When Words Are Scarce by Emily Conrad

Writers write.

That’s the only qualification we have to meet to call ourselves writers: we must write.

It sounds easy, but writing is much more complicated than a two- or three-word sentence.

In order to write, we make space in our schedules and we take care of ourselves so we can have both the time and the energy. But, even when these variables are under control, we sometimes lack the spark of inspiration.

Even if we want to write, even if we sit down to write, words do not always appear on the page.

I would know. It’s November, and I’m still trying to wrap up a manuscript I started in February and hoped to finish before August. Entire weeks have gone by without my adding to the word total of the work in progress.

But after months of struggle, on October 27th, I wrote more than 4000 words. That’s more than double what I usually can write—on a good day. What’s more, this standout day is part of a larger streak, where I wrote 24,000 words in just over two weeks. That's an incredible run, considering the first 58,000 words took me about eight months.

So what happened?

God answered a prayer.

As a Christian writer, I’m concerned that my words would honor Him. When I pray about my writing, that tends to be the direction my petitions go.

Lord, whatever I write, may my words bring You glory.

I still want my words to bring God glory, but I've realized now pride laced that prayer. I had this underlying belief that I'd be able to write because of factors I could control. Difficult hours at (or avoiding) the keyboard proved me wrong.

I need God to provide words in the first place, and also for Him to shape those words in the way He desires to fulfill His purposes. So, about two weeks ago, I switched the focus of my prayer.

I prayed for God to give me words.

Ask, and you’ll receive. He's answered that prayer abundantly.

As I write this post, describing what happened, part of me feels like a disclaimer is necessary. This past year has brought some tough events, and it could be that I’ve made progress in healing. I’ve also been using some calming, inspiring routines, like burning a candle and listening to music.

And yet, as the words started to flow, I knew. I knew I’d just changed my prayers, and I knew that whatever tools God used to get me to this breakthrough, the resulting words are from Him.

Routines and moods and all the self-care in the world won’t result in words unless God provides them. God, the Master Creator, the Word become flesh, is the one who gives all good gifts, including any words we might be eager to give back to Him.

Writers write, but Christian writers never write alone.

As we pray for our writing, may we never neglect to acknowledge that we have nothing to dedicate to God that He doesn't give us first. May we humbly ask Him to provide inspiration and words and then ask that He would use those words when and how He sees fit.

Lord, creativity and inspiration come from You. I pray you would give me just the right words today for each project I approach, whether it's a novel, a blog post, or an interaction with a friend. Without You, I have nothing, so I pray you would provide all that I need to serve You. May all my words be pleasing to You and bring glory to Your name.

_____________________

Writers write. It sounds easy, but writing is much more complicated than a two-word sentence. @emilyrconrad on defeating #writersblock as a #Christianwriter #seriouslywrite

God, the Master Creator, the Word become flesh, is the one who gives all good gifts, including any words we might be eager to give back to Him. @emilyrconrad on #writersblock and #writing #christianfiction for #seriouslywrite

Writers write, but Christian #writers never write alone. @emilyrconrad on #writersblock for #seriouslywrite #writetip

Photo credits
Blank postcard photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
Typewriter photo by Florian Klauer on Unsplash
Blank book photo by Martha Dominguez de Gouveia on Unsplash



Graphics created on Canva.com

Emily Conrad writes Christian romance and a blog to encourage women of faith. Her debut novel, Justice, released from Pelican Book Group in 2018. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband and two rescue dogs. She loves Jesus and enjoys road trips to the mountains, crafting stories, and drinking coffee. (It’s no coincidence Justice is set mostly in a coffee shop!) She offers free short stories on her website and loves to connect with readers on social media.

www.emilyconradauthor.com
Facebook.com/emilyconradauthor
Instagram.com/emilyrconrad
Twitter.com/emilyrconrad

JUSTICE

The love of a lifetime, a quest for justice, and redemption that can only be found by faith.

Jake thought he was meant to marry Brooklyn, but now she's pregnant, and he had nothing to do with it.

Brooklyn can’t bring herself to name the father as she wrestles with questions about what her pregnancy means and how it will affect her relationship with Jake.

If Harold Keen, the man who owns the bookstore across from Jake's coffee shop, has anything to do with it, the baby will ruin them both.

Can Jake and Brooklyn overcome the obstacles thrown in their path, and finally find the truth in God's love and in each other?


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When Your Novel’s Going Nowhere by Gail Gaymer Martin

When my mom died, I was facing three book deadlines, so despite my grief, I plugged away and got the first book finished. A few weeks later, the book came back from my editor with a few revisions she’d marked with sticky-notes. I couldn’t believe what I’d done. Every scene involved eating: pizza, ham and cheese sandwiches, cookies, lemonade, coffee, ice cream, popcorn, and elegant dinners. Food is comfort, and I must have used the idea of food to comfort myself in my grief. I made the changes, and it ended up a successful novel. But I also learned a lesson, and I’ll share it with you here. Sometimes our amazing prose needs fresh eyes, time, and lots of perseverance.

Even under regular circumstances, authors sometimes look over the pages of their novel and realize something happened to their inspiration. The book seems to be going nowhere. It’s lost its punch and seems to be mundane. While some of it is great, you’ve found portions that are lackluster. Instead of giving up, take steps to rev the motor and add zip to the stalled novel.

Take A Break
If you’ve been working on the story for weeks, even months, your mind is saturated with the plot and the characters. Set the manuscript aside. Take a vacation. Work on a new project. The important action is to stop thinking about the story and characters. Allow your mind to move in other directions. Sometimes stepping away from a project and returning a later will give you a fresh perspective. In the lapse you can identify where the novel is weak. Do you need more action? More hooks? Deeper characterization? Is the dialogue dull? Use colored highlights or symbols in the margin to indicate where and what you need to add, change, or cut. Once through the manuscript, you will have a better idea what’s needed and how you can get the novel back in the race.

Try Fresh Eyes Besides Yours
Another new perspective is finding an avid reader who loves your genre Instead of a critique, ask your friend, acquaintance or family member to read the story and make notes in the margin where the story drags, when they don’t care about the characters, when they feel no concern or emotion, when they long for the good part. These notes from fresh eyes can be invaluable to provide ideas on how to make it sparkle.

Scrutinize The Story
Authors are inspired by a story idea. The plot forms around the purpose for writing the book—to show how trust is a must in any relationship, to show that happiness is internal and not external, or demonstrate the strength of a mother or father’s love. Novels come with a purpose, a message, a lesson, a truth. Review your novel by scenes and ask if the scene moves the story forward toward its purpose and the character’s goal.

Search for Weaknesses
Most authors know what techniques or elements of fiction are their weakest. If dialogue is a problem, dissect the conversations between characters and cut the go-nowhere verbiage. Unimportant dialogue doesn’t move the plot forward. If descriptions are a weakness, make sure scenes come to life in a vivid surrounding by meaningful description through character action or introspection. She set the teacup on the saucer, kicking herself for agreeing to meet Milly in a stupid teashop. You know where the scene is set and character’s attitude.

These are only a few of the techniques you can use to improve your novel, and remember though everyone loves food, you can’t build a plot around it. 

Multi-award-winning novelist, Gail Gaymer Martin is the author of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and women’s fiction with 52 contracted novels and over 3-1/2 million books in print. Her novels have received several national awards, including: the ACFW Carol Award and RT Reviewer’s Choice Award. CBS local news listed Gail as one of the four best writers in the Detroit area. Gail is the author of Writer Digest’s Writing the Christian Romance. She is a cofounder of American Christian Fiction Writers and serves on their Executive Board. Gail is a member of Advanced Speakers and Writers (ACFW) as well as Christian Authors Network (CAN) and is a keynote speaker at churches, civic and business organizations and is a workshop presenter at conferences across the U.S. Gail lives in Michigan with her husband.. Visit her at:

Website at www.gailgaymermartin.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gail.g.martin.3
Twitter: http://twitter.com/GailGMartin
GoodReads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/83354.Gail_Gaymer_Martin

The Firefighter's New Family
Love Inspired - January release in stores in mid-December

This is Book #2 in the Sisters Series (Book #1 Her Valentine Hero) 

A tornado may have left Ashley Kern injured beneath a fallen tree, but it’s her rescuer who plays havoc with her emotions. Firefighter Devon Murphy is everything the single mom could wish for in a husband: handsome, a doting father and ready to join his family to hers. But how can the pretty war widow make a life once more with a man whose career is full of danger? Devon has fought some pretty big battles in his life, but can he help Ashley conquer her fears and show her the safest place of all is in his arms?

How Do I Get Past the Writing Blahs? Part Two

Happy Wednesday, my writing friends,

Last week I offered three ways I battle those troublesome writing blahs. First, I tell myself, “It’s going to be okay.” Making a big deal out of something going wrong only leads to frustration and stress. Second, “Remember the Love.” Recalling why I write—because I love it!—snaps me out of a slump. And finally, “This One’s for You.” This pushes me to focus on my first and most important reader, the Lord (of course).

I promised to finish with three more tips. Here you go:

Something Fun
“You must complete everything you start,” my inner parent chides. And so I finish—reading a book, cleaning a toilet, eating a plate of Thai food, crafting and re-crafting an impossible scene … But when I’m in that depressed, “writing’s lame” mode, it helps to allow myself to shift focus for a while. I don’t have to finish that troubling scene right now. It can wait. I give myself permission to put aside the project that’s tormenting me and write something fun. It’s okay. I won’t get in trouble if I don’t finish this scene right now. Really. I promise.

Somebody Slap Me
Writing is a solitary thing. Even when crouched over my computer in a busy Starbucks, I’m still existing in my own world, alone with my stories. I like that about writing. But it can be detrimental too. It’s easy to lose perspective. Negative self talk scowls its nasty voice, saying I’m not good enough, my words deserve a big F—fail! And sometimes this sends me spiraling, wanting to give up. When this happens, I often attempt a self-help project. “I can get myself out of this one.” Problem is, this rarely works. What I really need when I’m wallowing in self pity is someone to tug me out, give me a kick in the rump, and tell me to set my fingers to typing. That’s why I have my critique group. What a relief to receive their words of empathy followed by a kick in the pants. “Thanks, I needed that.”

The Way He Sees It
Remember those quotes on Starbucks cups? I miss them. A friend of mine was in a slump and read this: “The humble improve,” by Wynton Marsalis. Snapped her right out of it. Early on in my writing career an editor encouraged me with this quote, “Never be afraid to write a [crummy] first draft.” How often has that propelled me onward? How about this one,

Keep at it! The one talent that's indispensable to a writer is persistence. You must write the book, else there is no book. It will not finish itself. Do not try to commit art. Just tell the story. Tom Clancy

See, it works. Can you think of more inspiring writing quotes? Share!

I hope you never succumb to the writing blahs, but if you do, give yourself a moment to whine, then come back more determined than ever to build the best story you can—and have fun!