The Silent Season by Susan Tuttle

It’s December and all things are glittering and glowing. It’s such a beautiful season. We sing songs about a silent night, all the while not really thinking about how that night wasn’t silent. Mary gave birth to our Savior that night, shattering the silence of 400 years.

Friends, the silent season is real and can be oh-so-difficult. As writers we experience so much silence that it can move beyond deafening to the space filled with all of our insecurities. They tell us that we’re not good enough for this writing world. We’ll never see publication. Our writing doesn’t really matter. No one wants our stories. Other writers are so much more talented and deserving. Bottom line, we begin to believe God is no longer working on our behalf. Oh, may we never mistake the silence for God’s absence. (That was a sentence my pastor spoke on Sunday, and it echoed through me because there have been times in my life where I’ve done just that!)

God is working even when we cannot see him. If he has given you a promise about your writing, then he is going to fulfill it. Often in the silence he’s positioning us and everything around us so that his promise can meet fulfillment in his perfect timing. So when it’s silent, cling to his word and his track record—God’s word is good. His timing is perfect. And he always completes what he promises.

Merry Christmas, friends! And if you’re struggling with a silent season right now, please let me know in the comments so I can pray for you.

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Love You, Truly

Blake Carlton, the camera-shy son of Hollywood’s Darling, dodges the invasive limelight and scripted relationships that so often accompany fame. But when his mother’s popularity declines and she falls into a depression, he offers himself up as the next bachelor on a reality show, hoping to reignite interest in her career while creating a way for them to finally connect.

After her fiancé dumps her for her best friend, aspiring photographer Harlow Tucker is done with romance—until her beloved, disabled sister requests her aid to start a nonprofit. Harlow agrees to do whatever is needed to raise funds, even reluctantly costarring on a dating show with a notorious womanizer who distrusts anyone behind a lens.

As Blake and Harlow navigate the superficiality of a reality show, their preconceived notions of love are challenged. Deciding to trust each other feels like the ultimate risk, but taking that chance could lead to a love truly picture-perfect, worth both of their hearts.

Susan L. Tuttle lives in the Mitten State where she’s a homeschooling mom of three who’s very happily married to her best friend. She’s firmly convinced that letters were meant for words, not math, and loves stringing them together into stories that inspire and encourage. Romance, laughter, and cookies are three of her favorite things, though not always in that order. Connect with Susan at www.susanltuttle.com.

Rubber, meet road. - 3 tips for the Journeyman writer. By Lisa Phillips

So much of the writing advice we see on social media is geared toward beginners. Plenty of conferences gear their seminars to the needs to the newbie writer. And I get it. I even like it. Who doesn’t need to go back to the foundations once in a while and get a refresher? Praise God for them.

But what happens when you’re down the street a bit, and you’re no longer a “beginner?” Maybe you’ve written a couple of books…or seven. Maybe you’re published. Or you’re not. What advice is out there for you? Well, friend, I’m SO glad you’re here today.

A Journeyman is someone who is considered competent at their job. They are authorized to work in that field as a fully qualified employee.

You’ve done the “beginner” work, and you’re starting to wonder, what’s next?

 

1. Embrace the season

 

It’s easy to be discontented when we’re faced with problems. Or setbacks. When we feel like something should be happening, but it isn’t. Or when we feel like we don’t “fit” at the conference. But this is where we move from the “milk” of learning the writing craft, to the “meat” of walking out what you know.

Let me tell you: God has you in this season for a reason.

You’ve walked some long, dusty miles, but you still have plenty of hope left. That next book contract. That next novel—surely it will sell better. That one book you’ve always wanted to write—is it time? Maybe it’s a season of work right now. Or a season of waiting. Whatever it is, make sure you leave time to hear from God. He wants to draw near to you now. Even in this.

 

2. Never stop learning

 

I’m a hardcore, serious, post-it notes, white-board PLOTTER. One of the last few craft books I read was, “Story trumps structure” by Steven James. And yes, a few times I really wanted to throw it at the wall because I didn’t agree with him. But I read it.

And did I learn something?

Of course.

There is always a take-away, no matter what class or book you’re in right now. Regardless of whether the person who wrote it, or the one who’s teaching it, is better or worse at this than you (we’ll get to that in a minute) or if they’ve published more—or less—books than you. I’m going to say it again: there is always a take-away. You can ALWAYS learn something new. Be open to it.

Resist the pride of your accomplishments.

One of the biggest takeaways from my time at Bible college and all that fantastic digging in, and learning about the word of God was this: the more I learned, the more I realized how much I didn’t know.

 Likely you will never “arrive.” So embrace the journey.

 

3. Look ahead, not sideways

 

Comparisonitis. Oof, that’s a whole blog in itself, am I right? Eek. It’s so tempting to see such-and-such bestseller and compare yourself to them. (They’re usually always bestselling, or award winning. Because yeah, I’m that good.)

(Gross.)

And while reading your genre, other genres, and many different author’s works is so helpful in learning. As is seeing what others are up to in this “business.” It can also cripple your own writing. Be careful that your heart is in the right place.

I’m in a Facebook group of authors of all genres, Christian and not. Most of them are making a full time living. Most of them write multiple books a year. Some of them make hundreds of thousands and put out a book EVERY MONTH. Can I compete with that? No. That’s not the life, or schedule (or typing speed) that God has given me. But do I enjoy being there? Yes, when I can congratulate them, ask for help, and be encouraged in what they’re doing.

After all, they’re proof that this writing thing, as a sustainable career, is POSSIBLE.

I’m looking forward. Seeing how I can do this “publishing” thing differently. How I can get my books to new readers. How I can write better books each time. 

So when the rubber meets the road in your writing career, remember: press on. Don’t stop. The worshippers of the Bible were charged by God with creating music skillfully. It isn’t enough to just play your instrument, you’re called to do it well.

 

My prayer for you, friend, is that you see Him in this business. That you remember in writing, editing and marketing, that rain falls on the just and the unjust the same way the sun shines on us all. So no matter how you're feeling today, He's there.

 

Lisa Phillips is the author of more than ten Love Inspired Suspense novels. Her book DEFENSE BREACH is out this month and available everywhere! She also independently published the bestselling WITSEC Town series, the Sanctuary books. Her new series has a thriller/supernatural bent with the first book Corrupt. Book 2, FORGOTTEN is out now in ebook form on all platforms.

Lisa is also proud to be part of the EXPOSED box set of romantic suspense novels, which is .99c on Kindle. Find out more at www.authorlisaphillips.com where you can sign up and receive a free book!

Seasons of Writing by Terri Weldon

April has been a tricky month this year. Early on I had beautiful tulips in pink, red, and orange blooming in my yard. The slow growing redbud trees put on their prettiest show since they’d been planted. Then the freeze came. The purple blooms on the redbuds shriveled up and the tulip blooms leaned over as if their necks had been broken. Where was spring? 

The weather warmed up again and surprisingly the tulips fared better than expected and their blooms perked back up for the most part. Then it froze again. 

This time I had a little more hope, I knew some of the tulips would wither, but others would make it. Plus I had a crop of late bloomers waiting to burst out. Even through the chill I knew spring was coming. 

So what does this have to do with writing and why am I rambling about my flowers? Because when I started thinking about what to write for this post the seasons of writing popped into my mind and I realized writing, much like the weather, has seasons. 

When I first began writing it felt like spring. Story ideas abounded. Excitement sprang up much like the tulips in my yard. Writing was fresh and new. I wrote fast and furiously. 

Now admittedly I had a long spring season, but finally summer arrived. I sold a book. Nothing seemed impossible. I had a request from an editor at my dream publisher. Like my garden in the summer, everything was in bloom. 

But have you ever designed a flowerbed and it didn’t quite turn out like you expected? Or planted a flower just to have it die? Yeah, well now you know how my book at my dream publisher fared. Fall had arrived. Most blooms were stripped away. Still there were snippets of hope. While the publisher rejected my book they did welcome other submissions from me.  Plus I had a request from a small publisher for a novella I had written. So just like fall, things were changing, but there was still beauty. 

I guess we all know what comes after fall. Winter. You guessed it, the novella…it was rejected. My writing, my creativity had taken some hard hits. And just like winter everything seemed frozen. Should I keep on writing? Was I spinning my wheels or was there hope? That’s a question each author has to answer for themselves. There is no wrong choice as long as you are doing what God wants you to do. 

Thankfully winter isn’t the end. There is always another spring coming. I made the decision to keep writing and while I wish I could say I’m enjoying an endless summer I’d be lying. The seasons have come and gone. I’m still here and thankfully have a novella coming out this July. After that, well I’m looking forward to whatever comes next.  

I think Solomon said it best:

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV)

I hope you’ll share a little bit about your writing seasons and where you are in your writing journey now.

The Matchmakers Anthology
A Match Made in Sheffield (Book Two by Terri Weldon)

Nalie Benton bounced from one foster home to another until she landed on Ellie Alexander’s doorstep. Natalie’s vagabond childhood caused her to yearn for a secure life, which led to Natalie’s five-year plan: complete her law degree, marry the perfect man, become a partner at Montgomery, Haynes, and Preston, and produce one child. Getting arrested wasn’t in Natalie’s plan. Needing a public defender wasn’t in her plan. Falling for Grady Hunter, her public defender, definitely wasn’t in her plan. Can Grady convince Natalie there is more to life than her five-year plan? Is Ellie the only one who sees a future for Natalie and Grady?

Terri Weldon is a lead analyst by day and an award winning author by night. Her novella The Christmas Bride Wore Boots won the best novella category in the 2016 Lyra Awards. She enjoys traveling, gardening, reading, spending time with her family, and shopping for shoes. One of her favorite pastimes is volunteering as the librarian at her church. It allows her to shop for books and spend someone else’s money! Plus, she has the great joy of introducing people to Christian fiction. She lives with her family in the Heartland of the United States. Terri has two adorable Westies – Crosby and Nolly Grace. Terri is a member of ACFW and RWA. She is a member of the Seriously Write Team (www.seriouslywrite.blogspot.com). Readers can connect with Terri at www.terriweldon.com