So the rush from an amazing writers' conference in September didn't push me full steam ahead into the dedicated, querying go-getter that I thought I'd be as I drove the long trek back from Indiana to Iowa. Hm. Let me tell you, I have been one frustrated, self-doubting gal this past month and a half.
A few words that clang around in my mental writer's nook (which, by the way, has the fuzzy cloud of pregnancy inevitably expanding) are:
Blocked
Uninspired
Apathetic
Not Good Enough
Foolish
Waste-of-time
But my hope, desire, and competitiveness strive to push past this defeatist attitude. And with the help of my Writer's Alley buddies as well as my “angel” constantly reprimanding the little “devil” on my shoulder, I feel like I am emerging from this pool of doubt. I would like to share some tips if you ever find yourself in the same mind-set (I hope I am not the only one...? :) ).
- Take time! Something that dragged me down, was the full-speed ahead mode that life inevitably threw at this pregnant, stay-at-home, volunteering mama. I needed to sit and truck on with writing, even if I didn't want to. I forced myself to commit to editing, and to try and write SOMETHING. (Blogging, letter to God, grocery list...well, maybe that doesn't count)!
- Keep Reading! I realized that maybe the reason I felt so unsettled with the writing part, is because I had neglected the reading part of the whole author thing! How could I inspire if I wasn't allowing other authors to inspire me? It may be a season of taking in, not pouring out.
Reset Your Goals! UGH! This is so hard. But after being bombarded with the taunting of opened doors to publishing, at the conference...my goal was a giant leap to be published...soon! Can we say head in the clouds?? Just recently I discovered a more attainable goal for the moment- polishing for a specific contest deadline. Ah, much more achievable!
4. And most importantly...Put Christ first, it's not about you! If I am truly writing to inspire, then I
should treasure this calling in the hi's and lows, and not let "success" be my driving source.
Perhaps these are tips you have heard time and time again...but maybe it's because they work! :) I am glad to say, that I have soft, fuzzy words floating in my mental writer's nook now:
Grounded
Hopeful
Perseverance
Humility
Proactive
Confident
What do you do to pick yourself up and continue on the journey of writing?
