Monday, February 22, 2021

Four Ps on a Writer’s Journey


By Pat Nichols @PatNichols16

In 2015, after spending a year writing my first manuscript, I attended my first Christian writer’s conference. Talk about an eye-opener. While the workshops were informative and the networking delightful, the most valuable experience was Eva Marie Everson’s critique of my first three chapters. Her professional feedback made it clear my work wasn’t ready for primetime. At the same time her compliments and encouragement affirmed my decision to say goodbye to retirement and hello to career number two as an author.

My motto became, it’s never too late to follow your dreams. When dreams collide with God’s purpose something magical happens. 

Four Ps on a Writer's Journey

Passion
Webster’s Dictionary describes passion as intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction. In Wake Up to the Word devotions, Joyce Meyers wrote: “if purpose is our journey and destination, then passion is the fuel that’s going to get us there.” For Christian authors, passion is inspired by the desire to fulfill God’s purpose and write from a Christian perspective. 

While fueled by passion, I learned the road to publication is often long, arduous, and riddled with detours and disappointments. A lesson confirmed after experiencing my first rejections. More humbling moments. Fortunately, the desire to write kept my feet firmly planted on the path and inspired me to connect with other authors, attend conferences, and take online writing courses. My latest endeavor? Reading James Scott Bell’s Writing Unforgettable Characters. I learned some new techniques I’ll apply to my next project. 

Devoting time to study is step one in the learning experience. What is step two? 

Practice
I always enjoy watching gymnastics and ice skating during the Summer and the Winter Olympics. No matter how accomplished, the athletes rely on coaches for ongoing training while they devote countless hours to practicing their sport. Thus, the old cliché—practice makes perfect—fits. Earning a perfect score in an Olympic competition doesn’t mean the athlete won’t seek to improve. Although perfection is rarely reached striving to achieve it is a worthy goal. 

For authors, that means writing. Every day. Whether a manuscript, devotion, blog, short story, or an article. When authors’ fingers race across keyboards or they scribe on paper, skills they’ve learned improve their writing. 

Of course, there are times when doubt creeps in or writer’s block strikes. That’s when the third P is critical.

Persistence
When God places dreams in our hearts, He gives us the means to pursue what we’ve begun, no matter how big the mountain ahead seems. Accepting obstacles and disappointments as growth opportunities helps writers overcome doubt and persist. For example, submitting work to competitions that include critique provides valuable insight and growth opportunities. Critique groups and beta readers are equally important. Like athletes, successful authors stay the course. Which brings me to the last P.

Patience
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

I admit after finishing that first manuscript, I expected immediate results. However, God in his infinite wisdom was preparing me for my journey. Preparation takes time. Think about those gymnasts and skaters who began training as young children. What seemed like instant success resulted from years of sacrifice and training. God didn’t open the door for my first publishing contract until I had spent three years practicing and preparing. 

My message to pre-published authors? Keep your passion ignited and stay the course. Success will come when the timing is right. 

TWEETABLE

Pat Nichols draws on her experience in seven different management positions working with hundreds of amazing women from all walks of life to create stories about women facing tension-laced challenges and heart-warming triumphs in the pursuit of their dreams. Her debut novel, The Secret of Willow Inn, Willow Falls series book one, is a 2020 Selah Award winner. Book three, Starstruck in Willow Falls, is a NGCWC Georgia Peach Award winner. Pat lives in an Atlanta suburb with her husband as they continue to celebrate fifty-plus year marriage. She is the mother of two and grandmother of four. One precious granddaughter lives with the angels. She is grateful for God’s blessings and unfailing love through all of life’s peaks and valleys.

15 comments:

  1. Good Advice, and an alliteration to help remember.

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  2. Pat, loved your post. It reminded me of the four "P's" I used in writing I did. I used Patience and Persistence as you suggest, but my other two were People's help and Prayers. Thanks for your post this morning. It really helps me.

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    1. Thank you, Diane. People's help and prayers are two more important P's.

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  3. As a first time writer, I appreciated the start of this message, it gives us newbies hope. Thank you your inspiration.

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    1. My pleasure, Lisa. I'm delighted you found the message inspirational. In many ways I still consider myself a newbie, as I'm continuing to learn.

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  4. Your four P's are great. Like Diane, I have two other P's to add. Instead of Persistence, I have perseverance along with patience, but I add Pray and Plan. All together they can get us where we want to be. Prayer is the most important for me. As for persistence and perseverance, they finally paid off for me when I was 73 and signed my first contract for a historical novel series. Never let that passion die. Keep it alive and well.

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    1. Prayer and Plan are both important, Martha. And yes, all combined they will get us where we want to be. You and I both signed our first contracts in our seventies. We're proving it's never too late to follow your dreams.

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  6. I needed that encouragement today!!
    Thank you!

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    1. We all need encouragement on our writing journeys. I'm delighted you found some in my post.

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  7. Thank you, Pat, for these wonderful reminders, I appreciate them!

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    1. My pleasure, Stacy. I have learned so much from other authors.

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  8. Thanks for your post. I started writing late in life as well and look forward to the day I become a published author. Until then, I'm enjoying the journey and have met some amazing writers along the way!

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  9. It's never too late to journey on a new path. Like you, I've met so many wonderful writers who are willing to share and encourage. Until you are published, you are a pre-published author. Wishing you much success.

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