by Reba J. Hoffman, Ph.D
No matter how many decades
you write, regardless of how many New York Times Best-Selling books you pen,
you will NEVER write an award winning first draft. It ain’t gonna happen. So
why would you ever judge your gift based on how well you fast draft?
Do you trust yourself
as an author? Or do you sometimes think you’re only kidding yourself when it
comes to being able to be an author? Share it here!
Reba J. Hoffman is the founder and president of Magellan Life Coaching (www.magellanlifecoaching.com). She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Counseling and is a natural encourager. She serves as Member Care Coach for My Book Therapy and is the author of Dare to Dream, A Writer’s Journal. You can connect with Reba through her motivational blog, Finding True North, or by email at reba@magellanlifecoaching.com. You can also follow her on Twitter at @MagellanCoach.
Yes, I’m talking to you. I
know that about now you feel you should chunk the computer in the electronics
recycle bin and pick up knitting. Your words won’t flow and you just know you
made a mistake deciding to be a writer.
You’re having a meltdown.
Really, it boils down to an issue of trust. Judging by your fast drafting,
mistake-making mumbo jumbo called prose, you don’t believe you can do it.
Simply put, you don’t trust the gift in you.
You’re in good company. Author
Terri Blackstock gave her husband strict orders to keep her
rough drafts from falling into anyone’s hands should anything happen to her.
Don’t let a rough draft
that’s well, rough, alter your faith in your God given ability to string words
together. What’s more, no one can tell that story but you. Oh, I could grossly
paraphrase it or someone else could report the story. But only Y.O.U. can write
it.
God gave you a gift. His Word promises a couple of
things:
- The gift—and the call—are irrevocable. He won’t snatch it back in the middle of your edits. (Romans 11:29)
- You gift will make room for you. (Proverbs 18:16)
So if that’s the case, don’t
you think it’s time for you to begin to trust the gift in you? Oh sure, it may
need developing. There’s not a writer out there who doesn’t need to hone our
craft, but the gift is in you. It’s there and it’s time you learn to trust it.
No matter how many decades
you write, regardless of how many New York Times Best-Selling books you pen,
you will NEVER write an award winning first draft. It ain’t gonna happen. So
why would you ever judge your gift based on how well you fast draft?
Get over your first draft.
What’s more, get a first draft. Write the thing, for crying out loud! Then, use
your gift to add and subtract words like an artist would with oils to a canvas.
Soon, you’ll create a literary masterpiece. That’s what gifted people do.
Believe in yourself!
Trust the gift in you!
Excellent post, Reba. It's a theme I have shared over and over in the writing groups I have led.
ReplyDeleteThank you Pam. More than any other time, people (particularly writers) need this message. Thank you for your willingness to share it!
DeleteHi Reba - Even as my second novel is about to be released, I'm struggling with a first draft of the third book. I say, "Yeah, take up knitting (or in my case crocheting), but use it to work out the kinks in your manuscript." Taking a mental break helps short circuit the worry cycle. Oh my, I feel a blog post coming on. :)
ReplyDeleteYou're right Susan! Those mental breaks are so empowering... as long as you don't make that your career instead of being a writer! hahahah... Great comment. Thanks for sharing.
DeleteI've always said it's a gift that comes with some assembly required. That assembly is the honing and editing. ;o)
ReplyDeleteWriting has "some assembly required" that's good!
Deletehaha... you got that right, Ane! thank you for sharing.
DeleteOne of my hangups is "will it sell"? "Is it worth all this time and effort?" I HAVE to write! There's a God-shaped thumb in my back that won't let me quit. But the doubts plague me constantly. And, you are right, Reba. I can't allow myself to judge the fast draft and assume that's my best. Thanks for the insight and encouragement.
ReplyDeleteKeep at it Marcia. The need to write and wondering whether or not what you write will publish are two entirely different things that we many times lump into the same basket. It's our job to string the words together. It's God's job to determine what to do with the words we write!
DeleteNeeded that verse today as I kickstart myself into plotting a 3rd book. :-)
ReplyDeleteWay to go PT! So proud of you. Can't wait to hear about his plot!
DeleteThanks for this encouraging post, Reba! As someone in the middle of my first draft of my first novel, it's so easy to start questioning myself and my abilities. What am I doing? Is anyone really going to want to read this? But, the bottom line is - I'll never know if I never try. So like you suggested, I'm just going to write the thing! Thanks again! :-)
ReplyDeleteWow, those words of wisdom you typed here are amazing: "I'll never know if I never try".
DeleteKeep at it, Tarissa. I heard someone say one time, "Don't get it right. Get it written." There's a lot of wisdom in that. Thanks for stopping by.
Oh, yeah. You were reading my mind
ReplyDeleteHaha, Pam. Great minds fret alike!
DeleteThanks for the different angle on the Proverbs verse. Usually when I read that, I think of some gift for a head of government, or a bribe. The Romans verse has been one of my favorites for a while, and is in my email 'signature.'
ReplyDeleteThank you for the reminder that God doesn't snatch gifts back. I hadn't considered that before. A very inspiring post!
ReplyDelete