Valley of Dry Bones by Susan Tuttle

Image courtesy of Morguefile.com

He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “O Sovereign Lord, you alone know.” Ezekiel 37:3 

As a writer, this verse remains close by my side for two big reasons. The first is for all those moments when I stare at a screen and nothing comes. You know what I mean, right? No words jump forth, and the ones you do manage to squeak out feel drier than a mouth full of cotton. 

Dry spells. We all have them. It’s what we do with them that makes the difference. If you’re struggling to get the story that once seemed so alive in your head down onto paper, make sure you’re first digging into The Word. God is the creator of all things, including the tale he’s got for you to tell. He knows how to make it come alive, leaping off of the page and into the heart of your reader. But he can’t give it to you if you’re not communicating with him. I find when my writing time is the driest that my quiet moments with him are at their fewest. Don’t sacrifice your time with the ultimate Author so you can work at being one. When you place him first your writing grows stronger, your story more creative, and he multiplies your time. I don’t know how he does it, he simply does. 

The other reason that verse stays close by is for all those stories I’ve written that sit in a drawer while rejection letters pile up. See, there are moments where this dream of writing feels completely dead. Stripped bare of all meat and muscle, there’s simply no life left in it. Countless rejections can do that, right? Yet God has a purpose and a plan for each of us. And he is the giver of life. Our physical life, yes, but the life of our dreams too. It doesn’t matter what state your dream is in or how often the word “no” has been lobbed against it, if God can breathe life into a valley of bones, he most certainly can do the same with your writing career. 

So today if you’re struggling with another rejection or a blank screen in front of you, I challenge you to speak this verse out loud. Read the whole chapter. Remind yourself of all his promises and abilities. Because he can take your dry writing bones and bring them to life in an instant. Believe it.  

Susan Tuttle

Susan Tuttle is a homeschooling mom of three who is crazy about coffee, dark chocolate, and words—both reading and writing them. Combine that love of words with her passion for leading women to a life-changing encounter with Christ, and you’ll find her crafting Inspirational Contemporary Romance stories laced with humor, love, and healing transformations. When not cheering on her Ironman hubby, chasing the family dog, or tackling complex math problems to teach her kids (yes, even the third grader), you can catch Susan at her blog, Steps.

3 Tips For Battling Blogger’s Block by Susan Stilwell

Susan Stilwell

We’ve all been there, staring at a blank screen and wondering what on earth to blog about. We want create content that keeps our faithful readers interested, but also engages new readers. How can we push past those mental blocks and keep our writing fresh and relevant? 

Pay Attention To Headlines
Look at what’s happening in the world today. From serious world events to celebrity weddings to neighborhood news, topics are trending and people are talking. Find a topic that intrigues you, then do some research. You don’t have to be an expert; you just need to have an opinion that’s rooted in facts. Study and ponder, then offer your two-cents worth on a timely subject.

Write about Popular Culture
Do you have a favorite television program? Did you watch a recent (or classic) movie? Have you tried the latest Starbucks offering? Write about it! Share something insightful or funny or quirky about your experience. Popular culture connects us and gives us an opportunity to share a biblical truth our readers. One of my most popular posts was about a spiritual insight I gained while watching the television program, “The Voice.”

Don’t Be Afraid To Change It Up 
You may have a schedule that your readers expect, but it’s okay to deviate from time to time. Interview a fellow blogger or invite them to guest post. Play around with your favorite photo editor and try your hand at a creative image. Share a special memory or a particular struggle, being careful with sensitive details. Personal stories can be refreshing and offer a powerful connection to your readers.

Don’t forget to take a few extra minutes for SEO, especially if you’re writing about current events or popular culture. Those descriptive headings, tags and labels make your post more visible to search engines, which will help direct readers to your site. 

Dora here. What about you? Anybody else staring at a blank blogger screen?

How difficult is it for you to come up with fresh, engaging content?

About Susan Stilwell

Susan Stilwell is a freelance writer, motivational speaker and Bible study leader who loves discovering God at work the ordinary, day-to-day stuff of life. Passionate about God’s Word, she’s a prolific devotional writer and a popular guest blogger. She and her husband Steve enjoy their empty nest in the beautiful mountains of southwest Virginia. You can connect with Susan on Twitter at @susanrstilwell and on her website, www.susanstilwell.com

Celebrate with us!

We Just Celebrated Our 1,000th Post!

We celebrated our 1000th post here at Seriously Write last week. Your hostesses are always looking for guests and topic ideas and would appreciate if you took a moment out of your busy day to respond to a quick survey. Your responses will be compiled and will assist us in finding guest posters and topics to encourage and equip you on your writing journey. Here's the link to the survey. Feel free to pass it along to your friends. :-)