For those who are discouraged, disenchanted, or derailed

Has your writing suffered during the coronavirus pandemic?

Mine has. Life seems surrounded by fog. I feel numb. My brain is distracted. I’m feeling stuck. The little I succeed in writing takes more effort than usual.

Your writing and mine can get disrupted for various reasons. It happens to all of us.

We get:

• discouraged
• weary
• confused
• stumped
• disenchanted
• derailed

If those words describe you, Mick Silva’s message can lift you up.

“. . .  Trying to live as a WORD-saturated writer is hard,” he says. “Working to reclaim, recall, and re-establish truth, love, justice, and mercy is incredibly draining.”

Then he cuts right to the chase: If we Christian writers want to complete and publish our books, we must overcome the lies we tell ourselves.

In The 6 Spiritual Lies Derailing Your Writing Process, Mick lists what we allow to hinder us:

• Who do you think you are?
• You can’t handle this/You’re not ready for this.
• You’re too _____ (Fill in the blank: uneducated . . . damaged . . . busy . . . ).
• You’re wasting your time.
• You’re all alone.
• You have nothing . . . . [or] It’s been done before.

Stand up to those lies. Replace your discouragement with Mick’s encouragement:

“ . . . Writing is a holy, sacred ground. You’ve been called to help your brothers and sisters in the faith.”

Remember:

“An unfinished manuscript cannot change lives.

Even a finished one cannot minister in a drawer

or filing cabinet.

Only in published form

can a book go where you and I will never go,

to people we will never meet.

Only in published form

can a book make a difference in eternity.”

(Lee Roddy, quoted in Marlene Bagnull’s Write His Answer)

Lloyd Ogilvie penned this prayer and I hope it will help you focus on your higher purpose and keep writing:

“What will people learn from me about how to deal with difficulties, how to have courage in problems, and how to express joy when circumstances are frustrating? What will others learn about Your peace and hope?” (Quiet Moments with God)

Don’t miss Mick Silva’s post,

The 6 Spiritual Lies Derailing Your Writing Process.

He challenges us to face our fears,

fight against the lies we tell ourselves,

and trust God more.