by Angela Ruth Strong, @AngelaRStrong
Today I drank too much coffee to be able to sit still and write. My body needed to move, so I took my dog for a run. I’m back now, but my mind is still in checklist mode, and I’d rather get things done than get lost in story. Which is why I’m blogging instead of adding to the wordcount of my next novel.
This got me thinking about creative energy. I can’t simply mix pre-workout powder into my water bottle to move a story along. What must be considered in order to keep my muse from escaping?
- Time of Day I know mornings work for me. I’m fresh, and I can dive into my imagination before real life distracts me. I’m pretty sure I write best in my bathrobe. It’s magical that way. Though I understand such a structure (or lack of structure?) won’t work for everyone. Maybe you are a night owl. Or maybe you only get time to yourself when your baby naps. Simply schedule your writing times when you’ll be most inclined to write.
- Weather This one is a double-edged sword. When it’s sunny, I want to galavant about, but when it’s cold, I want to hibernate. Thus, I must be prepared to balance such conditions. In summer, I can take my computer in the backyard to satisfy my need for Vitamin D. In winter, I’ll write in front of the fireplace. Be purposeful with your surroundings.
- Distractions Some of my writer friends like to listen to music while they write or don’t mind the hubbub of a coffee shop, but I’m too easily distracted. I prefer absolute silence. After Covid, my husband has started working from home two days a week, so, knowing my preferences, I’ve realized it’s best to write my novel the three days a week when he’s gone and focus on marketing and promotion the days he’s home. Good planning is the enemy of bad excuses.
- Inspiration Sometimes we must force ourselves to write outside our preferred circumstances. Deadlines are pretty good motivators, but they can also suck the joy out of the job. That’s when you need to figure out what will get your creative juices flowing again. Is it with writing sprints to escape your internal editor? Is it by discussing the plot with a critique partner? Is it by visiting a ranch when you’re supposed to be working on a story about horses but sadly realize you know nothing on the subject? (Trust me, it happens.) Give yourself what you need in order to give your characters what they need.
- Spiritual Health Whatever it is you need to be at your best, it’s because God created you that way. If you’re not sure what’s holding you back, take it to Him. Personally, I have to prioritize writing in my prayer journal before I ever write for anyone else. Besides that, worship can fill my soul to overflowing. All the above considerations matter, but be sure to align your will with God’s purpose for best results.
Now we’re ready to exercise our creative muscles. In the same way I took my dog for a run, you can put a leash on your muse to get your book written.
In a world full of happily-ever-after love, Meri Newberg feels like the last young woman on the planet to be single, at least in her Christian friend group. So when she’s handed a strange present at the latest wedding–a 1950s magazine article of “ways to get a husband”–she decides there’s nothing to lose by trying out its advice. After all, she can’t get any more single, can she?
Her brother’s roommate sees the whole thing as a great opportunity. Not to fall in love–Kai Kamaka has no interest in the effort a serious relationship takes. No, this is a career jump start. He talks Meri into letting him film every silly husband-catching attempt for a new online show. If it goes viral, his career as a cameraman will be made.
When Meri Me debuts, it’s an instant hit. People love watching her lasso men on street corners, drop handkerchiefs for unsuspecting potential beaus, and otherwise embarrass herself in pursuit of true love. But the longer this game goes on, the less sure Kai is that he wants Meri to snag anyone but him. The only problem is that he may not be the kind of husband material she’s looking for . . .
Angela Ruth Strong sold her first Christian romance novel in 2009 then quit writing romance when her husband left her. Ten years later, God has shown her the true meaning of love, and there’s nothing else she’d rather write about. Her books have since earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, been optioned for film, won the Cascade Award, and been Amazon best-sellers. She also writes non-fiction for SpiritLed Woman. To help aspiring authors, she started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho, and she teaches as an expert online at WRITE THAT BOOK.