I hear you. “Rachel, what do you mean? Every book is hard to write.”

True.

But some books are harder than others.

I ran into a paralyzing premise book in “Dining with Joy” when I kept asking, “What IS that book about?”

What is “Dining with Joy.”

I ran into this same road block with “How To Catch A Prince.”

Just how does one catch a prince?

I’ve never had a book elude me so much. Never have doubts been higher.

But at the end of the day, books are not rewritten, they are rewritten.

What doesn’t work initially can be tweaked and fixed.

So, don’t get in too much of a wad — like I have — over a book that is hard to write.

My husband says when he doesn’t understand things or people he puts an “X” over it.

“Treasure buried here.”

I love that concept, don’t you?

There is truth and gold dust everywhere in our lives. Only we often dismiss people we don’t like, or issues we don’t understand, scriptures that puzzle us, as something we can’t figure out.

But we can.

Especially those paralyzing premise stories.

There’s treasure there!

Why? Because the treasure is in you.

And there’s some “thing” in you that God wants to mine from your heart and display it on the page.

As I’ve battled through to write this book, I kept hearing the Lord say, “It’s about Me.”

Of course, Lord, all my books are for You and about You.

But He was impressing on me to go deeper.

God said to Abraham in Genesis 15:1, “I am your exceeding great reward.”

Wait, you mean a publishing deal, or an award or even the best seller list is not my reward?

My reward is You? Even in at the end of the writing journey, my reward is not accolades but the kiss of Jesus on my heart.

My focus is on Him. Not me. Not readers. Not editors or agents. But Him.

Because He has a plan for my work, for your work, that’s designed to touch and impact the human heart.

Whether it’s your crit partner or a reader, your stories bring His fragrance to the reader.

They bring some element of truth.

So, when the story is hard, keep digging in. Keep writing. Keep praying.

For me, I leaned into the Lord. I asked for His wisdom.

I called my writing partners. “Help!”

I’m also learning to let go. I don’t have to be perfect. I don’t have to pick up and massage every possible story thread.

And shouldn’t telling stories be fun?

I think so.

If you’re stuck, take a break.

I know, taking a break is not always plausible. But instead of going for 2000 words, shoot for 1500 or 1000.

Take a walk.

Watch a movie or something inspiring. I go for funny when I’m feeling stressed.

Have a date night with your spouse or game night with the kids.

Call a family member. Or a friend.

Read. Sometimes reading really inspires new story ideas.

Ask the Lord for creativity and to enlarge your imagination and expand your time.

Early on, I was struggling with Sweet Caroline.

Oy, the story wasn’t working. Or so I thought.

So, I ask the Lord to help. My schedule was suddenly changed and I had 3 extra months.

Wow! I was so grateful.

This time, the schedule isn’t getting changed but I am meeting my daily goals.

The Lord is meeting me in a different way this time.

I have so much faith to believe He is in this hard to write book.

He is for me! What do I have to fear?

At the end, isn’t that it? Fear. We’re afraid to fail or to fall short or disappoint.

When a book is hard to write. Be honest. Admit it.

Talk to your editor or writing partner.

And keep writing.