevant topics, and the God who fully Knows us and our guilt yet Loves us with an intensity stronger than even death.

Along with the creation of this blog, I’ve decided not to take any of the classes at my community college for this next semester. I do not regret what I learned from experiencing college, and am aware I can always return. However, with the time and energy I formerly put into academics redirected, I intend to live in the belief that I already am a writer-- creating my own professional quality works, examining the many examples of distinguished others, and studying the art of storytelling through words from online teachers.

The rift between Truth and fiction will not be emphasized here, as I would rather highlight the way they work together. My first sample of writing for this blog, a short story- fictional but not entirely so - inspired by a recent event, is posted below. I'm also progressing through a short story of a battle-mage in The Elder Scrolls universe, considering how to address controversial topics related to the Holy Spirit, and outlining a novel in an original sci-fi fantasy (fanta-sci!) universe that will hopefully spur short stories outside the main project's plot, too.

I intend to write, at minimum, two pieces every month... and if I do write no more than two, I mean that they had better be two quality projects to justify the time spent. I suppose I should factor in how writing or planning chapters of my novel will fit that goal (since I'll hold onto those until I can publish them), but it can be put off for now so that I don't give myself an easier time and I'm free to construct that fanta-sci world quite carefully.

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There is one final and important part of this quest of mine, and that is you. Whether you are my closest friend or a passing pilgrim of the internet I may never meet, I owe you thanks, because I cannot achieve writing as a pursuit greater than a hobby while alone.

I am not ashamed to admit my need for readers like you to:

- Follow my work with appreciation (clicking “Like” or “Follow” is a start, but not the whole of this)

- Guide it in your feedback (comments or messages to share your thoughts are welcome)

- Share my writing to other potential readers in a way superior to any artificial advertisement (clicking “Share” is helpful if a post sticks out to you, and mentioning it in a discussion out of genuine interest is even better!).

I understand this is a very unequal relationship I ask for; it is indeed selfish of me to expect that you will read sentence after sentence of my thoughts without knowing you in return. However and in awareness of that, I will strive to write in a quality and relevance that is worthy of the time it takes for reading it. I shall also make use of how I can listen to you, as you feel comfortable to email or comment.

Again, I must stress that my writing is ultimately stagnant if it does not reach an audience in love. Thank you for patiently participating as a member of that audience. I am broken and in need of grace, so that I fully expect challenges in the year ahead and would not dare promise that I can avoid failure... but I pray I can still glorify God in my weakness and nurture the talents He gives me. I invite you to pray alongside me, and join me in my journey.