by Lisa Jordan, @lisajordan
How many of you are writing strong? How many of you have stopped—for a season…or maybe even for good? How many of you want to continue, but you’re discouraged?
So, what’s holding you back? Fear? Procrastination? Time?
E. L. Doctorow said, “Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.”
Sometimes even seeing beyond the dashboard can be a challenge. So I’m giving you 5 reasons why you need to keep writing.
- You have a dream. Cinderella sings a song—A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes. If you’re like the majority of writers I know, you have a dream. A dream to be a writer. A dream to be published. A dream to hit the Publisher’s Weekly or NY Times Bestseller list. A dream to see one of your books made into a movie or a TV series. Whatever that dream is, in order to fulfill it, you need to write. And if that’s a struggle right now, reach out to a trusted mentor or friend to give you encouragement and guidance.
- You were created for this. God instilled the desire to write within you. He gave you the ability to create characters, come up with plots and put them together in a story to share with others. He did not say you have to go it alone. He didn’t give you this dream to take it away. So, take the time to learn the craft, dedicate time in your schedule, and start writing. Bad writing is still writing…and it can be polished.
- You have a voice. Like your handwriting or fingerprints, your writer’s voice is unique. You can learn the craft alongside your peers, but only you can write the same story in your voice. As Sandra Bishop says, “Voice is your personality on the page.” It’s how your characters are defined, how they speak, how you describe your storyworld, how you plot—that’s all about your voice. Keep writing to allow your voice to be heard.
- No one else will do it for you. Unlike running the dishwasher, gassing up your car or folding your laundry, no one can write a book for you. Okay, yes, ghostwriters can, but those words aren’t yours. Your head is full of characters begging to be released onto the page. Give your head a rest and let your characters have their say.
- Personal satisfaction. Do it for yourself—if you stop writing, will it affect your family? Will your friends stop talking to you? Will time stand still? Most likely not. However, if you stop, how will you feel? Only you can answer that question. Believe in yourself and your abilities. You can do this.
You may be thinking—easy for you to say…you’ve achieved the publishing dream. Yep, it’s true. I’ve been published for 9 years, and I’m very thankful for those books. But as I reach one dream, I add another. I like challenging myself to do more.
Listen, I get it. I do—the frustration, the discouragement, the lack of time. Even as I type this blog post at 6:30 on a Saturday morning, I’m experiencing all three of those emotions. In fact, I’ve been awake for three hours tossing and turning because of a story not coming together. And I have to remind myself of those same five reasons to keep writing.
Author Phyllis Whitney said, “You must want it enough. Enough to take all the rejections, enough to pay the price of disappointment and discouragement while you are learning. Like any other artist, you must learn your craft—then you can add all the genius you like.”
So, what are you going to do? Stop? Or move forward and learn how to share your genius with the world? Get going…I know you can do it!
His dreams can all come true…but only if his ex-wife will agree!
Jake Holland’s peaceful dairy farm is a sanctuary—one he wants to share with other worn and weary veterans. He just needs one more piece of land to start his program…and it belongs to Tori Lerner, his ex-wife. A collaboration could benefit them both, but with a past full of secrets between them, is there any hope for renewed love?
Heart, home, and faith have always been important to Lisa Jordan, so writing stories with those elements come naturally. Represented by Rachelle Gardner of Books & Such Literary Management, Lisa is an award-winning author for Love Inspired, writing contemporary Christian romances that promise hope and happily ever after. Her latest book, Season of Hope, released in March 2019. She is the Operations Manager for Novel.Academy, powered by My Book Therapy. Happily married to her own real-life hero for thirty years, Lisa and her husband have two grown sons. When she isn’t writing, Lisa enjoys family time, kayaking, good books, and being creative. Visit her at lisajordanbooks.com.