You might think that because I know what you should do to improve your writing skills and reach your goals, I must be already improving my own skills and reaching my own goals, right? Wrong. The reality is, developing writers aren’t the only ones who struggle. All of us have to make a daily decision–are we going to push through what’s hard, or break out before the breakthrough because we have to go to work, or go to class, or just…go?
Writing is a process that involves the writer and the writing.
What I have come to discover, after nearly two decades of working with developing writers, is that my work as a writer runs parallel to theirs. There are days when I don’t want to do it either. There are times when I’d rather rush the process to just get it over with, and there are moments when I, too, slink into my chair in defeat, resolved that “I’m no good at this.”
But “writing is a process” that is not linear nor entirely linguistic. In fact, the writing process has as much to do with the writer as it does the words. Part of the process is perfecting the craft. The other part is perfecting the person, which means the process is ongoing.
We begin with one thing in mind and discover as we write that there’s something else we should be doing. We think the writing moment is an external exercise, then discover things about our inner self we hadn’t known before. Critical thinking is an integral part of writing, which inevitably leads to deeper knowledge and understanding—of ourselves and the world around us.
So, my work with developing writers has led me to a more focused purpose: to
move us from conception to production and from frustration to freedom! I expect that through this process all of us will discover something about ourselves even as we hone our craft. Stay tuned–more on this next week.)
Happy Writing!
So, you may have noticed, if you’re a follower of this blog, that posts have stretched farther and farther apart lately. When we started this journey I was full of ideas! They flowed like a river, onto the page and out to your electronic devices. Granted, over the past two years, there have been some interruptions to this flow, but for the most part I have been able to find inspiration almost everywhere! Then came January 2019! This year has brought many changes—mostly positive—but it seems that I lost my footing. Somehow, I drifted off the path and away from the destination that I intended.
So, it’s time to bring it back! Books & Coffee is for writers and creative people, like you, looking for inspiration, tips and tools for maintaining your creative flow. But, even those of you who wouldn’t call yourself “writers” can identify with striving for something that is elusive—whatever it is you associate with success. For writers, it’s a book deal or publication, for others it’s just having your hard work recognized and valued. Whatever your gift, you long for the fulfillment of putting it to use and doing it well, yet sometimes struggle with both.
I get it! That’s why we’re here—to work through those difficulties
and celebrate the successes.
With that goal in mind, today—and for the next few weeks—we’re going to tackle one enemy that is familiar to all writers—WRITERS BLOCK! Some say it’s an imaginary foe, but anyone who’s struggled with something knows it’s a thing when it keeps you from attaining your goal, even if–perhaps, especially if–it’s all in your mind!
But we’re not letting this one hold us anymore. Maybe your captor isn’t Writer’s Block, it doesn’t matter. You will discover that writing in and of itself is a powerful weapon. Want to give it a try? Here’s what you do:
Put your butt in a chair
Put your fingers on a keyboard (or, if your old school, grab a pen and paper!).
Say bye-bye–literally!
Write a letter breaking up with Writer’s Block (or whatever “it” is). Start with, “Dear _______, it’s not you, it’s me …”.
Here’s mine:
Dear Writer’s Block,
It’s not you, it’s me:
I’ve allowed you to control me. I’ve allowed you to make me feel inadequate. I’ve allowed you to tell me I can’t.
But no more. I will not allow you to hurt me, hold me or tell me I’m nothing. You will no longer have the control over me that you once had, because I have been weak in the past, but I’m strong now. I’ve learned how to defeat you. I’ve been thinking about you and fretting over you all these weeks and months, but I have finally realized I don’t have to. In fact, focusing on you is what has kept me bound! Instead, I’m going to focus on me. And instead of looking at myself through your eyes, I am looking at myself through the lens of my Creator. You say I’m nobody, He says I’m somebody. He says I can be so much stronger than I am if I just walk away from you. It has been hard, because you’re very persuasive, but this is it! This is me taking the first step away…
Away from abuse Away from turmoil Away from defeat
I can do this. I can be what I was created to be as long as I stay away from you.
So, peace out.
What do you need to break up with? Write it in your journal or on a sheet of paper that you will tear into a million little pieces. It’s up to you. Just do it!
Maybe your break-up will inspire someone else to walk away from an unhealthy situation, share your break-up letter in the comments!
Next week: What would you do if someone started leaving little gifts on your desk every day? Come back next week and we’ll see if we can unlock the mystery!
Until next time, Happy Writing!
“Breaking up with Writer’s Block” from Brian Klems and Zachary Petit’s Bootcamp of Writing Prompts
Have you ever doubted yourself as a writer? Ever wondered if being a writer is really a noble profession? Often our work is a “side gig” because we need a “real job” to pay the bills, but sidelining this work can make us feel less valuable too.
But, I’m here to cast a different light on the invisible writer. What if the fact that our writing is taken for granted is a good thing? Perhaps it is a credit to the skill that we employ when we produce such good work that it disappears! Think about it: The slogans on your cereal box, the catchy phrases splashed on the wall at Zaxby’s, even the clever little phrases on the Taco Bell hot sauce packets were the work of an invisible creative mind. Employment application forms, instructions for assembling gadgets, the news you follow on social networks—all the work of writers whose names you’ll never know, yet all are needed! If the writing is bad, we notice, but when the information flows, there’s no thought about the work that went into producing it.
Maybe they don’t know that work is not reserved for coal factories or Wall Street; it also happens in coffee shops, in quiet corners, at raggedy desks in lonely buildings once students have fled and janitors sweep through dim hallways—but we do, and God does! “Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:4b)
As invisible writers, we tap away at keyboards, reflecting on the world we’ve observed, trying to make sense of the chaos. We reshape meaningless moments into objects that can sit in the mouth like peppermint—sweet, refreshing, enlivening—leaving a pleasant, lasting impression even after we disappear. God honors our hard work even if no one sees.
Books & Coffee 