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| Marianne Evans |
Encoragement
noun
noun
· The act of giving someone support, confidence or hope.
·
persuasion to do or to continue something.
·
the act of trying to stimulate the development of an activity,
state, or belief.
Four
years ago, I was approached by the lovely and gifted Annette Irby to become a
monthly contributor here at Seriously Write. My assignment? Share words of
encouragement as we work our way through this crazy but wonderful writing
journey.
This
month, as I considered what topic to cover, I looked through some of my old
posts and realized I’ve never discussed something I’ve faced that
you might be facing, too: How to maintain an encouraging, upbeat and productive
writing life when you feel anything but.
I’ve
been a professional writer in some form or fashion for most of my adult life.
I’ve been around long enough to know the writing business will deliver enough
ups and downs to leave me feeling like I’ve just ridden Space Mountain at
Disneyland.
That’s
okay. Ups and downs are part of any worthwhile endeavor. The secret to
longevity, however, is persevering. So, the encouragement I want to share today
is a secret I’ve discovered to hanging on to everything that’s good about my
writing ministry when everything else seems to go south. I’m generally a
positive, upbeat person, but at times a sense of futility leaves me beached on
the shores of creativity. Every strong effort forward leaves me two steps
behind, disappointed in reach, productivity, sales. Sometimes life encroaches
on precious writing time, or I rejoice, yet feel unworthy when I watch I see others
succeed in their publishing dreams with seeming ease.
A recent
bout with those demons left my husband to share these inspired words that I
want to share with you: “JUST WRITE THE BOOK.” His point was this: Don’t focus
on outside circumstance and white noise. Don’t focus on reaching readers, on
sales, on acceptance/rejection from a publisher. Doing so diminishes the joy
God wants to deliver through the gifts He’s bestowed. Focus on what inspires
you and then, just DO IT!
WRITE. Write
like nobody’s watching. Write for joy. Write to share the message you long to convey.
Don’t get caught up in the things you can’t control. Remember: lasting success
takes work and relentless commitment. Success requires the sure knowledge that
you were meant to put your keister in a chair, your fingers to the keyboard,
and craft a compelling story.
“JUST WRITE
THE BOOK.” Focus solely on sharing the gift and message God delivered. Doing
so, I firmly believe, will lead you to persevere.
Click to tweet!
~~~~~
Every saint has a past…and every sinner has a future
Country
music bad boy Chase Bradington is on the comeback trail. Fresh from rehab for
alcohol addiction, and transformed by the power of Christ, Chase is battling to
rediscover the music he loves and a career he nearly ruined. Then he meets up
and comer, Pyper Brock, and instantly sparks ignite.
Pyper knows
of Chase’s reputation, so despite a rampant attraction to the handsome and
talented icon, she soundly dismisses his romantic overtures. Decades ago, her
father, in a drunken rage, tossed her and her mother onto the streets. No way
will Pyper make the mistake of falling for a man whose done battle with the
bottle.
What happens
when Chase’s quest to win Pyper’s love breaks down chains of resentment and
eases the long-buried wounds of her childhood? And what happens when Pyper’s father
shows up in Nashville, clean, sober and seeking a chance to apologize?
Can Pyper
follow a pathway to peace when it comes to her father? Can she fully trust
Chase? Above all, can a sin damaged past be released in favor of forgiveness?
~~~~~
Marianne
Evans is an award-winning author of Christian romance and fiction. Her hope is
to spread the faith-affirming message of God’s love through the stories He
prompts her to create. Readers laude her work as “Riveting,”
“Realistic and true to heart,” “Compelling.”
Her Christian fiction debut,
Devotion, earned the Bookseller’s Best Award as well as the Heart of Excellence
Award. Her follow-up novel, Forgiveness, earned Christian Small Publisher Book
of the Year honors as did her book Hearts Communion. She is also a two-time
recipient of the Selah Award for her books Then & Now and Finding
Home.
Marianne is a lifelong resident of Michigan and
an active member of Romance Writers of America, most notably the Greater
Detroit Chapter where she served two terms as President. You can connect with Marianne
at www.marianneevans.com.
