Seriously…

I wonder if our authority ancestors would berate us for our whining and procrastinating.

For having writing tools and craft lessons at our fingertips, literally, and yet we don’t finish the book.

For having libraries down the street, YouTube a click away, writing partners a phone call/Facetime/Google Hangout away.

For being able to attend conferences a car or plane ride away.

For Twitter and Facebook for which to spread the good news of our stories.

Yet, we complain.

Okay, I complain, but bear with me. Help me shoulder my guilt.

Why don’t I have more sales? Bigger sales?

What? My books aren’t as good as everyone else’s in the whole wide world?

Oh look, that authors has a whole bunch of five star reviews and I only have, well, a whole bunch too but she has thirty more than I do.

Wha!! 

Distractions.

Of the heart, mind and soul that zap our strength.

We have more information and knowledge more blogs and videos than you can skip across the surface of calm waters, yet, we still don’t finish that book.

We still complain about sales.

We still aren’t content.

Hmmm…

There’s a line where we trust God with our lives, our stories, our business. Where only He can make “it” happen.

He alone is our source and resource.

BUT, there is a time to work.

To put your ore in the water and row.

Stop reading craft blogs.

Stop researching.

Stop plotting.

Stop planning.

Stop being tentative.

Stop comparing your story with others.

Do it!

There’s no way to publish a book if it’s not written.

If we over think, we can ruin the fun of it all.

Trust me, I know.

I feel constricted sometimes to come up with a great story I love, the publisher loves, the reader loves, the reviewer loves and the old love, the youth love, and contest readers love, and blah, blah, blah, and suddenly it’s no fun any more.

That’s on me.

I’ve taken the fun out of it trying to make it be something everyone else wants it to be.

Yet, am I doing what I’m called to do?

Yep.

Write! Worship as I write.

Be.

Do what He’s called me to do.

We have to write the book.

That’s always the first step.

There’s no conference, retreat, blog or group of craft partners out there that are more important than you getting with the Lord and writing the book!

Don’t get caught up in the externals. Deal with the internal journey of story telling.

It’s not always easy.

You have to write when you’re emotionally drained, tired, frustrated.

Get filled up.

And write the book.

Write that brilliant book!