Open Heart Writing - Anne Sutherland Howard

Below is the thirteenth in my 31 day series about writers; each day I feature a different person and ask three similar questions about a person's writing process. Today I am presenting Rev. Anne Sutherland Howard. Anne is the Executive Director for The Beatitudes Society. She is also the author of Claiming the Beatitudes. Before she was ordained, Anne was a newspaper reporter.

I have known Anne since the mid-90's when I lived in Santa Barbara and attended Trinity Episcopal Church. At Trinity, Anne was the associate rector. After I moved to the Bay Area I followed her career, and recently reconnected during a visit to Santa Barbara. Last weekend I photographed her and a group of emerging church leaders for The Beatitudes Society while they were in Berkeley for a Prophetic Preaching workshop learning more about writing and delivering sermons.

I love listening to sermons, and I enjoyed learning more about how preachers prepare them. In the first photo below, Anne had written three simple practices. The third practice, "Don't Lie" reminds preachers that their personal lives will inform their sermons. While preachers need not disclose personal issues during sermons, preachers' personal lives will affect their sermon. This practice is probably important for writers too... and readers and listeners.

How does your personal life affect what you hear? Are you aware when you are preoccupied? How often to you pretend to listen while thinking about what is really on your mind? If your preacher or teacher is preoccupied, do you want to know? Do you consider these questions?

After I complete my month long writing project, I will return to some of these questions as well as the other photos from last weekend.. Until then, here are Anne's answers and photos.

Anne Sutherland Howard - Images by bryan farley

1. Why do you write?
I write all the time, whether my fingers are typing keys or moving a pen, or not. I think in writing, if that makes any sense. I do my best thinking by actually putting words on the page, but the words are always rolling around in my head and in my heart. I write to preach, that is, to prepare sermons, and I love that process more than anything else I do. I figure that sermons are meant to be poems, never prose. I also write just for myself, in my journal, as I’ve done for 40 years. This kind of private writing helps me be honest, with myself and with God.

2. What motivates or inspires you?
Everything inspires me! It helps me to look out the window to see the way the sun hits the Santa Barbara mountains, and the writings of others feeds me daily, as it has since I read my first book. I need at least a poem a day to survive, most often Mary Oliver.

3. How do you overcome writer's block?
I don’t suffer from writer’s block, but I do suffer from blogger’s block. I just wonder why I would need to say one more thing about something that’s causing a stir. I know I should probably raise my voice now and again, but it seems to be the blogosphere is clogged enough already.

Please visit Anne's sites and share comments below

Anne Sutherland Howard's Links: http://www.beatitudessociety.org/home

Anne Sutherland Howard: Beatitude Blog