To Write or Not to Write: That is the Question

pro·cras·ti·nate
prəˈkrastəˌnāt/
verb: delay or postpone action; put off doing something.
"it won't be this price for long, so don't procrastinate"
synonyms: delay, put off doing something, postpone action, defer action, be dilatory, use delaying tactics, stall, temporize, drag one's feet/heels, take one's time, play for time, play a waiting game

"fear of failure often causes people to procrastinate"

Jon Tyson, Unsplash
Fear.

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself" (Franklin Roosevelt)

"Fear not, for I am with you."  (Isaiah 41:10)

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." (Ben Franklin)

And that's what it often boils down to. What are you willing to risk to be successful? What are you willing to do to reach your goals? What sacrifice are you willing to make to achieve your dreams?

There is a GREAT song out right now called "Dream Small" by Josh Wilson. It's about appreciating the simple moments and it's poignant and perfect and wonderful and inspirational... but how can you dream small and think big?

And how do you rationalize wanting success, working toward a dream and yet being satisfied with the simple things in life?

Wait. 

Stop. 

You're thinking too much. Let go and let God. And if you want to be a writer, then do it.

Write.

You don't have to sacrifice your life or your home or give your children away to a roving band of gypsies, although I'm not opposed to that idea...

It's a simple matter of blocking out time... some time... amount to be determined by you... each day. Or 4 days/week.

A plan.

A goal.

A dream.

Now if you get distracted by shiny objects every five minutes, that's not my fault.

It's your fault.

If you get lost on facebook (really??? REALLY????), again... your fault.

If you watch bad TV or good TV or even mediocre TV... your fault.

If you sleep ten hours a night... your fault.

If you make a toilet paper roll length list of excuses why you can't write.... 

Yep.

You got it.

Your fault.

And that's not me being mean (although I do have a reputation to maintain!!!).

That's the truth of the matter.

You don't have to dream big... but you have to put in the effort needed.

People think that fancy soccer moves and bicycle kicks and throw-ins are the way to win soccer games...

Wrong.

The way to win soccer games is to be the team that is less tired in the second half. The better-conditioned team. The team that runs a little bit faster and sharper. The team that is less tired wins the ball, controls the ball and defends the goal more ardently.

The best runners make the best soccer players... and they make the difference between owning the field... or buying the first round of drinks after the game.

Self-discipline is the best friend of the writer. 

If you love it (like so many of us do!!!!), it's not a chore.

If you fear it, it is a ginormous chore.

Fear of failure.

Fear of not measuring up.

Fear of wasting time.

And sometimes plain old laziness....

Whether or not you write is up to you.  What you want to do with your life, your dreams and goals: up to you!

But I'm going to leave you with the Erma Bombeck quote that I model my life after:

"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and I could say, "I used everything that you gave me." 

Remember what Nora Roberts is fond of saying: "It's not the most talented that gets published. It's the one that did not quit."

Self-discipline.
Self-motivation
Self-propelled.

People of faith should see this more clearly than anyone else because they understand the gifts of the talents and the fruits of the spirit... and yet... we hesitate. We shrug. We put off... We procrastinate.

It's August. Nearly five months left in 2018.

Don't wait. Don't shrug. Don't put it all off. Take charge, take control and be the best you can be at whatever God wants you to do...

If you choose not to, well that's okay!

It is absolutely fine.

But remember it's not because there isn't time or space or opportunity.

God gives that in abundance.

It's because you made the choice.

So what's keeping you going? Why do you write? And what do you write? And... are you going to stay with it?

Coffee and Danish at the back table, and fresh blackberries from the Blodgett Family Farm! (In my other life my last name is Blodgett, but that's a story for another day!)

Homemade Blackberry Jam from wild blackberries on the farm. Farmer Dave picked the berries... I made the jam. These jars won't be for sale. They'll be for Christmas baskets... In four months we'll all be talking Christmas... And it's never a bad time to be thinking of the Christmas story you want to publish next year!
 Come on in. Grab a cuppa, or I'll make you some tea.

Take a seat.

Let's talk.

*****SPECIAL NOTE!!!! Ruthy said if she got caught up with her mailings, she'd throw something into the prize box today.... well that is the one thing she does procrastinate with, but she did it! So today she has a copy of "Her Cowboy Reunion" in the prize box...
And a copy of "An Unexpected Groom" the first book of her "Grace Haven" series... Leave a comment to have your name tucked into the cowboy hat!



AND....

A hug.

Because everyone can use a hug. Even from a bossy but well-meaning author!


Multi-published, award-winning author Ruth Logan Herne is probably working at this very minute on her Western New York pumpkin farm, or writing seventeen books, or watching forty-six kids... all of which is exaggerated. The point is, she is not a procrastinator and she wishes you wouldn't be, either, but she knows that's up to you so she just kind of bosses folks around... and eats chocolate. You can be her friend on facebook, follow her on Twitter, go to her website or just hang our in Seekerville and Yankee Belle Cafe... and talk faith, fun and fiction... and romance!