Safeguarding your JOY

 

Some of you have may heard that I’ve been celebrating a personal victory this past week. After four years of writing and pursuing publication I’m getting my moment in the sun. I’ve signed a publishing agreement with WildBlue Press and will be releasing my first of three books this fall! A romantic mystery about grace and second chances called Beauty for Ashes.

After a long road of building friendships, refining my craft, dodging countless rejections, and growing in my passion for story here is it! The CALL. I should be on top of the world, right?

Well, of course I was/am thrilled to be realizing my dream but how many of you know that the world doesn’t exactly freeze in that moment. And that glow you are basking in can dim pretty quickly when say, the sewer drain backs up in your basement, the air conditioner peters out on the hottest day of the year, and the service light illuminates from your dashboard all in the same day… the day after you announced that long awaited triumph. Pfft! The NERVE! Those everyday disasters have absolutely no respect for your big moment! And it sure doesn’t take long for the crap (sometimes literally) to start piling up and little by little, robbing you of your joy.

But the thing I’ve come to realize as a mother constantly navigating the minefield of life is this…

JOY is NOT CIRCUMSTANTIAL.

Do you remember that little jingle we all sang in Sunday School? “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart! I’ve got the…”

We might not have realized it then but that song was preparing us for the truth about joy. Where it’s found. And where it isn’t. Joy isn’t found on our sleeves. Not in that gorgeous new outfit that makes you feel like a million bucks. It’s not found skin deep either. It can’t be nicked away by everyday wear and tear. Bills and stress and the daily grind. (Though that can certainly make us weary.) It’s not even bone deep, only broken under the right angle and pressure. The pain that lances here often lingering and debilitating.

It’s deeper, protected by muscle and tissue, skin and bone, the cage of your ribs like a vault safeguarding your heart. And even there, at the source, it’s nested deep down.

Right there where your Savior resides.

Am I excited that God is going to use my words and give them a stage? Absolutely! Is my joy contingent upon it? Is it contingent upon my success? Not a chance. Because lasting joy is only found in communion with the Giver of your dreams. Not because of what he can do for you, but because of who he is.

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

Everything else, friends, is just frosting. Now, since I have a notorious sweet tooth, sit down and have some cake with me. Tell me, what are you celebrating in your life?

 

Happy Friday!

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

 

Amy Leigh Simpson is the completely exhausted stay-at-home mama to the two wild-child, tow-headed toddler boys, one pretty little princess baby, and the incredibly blessed wife of her hunky hubby.

She writes Romantic Suspense chalked full of grace that is equally inspiring, nail-biting, and hilarious. And a little saucy! Okay fine, a lot saucy. :) She is an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers, and now uses her Sports Medicine degree to patch up daily boo-boos. Her greatest ambitions are to create stories that inspire hope, raise up her children to be mighty warriors for Christ, invent an all-dessert diet that works, and make up for years of sleep deprivation. 

She is represented by Chip MacGregor of MacGregor Literary, Inc.

 

Throwing in the Towel...Again

This is a repost of one of my favorite posts by Krista. She was busy this week preparing for her little Annabelle's heart cath yesterday and so I found a post that many of us can use or relate to. Enjoy...

This publication thing is hard. The faint at heart need not apply.

So, you've decided you're in it for the long haul. You write a few books. You send out a few queries. You attend a few conferences.

Nuthin'.

So you get a critique group, you read a few writing books, you edit a few of those books you wrote, then start the process over again.

Nuthin'.

Nothing except rejection that is.

So when is enough enough? When do you throw in the towel, raise the white flag, slink back to your only-in-my-dreams world?

Some say never. And this might totally be valid. I've heard MANY an author encouraged to "keep going, keep persevering" because publication might be one step around the corner. The stories about pursuing publication for twenty years before it actually happened come to mind.

And that might totally happen to any one of us!!! (well, let's all hope it doesn't REALLY take 20 years!)

But... it also might not.

I don't have the answers to this for you. But I do have a few suggestions.

• Don't give up. If you're going to do anything, give in. Giving up says "I can't do it." Giving in says, "I can do it, I just want to do something else for a while first." One is quitting... the other is changing your mind. Quitting is for those who are weak, changing your mind or changing direction is for those who are wise.
• Don't listen to everyone else. "Keep going" might totally be right on track, but if God is whispering for you to move another direction for a while, keep going is being disobedient.
• Pray. Ask for clear guidance. Be in prayer, talk to your family, and make sure you are on the path God wants for you.
• Don't be overly sensitive. A rejection letter isn't necessarily a "no" from God about publication in general. Neither is a harsh critique of your work. Many times it just means, "Not yet" or "Not this agent" or "Not this editor" or "You have some more work to do."  It might be backbone building. But don't see every bad writing news as a lightning bolt from Heaven that you're doing wrong. You'll be shocked most every time:-) 
• Take a break. I can't remember where I heard this first, but I've heard it many times. When all else fails, walk away for a little while. Take a week, a month, a year sabbatical. Then reassess. If that pit desire in your stomach is still there, then go back. If it has fizzled, then you have your answer as well.

Most of all.... HAVE FUN WHILE YOU WRITE!!! This reminds me of playing basketball in the 5th grade. I was HORRIBLE at it. But I had so much fun doing it! And I tried my VERY best. Never got on the "A" team... but I sure had fun trying. If you're going to be writing for 20 years... it would stink to be miserable the whole time!!!

Having fun makes the journey, no matter the end, much more enjoyable!

Because there are sometimes... when you are scratching your head and about to take the throwing towel plunge, something amazing happens. Last week (revised... last YEAR now!) that happened to me when I finally landed my dream agent, Rachelle Gardner. I'd had a year of struggling with my writing while I went through a personal tragedy with my daughter, and when I was really trying to reassess just how much effort I needed to be spending on my writing, confirmation came that the towel needed to stay firmly within my grasp. 

Discussion: Have you thought about taking the throwing towel plunge? Since you are reading this... odds are you haven't yet, or decided to keep going. What kept you going? Have you ever taken a "break"?


*************************************************

Krista is a follower of Jesus, a wife, a mother, and a contemporary romance author. She recognizes that life can be frustrating and just plain not fun sometimes, but believes that laughter and smiles can make the not-so-fun a little better! She blogs about the amazing things God has been doing and her journey as a busy momma of 4 and caregiver to a daughter with a rare congenital heart defect at http://reflectionsbykrista.blogspot.com. She is represented by the fab agent, Rachelle Gardner, and her debut novel, Sandwich, With a Side of Romance, releases September 1, 2012.

The Bus Route of a Writer

Transportation is a funny thing. Some of us like to drive a car and be in control. Some prefer to fly, reaching their destination at record speed. Some might prefer a train or maybe a bike to get us where we are going. What mode of transportation do you think we writers tend to take on the journey to publication? The bus. For those of you who have never ridden a bus, there is much to be learned in the busing experience.

You must have endurance to ride the Writer's Bus. You see, certain aspects of a bus ride are not pleasant. On a longer journey, a bus will have a toilet, and sometimes that toilet just plain stinks. Sometimes your seat neighbors are noisy, preventing you from sleeping. Sometimes they want to talk to you, keeping you from that book you have been dying to finish. For the writer, you have to endure the hard things on the journey to publication. There's rejection, poor contest results, a harsh critique, and the ever present fear that you aren't good enough. You have to learn to tune out the bad and keep your eyes on the road. The goal is straight ahead.

You must have humility to ride the Writer's Bus. We've all been there. You are riding along and the bus stops, letting people off and picking up others. Your ride seems to be taking forever as you keep stopping, letting off more and more people. On the Writer's Bus, you may have a long journey ahead of you. You will have to learn to have patience and a big dose of humility to watch those on the same journey get off earlier than you. You will be tempted to compare and get depressed that you haven't received "the call" to get off, but you need to know that everyone's journey is different. Some might be going across town, and then some might be crossing state lines, taking alot longer than expected. Keep your chin up. Your stop is coming!

You will experience joy on the Writer's Bus. There is such a variety of people who ride the bus, with a variety of experiences. You will meet people who will become life-long friends. You will meet those who will encourage you, critique you, and motivate you to keep spinning tales, even through the difficult times. This will be one of the greatest blessings on the ride...friendships that will help you along the way.

While there are certain aspects of the Writer's Bus that are difficult, the journey to publication is an exciting one. New people to meet, new stories to write, and new obstacles to overcome. It's a difficult trek, but one that will build character, discipline, and grit. It will be a journey that will bring you closer to the One who called you to board the bus. You will learn without a shadow of a doubt that He is the Bus Driver, opening the door for you to get on and opening the door to let you off at your destination.

Trust the Driver. The length of your journey rests in His hands.

What has been your experience on the Writer's Bus? Can you think of any other way the writing journey is like a bus ride? 



*****************************************************************************

This post is brought to you by
 Sherrinda Ketchersid

Sherrinda is wife to "Pastor John" and mother to three giant sons and one gorgeous daughter. A born and bred Texan, she writes historical romance filled with fun, faith, and forever love.

Bring Back the Joy: Writing in the Broken Places





Then I went down to the potter's house, and behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.

And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so He made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. -Jeremiah 18:3-4

As writers God has given us a wonderful tool to minister out of our own neediness and brokenness.  The gift of vulnerability in our writing can bless others as we humble ourselves.  And in turn, ministering to others and using our gift can help to bring back the joy we are losing.

Have you given yourself permission to write in the broken places?  Oh, you know the ones I mean.  Those trials that you have been through that still may bring a sharp stab.  You are called out to write what only you know so others can travel deeply into your broken places and find healing.  More than that we are called to write from our broken places because He chose to be broken, He chose to be nailed to the Cross in our place. 

As you write through these places it may seem like the darkness is returning, but as God speaks your dark places to someone who is now hurting the bright torrent of light shines back through the storm creating a beautiful rainbow of designs. 

Are you willing to write less than your best?  Sometimes this is very hard for me.  And as a new writer I know even my best is far beneath many others.  But sometimes its only as I allow the words to be as they are in my strength in the page I will learn how much I need the Lord's strength in my words. 

My words are not my words.  Let us never come to believe in the power of our gift, for only when we are poured out for the Giver of Life can he use us. 

Let God use you "write" where you are and bring back your own joy by allowing His words to flow from your pen blessing someone else. 

It may mean sharing your manuscript with someone unexpected, maybe someone you don't know well.  Or could it be writing a note of encouragement to someone else.  Just write from the broken places and if you are not ready to share ask God to make you ready.

Discussion: Has God ever used someone's writing to minister to your broken places?  Or if you feel comfortable sharing is there a way that he may want you to minister in your own broken places?