Most of us would agree that certain things always take precedence over our writing, like our relationship with God and our families. If, like me, you have a regular job with a regular paycheck by necessity, that must also come before writing. So how do we find the time to write all those stories rolling around in our heads, begging to get out?
I can’t not write. Pardon the double negative, but most of you reading this know what I mean, and share the sentiment. Put another way. A real writer doesn’t just want to write; a real writer has to write. I like the quote from Thomas Mann that says “A writer is someone for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people.” Perhaps, but it is also more rewarding.
Sit down and write the book God puts on your heart. Give yourself permission to write badly. Done is better than perfect and someone needs to read it. You will want to give up before it’s done. Don’t. It takes a lot more time to not write a book than it takes to actually write one. If you’ve been writing long enough, you understand that rather odd statement. Nothing will get done if you wait until you can do it well.
Set attainable goals. For instance, write just one page. After that you can quit if you want to, but it’s possible, maybe even probable, that you won’t want to. Have you ever written a sentence, then reread it and thought, “Wow - I did not see that coming.” That’s God working in you. Go ahead and let Him amaze you with what flows from your fingertips. God has called you to serve others with your words. Anne Lamott says that very few writers know what they are doing until they’ve done it.
My personal mantra when I’m finding it difficult to write is “Write like no one is going to read it.” That frees me to write the words in my head without the fear of what someone else might think of them. Find what works for you, then do it.
What about those times when you stare at the blank screen in front of you and can’t come up with one word? Yes, it happens to me too. What I do is seek encouragement from other writers. I belong to a group composed of other writers, some published and some not, who simply encourage each other in the writing process. I can’t even begin to explain how much my writing sisters mean to me, and how much encouragement I draw from this group. I’ve never met most of them in person, but I love them all dearly, and the best part? They love me too and want to see me succeed. Find an encouragement group or start your own.
And finally, as the saying goes, don’t shine so others can see you, but shine so that through you, others can see Him. It will make all the difference in your writing. No matter how much you want to be published, that it not your main goal. Your goal is writing the words God gives you so He can use them for His purposes. So pursue that dream and remember that when God isn’t changing your circumstances, it’s probably because He’s changing you within those circumstances. Now, if you will excuse me, I have to go make a scene.
Scribbling in notebooks has been a habit of Cindy Regnier since she was old enough to hold a pencil. Born and raised in Kansas, she writes stories of historical Kansas, especially the Flint Hills area where she spent much of her childhood. Cindy is married to her husband of 35 years, has two grown sons, a beautiful daughter-in-law and a son residing in heaven. Cindy is a member of RWA and American Christian Fiction writers.
A graduate of Kansas State University with a dual major in Agriculture and Business, Cindy works for her local school district as finance manager and is active in her church and community. She likes to crochet things for her family and collects recipes she’ll probably never actually make. Her experiences with the Flint Hills setting, her natural love for history, farming and animals, along with her interest in genealogical research give her the background and passion to write heart-fluttering historical romance.
Find me at:
Blog: cindyregnier.blogspot.com
Instagram: cindyregnier1
Twitter: @cindysregnier
Facebook: Cindy Regnier
