Those of you in ACFW Indiana who are published can already say with confidence, “I am a writer.” But what about members of the group with no book to show to the public?
Maybe you write a blog. Maybe you’ve published a story in an anthology or a magazine. That makes you a writer!
What if you haven’t even gotten that far? Writing is a dream, and you would love to get started, but you’re terrified. “What if I can’t do it?” Or you’re going around in circles. “Life is so busy. I can’t carve out any hours in my week for writing.”
No more excuses! You joined ACFW to gain ability. Now commit. Declare it to the world. “I AM a writer.” That statement alone will kick your brain into writing gear. So let’s tend to those fears and distractions.
What if you don’t have time?
You budget hours for each day in the same way you budget your finances. Instead of breaking it down into mortgage payments, groceries and utilities, assign hours to sleep, prayer, chores, day job, and family.
What’s left? What can be cut by half an hour? Analyze your TV time. Unless it counts as snuggle time with kids or spouse, cut it out. I realized I was watching evening shows for three hours every night. I kept my favorites and now aim for one hour a night. That means I can write for two hours!
If you examine your time budget, and not one minute can be spared, maybe you temporarily set aside the writing dream until you reach a season when life will be less hectic.
What if you can’t write?
God wouldn’t have put the desire in your heart if you couldn’t do it. Granted, as you begin, you may be climbing a steep learning curve, but there’s a story in your soul. Tell the world about it on your social media. Tell them the core message.
And start your story. With a prayer and a pen and paper. Or with flying fingers tapping on your keyboard.
Once you’ve publicly committed, use the same social media to announce writing milestones and daily progress.
If you want to ramp up your commitment further, start a newsletter.
Simple way to start: allow yourself a window of time, say four newsletters in two months. Ask friends and family to sign up. They’re not committed forever and neither are you. It can be your experiment as you play the role of WRITER.
For several months I’ve posted right here on support groups--different kinds of mentors, critique groups, and readers. Your public is also a support group. When they “follow” you, “like” you, or “retweet” you, when they sign up for your newsletter, they have taken on the role of supporters. They look forward to learning more about you, the WRITER, because in their minds, you ARE a writer!
Linda Sammaritan writes realistic fiction, mostly for kids ages ten to fourteen. She is currently working on a middle grade trilogy, World Without Sound, based on her own experiences growing up with a deaf sister.
Linda had always figured she’d teach middle-graders until school authorities presented her with a retirement wheelchair at the overripe age of eighty-five. However, God changed those plans when He gave her a growing passion for writing fiction. In May of 2016, she blew goodbye kisses to her students and dedicated her work hours to learning the craft.
A wife, mother of three, and grandmother to eight, Linda regales the youngest grandchildren with “Nona Stories,” tales of her childhood. Maybe one day those stories will be in picture books!
Where Linda can be found on the web:
www.facebook.com/lindasammaritan
www.twitter.com/LindaSammaritan
Good advice Linda.
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