If you want to know How to Ruin Your Writing Day look no further–there’s always something to distract you from the job at hand. Don’t let the things on this list pull you away from writing the book God has called you to write. You can have a great writing day if you avoid these pitfalls and stay focused.
How to Ruin Your Writing Day
1. Look at the New York Times bestseller list. Or better yet the top ten Christian books. Consider how happy those authors’ publishers are and how much more effective they are at spreading the good news of Jesus.
2. Compare your daily word count with those folks that write a new book every month.
3. Pick up that Pulitzer prize-winning novel. Read it side by side with your most recent offering.
4. Look through other authors’ websites and compare them to yours. Especially note those that have flash video and cool gadgets.
How to Ruin Your Writing Day
5. Start editing the book you just finished. Tell yourself you’re not going to turn it in until everything is perfect.
6. Put together your ideal media/publicity package that you’ll pour money into once your book hits the New York Times Best-seller list.
7. Read Amazon reviews, especially everything under 4-stars.
8. Picture your book as a movie. Pick out who would represent your characters. Imagine how sales numbers will skyrocket when it’s released.
How to Ruin Your Writing Day
9. Do your taxes. Make income goals. Read your royalty statements.
10. Stare at the blank page.
As you can see there are plenty of ways to ruin your writing day. So, how do you keep from destroying the day you’ve set aside to honor God with your work? For starters–don’t stress. Don’t let the enemy take control of your mindset. You are valuable and loved just as you are, where you are. God isn’t asking for perfection. He’s asking for obedience. If you feel the call to write then do just that–write. Don’t look past the page at editing, publishing, numbers, or all the other things that are possible “next steps.”
How Not to Ruin Your Writing Day
1. One of the best ways I know to get focused and functioning as a writer is to focus on God first. Start with prayer. Ask God to bless your writing day and to help you honor Him. Ask Him to give you the words He would have you write. You aren’t responsible for the Inspiration, just the perspiration. Don’t let the weight of the task wear you down. Remember, God is with you and He is faithful to more than we can ask or imagine.
2. Need words? Get in the Word! It doesn’t matter whether I’m writing fiction or non-fiction, scripture has light for my path. All scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, preaching, and instruction in the ways of the Lord. Let God speak to you directly through His Word and you can be sure the message you share is His.
3. Be present. As much as is possible, set up your writing time to be free from distractions. Turn off the cell phone or television. If you can write without others in the room then do that. Sometimes that’s not possible as a mom. Can you find another mom to swap out a morning or afternoon with? Could you designate an hour during naptime to sit down quietly with your words? Even allowing the kids to watch a short video or play on the swingset in the yard for thirty minutes is one step closer. Remember, obedience over perfection. Take the small increments of time and use what you can.
There are a million ways to fail, but the best way to succeed is to stay determined and never give up. Of course, there will be good and bad days. We all experience that. Don’t let the shortcomings you see cloud the bigger picture of what God wants to do in and through you. When I feel discouraged here is a scripture I cling to:
“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”
Philippians 1:6 NLT
The Write Community
Is it time to find the right community to support your writing dreams and goals? Then the Write That Book Club is just what you’re looking for. You know making your writing dreams become a reality is tough. You have ideas but you wonder if any of them are good and you have no idea how to connect with agents and editors, and what in the world is a book proposal anyway?
I’m here to help. And I’ve invited some of my friends to help you too. They are professional agents, editors, authors, and marketing and publicity team members. They’re the best of the best in the Christian publishing industry. Together we want to help you reach your dreams.
It’s all here in Write That Book. This premier group provides education, inspiration, and connection with other writers and experts. Learn all the tricks of the trade while getting your personal questions answered.
Over thirty experts will be available throughout the month to answer your questions. Their decades of experience will be at your fingertips. They not only want to help you, they also want to get to know you better. After all, your words might just be the ones they’re looking for!
I explain it all in this short video:
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