by Beth K. Vogt, @bethvogt
Discouragement happens in our writing journey – and it is no respecter of success or failure. Discouragement is perfectly happy to send a black cloud and rain on our good days as it is to kick us when we’re down from a literary setback.
Like you, I’ve perfected methods to deal with discouragement:
- I remind myself failure is part of success.
- I talk with trusted friends – and the conversation often becomes a time of prayer.
- I get outside, both literally and figuratively. A walk outside in beautiful Colorado always helps brightens my perspective and pulls me out of my head, away from my negative thoughts.
- I exercise, whether I want to or not.
Some of you are thinking, “Beth, this blog post is titled ‘1 Way to Battle Discouragement as a Writer’ and you just listed four things that encourage you when you’ve got the blues.”
Yep, I did.
But recently I found one thing extremely helpful as I walked through a time of discouragement, and that’s what I want to share with you today. Yes, there can be a lot of reasons for discouragement, but the battle comes down to how we think about our circumstances – and it is a mental battle.
We’re all walking some sort of faith journey – as theologian Pierre Teilhard de Chardin said, “… we are spiritual beings having a human experience.” In Ephesians 6:10-12, the apostle Paul acknowledges we face a spiritual battle.
This was the reminder I needed to fight back in my discouragement – the reminder that more was going on than I could see and that I needed to “suit up” by praying on my armor (Ephesians 6:13-17):
- The belt of truth, which for a Roman soldier in New Testament Times held other pieces of armor in place, and reminds us to hold onto the truth.
- The breastplate of righteousness, which guards the heart, and reminds us to do the right thing.
- The shoes of peace, which were made with sharp nails to grip the ground, and remind us to seek things of peace as we hold steady.
- The shield of faith, which can be used in battle one-on-one or linked together with other soldiers’ shields, and reminds us to seek the protection of community when we’re weary.
- The helmet of salvation, which protects a soldier’s head specifically, and reminds us to guard our thoughts.
- The sword of the spirit, which is the one offensive weapon, and reminds us to be in the Word. I have specific verses that I turn to for encouragement.
Praying through this spiritual armor strengthened both my mind and my heart. If you’re discouraged today, my friend, there is help for you. Suit up. If you’re in a season of plenty, be thankful. Use this time to encourage someone else.
Beloved romance novelist Kylie Franklin walked away from her pen-name career as bestselling and award-winning Veronica Hollins the day her husband died. Her loyal readers are eager for the final book in her sensational series. But Kylie’s given up on love, both fictional and in real life. Behind her back, Kylie’s agent contrives a way to get her writing again.
Joe Edwards has made a name for himself with his popular military suspense novels under the pen name Tate Merrick. Yet he can’t quite break onto the bestseller list. What his books need, his publisher suggests, is some romance. Joe flat refuses. However, his publisher is determined and hires Veronica Hollins to save the day—and his career.
Veronica and Tate quickly realize they’re Kylie and Joe, good friends who connected online via a popular word game and their mutual love of trivia. Surely they can wrangle their alter egos into this literary collaboration. But as the deadline looms, their differences threaten the romance developing off the page.
Beth K. Vogt believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” She’s authored 15 novels and novellas, both contemporary romance and women’s fiction. Beth is a Christy Award winner, an ACFW Carol Award winner, and a RITA® finalist. Her newest contemporary romance novel, Dedicated to the One I Love, releases June 20, 2023. Her novel Things I Never Told You, book one in her Thatcher Sisters Series by Tyndale House Publishers, won the 2019 AWSA Golden Scroll Award for Contemporary Novel of the Year. An established magazine writer and former editor of the leadership magazine for MOPS International, Beth blogs for Learn How to Write a Novel and The Write Conversation and also enjoys speaking to writers group and mentoring other writers. She lives in Colorado with her husband Rob, who has adjusted to discussing the lives of imaginary people. Connect with Beth at bethvogt.com.