Writing Through the Hard. A Guest Post with Jill Lynn

Casey here. I have a special treat for you today, readers. Today I am hosting a great friend and special guest, Jill Lynn (also writing as Jill Lynn Buteyn). Want to be let in on a little secret? Jill is my boss's wife. That's right. My day job includes working for Jill and her husband, Terry at their family-owned company here in Colorado Springs. So not only do I get to enjoy the writing journey with Jill and call her friend, but also enjoy working for them as well! I keep telling her this just means she'll get sick of me quicker. ;-) Nevertheless, I'm excited to share Jill's encouraging post with you today and be sure to check out her new book that JUST released! 

Don't wait

Writer's block. Is it really a thing? I don't know. I only know writing is hard. We're artists. Creative. Yet we need to take criticism. Online reviews. Edits. Somewhere along the way, the romantic side of writing gets lost. It can feel like climbing a mountain without equipment. In a snow storm. With two kids on your back. (So I'm a little dramatic.) But some days I don't feel like I can do it again.

This was a hard year for me. I wrote Just Show Up with Kara Tippetts, then Kara flew away to Heaven, and I went on to do the interviews about the book while missing Kara immensely.

After everything calmed down, I knew it was time to write again. But I already felt way behind. People kept telling me to have grace for myself. And I tried. I'm still trying. Writing would not come easily to me when I did pick up my laptop. I fought for the words, the plot, their personalities. And then I re-wrote and re-wrote. Still, it didn't get easier. I wondered, shouldn't this be easier? Why is this so hard? And then I realized it's never been easy. I've always re-written. I've always struggled through plots and personalities until I got it right. Or hopefully right. Just like when you're a Christian and your relationship with God doesn't depend on how you feel, writing is the same.

Writing is a choice. It won't ever be easy. And if it is easy for you, we can't be friends. I'm joking. (Sort of.)Writing takes lots of prayer, divine intervention, and so, so much patience.

Many days I want to quit. Sometimes—lots of the time—it doesn't feel like it’s going well. Or anywhere near inspired. But then I'll have a moment that reminds me why I do the hard work. Why I write when it's not easy. Why I keep going when it feels overwhelming.

So I don't wait for it to get easy. I do pray (beg) for help, guidance and words. And I keep writing, hoping and praying it will all come together. 

Jill Lynn Buteyn is a co-author of Just Show Up with Kara Tippetts, and an author of inspirational Her Texas Family, is in stores April 19th. Jill lives near the beautiful Rocky Mountains with her husband and two children. She’s a fan of laughter, thrift stores, boots and chocolate. Connect with her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JillLynnAuthor, Twitter: https://twitter.com/JillLynnAuthor, Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jilllynnauthor/, Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/JillLynnAuthor/, and at Jill-Lynn.com.
romance (as Jill Lynn).