The Very Best Thing About This Writing Gig

The writing life is hard, my friend.

There are highs and lows and in-betweens.

There are good things. Bad things. God-ordained things (blessings in disguise).

For a moment, let’s revisit the not so good things.

A writer’s world is a solitary one…and most often, silent (unless there are littles still at home). We lose ourselves in our story worlds, and yet, we miss that human contact that exists only in real life, real time.

We tend to overwork because the urge to write and succeed are strong.

We overdo because we’re also moms, dads, and keepers of many flames.

We overthink because we refuse to miss a story.

And we overeat because there’s far too much chocolate on this ever-loving planet.

Then, too, there are the uglies we dare not mention (but I will)—the sideswipes, downturns, and stomach-dropping curves along the publication path.

There are the I wanna pull the covers over my head ’til it all goes away kind of days.

There are those wonderful epiphanies. The Gee, I guess I should at least brush my teeth and—oh, yeah…write—since it’s three’ for-crying-outloud-o’clock in the afternoon moments.

Of course, let’s not forget our keep-us-on-our-toes favorites. Internet glitches. Manuscript mishaps. Fried computers. A health crisis or two. And, oh, what the heck—how about the broken fridge? And for extra good measure, let’s throw in the wedding ring down the garbage disposal fun.

Not enough?

Okay—let’s really go for broke.

That extra ten pounds—in one year. Who knew?

The awesome (second) pair of progressive trifocals. Because spending another six hundred dollars is SO UTTERLY DELIGHTFUL.

That printer jam, some cat puke, and the dead, dead, dead ($125) car key fob—all within the hour. Whew-wee! Now, we’re talking!

And let’s ice this poor me cake with some delectable writer icing.

Remember the manuscript? Ahh, yes. The one we just poured six months of our life into while we aged like Methuselah? *poof* That’s right. Gone. Lost in space…or somewhere beyond.

But…then.

God smiles.

And says…

Enough.

Trust.

And lo and behold—wonder of wonders—there’s our precious, priceless manuscript. Saved in a different document.

And we shed a few tears. Hallelujah!

How’d that happen?

Let’s look at our glass again. With new eyes and a fresh perspective.

See?

It’s still half full.

The good things about this writing gig.

Writers love writers.

We get each other.

We commiserate well.

We understand the weirdness—the nuances, the oddball humor, and the things that make us us.

Writing doesn’t define us. It gives us a reference point where to begin. It centers us, yet begs us to think beyond ourselves.

And there’s mystery in that because the process isn’t easy, but necessary.

We improve and grow.

We suck up disappointment and reframe our perspective. We harness emotion and apply it to paper.

Since all good things come from Christ, we acknowledge the gift and decide how to use it. Writing’s our here-and-now, but not our always. There’s the (magnificent) rub.

As we mature, we view life differently.

The scales fall off. (Yes—a Saul analogy.)

No longer are we writing because of some deeply felt intrinsic need. We’re writing with clarity we didn’t have before. We see the bigger picture—perhaps, not entirely yet—but that’s okay because as we craft a new story the picture grows sharper.

It may not be the picture we planned. Often, it’s something even better.

Writing through the ups and downs and ins and outs teaches us patience while creating expectancy.

Day-to-day crud’s still hard.

Life will never be perfect.

But in the crud and in our weakness, there is perfection through the One who advances our gift.

The very best thing about this writing gig.

No, we’ll never be perfect.

However, our words and stories are the perfect balm to someone who needs them today.

Eloquence isn’t always correct sentence structure and flowery language.

It’s the intent and well-timed thought.

It’s the hope we offer others.

Because we can.

 

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Original Image Credit: Tante Tati/Pixabay

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Much Love and Many Blessings,