Up until a little
over a year ago, I'd always heard about the infamous 'writer's block' although
I'd never truly experienced it. I was used to sitting down and for the most
part, the words flowed freely. But then… I got hit with multiple waves of
stress levels coming from several different areas in my life. It was the kind
of stress that didn't let up throughout that time period. Each day I could feel
the chipping away at my confidence level concerning my writing ability. Doubts
flooded in making it difficult to move forward. I felt as dry spiritually,
physically, emotionally, and creatively as someone who crossed the Sahara
Dessert with only a trickle of water to sustain them each day.
What got me
through this difficult time? At first I just squared my shoulders to take the
situations head-on, but when I got slammed with continual blasts of stress and
criticism I found that wasn't enough. I prayed but didn't seem to be making any
headway. I no sooner felt like I was making progress only to get punched again
from a different direction. To be honest, I could identify with the man that
Jesus mentioned in the story of the Good Samaritan.
A man was going down from Jerusalem to
Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him up, and
fled, leaving him half dead. - Luke 10:30 (HCSB)
I
was bruised and wounded.
What
got me out of the slump? Continuing to pray and placing everything in God's
hands over and over again. I humbled myself and asked others to pray for me. I
didn't always give them details of the situations but simply mentioned my need
to be covered in prayer. My husband stood by me throughout the whole ordeal
offering encouragement and prayer support. I delved into a Bible study and
scheduled time away. I made a specific choice to let go of bitterness and not
allow hurt to rob me of God's joy. I determined not to stress about the lack of
words but instead trust that when it was time to write again, the Lord would
provide.
It's
taken a long while, but I'm finally on the 'other' side. I honestly don't know
why God had me go through all the stress of this past year. But I rely on the
fact that I can trust Him. I choose to walk in His joy, not in bitterness… and
the words are beginning to flow again.
What do you do when you're faced with times of writer's block? How do you work through it?
~~~~~~
Jodie Wolfe
creates novels where hope and quirky meet. She is a member of American
Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Romance Writers of America (RWA) and has
been a semi-finalist and finalist in various writing contests. A former
columnist for Home School Enrichment
magazine, her articles can be found online at: Crosswalk, Christian Devotions, and Heirloom Audio. She's
a contributor for Putting on the New
and Stitches Thru Time
blogs. When not writing she enjoys spending time with her husband in
Pennsylvania, reading, walking, and being a Grammie. Learn more at www.jodiewolfe.com.
To Claim Her Heart
In 1893, on the
eve of the great race for land, Benjamin David prays for God to guide him to his
'Promised Land. Finding property and preaching to the lost are his only ways of
honoring his deceased fiancée. He hasn't counted on Elmer (Elsie) Smith
claiming the same plot and refusing to leave. Not only is she a burr in his
side, but she is full of the homesteading know-how he is sadly lacking.
Obtaining a claim in the Cherokee Strip Land Run is Elsie Smith's only hope for survival, and not just any plot, she has a specific one in mind. The land's not only a way to honor her pa and his life, but also to provide a livelihood for herself. She's willing to put in whatever it takes to get that piece of property, and Elsie's determined to keep it.
Her bitterness is what protects her, and she has no intentions of allowing that preacher to lay claim to her land . . . or her heart.
Obtaining a claim in the Cherokee Strip Land Run is Elsie Smith's only hope for survival, and not just any plot, she has a specific one in mind. The land's not only a way to honor her pa and his life, but also to provide a livelihood for herself. She's willing to put in whatever it takes to get that piece of property, and Elsie's determined to keep it.
Her bitterness is what protects her, and she has no intentions of allowing that preacher to lay claim to her land . . . or her heart.
Links:
Website: https://www.jodiewolfe.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JodieAWolfe
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