Writing (and Praying) Through the Hard Times - Cate's Favorite Craft Books
It seems everywhere I turn in the writing world lately, someone is doing a podcast, writing a blog post, or offering a workshop on how to write through difficult times.
It makes sense, after all, given the past two years.
Most of this advice is meant for the difficult times on a personal level - family struggles, illness, job loss, etc. Certainly the uncertainty of a pandemic, inflation, threats of recession can scramble your ability to concentrate as well.
Difficulty focusing in times of great personal distress is a real thing. Like with scientific explanations. 😎😎
In an odd way I find that comforting, like a reassurance that I'm not simply making excuses. I mean if the difficulty focusing is a more widely known phenomena, then don't have to feel as guilty for struggling. I'm in good company.
Alas, that doesn't get proposals sent, books written, or careers kept on track.
So what do all these workshops have to offer?
If we're lucky, we might hear something that clicks, a word or phrase that unlocks us.
But because we are Christian writers we have another resource to help us when we're struggling.
PRAYER
As I was going through the still as-yet unpacked boxes to find the craft book I wanted to post about. I found this instead.
This lovely book is full of wonderful reminders of God's love for us, and is is overflowing with wonderful prayers, offered over centuries, that will perhaps allow us to gain strength and the courage to fight through the brain fog.
No post on writers' prayers would be complete without me including out own Debby's Writer's Prayer.
So many writers struggle with the demons of doubt and inadequacy. Too often we are paralyzed by our inability to focus or be productive.
It is good to remember to pray that God will give us the strength to maintain the ministry he gave us.
A Writer's Prayer
Lord, inspire me to write stories that touch readers' hearts. Breathe your spirit into my characters so they come alive on the written page. Help me develop intriguing plots full of twists and turns that capture the imagination and move the story to a satisfying resolution. Keep me focused and on schedule, and take away any fear or sense of inadequacy that blocks my progress. Give me courage to step out in faith, to stretch and grow and to be the writer you have called me to be.
Amen.
Written by Debby Giusti
So many writers struggle with the demons of doubt and inadequacy. Too often we are paralyzed by our inability to focus or be productive.
It is good to remember to pray that God will give us the strength to maintain the ministry he entrusted to us.
How do you cope when writing gets you down? Do you have a go-to prayer or a way of resetting your focus?
