Weekly Writing Inspiration

I held a book in my hands and a flood of memories washed over me. Write the article, blog, email or book that you want to return to you in 20 years. Here are a couple of stories I hope encourage you.

It happened again as I was working on the opening to a writing seminar. It happened this week while I worked on a non-fiction piece, as well as a fiction piece. Come to the page every day. No question. But remember that ideas come at their own pace, they run downhill like water and pool. Relax. Keep writing.

When I find validation for something I’ve told you, encouraged you to do, I get excited. Today’s writespo is about you putting yourself into what you’re writing. YOU have to put yourself in.

A phone call from a struggling friend has brought me back to what I don’t know. The soil of your story is rich and loamy—and full of dead stuff. You’re closer than you think.  When the struggle in your writing gets hard, you’re close to the emotional center of your writing.

Fear is a powerful motivator. It’s also a friend you don’t want to invite for dinner. I’ve been doing some hard, inner work on the fear I allow to guide me. I’ve hit the delete button on this recording so many times. It’s time to hit SEND and let you in on the struggle.

Is it normal to sit down to write and be flooded with all the other things you need to get done? An answer to that probing question in this week’s Writespo.

A conversation with a friend made me think again about the big picture of my writing and yours. I believe God has given you a desire to write because he has prepared something in advance, ahead of time so that you could “walk” in it. There’s something bigger going on with this desire you have.

I have two items in a plastic sandwich bag that I’m keeping. I think this idea will be something that sings in the hearts of readers down the road. I share these items with you because they show the time it takes for an idea to simmer and the spark that can come at the most mundane moments. Whatever you’re working on, allow for the simmer and the spark.

What could be unleashed from your soul, from your life, from your experience that would penetrate hearts and lives who read your words? The only way to write this way is to be brave. Words from author Min Jin Lee encouraged me last week and I hope they encourage you today.

In the Writespo on Waiting I told you about a book idea and how hard it was to wait for an answer from the publisher. The answer came. But then came another aspect of waiting I had to do. I had to make a hard decision. This post gives the “rest of the story” and how waiting can help your writing process.