Summer of Change

Like weather patterns, seasonal shifts are part of the writing life.

Some seasons are warm and colored with joy. Other seasons are rainy and unsettled.

Over our way, we’re in a season of quandaries and busyness. In fact, most of the summer has been filled with what-ifs and moving forward, despite some uncertainty.

It’s been a summer of change.

My daddy hasn’t rebounded as well as we’d hoped (from the fall he had in June), and because of his age, we’ve faced some tough choices about the future. If you have aging parents, you well understand the weight of this journey.

Add to that readying a child (our last baby bird) for college and ACFW conference prep, and I’ve met myself coming and going.

With the exception of holidays and a few days off here and there, for the past five years, I’ve blogged regularly. Lately, however, I’ve found it necessary to step away for a time as other priorities trumped blogging—the medium I love so much.

That delightful word—change—has forced me to restructure my days as I deal with must-dos.

And—I’m a writer and I’ve written. Just not as much on the blog.

For fiction writers, routine and commitment to craft are huge. Completing our WIPs take precedence over blog posts.

During times of change and upheaval, I think it’s important we seek encouragement and affirmation from sunlit sources—sources that bolster our courage and increase our faith. Sources like God’s word, our families, friends, critique partners, and fellow writers.

Things in the publishing world rarely stay the same. Trends come, trends go. Markets shrink, houses downsize, and mindsets surprise.

It’s invigorating when there are those unexpected triumphs that make us believe again. Those God-crafted moments that fill us with hope.

There will always be life events that chink away at our resolve, but smart writers continue to work.

We move forward, pursue new opportunities, and look beyond the now.

We listen to tips, advice, and viewpoints, but at the end of the day, we must boil down all the chatter to this one truth:

The next best thing could happen tomorrow.

Some change is good. Fantastic, even!

We might not fully appreciate the muck and mire we go through to arrive at our “next best thing,” but those experiences balance our perspective as the great stuff unfolds.

Goals reached and missions accomplished seem sweeter when we remember (and allow ourselves to feel) the journey it took to get there..

So—how do writers press forward when so many outside sources vie for our time? How do we remain focused on the bigger picture?

It’s a judgment call.

What works best for one may not work at all for another.

I think most writers would agree that busy seasons—those filled with upheaval and change—are the hardest ones to write in (without losing our minds and our dignity).

How, then, do we write during all the craziness of a jam-packed schedule?

Is it even possible?

I think it is as long as we’re realistic about it.

In other words, to enhance our writing success, we’re proactive without adopting pie-in-the-sky thinking. We do, without overdoing.

 

Here’s how:

 

• We set manageable goals. We don’t set ourselves up for defeat.

 

• We dispense with the “I have to do it all right now” mindset. No, we don’t. Some things will wait.

 

• We realize that one well-crafted paragraph is better than a blank page. Even a sentence is better than none.

 

• We carve out quiet time despite all the noise. We whip out a notepad, our phone, or something to take notes on if we’re not at our laptops.

 

• We multitask, but we also know when to turn off. Sometimes our best writing happens when we stand down from expectation. (Yes. I’ve blogged about that –> Don’t Compare Your Productive Season to Someone Else’s.)

 

• We leave social media in the dust. (For a time.) Those minutes spent on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. are best used on our books.

 

 

It may be a summer of change, but I plan to use it to my advantage.

You can, too!

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PLEASE PASS IT ON

Change. Good or bad, how do writers use it to their advantage?

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Wednesday writing encouragement. Brought to you by the word change.

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ENCOURAGEMENT

How to Thrive Despite the Odds

Waiting, Writing, and Why You Must Not Quit

 

 

Original Image Credit: tuku/Pixabay

How do you feel about change?

What works best for you when you’re facing a season of change and busyness?

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My August newsletter went out Monday! If you’ve not yet subscribed, don’t miss the next one. September’s newsletter will feature an ACFW conference update, as well as the usual encouraging content. 🙂

See you back soon!

Much Love and Many Blessings,