For the Love of a Writer

As an instructor, writer, and dad, I’m using my stern, reprimanding voice with you. I’m not happy. There’s a select few who need a lecture from a father figure.

There can be one person always on your side. You. And yet, your negative self-talk continues incessantly until no one counters the pessimism falling from your lips and you begin to believe your own lies.

“I’m not good enough” is a thought I never want to hear from you again. Never again. There is not a single reason to ever utter those words. If I hear you say “can’t” I don’t want to see you in this writing game. Just get out. I’m serious. Turn in your writer card. Telling yourself you’re not worth it or that you can’t measure up ends today. You belong here. You’re a writer.

You have a God who sees your faults more clearly than anyone else and still believes in you. Why don’t you believe in yourself?

Look at me when I’m talking to you. Stop undermining what little resolve you have to finish your manuscripts. Life is hard enough—companies using propaganda to demoralize your confidence so you’ll buy their products, sickness and death, chore lists and demands on your time make this life ridiculously difficult. The self-talk tearing yourself down has no place in your life.

You’re a writer. To tell yourself otherwise means you let fear win.

Sometimes your faith is shaken and belief in God and self has never been lower. Those hard times you’ve been through are brutal. You’ve managed to stay afloat. That’s incredible. You’ve taken on the world and survived, one way or another. How dare you say that you’re not amazing. Life is out to kill you, and you’re still breathing. Your experiences belong in a novel.

The less you believe in yourself, the more you need to be writing. But you must tell yourself you deserve to be a writer. Because you do. You belong here.

You have something to write about, and if I hear one more peep out of you that you don’t belong here, I’m going to be very angry, because sometimes there’s no logic or ethics. It’s pure emotion. And this emotion is about believing in yourself, no matter what. The end.

Now, go get a hug from someone you love, let them squeeze you tight, and go write. I believe in you. God believes in you. So should you.

You're a writer. To tell yourself otherwise means you let fear win. @peterleavell #seriouslywrite #writerslife

God sees your faults and believes in you. Why don't you believe in yourself? @peterleavell #seriouslywrite #writerslife

For the love of a writer: The less you believe in yourself, the more you need to be writing. @peterleavell #seriouslywrite #writerslife

Peter Leavell, a 2007 graduate of Boise State University with a degree in history and currently enrolled in the University's English Lit Graduate program, as well as History Graduate program, was the 2011 winner of Christian Writers Guild's Operation First Novel contest, and 2013 Christian Retailing's Best award for First-Time Author. An author, blogger, teacher, ghostwriter, jogger, biker, husband and father, Peter and his family live in Boise, Idaho. Learn more about Peter's books, research, and family adventures at www.peterleavell.com

The Goldilocks Syndrome By Patti Jo Moore

Once upon a time there was a writer. She loved to write, and happily enjoyed exploring life and new adventures with her fictional characters and settings.

When the writer decided to submit her writing, something happened to her. She was filled with doubts. What had once been an exhilarating (at times) writing experience, now became drudgery. She questioned herself as she finished each scene of a story. Had she included enough action in her stories, or were they dull? Was her story too brief, or could she have added more chapters? Had she put in too much description, often reading like “flowery prose” or did she need more description in her scenes, to make them come alive for readers?

These questions bounced around in the writer’s head, zapping all the previous enjoyment out of her writing experience. She began thinking of the well-loved story about a little girl named Goldilocks, who took a lovely walk one day and ended up in the home of a bear family. If you’re familiar with the story, you know that Goldi tried out the family’s chairs, beds, and even their breakfast they’d left cooling on the table while they enjoyed a walk that morning. Our heroine wasn’t satisfied with the original items she tried in the bears’ home. The chairs were either too big or too little, until she sat in one that was just right. The beds were too hard or too soft, until one was just right. The porridge was either too hot or too cold, until one bowl was just right.

As writers, we can easily slip into the Goldilocks Syndrome, trying and trying to get our stories “just right” but in the process never being satisfied, feeling frustrated, and never releasing them. We’ve all heard the advice that at some point, we must let our stories go. Yes, easier said than done. But we don’t want to reach the point where our writing is a headache-inducing chore and we dread our writing time each day. Sure, it’s hard work. Very hard at times. Yet we can still find joy in our writing, and pray that our writing brings joy into our readers’ lives.

If you’ve ever held onto a story for a long, long time, you may have experienced well-meaning family and friends, their surprised faces not unlike the bear family when they discovered Goldilocks asleep in Mama Bear’s bed. They may say something similar to: “You still haven’t finished that story? When will it be ready?” So after we’ve written and rewritten, polished and made our stories the very best they can be, we do need to release them and move on. There are more adventures just waiting to be written, and many happy hours of writing ahead.

Thank you for bearing with me for this post. 😉 Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to have a bowl of porridge—I mean oatmeal—as I happily contemplate ideas for future stories. 😊

Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established. Proverbs 16:3

Sadie's Dream

In a coastal Georgia town in 1900, a young woman prepares to serve as a missionary in Africa.

After being jilted the previous year, she's certain she's meant to remain single.

When she meets a handsome businessman from Savannah, she begins struggling with doubts.

Over time she learns that the Lord's plans are best, and dreams really can come true.

Patti Jo Moore is a retired kindergarten teacher and lifelong Georgia girl. She loves Jesus, her family, cats, and coffee, and is blessed to be published with Forget-Me-Not Romances. When she’s not spending time with her family (including her sweet grandbaby) or writing her “Sweet, Southern Stories” Patti Jo can be found feeding cats—her own six and local strays.

She loves connecting with readers and other writers, and can be found on Facebook at Author Patti Jo Moore or her personal blog at http://catmomscorner.blogspot.com