Are you discouraged about your memoir’s progress?

 

Have you worked on your memoir in the past few days? Or weeks?

 

Now and then circumstances interrupt our progress—sickness, holidays, visitors.

 

Other times we struggle to find words that can explain an experience or feeling.

 

And sometimes writing a memoir wears us out. Writing can exhaust us, especially when it’s about emotional, painful stuff.

 

It’s easy to get discouraged. Even derailed.

 

If any of that sounds like you, I hope this will give you a little smile:

 

“There’s only one person 

who needs a glass of water 

oftener than a young child tucked in at night, 

and that’s a writer sitting down to write.” 

Mignon McLaughlin

 

Perhaps you know what she’s talking about!

 

If you’re stuck and wish to get back to work on your memoir, take in these glorious words:

 

“Think thoughts of words filling the pages,

dreams being birthed. . . .

Oh how amazing!”

Women of Passionate Purpose on Facebook

 

Now read those words again.

 

Then ask yourself:

 

Is this the year I’ll finalize my manuscript?

 

Is this the year I’ll pin down my memoir’s title?

 

Is this the year my book will get its cover design?

 

Is this the year I’ll publish my memoir?

 

Is this the year people—even strangers—will buy and read my memoir?

 

Is this the year my story will change lives?

 

Now, get off the internet and go write!

 

Writing is easy—or not!

 

“Writing is easy,” wrote Mark Twain. “All you have to do is cross out the wrong words.”

 

Ha! If only it could be that easy!

 

What has been your experience with writing?

 

Some people find writing stress-free at first, but later it becomes a struggle. It can be discouraging. And even mysterious.

 

Some even wonder whether it’s worth finishing.

 

Don’t let that happen to you!

 

Mick Silva at Higher Purpose Writers offers this perspective:

 

“Every writer who’s finished

has taken the axe into the woods

and carved out their path

where there seemed to be none before.

They broke through their blocked way

swinging word after word after word.”

 

So persevere—word after word after word! Your first draft won’t be ready to publish but you’ll definitely be one step closer.

 

Most people who have finished writing their stories and placed them in others’ hands had to work to:

• learn the writing craft,
• apply what they learned,
• join good writing groups,
• revise their manuscripts,
• edit them,
• and refuse to give up, often year after year.

 

Such authors did not likely succeed because they were gifted writers. Getting that story in print was not a breeze.

 

They were always trying. Always growing, always working.

 

You can do this.

 

Envision where you want your memoir to be six months from now, 

and then twelve months from now.

 

Focus. Commit. Persevere. Be steadfast, unwavering.

 

Remember:

 

One story can change a life.

 

Who needs to read yours?

 

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.

Tuesday Tidbit: Writing is easy—or not!

Writing is easy—or not!

Mick Silva at Higher Purpose Writers says it this way:

“Every writer who’s finished

has taken the axe into the woods

and carved out their path

where there seemed to be none before.

They broke through their blocked way

swinging word after word after word.”

So persevere—word after word after word!

Remember: One story can change a life. Who needs to read yours?

There you have it, your Tuesday Tidbit.

Tuesday Tidbit: Think of your words filling the pages

Have you worked on your memoir in the past few days?

Following up on our last post, Is this the year you’ll finish your memoir?, let me ask again: 

Is this the year you’ll finalize your manuscript?

Is this the year you’ll pin down your memoir’s title?

Is this the year your book will get its cover design?

Is this the year you’ll publish your memoir?

Is this the year people—even strangers—will buy and read your memoir?

Is this the year your story will change lives?

Here’s a quote to spur you on:

There you have it, your Tuesday Tidbit.

Now, get off the internet and go write!

Is this the year you’ll publish your memoir?

Whew! Are you like me? When Labor Day is behind us and the kids start school, I catch my breath and mentally turn and step into a different chunk of the year.

Summer has lots of distractions—fun distractions, usually—but when we flip the calendar page to September, thoughts shift to upcoming frost, shorter days, and indoor activities.

And that brings me to this indoor activity: How are you doing on your memoir?

Is this the year you’ll finalize your manuscript?

Is this the year you’ll pin down your memoir’s title?

Is this the year your book will get its cover design?

Is this the year you’ll publish your memoir?

Is this the year people—even strangers—will buy and read your memoir?

Is this the year your story will change lives?

If you’re like many of us, over the summer you took a break from writing to spend time with family and friends, and now you need motivation to continue authoring your story.

Are you struggling to find that motivation—that incentive, that enthusiasm? If so, you’re not alone.

Mick Silva at Higher Purpose Writers posted on Facebook a couple of years ago:  “ . . . Everyone says [persistence] is the most important part of writing. I’ve said it to all my clients: Most people don’t finish. Even if they finish a draft, they don’t follow through with the rewriting, or the rereading and editing. They just stop. . . .”

Refuse to let that happen to you!

Mick also offers this encouragement: “Consistent baby steps are important for when passion wanes.”

So you need to persist and recognize that baby steps result in progress.

And here’s a Nora Roberts quote to inspire you to keep working:

“. . . You have to be driven. You have to have the three D’s: drive, discipline, and desire. If you’re missing any one of those three, you can have all the talent in the world, but it’s going to be really hard to get anything done.”

Here’s my advice: Pat yourself on the back for how far you’ve already come.

Since the clock is ticking, be intentional: Keep penning your first draft. Don’t judge your writing at this point. Sure, you’ll have to fix it, but you’ll tackle that later. For now, just write!

Focus. Resolve to complete your book.

Persevere.

Pray.

Writing and publishing your memoir is not a hobby—it’s a ministry.

You can do this! You can!

Tuesday Tidbit: For those who are discouraged, disenchanted, or derailed

Discouraged

Weary

Confused

Stumped

Disenchanted

Stuck

Lost

Derailed

Do those words describe where you find yourself on your writing journey?

If so, Mick Silva’s recent post is for you!

“…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.”

And 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 the lies we allow to hinder us:

1. Who do you think you are?
2. You can’t handle this/You’re not ready for this.
3. You’re too _____ (Fill in the blank: uneducated…damaged…busy….)
4. You’re wasting your time.
5. You’re all alone.
6. 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)

Don’t miss Mick’s post! He challenges us to face our fears, fight against the lies we tell ourselves, and trust God more.

Tuesday Tidbit: An unfinished manuscript and a writer sitting down to write

Here's this week's Tuesday Tidbit,

your 15 seconds of inspiration:

But persevere!

Stick with it!

Keep writing!

Because...

"An unfinished manuscript

cannot change lives.

Even a finished one

cannot minister

in a drawer

or

filing cabinet."

Lee Roddy, quoted in Marlene Bagnull's Write His Answer

Tuesday Tidbit: Write now, fix later

“… [R]emember that whatever you have written 

is neither as good nor as bad as you think it is. 

Just keep going, 

and tell yourself that you will fix it later.” 

Jane Smiley

Pat yourself on the back for what you have already written.

But remember:

The clock is ticking.

Be intentional about writing your memoir.

Focus.

Resolve to finish writing your memoir.

Persevere.

And pray!

There you have it, your 15 seconds of inspiration,

your Tuesday Tidbit.

Tidbit: Facing “the desolate impossibility of writing”

Here's your Tuesday Tidbit,

your 15 seconds of inspiration:

Your stories are important.

Keep writing.

"...One page and then another."