I’ve finally come to a realization about my writing over the past six months.
I’m intimidated by this series that I started.
Intimidated, you say? Yes. Intimidated.
See, in my head, this series is epic. Huge. World-changing. At least, that’s the way it feels. I have serious doubts as to the accuracy of this vision. Still, I shirk from the task at hand for that very reason. It’s too big for little old me.
Well, you know what a good friend told me this weekend?
Suck it up and DO.
Can you guess who those wise words came from? 
You know what, though? She’s right. She also said that I am big enough or God wouldn’t have given me the story. More truth. Man, does truth have a way of shutting down our excuses, or what?
I went on to write about 2,000 words on Saturday–more than I have in awhile.
I’m realizing that I’m not in this story alone. God is with me. I don’t think I’ve been including Him as much as I’d like to think. Do I write to honor Him? Yes. Do I want His blessing? Of course! Have I been inviting Him to join me daily at the keyboard? No. Have I been asking Him to help me overcome my fears and insecurities? Uh–what fears and insecurities (says that little liar in my head).
I have no idea what’s in store for this series. I don’t know if it will be a best seller or only be read by a select few. I don’t know if it will change the world, or perhaps touch the heart of a single person. Whatever its purpose, though, I know it is God’s guidance that will place this story where it needs to be. I know that is more of an honor to please Him than to influence the world.
So, maybe now I can embrace my story with renewed vigor. Maybe I’ll even finish the first draft in time for the ACFW conference.
Bossy thing, whoever she is.
lol
Needed to read this right now. I’m about to rewrite the last chapter in my first novel manuscript. The last one. It’s a modern fairy tale, so that means this is a happy chapter, because I do believe in happy endings to fairy tales (goodness knows I put my characters through the wringer in the middle place). But I’m terrified. And I need to write this today, because tomorrow I start teaching again, and Lord knows when I’ll manage some time to write.
But you’re absolutely right. God never gives us anything we can’t handle–in His strength and grace! I’m glad to hear your writing is going well, and pray that He blesses the work of your hands.
Thank you for stopping by, Janeen. I think possibly the most intimidating is the last chapter, b/c then you’re finished. Done. You have to move on to the next step. Yeah, I understand that feeling. As my good pal said–”Suck it up and DO.” lol…
I’m intimidated not by mine not because it’s to big, but because it’s become very personal. (Big doesn’t scare me. I plan on living at least 6 months on every continent. All seven.)
That’s definitely one of the hardest things about writing. Sometimes we stumble onto something so personal–it can be excrutiating to think it will be shared with someone else. Glory be to the Father if our experiences can help others, though!
Yeah, and it’s a bit awkward because there some girls I know who can, without to much of a stretch of imagination, can think the FMC may be based off of them. I just really hope that doesn’t happen, because it could easily be seen as a betrayal of trust due to the personal issues of the characters and relationships between them.
That and I’ll have to think back to the few weeks before my Grandfather passed away and was in the hospital. That’s not going to be fun.
I’m praying God uses it though, because I’m not sure I’ll be able to write otherwise.
Just write one word at a time. One paragraph, one page, one chapter. That’s how you eat an elephant, after all. One bite at a time.
Just focus on making this book the best it can be, and hook readers into the rest of the series!
Hmm…wonder who would have ever told you that!
I know what you mean, though. The urban fantasy story I’m working on keeps expanding by leaps and bounds until it has encompassed a series longer than I’ve ever written before and had ever planned to write. Like Kessie said, one bite at a time…to paraphrase Dory, “Just keep chewing, just keep chewing.”