A Prayer of Gratitude for Writers Facing Difficult Seasons

From Edie: Beth K. Vogt shares a prayer of gratitude for writers facing difficult seasons, offering encouragement to trust God's faithfulness through writing struggles.

A Prayer of Gratitude for Writers Facing Difficult Seasons

by Beth K. Vogt from @BethVogt

Over time, November has become the month of gratitude for me. Why limit being thankful to just one day of the month while we’re with family and friends, enjoying turkey and stuffing and whatever assortment of side dishes cover the table? 

At times, the ongoing circumstances of this past year have challenged my goal to be grateful. I’m not the only writer who faced disappointments and heartaches, both personal and professional ones. To be honest, last Thanksgiving wasn’t one of my happiest for various reasons I won’t go into on this blog. Just because a day is deemed a “holiday” doesn’t mean it’s exempt from hardship or sadness or disappointment. 

3 Ways to Overcome the Mental Obstacles That Keep Writers Stuck

From Edie: Lilka Raphael shares 3 practical ways to overcome the mental obstacles that keep writers stuck, move past self-doubt, and regain writing momentum.

3 Ways to Overcome the Mental Obstacles That Keep Writers Stuck

by Lilka Raphael @Lilka_Raphael

The struggle ends when gratitude begins -Neal Donald Walsch 

Writer’s block. Deadlines. Revisions. 

Most writers experience struggles that can derail our publishing endeavors. Not surprisingly, hiccups often appear at the most inconvenient times. Fickle hard drives, deleted chapters, and even my own handwriting have stumped me as I struggled to stay on schedule. 

When Your Writing Creativity Runs Dry, Try This Recipe

From Edie: Julie Lavender shares a creative recipe for renewing writing inspiration, finding fresh ideas, and replenishing your creativity when your writer's brain runs dry.

When Your Writing Creativity Runs Dry, Try This Recipe

by Julie Lavender @JLavenderWrites

We’d just returned from an extended trip to two of our adult children’s homes. I opened the refrigerator in the garage to grab a bottle of water and noticed every shelf was bare. No leftovers whatsoever. 

That’s a rarity. I enjoy cooking and typically double recipes to give my husband and me extras for another meal. I can’t remember a time when not even one single shelf didn’t hold some sort of storage container with a red or blue snap-on lid and something yummy inside to reheat on an especially-busy day.

Empty. Every shelf, every compartment.

Much like my creative brain at the moment. Time with adult kids and grandkids in one GPS direction and errands and needs for my elderly mom in another GPS direction left my creative muse dry and depleted.

The Review Is Not the Verdict: Why Book Reviews Don't Define Your Worth

From Edie: Heidi Gray McGill shares why book reviews don't define your worth as a writer and how to build reader relationships, gain reviews, and stay faithful to God's calling.

The Review Is Not the Verdict: Why Book Reviews Don't Define Your Worth

by Heidi Gray McGill @HeidiGrayMcGill

What I Learned About Numbers, Worth, and Showing Up Anyway

I joined the one-star review club a few years back. Feel free to clap.

I say that with a smile now, but the first time a reader put it in public that my work was not worth their time, I felt it. Not for long, but I felt it. What I have learned since then is that the review was never a verdict on my worth as a writer or my calling as an author. It was one data point in a much larger numbers game, and understanding that distinction changed how I read those numbers.

How to Work with Your Book Editor: 5 Tips for Authors

From Edie: Cindy K. Sproles shares 5 practical tips for working with your book editor, improving communication, managing deadlines, and navigating the editing process.

How to Work with Your Book Editor: 5 Tips for Authors

by Cindy K. Sproles @CindyDevoted

It finally happened—a contract. You’ve signed and returned it, and now the work begins. The montage of editors begins to pour in and suddenly you feel…a bit overwhelmed. Editors and deadlines, and timelines. Oh My. Dorothy could have a whole new set of lyrics to her song.

Don't Go It Alone: The Power of Accountability for Writers

From Edie: Larry J. Leech shares how accountability partners help writers stay connected, motivated, and encouraged through life's challenges and the writing journey.

Don't Go It Alone: The Power of Accountability for Writers

by Larry J. Leech, II @LarryJLeechII

Life likes to throw me more curveballs than anything else. At my age, I thought changeups and 75-mph fastballs would be what I faced the most.

Nope.

In recent years I feel like I’ve seen curveball after curveball after curveball. 

And I course, I swing and miss. Grumble. And wait for the next curveball. Miss again. Over and over and over. To the point, I want to throw down my bat, go home, and crawl into bed until life here on earth is done.

When Life Interrupts Your Writing: Finding the Courage to Continue

From Edie: Martin Wiles shares how Christian writers can find the strength and courage to keep writing through life's interruptions, difficult seasons, and unexpected challenges.

When Life Interrupts Your Writing: Finding the Courage to Continue

by Martin Wiles @LinesFromGod

Life’s twists and turns came, and I wrote through them.

My writing began in earnest forty years ago when I began supply preaching. Like dear ole’ dad, a lifelong preacher, I wrote my sermons out in longhand.