Writing While Waiting by Kathy Harris

Don’t ever pray for patience, because God just might give it to you. At least that’s how the old saying goes.

Who hasn’t been frustrated occasionally when things don’t happen as quickly as we had planned? I don’t know about you, but there are times when I even start doubting that they will happen.

Let’s take the elusive dream of publication, for example. I think writers are particularly vulnerable to impatience. The road to publication is a long one. Throw in a few stop signs, roundabouts, dangerous curves, and detours, and it’s easy to become discouraged.

Unfortunately, discouragement is the number one enemy of productivity, and if we’re going to be published, we have to write. So, how do we avoid the vicious cycle of discouragement vs. writing?

Deadlines.

Just as discouragement is the enemy of productivity, deadlines are the nemesis of doubt, discouragement, and impatience. Deadlines are an act of faith. When we set a deadline, we’re telling ourselves that we can. We’re committing ourselves to the task. We’re showing ourselves to be faithful that God will deliver. In His timing.

In April of this year, I wrote a blog post on deadlines for the ACFW Blog outlining why I think deadlines are one of the best ways we can move ourselves forward as writers. In fact, I believe that self-imposed deadlines can keep us ahead of the game, putting us in a place where we don’t have to scramble when opportunity knocks. And it will.

All in God’s timing. 

Just as discouragement is the enemy of productivity, deadlines are the nemesis of doubt, discouragement, and impatience. via @DevineDetour #SeriouslyWrite #amwriting

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Kathy is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Christian Authors Network, MCRW, and RWA. She is the former publicity chairman for her local writer’s group and a member of The Book Club Network Volunteer Board of Directors. Follow Kathy on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/KathyHarrisAuthor), Twitter (https://twitter.com/divinedetour), and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/kathyharris_author).

When You Feel Like Quitting by Heather Day Gilbert

Ask any author who's been at it for several years (well, except someone like J. K. Rowling or Stephen King), and they'll probably tell you they reached a point where they thought about throwing in the towel. Writing books is hard, and marketing them is unavoidable and time-consuming.

There are so many ways authors can become discouraged. 

Here are a few that might resonate with you today: 

• Seeing other authors placing and winning in contests where you were sure you had a shot
• Seeing other authors signing multiple-book contracts with big-name publishers while you're struggling to get one book picked up

• Experiencing a lackluster book release after tremendous time and effort went into it

• Putting in full-time hours on this writing job that barely pays like a part-time job (particularly true for indie authors, who handle everything about book production themselves, so there is far more time invested from the get-go)

• Getting a string of low reviews that might be completely off-base, but they feel like a barrage of hatred for all your hard work

• Not hearing back from agents, editors, early readers...whoever it is you've pinned your hopes on to encourage you as an author

• Dealing with a lack of moral support from significant others/family

I can't say I've experienced all these discouraging things, but I have experienced nearly all of them. And sometimes these discouragements turn into the perfect storm and you just want to Q.U.I.T.

I reached one of those points recently—and the timing is so dumb, because I'm poised on the brink of another book release, with three books contracted in the future. But discouragement is no respecter of book release plans.

So what's the remedy? I can't tell you how many times my husband, my critique partner, my parents, or my readers, have pep-talked me when I was in a pit of despair about my author career. If I hadn't had their support, I know I wouldn't have stayed the course this long.

And to look at the bright side, accolades and awards do come along, and sometimes readers send emails that make your entire month, and sometimes you get a string of GOOD reviews, and you feel, for one beaming moment of glory, like your work is appreciated.

But when discouragement knocks you flat, there's only one way to keep moving forward (and it only works if you know you're supposed to be writing): you have to DIG DEEP AND KEEP GOING. You begin to laugh at discouragement—verily, you even come to EXPECT it—and you sit down in that chair and you write ANYWAY.

Because we know what happens if we don't—our books will slide right off the readers' radar. Sure, we can market and advertise our previous releases, but readers always want NEW and shiny books, and if we're not producing them, mostly likely our income will continue to decrease. And quite possibly our happiness will decrease, too, if we find joy in creating stories for people to read, which I think most of us do.

Please note that I'm not saying we have to write 24-7 and market like maniacs. There are definite times and seasons in life when we have to step back and take extended breaks from writing and marketing. But if we don't come back and stay in the game, we are likely torpedoing our careers, no matter our previous successes.

For me personally, I've put in too many hours and worked too hard to throw my career over just yet. Maybe there will come a day when I do, but today isn't that day. If you've been feeling discouraged about writing, but you know it's what you want to do most of all, don't rely on others to keep lifting you up. Dig deep and find the motivation in yourself to keep producing new books for your readers. I know they will thank you!

And if this post felt a bit harsh, please know that this entire article was really written as one gigantic, personal pep talk to myself. As for me, I've determined I'm going to keep writing. 

How about you? Has there been a time when you've considered giving up your writing career?

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HEATHER DAY GILBERT, a Grace Award winner and bestselling author, writes novels that capture life in all its messy, bittersweet, hope-filled glory. Born and raised in the West Virginia mountains, generational story-telling runs in her blood. Heather writes Viking historicals and contemporary mystery/suspense. Publisher's Weekly gave Heather's Viking historical Forest Child a starred review, saying it is "an engaging story depicting timeless human struggles with faith, love, loyalty, and leadership." Find out more on heatherdaygilbert.com.

They That Wait by Wondering Heart

There comes a time in every writer's heart when they doubt their calling. Today's post is a little different than most you'll see on Tuesday's. It resulted from a discussion I had with another writer, who chooses to remain anonymous, after a post on our blog recounted someone's journey to publication. So, after a long discussion, I asked this person to share those thoughts with you. I know there have been many times I've felt this way. Perhaps, this post will speak to you, too. ~ Angie

Words that pierce my unpublished heart: "I just signed a contract. The publisher wants my novel. I won the contest. I never wanted to be a writer, but God wouldn’t let me go."

I’m happy for those authors, I am. I know how frustrating the writing life can be, and by God’s grace, they’ve reached their goal. But each time I hear those words, my hope flakes like paint on a beach house abandoned by the shore. After too many years, I can’t voice the questions anymore, but they’re there, hanging in the silence between me and my Savior.

Why, God, why? When I feel the call to write so keenly, why do the doors remain closed? When I’ve longed for that moment, prepared for it by studying the craft, writing and rewriting, submitting my work to critique groups as I should, why do others cross the line while I lag behind?

When I hear those words, I offer my congratulations. It’s the right thing to do, even if doubt drenches me like a summer rain. I understand it’s a long process, and I know if something is meant to happen, it will in His time. I’ve been told so often, the phrase has lost its encouraging edge.

However, the question is no longer when but if. Does God really  want me to write, or have I misinterpreted my own desires as His?

Like others discouraged by the process, I once decided writing wasn’t God’s will for my life. I sold writing books and threw conference recordings in the trash. Not long after, I was drawn back and promptly quartered. Critiques were returned bathed in red. Judges’ comments arrived with barbs that hurt worse than a cortisone shot to the spine. Once again, the questions rose. I developed a rebellious attitude and said, no more! And once again, I was conscripted, and I found myself an indentured servant to a career that drives me batty and to a God I love, but whose plan befuddles me.

To those of you experiencing this angst, I’m sure you’re expecting encouragement at this point. But we’ve heard it all, and our heads know it even if our hearts are confused. The truth is none of us knows if we’ll experience that moment of conception when we sign our name on that line, and then, at the end of the publishing gestational period, we’ll hold our baby in our hands. To avoid the heartache, we can quit the business, even if we can’t stop writing. We can say no, Lord. It’s too much. We can’t take the pain anymore.

But if we find the call irresistible, we need to move forward with the understanding that if God did call us to this life, He’ll use our work as He sees fit. So let’s settle in for the long haul. This may take many more years, my friend. Press on. Keep the faith and keep writing. God may use us in ways we never expected.

Have you ever felt like Wondering Heart? Have you ever quit writing? What, if anything, made you start again? Comment below and let's start talking. 

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Wondering Heart's journey is similar to that of others in the field. At a young age, she felt the call and throughout her childhood, she wrote short stories, cheesy poems, and a better version, of course, of her favorite movie. The opportunity to focus on writing on a full-time basis arose during her adult years, and since that time, she has written articles and short stories, won one contest, almost won another one, and calls the rest a learning experience. She is a member of ACFW and has volunteered on occasion for the organization, and Christian Writers Guild.