By Emilie Haney, @emhaneyauthor

I’m not going to lie, these are going to hit you where it hurts. 

I’ve noticed a trend in myself lately. I’ve slipped into several of these areas and realized, as I’ve been talking about them on my social media platforms, that I’m not the only one suffering. 

Take a few minutes to go through these five things and ask yourself if you’re guilty of doing them. If so, pray for change – Author, He wants to do something amazing in you!

1 – Stop comparing your journey to the journey of other authors  

This is in the number one spot because I think it’s one of the easiest things to do, as well as one of the most devastating to you as an author. No one can write your books like you. And, in the same vein, you and the best you out there. God gave you the gifts that you have and, as tempting as it is to look to the right or the left when considering how your career is going…don’t do it. Trust Him and let Him lead you where you need to go. 

2 – Stop trying to write the perfect book 

This is especially important for newer writers, but don’t let perfectionism deprive you of creativity. As you have likely heard before: you can’t edit a blank page. So let the inner editor take a break and write that book. 

3 – Stop spending more time on social media than you do on your book 

This one hits me hard because I do love social media and I recognize it’s important to spend time on it, marketing our books and growing our platform. But…don’t let social media take the place of true creation. It will suck any energy you’re willing to give it, so ration that time and spend it on more important things.

4 – Stop putting all your hope in one book 

This one is hard to swallow because we believe in the power of our books. We also believe that God has given us books to write for specific reasons. I’m not debating that at all, but I will say that one book doesn’t usually make a career. Yes, I know there are exceptions to this (hello, Harry Potter) but there are plenty of other success stories that came for authors after they had written many stories first. Pour your all into your book and, after you’ve given it the best you can (should it still not find success) move on to the next book. 

5 – Stop letting the world discourage you from writing 

Dear writing friends, please don’t let the world bring you down. I’ve spoken with so many authors who used to love the craft but they let things seep in and poison them against it. Sales numbers, bad reviews, lack of success (by their definition), and so on. I get why these things can bring us down as writers in a profession, but we must take a step back and remember we are also writers in a calling. If you write as a Christian (no matter the market you write in) you are writing for the Lord. Go back to that as your “why” and reframe the things you value. 

• Sales numbers not good? You’re still called to write. 
• Negative reviews? That book wasn’t for that reader, you’re still called to write. 
• Lack of worldly success? You’re successful in His eyes – you’re still called to write. 

Stop doing these things and instead focus on the gifts you’ve been given by our Heavenly Father. 

Write for Him alone. 

Is there one of these that you struggled with more than the others? Tell me in the comments below!

 

---

Expired Promise

She won’t stop until she’s proven her worth.

He promised to always protect her.

EMT Andi Crawford is close to achieving her goal. She’s reached probationary status as a firefighter with the Eastside Firehouse and only needs to convince her older twin brothers—and herself—that she’s cut out for the job. Yet the daily challenges of a female firefighter fade to the background when her family becomes the target of a dangerous drug cartel with ties to a client Andi’s mother represented as a defense attorney. Andi will stop at nothing to protect her family.

Even if that means accepting help she doesn’t think she needs.

ATF Agent Jude Brooks is back in Last Chance County tasked with uncovering information on the family that took him in during his summers as a teen. It seems impossible the Crawfords are connected to a dangerous cartel leader, but Jude’s by-the-book attitude won’t let him approach his job any other way. As he wades through a web of leads, the feelings he tried so hard to avoid resurface. Andi’s as headstrong as she was as a teen, but her acceptance of him is a balm to the hurts from his childhood. He’s determined to uncover the truth—for her and himself.

If the secrets of the past don’t tear them apart.

Emilie Haney (also writing under the pen name Bell Renshaw and E. A. Hendryx) grew up in the Pacific Northwest and has a love for the outdoors that matches her love for the written word. In addition to writing, she is a graphic designer who creates promotional graphics for writers, designs book covers, and has built a thriving community around her Instagram platform and brand CreateExploreRead. Emilie writes young adult sci-fi and fantasy as well as adult contemporary fiction with strong themes of romance and suspense and believes that–no matter what–love fights for what’s right. Connect with her: www.eahcreative.com, Instagram, Etsy