Dry Bones, Dry Writing, and Heavenly CPR

Ever had one of those days? Or months? Maybe even years?

You know what I mean? The kind of dry season in your life where beautiful blossoms of creativity and peace of mind seem to be few and far between. A drought of the soul or the heart or inspiration?

For the past month, my life has been one crazy change after another. Between a move, new job, my kids’ emotional reactions to the move, and the responsibilities involved in getting settled in a new state, writing has gone to the back burner….maybe even out the kitchen door.

The learning curve on this new job is incredibly steep and after work, then unpacking boxes, then encouraging my kids, my brain has NOTHING left for my fictional worlds. Nothing…not even DESIRE! That’s a first! I’ve always WANTED to write, but I find myself too pooped to even want to write.

Which then leads me to doubt and discouragement and….worry.

Worry is such a joy-killer, because it’s really just fear with a different name.

So….um…..what do we do if we’re afraid, discouraged, and working with a bunch of dead, dried out inspiration?

In Ezekiel, God is sending lots of encouragement (and miracles) to the prophet by reminding him of who HE is. The God of miracles and judgment and healing and….life. In Ezekiel chpt 37, God takes Ezekiel to a large valley filled with dry bones….in fact, the Bible says ‘very dry’ bones. So these weren’t newly dead guys – they’d been dead for a while.

God tells Ezekiel to prophecy over the bones and….the valley of very dry bones became a living breathing army. God sums up the reason for this miracle by saying this in verses 11 & 14, “Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’” & “I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land.”

What does this have to do with my writing dry spell? What can overcome my fear?

God’s power and love.

His power to revive our hope and his love to overcome our fear.

God made sure I got the message this weekend when I was visiting a consignment shop in search of a good find, preferably a painting or portrait to place over my writing desk. I’d searched for two weeks with only VERY expensive pieces peaking my interest…until Saturday. Now, I don’t know what kinds of paintings you like, and this one may not be your favorite choice, but it suits me PERFECTLY!!! The painting AND the verse – because it spoke directly to the dry part of my heart and reminded me of God’s presence, power, and love.

(It fit the room well too J)

See the verse? “And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” Isaiah 32:18

Peace and rest for our fearful hearts comes from knowing our Father’s love for us and trusting in his power to enable us to do what we cannot do on our own.  It not only gives us a ‘sure dwelling’ for our weary souls, but it empowers us to find inspiration in the simple, every day, and the extraordinary. We may not need a literal ‘valley of dry bones’, but if God can revive the bones in my own skin….I’m okay with that J

How about you? Have you ever had a ‘dry spell’? What do you do when you feel discouraged or worried?

 

The Creative Spark

How many romance novels have you read that went a little something like this?

Boy meets girl. Boy and girl make stupid decisions. Boy and girl live happily ever after.

Or maybe romantic suspense?

Boy meets girl. Someone dies. Boy and girl make stupid decisions. Boy and girl live happily ever after.

Or literary fiction, as I am all-too-acquainted with:

A lot of weird things happen. Then on a tragic note, the story ends.

Kidding! I'm sorry literary fiction writers--I couldn't resist! Let me just be clear that as a literature instructor, I have a deep appreciation for literary fiction!

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The question is, if so many of these stories are the same, how do you make yours stand out?

The answer, get creative! 

Think about your favorite characters and stories in books, movies, and even real life. Chances are, they stand out to you because they are unique and memorable. Strive for no less in your own stories.

So why don't we see more creative stories?

Because Creativity. Is. Hard. 

T.S. Eliot said, "Anxiety is the hand maiden of creativity." And here's another great quote from Pablo Picasso: "The chief enemy of creativity is 'good' sense."

Sometimes, in the humdrum of loading the dishwasher and vacuuming the dog hair from the kitchen floor, we forget something very important.

We forget why we love to write.

Creativity ought to influence everything from the scene settings in our stories, to the tags we use, to the characters' quirks. Don't settle for a character who smiles a lot when she might really want to curl her pink-chalked hair and toss her kitten-heels across the room in fury!

So how do we stir the creative spark in the midst of every day life?

• Find a way to break from the routine. Go to a coffee shop, people watch at the mall, or be a tourist in your own town by visiting a garden or a quaint restaurant. Even if it's only for fifteen minutes a day, break your routine and see what happens.
• Stop listening to your anxiety. Ever been writing and heard this hovering voice in your mind... "That's not good enough." "Readers will think that's stupid." "A publisher would say this character is too quirky." When you're writing--and especially when you're writing that first draft--silence your inner critic. She can come and edit once you're done. Anxiety will kill the creative spark. Snuff it right out. All you'll be left with is the remnant of a smoky idea.
• Act out your scene. Yes, I know this is weird. But it makes a difference! If you're wondering how gravel sounds underfoot, walk across it. If you're writing about a woman throwing fist-fulls of sand into the air, find a beach. You'll be surprised what you can come up with when you put yourself in the same physical surroundings as your characters. Even a scented candle or setting-themed screensaver can do the trick!
• Always list multiple options. Whether you're brainstorming a scene setting or a plot point, don't always go with the first thing that comes to mind. Readers will expect the obvious. Instead, push yourself to come up with alternatives. Make a list of possible plot points, settings, quips, quirks, etc. You may stumble across an interesting twist for your story!
• Recognize that creativity knows no bounds. You can always go back and edit something out of your story, so when you're writing, give yourself permission to think big!

Have you found that creativity makes a difference in making a memorable story? How do you stir your creative spark?

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Ashley Clark writes romantic comedy with southern grace. She's dreamed of being a writer ever since the thumbprint-cookie-days of library story hour. Ashley has an M.A. in English and enjoys teaching literature courses at her local university. She's an active member of ACFW and runs their newcomer's loop. When she's not writing, Ashley's usually busy rescuing stray animals and finding charming new towns. You can find Ashley on her personal blog, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. She is represented by Karen Solem.