It’s a new year. Bloggers are sharing their writing goals. Everyone hopes to write a better book this year than they did last year.
I’m still not sure where I am with writing.
I finished my romance—the one I felt I needed to write for a friend and I do plan to write a good query (hopefully) and send it out this spring.
Beyond that I’m stuck. Six novels later and I haven’t found or written the story I want to write. Three of my novels were written as therapy as I went through the past four years of darkness. Now that I see hope on my horizon I wonder what direction my writing will take.
But for now, I’m still doing that U-Turn and waiting on the direction God leads.
Something is lacking in my writing and I haven’t quite figured out what it is or how to correct it. A depth, an emotion…something. I think that’s why writers rarely give up. We want to find that answer and put it on paper.
Hoping this will be your year! Let’s see where it leads.
42 comments:
May you find that something this year! :) Happy New Year!
Just keep writing and praying that God will open your eyes to what He wants you to say with your words.
Happy New Year!
I think you mentioned the important thing: waiting for God to give you direction. Be encouraged in knowing that what your heart desires would be granted. The waiting game is what kills us. Happy New Year to you!
I hope 2012 is wonderful for you! And I'm not sure anything is missing in your writing. Have you thought about trying a different genre? Maybe that will be more comfortable for you?
I'm hoping it leads to beautiful places. Do you remember when we discussed the why of this? Market stuff? If not, shoot me an email. I wonder if that's playing into what you wrote in this post.
Thinking of you.
~ Wendy
Let's hope this is the year for you to discover gold in your writing, Terry. Sometimes we just have to look at certain manuscripts as our practice.
I wish you success with this romance and all your writing! For me I want to concentrate more on the writing this year - getting back to the joy of it.
You will find it, Terri.
A several years back, I went through a time of darkness in my life. I didn't write as much and almost quit...I lacked the passion for the craft that I had in the beginning.
I found it again after I fell and broke my wrist. Yeah, I believe there was a plan in there...I was off of work for 4 months w/surgery. During that time, I went through my first novel. That spark was still there. I remembered why I loved to write and fell in love with my characters all over again. I did major revisions and edits on the novel. It rekindled my love and passion for writing - I can feel it as I read it.
It may not be the same for you, but it will come...whatever it is.
Happy New Year!
I hope you find what you're looking for and that 2012 is a great year for you.
When you mentioned the four years of darkness you went through, my first thought was the Light that's filling your soul right now.
God will give you clarity about what you're meant to write. Sometimes it takes trial and error, but mostly it takes patience. Following God's leading is the best course for you to take right now.
Good questions. Whether writing or pursuing any other course, the Lord seems to have a way of making us take one step at a time. He alone knows the end from the beginning, which is probably why I have gray hair :)
I've no doubt the days ahead for you are going to be amazing.
You'll find it you keep searching Terri, no doubt!
Praying for God's guidance, my friend.
I have felt that way about my writing at times. This has been a particularly dry spell, lasting nearly 6 months. I still make it my habit to write, but I'm not always sure I'm hitting the mark. I pray that God's direction for your words comes into sharp focus for you this year.
Don't give up. I won't either.
peace~elaine
Your posts are always so honest. I love that. Hoping you have a blessed and beautiful 2012!
you'll find it Terri. I know you will b/c you're a fighter...someone who hangs in and hangs on and keeps trying. And the writer gene is in you. I'm discovering it's all part of the journey.....Here's to His best in twenty twelve.
following inspiration is the only way. I'm to develop my poetry so I am...lol!
Hi Terri -
Sometimes taking a little time off to pray and regroup is the best course. I'm doing my share of soul searching as well.
May the New Year exceed all your hopes and be blessed beyond your greatest dreams.
Hugs,
Susan :)
Don't worry Terri.. you will definitely find it.. I know you will. I wish you all the best for the new year :)
I love your honesty in this post, Terri. Just the fact that you're searching tells me you'll find what you're looking for. :)
Hi Terri! So good to see you back again! I've honestly missed your blog posts. May I ask a question about your writing? I don't remember what all you've shared with us over the past months, but just reading this particular post made me think....You've been writing what I consider LOTS of novels! (I couldn't write that many in 10 years!!) I don't see any mention of memoir. You've been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul books...so that says you are good at personal essays, etc....Maybe try starting a memoir? I'll be your memoir-buddy, since I'm still working on mine, too! :)
Glad to see your post. Keep kicking the thoughts around and they'll begin to gel. Lubbock had a white Christmas and I was up in Wisconsin, no snow, who'd a thunk it?!? Hope the holidays were enjoyable there. I'm still thinking through my 2012, kicking around ideas and waiting to see what gels. Happy New Year!
Terri,
I'm sure that now that you are more settled in your new life, the ideas and creativity will flow. Happy writing.
Terri, thank you for sharing your heart. Your transparency is inspiring! Maybe this is a season of rest? Please don't fret...it's in you...and it will flow in the right time...probably when you least expect it.
Thanks for posting, we've missed you.
Your inspiration will come. Don't worry. Take time to relax. Take time to reflect. In the quiet of serenity, the mind creates better. Curl up on the couch with a warm cup of tea. Be at peace with yourself. Content with yourself. Talk to God like you would to a girlfriend and answers will come. HNY!
Thinking of you, Terri. May this year be even better than the last one! God has something in store for you; I just know it. Keep walking!
Thinking of you, Terri, and wishing you the best. May writing be a joy again, without the pressure that sometimes grips some of us (pressure to build a platform, get an agent, be published, etc.). Then good things are bound to happen :-)
Now that you have a new home, a new church family and a new start, let's believe you'll acheive that new direction for your writing. I admire your tenacity!
Love
Jen
Praying that you have the direction you seek, and that this too, will be your year!
Hugs and blessings,
Karen
Terri, I do hope that in this New Year you will discover the direction you want/need to go with your writing. It took me a VERY long time to find the voice for the memoir I had struggled for decades to write. It took a LOT of living, a LOT of dark times, a LOT of good times.
If you really want to write the story that you feel you should write, you just have to keep trying. But I have decided it's even more important to enjoy doing what you enjoy doing EACH day - one day at a time. For me at the moment, I just want to read and watch movies with my disabled daughter, visit my grandchildren more often, as often as I can. I have been through the writing slumps you express in your previous post. Think of these times as your tutoring experiences. And if this isn't your "year," the next one may be. Cheers and good wishes!!
Ann Best, Author of In the Mirror & Other Memoirs
You have an amazing amount of support here. You are doing something right shown through all those who want to connect with you. Enjoying the journey is not easy and can hurt. But hurting from trying is perferrable over hurting from regret. And you inspire many with your tenacity. On your 5th book? Amazing! I'm still working on my first!
So glad your period of darkness has been wiped away with hope! Keep writing, Terri! I know the Lord will give you that 'something' you are looking for. God bless!
Good luck finding your story this year!
And great to see you at my blog! Have a good day!
Terri, I hope 2012 will be the year you will shine and show the world your writing talent. Have a wonderful and blessed year.
I'm so glad you got your novel done. What an accomplishment. I am very proud of your stick to it ness.
Hope you find the missing ingredient for your writing.
I think you nailed it - that's why we may take breaks but we never really give up
I cannot count how many times I quite writing in 2011. We finally made our move from Colorado to Indiana. Eight months of the toughest transition I've been through yet, and the only writing I accomplished from June to January was in my journal. We're finally settling in, and I'm writing again. This post got me excited to find that "something" this year with my writing, 'cause a writer never really quits. :)
We put so many pressures on ourselves, and to what end? it never gives us what we truly desire, or what we THINK we truly desire - it never gives us peace - sometimes, the relaxing and letting go offers up the wondrous.
Yep, this doesn't surprise me. I think we have many novels in us because as we grow and change the stories do too. I hope you find that missing something this year.
Yeah, I hear ya. I want to finish up the story I'm working on now...then after that, I'm kind of looking for direction.
Hopefully, we'll both find our answers. :)
I just finished a book as well. It's always nice to complete something and think about where to devote your energy next. Enjoy the moment!
I haven't set goals for my writing this year because I don't know what I want to accomplish. This is usually the case every year. Now, I've just published my second book, and I want to sell as many copies as possible. Otherwise, I'll just send material to literary magazines and see what happens. Let the chips fall where they may.
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