Embracing the Rhythm of the Writing Life When Change Hits

image copyright Edie Melson, Photography

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Sunsets in the Blue Ridge Mountains are breathtaking.

Sunset and sunrise are always special times for me. There’s a rhythm and a special calm that comes with endings and beginnings. This expected rhythm of life helps me re-center my life to a place of calm. When circumstances are out of control, the fact there is still a normal ebb and flow helps me remember God is always in charge.

Sunset also reminds me there is beauty in change—if we take time to appreciate it. Sometimes we find a poignant clarity that everything has a time and place. These provide a time of reflection—and for me—a time to store up memories and insights from the day. But there’s also a promise in the sunset—a certainty that a new day is coming. This is critical to remember when life changes.

So, what does this have to do with the writing life?

Just like sunrises and sunsets, nothing in the writing world stays the same. People move, companies close or change their focus, trends come and go. Beyond that, I don’t stay the same. My likes, wants, and goals shift. Tragedies and triumphs happen. Each of those experiences changes who I am and how I write. 

But full disclosure, I’m not a fan of change, even when it brings good things. Because of that, I try to remember certain things when the clouds of change appear on the horizon of life. 

Recently I experienced a change in my own publishing life, the publisher of my last seven books closed. Believe me, that wasn’t a change I was happy about. I wasn’t angry or hurt at the publisher—they were making the best decision for them. But that change threw life into brief chaos. However, even though I didn’t see it at the beginning of the process, that change was God’s best for me too. 

When My Writing World Shifts, I Remember These 7 Things

1. God never changes. Hebrews 13:8 reminds us of that. This is the truth I cling to when changes happen. When my publishing world shifts, I go back to the fact that God gifted and called me to write. I retrace my steps and find the foundation of the last thing I know God told me and I follow that direction until He tells me what comes next. 

2. However, God does often do new things. Isaiah 43:19 helps us remember that while God never changes, He’s always at work in and around us to do something new-to-us. When God does something new in my life, I try to remember to react with joyful anticipation. God never ambushes us in a bad way. All His work is to bless and make us more like Jesus. 

3. Change is hard. Yeah, I don’t have any specific verse for this. Although I do try to remember Jeremiah 29:11 and the fact that God is for me, not against me. I also allow myself to feel the frustration and difficulty of change—but not take up permanent residence there!

4. Change isn’t always bad. Every fiber of my heart know this is true, and yet—to me—change always feels bad. My default reaction to change is a groan and a complaint. I have to make a deliberate effort to remind myself not all change is bad. 

5. Change is part of life. Nothing—except God—stays the same. I don't like change, but I know it's coming. And change can often be beautiful—just look at the changing leaves that thrill us every autumn. 

6. I do have a choice when change happens. I don’t always have a choice about the thing that is changing, but I do have a choice in how I react. I can choose to trust God and believe He’s going to bring something good out of the change or I can sit in the mud and whine. 

7. Change doesn’t have to mean a loss of peace. God’s peace is never dependent on our circumstances. Let me say that again. GOD’S PEACE IS NEVER DEPENDENT ON OUR CIRCUMSTANCES. Yep, God provides peace when the world would believe there couldn’t be peace. That is true in the big stuff, and in the publishing stuff. And that leads us full circle. Having peace in publishing chaos is remembering that God never changes. 

I’m still learning to search for the rhythm of life. When I catch sight of it, I often see a hint of the bigger purpose behind the obvious. God is always at work, and time spent in His creation, reminds us of His love, His constant care, and the calm He provides for each of us.

Now it’s your turn. What truths do you remember when writing change happens? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments section below. 

Don’t forget to join the conversation!

Blessings, 

Edie

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Edie Melson is a woman of faith with ink-stained fingers observing life through her camera lens. She’s a writer who feels lost without that device & an unexpected speaker who loves to encourage an audience. She also embraces the ultimate contradiction of being an organized creative. She knows the necessity of Soul Care and leads retreats, conferences & workshops around the world on staying connected to God. Her numerous books, including the award-winning Soul Cares eries & reflect her passion to help others develop the strength of their God-given gifts. Her blog, The Write Conversation is recognized as one of the top 101 industry resources. 

She and husband Kirk have been married 40+ years and raised three sons. They live in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and can often be found hiking—with Edie clinging to the edge of a precipice for the perfect camera angle and Kirk patiently carrying her camera bag and tripod. Connect with her on her website, WWW.EDIEMELSON.COM and through social media.