My name is Joyce Muraya. I am a Christian woman called by God to be His child and to serve in church ministry. I currently serve in the Anglican Church of Kenya, Diocese of Nairobi, at St. James Buru Buru, and as the Diocesan Chaplain of the Mothers’ Union. I am married to David Muraya, and we are blessed with four adult children, all of whom are married. They have given us the joy of being grandparents to Naima, Salma, Taya, Micah, Theo, Luka, and Baraka. They are a great blessing to us.

Over the years, I have found great fulfilment in walking with people, both young and old, as they navigate the different seasons of life, rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep. I am looking forward to a season of retirement from formal church engagement and trusting God for a new season of sharing wisdom, through writing, with those He brings my way.

My Mission

I am writing about characters in the Bible who have not always been in the limelight. Some have even been portrayed in a negative light. Their presence in Scripture is often overlooked, yet I believe they are in the Bible for a reason. Through writing, I seek to imaginatively flesh out their lives so that their characters can speak timeless truths into our context across the ages. I also want to remind readers that just as their lives and stories mattered, so do ours.

My Writing Process

I encountered writer’s block while trying to flesh out one particular character because she was a wicked woman. I found it difficult to develop her story, but the Spirit of God inspired me, and I was able to move forward.

The timelines during the Writing Class also helped me remain committed. I appreciated the accountability that came with having regular deadlines, although they placed considerable pressure on my time. Writing required me to give up certain activities so that I could create solid blocks of time for my manuscript. I did, however, struggle with submitting a very rough draft. I felt it could have benefited from more time to edit typographical errors, correct tense and other grammatical issues, and harmonise the manuscript from beginning to end.

My Posture

I appreciated the feedback I received because it helped me to keep moving forward and will continue helping me grow as a writer. Since this is my first book, I am very eager to learn. I see feedback as an important part of developing my writing and strengthening the manuscript.

My Onyx Writing Class Experience

The mentoring and coaching on the technical aspects of writing during CLC Kenya’s Onyx Writing Class were very helpful. I would have appreciated more one-on-one interaction with other writers, although I recognise that this is one of the trade-offs of a fully online class. At the same time, having the programme entirely online enabled me to attend more sessions than I probably would have been able to attend if the classes had been physical. My experience has been positive enough that I have already recommended the Writing Class to several friends and one family member.

Closing Reflection

To aspiring writers and beginning authors, I would say that this is a great place to explore that inner push to commit your words to a book. The environment is welcoming and not intimidating. Most importantly, God is in this programme, and you feel it. As I look towards a new season of life, I am trusting God to use writing as another avenue through which I can share the wisdom He has allowed me to gather over the years and encourage others through the timeless truths found in His Word.