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| Linda Robinson |
Most of
us have experienced days that feel like for every two steps we take
forward, we take three steps back. But what happens when something bigger—and more
important—takes us away from our writing goals and responsibilities? How
do we handle those situations? Author Linda Robinson shares her
personal story. ~ Dawn
When
Potential Disaster Struck…
Writing for me can be stimulating, rewarding, and
therapeutic. But it’s also humbling. We writers create fictional characters we
hope our readers can connect with and care about, so we become totally
engrossed in their lives. For a time, they are real people who have the ability
to frustrate us, bring forth sorrowful tears, and produce stress-relieving
laughter. They may have their share of fun but often have different, or more
problems than we do. Some make serious mistakes. Others weather serious storms.
One might have faith—and lose faith momentarily, or longer, depending on its
depth and the storm’s magnitude.
Recently, my faith was tested, and my writing took a back
seat. I wanted to write this blog early, since I had a busy month planned prior
to its due date. The first event scheduled was an annual, week-long family
reunion in our home. My writing critique partners and I had planned a
much-needed, mini vacation with our hubbies—to take place at a beach resort in
Florida two weeks after the reunion. I felt good about being organized and
having ample time to write the blog and prepare for a Skype television
interview scheduled to air the same day.
But my husband Bruce hadn’t been feeling well for a few
weeks. The short story version: After two full weeks of doctor visits and two
medical procedures that left us without answers, his heart doctor performed a
catheterization. While sitting in the hospital for two days with Bruce, writing
was far from my mind. All I could do was pray when the nurse called from the
cath lab to say the doctor found a major coronary artery blockage and was
attempting to stint it. Afterward, all I could do was thank God for bringing my
husband through safely, again.
I’d had my share of writing challenges and blockades. When
my first novel was in the editing stage of publishing nearly six years ago,
Bruce had to have heart bypass surgery after the doctor nicked a blocked artery
trying to get a stint in place during a catheterization. A week in the hospital
and several weeks of therapy afterward made editing difficult, but many prayers
pulled us all through.
I recently read that we should not tell God how big our
storm is, but we should tell the storm how big our God is. What an awesome
comfort to remember that statement as we meet life’s challenges head-on,
whether personally or through our fictional characters.
God gives us our characters and their stories to write, and
we pray they’ll touch the heart of someone who might be going through similar
trials and give them comfort and hope. My faith is renewed not only by the
storms my God and I weather, but by every dark cloud or blizzard my human
friends or fictional characters endure. Because I know He is able to handle
anything life throws our way.
Have any of you had minor or major challenges that delayed
or prevented your writing goals?
(Book
Three of Faith & Family Series)
Natalie
Hudson soon discovers her new life away from home is nothing like she has
always dreamed it would be. The angst and trials of her teen years seem trivial
compared to the struggles of adulthood with its many choices, commitments, and
consequences. When her secure little world is rocked by unexpected news from her
best friend and fiancé, she fails to understand and refuses to see him to
discuss the issue. Will the man Natalie once called the love of her life become
her husband and father her children? Or is the term soul mate a fantasy too? Join veterinarian Doctor Natalie Hudson as
she faces the challenges and life-altering events of an adult in a real world
rife with stormy clouds and turbulent temptations.
Linda
Robinson is the author of five published novels. She writes Christian
fictional stories of faith, friendship, and family relationships. She’s a
member of her local Writers’ Forum, ACFW, Scribes, and others. In addition to
guest-blogging and writing fiction and non-fiction humorous short stories for
magazines and contests, the third novel of her Faith and Family series
depicting young adult, Natalie Hudson, and her best friend released in
September 2015. Find out more about Linda on Facebook and Twitter, or by
visiting her web site and reading her blogs at: http://lindarobinson.tateauthor.com
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/linda.robinson.5095
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/LindaRobinsonLR
Email: AuthorLLR@aol.com
