From the Archives: A New Prayer

 May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;

establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.

Psalm 90:17

When I first started writing, I certainly prayed. I prayed that God would help me write the story. That I’d hear back from an editor quickly. That someone would want to publish the book I’d worked so hard on.

But I rarely considered praying over each writing session, or for the people who would read my stories. I only realized that after connecting with other writers and seeing their passion for praying for readers. These writers love knowing that their words can stir not only the heart but also the spirit.

And, as Christians, isn’t that a large part of the reason we write? To point others to God, either directly or subtly?

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the process. Plan, write, submit, get a response, repeat. But I don’t want my writing to be about me, or the process, or the business of it. I hope God will use my writing to advance His purposes. As the verse above says, my work isn’t for me, it’s His to establish.

So, my new goal is to pray over the words I write and for those that will read them. I’ve started trying to pray when I first sit down to write every day. As I prepare for my second book to come out, I pray for those who are working with me on editing, formatting, cover design, every part of it. And when it finally goes out into the world next year, I'll pray that there’s something in what I’ve written that will draw each reader closer to God.

How about you? How do you pray for your writing and/or readers!

Abbey Downey never expected her love for writing to turn into a career, but she’s thankful for the chance to write inspirational romance as Mollie Campbell. A life-long Midwestern girl, Abbey lives in Central Indiana, where her family has roots back to the 1840s. She couldn’t be happier spending her days putting words on paper and hanging out with her husband, two kids, and a rather enthusiastic beagle.

"Because you say so"

I’ve been dealing with discouragement in my writing. The novel I’m working on is taking much longer than I intended and all I hear is how hard my genre is to sell. But I’ve also had this Bible passage that has been really encouraging through these months and I want to share it with you.

In Luke chapter five, Jesus borrows a boat from some fishermen who had just come in from a night out working. He takes the boat out into the water a bit and teaches the crowd, then comes back and tells the fishermen to go and put out their nets again.

Okay, these guys had worked all night with nothing to show for it. They’d cleaned their nets and they were ready to go home. I can imagine how tired they must have been, maybe frustrated. The thing that they were supposed to be good at wasn’t going so well.

Have you ever felt that way? It’s how I’ve been feeling for months. But you know what? The story doesn’t end with them laughing it off and heading home to sleep. Simon Peter knew the power of doing what God asks. He admitted he wasn’t sure it would go any better than the night they had, but he’d do it anyway. The Bible says in Luke 5:5, “Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.’”

Even under the shared banner of fiction, we write different things, in different genres, with different perspectives. But one thing we have in common is that God has placed a love of words and stories in us. He’s called us to write. And when He says to do something, you can be sure it isn’t for nothing. Good will come out of it, even if it’s hard. Maybe we won’t achieve the world’s definition of success in a literary career, but there’s a reason God has brought each of us to write.

Those fishermen pulled in a catch they couldn’t believe. It wasn’t a normal night’s work and it wasn’t something they could take credit for. God had used their faith and willingness to step out and do what He asked. And I believe He’ll do the same for us. Even if your writing career isn’t going the way you thought it was supposed to, there’s definitely a reason to keep writing. God has something in store for you.

If you’ve been struggling in this area at all, I encourage you to look back at the last few posts here at Hoosier Ink, too. They are so good, with both practical tips and wonderful encouragement.

If you want to share, feel free to post ways you battle discouragement in your writing life!

Abbey Downey never expected her love for writing to turn into a career, but she’s thankful for the chance to write inspirational romance, with two books published under the name Mollie Campbell. A life-long Midwestern girl, Abbey lives in Central Indiana, where her family has roots back to the 1840s. She couldn’t be happier spending her days putting words on paper and hanging out with her husband, two kids, and a rather enthusiastic beagle.

You can check out Abbey’s books at www.abbeydowney.com

Give it a chance

I was blessed to be able to attend the ACFW national conference this weekend in Nashville, along with many other wonderful writers. It was a great time of learning, worshiping, and making real-life connections.

But, of course, it was also a time for many to take steps toward selling the writing they’ve labored over. One of my goals for the trip was to get feedback. In a tough market, is my idea viable? Is my writing good enough?

Any time we open ourselves up to a critique of that sort, it can be scary. Confirmation is exhilarating, or it can be painful if the response isn’t as good as we hope. So, what’s a writer to do when the conversations we hope will affirm end up letting us down?

First, don’t respond with emotion. Proverbs 29:11 says, “A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.” It’s so easy to let those emotions get the best of me when I’m disappointed or hurt! But, along with being unprofessional, that isn’t the way God wants His people to handle life’s twists. Dig deep for the strength to respond with grace.

Then, take a step back and process the critique. Yes, it’s

possible that the opinion you received isn’t valid. Maybe the person didn’t have the whole picture or didn’t understand your vision for your writing. But, then again, you may find with time that even comments that seem harsh at the moment have value. Really give the ideas a chance to process. Often, I’ve found there’s a way to incorporate those critiques, after all.

This is a valuable skill whether you're published or not. It's always hard to open a document, knowing there will be critiques from an agent or editor. But it's not personal. They want to produce the best stories possible, the type of books people will read over and over for years to come, just like I do. So, if you've come up against a criticism that stings, give it a chance. Really think and pray over it. And you might find wisdom buried inside.

Abbey Downey never expected her love for writing to turn into a career, but she’s thankful for the chance to write inspirational romance as Mollie Campbell. A life-long Midwestern girl, Abbey lives in Central Indiana, where her family has roots back to the 1840s. She couldn’t be happier spending her days putting words on paper and hanging out with her husband, two kids, and a rather enthusiastic beagle.

You can check out Abbey’s books at www.abbeydowney.com

Keep on

I’ll admit, I loved the first day of school as a kid. All those new school supplies, a new classroom, new teacher, new things to learn. For the first couple of days, it was all pretty exciting.

And then the first week turned into the second and third week. Homework was assigned. Classes fell into a routine. The newness wore off. When the real work started, I struggled.

It can be the same with writing. At first, the idea is so exciting. New characters! A new plot! So many possibilities ahead!

But after the initial rush wears off and those first few chapters are written, the real work begins. Writing the middle chapters can feel like slogging through mud. The characters cause problems and the plot sags. The words won’t come, or they do come but they’re clearly terrible.

Honestly? I’m tempted to quit at that point every time and I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one. If, like me, you wonder how you can keep going to the end, here’s some encouragement.

First, remember that what you’re writing isn’t permanent. It can always be changed so don’t put too much pressure on yourself to make it perfect in one try. The important part is to get it on the page and it can always be fixed later. That’s gotten me through a lot of rough chapters. I’ve even written notes about what I think a section needs instead of writing it, giving myself some space to come back to it later. Take some of the pressure off yourself and it might go easier.

Also, remember that all writers struggle with something. I completely expect that I’ll still be trudging through the middle of books even if I write 100. That’s just a hard part for me. Maybe for you, it’s the beginning. Maybe it’s character development, grammar, writing a synopsis. There will always be something hard. But God calls us to put our full effort into what we do (Colossians 3:23) and that includes writing. He will be faithful to help us through, no matter how hard it is.

It’s definitely not easy to put together thousands of words along with characters and plots to get to the end of a manuscript. But it is worth the effort. Breathing life into a story God planted in your heart is an incredible blessing. So, keep at it! Refresh yourself as needed and continue pushing through. I believe in you!

Abbey Downey never expected her love for writing to turn into a career, but she’s thankful for the chance to write inspirational romance as Mollie Campbell. A life-long Midwestern girl, Abbey lives in Central Indiana, where her family has roots back to the 1840s. She couldn’t be happier spending her days putting words on paper and hanging out with her husband, two kids, and a rather enthusiastic beagle.

You can check out Abbey’s books at www.abbeydowney.com

Summing It Up

An author’s palms start to sweat. The task ahead seems impossible. Turn 80,000 words that were agonized over into three pages? No, there must be some mistake. Even the cruelest person wouldn’t force a poor writer to do such an outlandish thing.

But, back in real life, agents and publishers do require a synopsis. Instead of letting that dreaded document hang over your head through the entire book-writing process, maybe we should put it to work! Here’s how.

First, look at it as a tool, not a chore.

Instead of leaving the synopsis for the end, try writing it as you’re brainstorming. Or, I often start it after writing a couple chapters. Once you’re published and can submit proposals instead of full manuscripts, you’ll have to write it now anyway, right? Right. It’s a good habit to start.

It also provides a wonderful opportunity to write out all that backstory we’re so tempted to dump into the first chapters. It can always be cut out of the synopsis later but having it all out there makes it easier to pick what pieces should be revealed when.

Now, make it work for you.

So, you have a bunch of backstory, but now what? The synopsis is a great outlining tool. This can work for plotters or pantsers. Either before you start or as you write, plug the major plot points into the synopsis. The inciting incident, turning points, climax, resolution, all of it. Use those points to begin your synopsis. Once you have a little backstory and the major parts of the plot down, you pretty much have the whole synopsis written!

You also have an overhead look at your story. Are there plot holes? Is every scene realistic and logical based on the characters goals and motivations? Do any characters fall flat? Stepping back from the story through a synopsis reveals issues that can make or break a book.

Finally, put your best foot forward.

A solid synopsis shows an author is willing to put time and effort into doing things the right way. It’s well-known that a synopsis is hard to write. But agents and editors have reasons for needing them, different ways they utilize them. Therefore, they all have their own requirements. An author who checks into those requirements and fulfills them will make a better impression than one who doesn’t. Sending a ten-page, single-spaced synopsis when the guidelines ask for three pages double-spaced will make it look like the writer doesn’t care or isn’t capable of working within constraints. You don’t want either of those to be the first impression an agent or editor has of you!

Okay, I want to know: do you love writing a synopsis or hate it?

Abbey Downey never expected her love for writing to turn into a career, but she’s thankful for the chance to write inspirational romance as Mollie Campbell. A life-long Midwestern girl, Abbey lives in Central Indiana, where her family has roots back to the 1840s. She couldn’t be happier spending her days putting words on paper and hanging out with her husband, two kids, and a rather enthusiastic beagle.

You can check out Abbey’s books at www.molliecampbell.com. Be sure to
look for her newest book, Orphan Train Sweetheart, in stores or online in June!

Sharing Hope

As Easter approaches, I think a lot about hope. Throughout Jesus’ ministry, He imparted hope. Even in His last days, while warning the disciples that He was going to die, He also interjected hope. They didn’t really get it, but I don’t always, either. And I know the whole story!

I also like to consider hope in my writing. It’s a word I can attribute to the characters in almost all my stories. By the end, they find hope. It may be their strengthened or newfound faith, it may be through a situation that resolves (even if it doesn’t go their way), or maybe because they also find love, but my characters almost always end up hopeful about their future.

Sure, that’s partly because romance readers expect a happily-ever-after ending. But it’s also because I long to show hope through the little stories I make up. Doesn’t it seem like hope is desperately missing from our world? People feel stuck in unfulfilling lives. They’re trapped in bad relationships. They’re caught in addiction. They don’t see anything hopeful about the future.

We have a different perspective, don’t we? No matter what the situation, we know there’s always hope in Jesus. That’s one element that can be used in any writing to point people toward Christ. Fiction or non-fiction, every genre, CBA or ABA, any book can show hope. And that hope draws people straight to Jesus.

One of my favorite parts of writing is that a book doesn’t have to explicitly lay out the gospel or give a plan of salvation. Our view of the world comes through in our writing, whether we want it to or not. And, if hope in Jesus is part of our lives, it’ll show. Like in the old song, let your little light shine!

I hope you have a joyful and blessed Easter!

Abbey Downey never expected her love for writing to turn into a career, but she’s thankful for the chance to write inspirational romance as Mollie Campbell. A life-long Midwestern girl, Abbey lives in Central Indiana, where her family has roots back to the 1840s. She couldn’t be happier spending her days putting words on paper and hanging out with her husband, two kids, and a rather enthusiastic beagle.

You can check out Abbey’s books at www.molliecampbell.com

“The More That You Read…”

Did you know that March 2nd is Dr. Seuss’s birthday? In his honor, it’s also National Read Across America Day. I remember celebrating all things reading at this time of year when I was a kid in school and it was wonderful. Now I get to enjoy the experience all over again with my kids.

I think writers can learn so much from Dr. Seuss’s example, even those of us who write in completely different genres. Here are a few things I take from his writing:

Keep it short

Did you know that The Cat in the Hat is only 236 words long? But it’s still a complete, imaginative story that draws readers in. Dr. Seuss was a master at picking just the right words, just the right rhythm, just the right visual to get his point across to a wide audience while remaining succinct.

This is just as important in 80,000-word novels. It can seem like a lot of space to get around to the story. But we can easily get bogged down in meandering descriptions and pointless subplots. Keep that writing tight and clean to keep your reader engaged. Take the time to make each word convey the perfect message and every scene advance the story.

Keep it simple

I love how The Cat in the Hat came to be. In response to worries over falling literacy rates in young children, Dr. Seuss was given the challenge of writing an early reader that would be more interesting for children than the ones that existed. Yes, that incredibly creative story contains only the most basic vocabulary, meant for kids just learning to read.

Beautiful prose is wonderful to read. But using big words for the sake of it can come across as trying too hard. So, go ahead, throw in that awesome, huge word you learned last week that you’re dying to use. But try not to do it in every sentence.

Keep it up

To continue using the example of The Cat in the Hat, how long do you think it would take you to write a 236-word story for kids? A few hours? A week? Dr. Seuss thought so, too. But it ended up taking him a year and a half! I’m pretty sure I would have given up a few months in and chalked it up to a good experiment. But he persisted and the story he struggled to write helped foster a love of reading in multiple generations of children.

Dr. Seuss’s first book, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, received some twenty or thirty rejections before an editor friend took a chance on it. Haven’t you heard story after story like that from authors? Try to take it as an encouragement. Let it motivate you to finish another manuscript, send one more query, pitch that book again. You never know when the next time will be the one that works!

Here’s a challenge for you: take a page out of Dr. Seuss’s book and try something short. Come to the ACFW Indiana Masterpiece-in-a-Day event on March 10^th, write a short story, and get a chance to be published in Spark magazine! More info in this post. RSVP right away!

Abbey Downey never expected her love for writing to turn into a career, but she’s thankful for the chance to write inspirational romance as Mollie Campbell. A life-long Midwestern girl, Abbey lives in Central Indiana, where her family has roots back to the 1840s. She couldn’t be happier spending her days putting words on paper and hanging out with her husband, two kids, and a rather enthusiastic beagle.

You can check out Abbey’s books at www.molliecampbell.com

Nourishment

Ah, January. As Hoosiers know, that’s the month of heavy clouds, short days, and cold that takes your breath away. And you can’t forget all those flagging good intentions regarding resolutions for the new year.

I try to make a few small goals instead of life-altering resolutions and here’s one for this year that I’m sure isn’t typical: I’m making an effort to water our houseplants more frequently. Yes, you read that right. I’m the worst at houseplants. I love them, but I can’t keep them alive for anything. My husband will walk by one and mention how sad or droopy or crunchy it looks. And that’s when I realize it’s probably been a few weeks since I last watered. Oops!

Just like those droopy plants, our writing spirits can get dry and crispy if we don’t take care of them. I’ve been going through a time like that, myself. I felt uncreative and unmotivated, which made me doubt myself and my writing. So, I didn’t write.

When the well of creativity dries up like that, what’s a writer to do?

Seek nourishment. Just like my sad little houseplants, we all need it from time to time. Even when things are going well, our spirits can get tired and dry.

Here are a few things I’m sure we all know will help, but can sometimes forget:

1.      Take a break

If you aren’t working on a tight deadline, a few days off can help refocus your mind on what you need to write. I know myself well enough to realize that the pressure to keep going will drain me if I try to push through without a day off here and there. And it provides the perfect chance to catch up on that reading writers need to do but have trouble fitting in!

2.      Get a change of scenery (or just pace)

Maybe you always write at home, at your desk. Try getting out and writing at a quiet coffee shop or the library. Maybe take a notebook and brainstorm while people-watching at the mall. It might just take moving to a different room or handwriting instead of typing for a while.

Sometimes I’ll stop writing and work up a few ideas for my next project to get the creativity flowing again. After my last deadline, I took a few weeks to try my hand at a short story in a completely different genre. Big or small, a change can help get you excited about writing again.

3.      Refresh your spiritual life

I love that God used words to reveal Himself to us in the Bible and that we can point others to Him with the words He gives us. But it only works if we stay connected to Him. Even for those who are faithful in Bible reading and prayer time, the daily practice can get routine at times. Try writing out your prayers in a notebook. Maybe you always follow a certain Bible reading plan. Add a journal to write a verse that stands out from the day’s passage. Or change to a devotional or Bible study to cover a book of the Bible.

Next time you’re feeling a slump coming on, don’t despair! And don’t be afraid to try something different.

I’d love to know, what’s your favorite way to reignite the creativity?

Abbey Downey never expected her love for writing to turn into a career, but she’s thankful for the chance to write inspirational romance as Mollie Campbell. A life-long Midwestern girl, Abbey lives in Central Indiana, where her family has roots back to the 1840s. She couldn’t be happier spending her days putting words on paper and hanging out with her husband, two kids, and a rather enthusiastic beagle.

You can check out Abbey’s books at www.molliecampbell.com

The Words God Gives

When I was in high school, my favorite teacher pulled me aside after English class one day to give me some advice about a writing project we were working on. During the course of the conversation, he mentioned that it was clear to him that I was a romantic. At the time, I couldn’t figure out what that had to do with anything since the project was a research paper.

That comment has stuck with me all these years and I mull it over now and then. For quite a long time, I had trouble reconciling the idea I had of a flighty, head-in-the-clouds romantic with the more serious, realistic person I saw myself as. It was almost embarrassing to think others saw that much of a starry-eyed dreamer in me.

But what’s so bad about that, anyway? The label has grown on me with time. To the point that I don’t even flinch a little when I tell people I write inspirational romance. Now, I’ve read romance for many years, since I was quite young. I’d pick up a Janette Oke novel my mom had just finished and get hooked. But I always felt like there was a bit of a stigma around the genre. Like it wasn’t serious enough to be real literature.

Since I started writing, it’s crossed my mind many times that maybe I should write about more serious topics. Even compared to others within the romance genre, I write light stories. Sweet books. Easy-to-read. And honestly, that’s the type of books I like to read, too. Does the lightness make them less valid than deeper books that delve into the hard parts of life?

I don’t think so. I believe that God gives writers different focuses for a reason. Many writers, in romance and other genres, handle heavy issues beautifully, touching hearts and healing wounds. But there are others who handle life’s problems with humor or sweetness. Are any of those better than the others? Nope.

Just like God created people to perform different functions within the church and likened it to the human body working together, I believe He made different writers to perform different functions. Together, we make up a whole, a spectrum of writers all writing the multitude of words God gives them. Between us, we can touch hearts with serious words or funny ones, deep words or light-hearted ones. No one way is better because each reader will respond to something different.

So, write what you feel led to write. The words that God gives you will find their mark in His timing. Isn’t that a wonderfully freeing thought?

I’d love to hear from you. Where does your writing fit in? 

Abbey Downey never expected her love for writing to turn into a career, but she’s thankful for the chance to write inspirational romance as Mollie Campbell. A life-long Midwestern girl, Abbey lives in Central Indiana, where her family has roots back to the 1840s. She couldn’t be happier spending her days putting words on paper and hanging out with her husband, two kids, and a rather enthusiastic beagle.

You can check out Abbey's books at www.molliecampbell.com

A New Prayer

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.

Psalm 90:17

When I first started writing, I certainly prayed. I prayed that God would help me write the story. That I’d hear back from an editor quickly. That someone would want to publish the book I’d worked so hard on.

But I rarely considered praying over each writing session, or for the people who would read my stories. I only realized that after connecting with other writers and seeing their passion for praying for readers. These writers love knowing that their words can stir not only the heart but also the spirit.

And, as Christians, isn’t that a large part of the reason we write? To point others to God, either directly or subtly?

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the process. Plan, write, submit, get a response, repeat. But I don’t want my writing to be about me, or the process, or the business of it. I hope God will use my writing to advance His purposes. As the verse above says, my work isn’t for me, it’s His to establish.

So, my new goal is to pray over the words I write and for those that will read them. I’ve started trying to pray when I first sit down to write every day. As I prepare for my second book to come out, I pray for those who are working with me on editing, formatting, cover design, every part of it. And when it finally goes out into the world next year, I'll pray that there’s something in what I’ve written that will draw each reader closer to God.

How about you? I’d love to hear about how you pray for your writing and/or readers!

Abbey Downey never expected her love for writing to turn into a career, but she’s thankful for the chance to write inspirational romance as Mollie Campbell. A life-long Midwestern girl, Abbey lives in Central Indiana, where her family has roots back to the 1840s. She couldn’t be happier spending her days putting words on paper and hanging out with her husband, two kids, and a rather enthusiastic beagle.

You can check out Abbey's books at www.molliecampbell.com

Why Writing with Kids Isn't So Bad

By Abbey Downey

As a mom of two young kids (ages five and three), it’s safe to assume I’ll hear the same question every time I mention I’m also a writer. “How do you make time to write with kids at home?”

Honestly, it’s a reasonable question. Kids take a lot of our time and mental resources, don’t they? And, even if you can get them playing peacefully without you, a mom knows those minutes won’t last as long as she hopes.

“He hit me!”

“She took my toy!”

“Can I have a snack?”

“I have to go potty. Now!”

"Look, I deleted Mom's entire manuscript with one click!"

But here’s what most people don’t realize: having my kids around actually makes my writing better. In spite of the interruptions, the constant questions, and the frequent potty/refereeing/feeding breaks. 

Here’s what I mean:

   They make me more creative.

Have you ever just listened to a kid playing imaginary games? They’re hilarious! My oh-so-dramatic daughter frequently ends sessions of playing Barbies with someone getting hurt and going to the hospital. My son likes to make his superheroes face off against the bad guys. All of their games involve dramatic conflict. Also, since I write fiction, I can give young characters some of my kids’ funniest quirks!

They force me to use my time wisely.

I love the way another author recently responded to the question of how moms find time to write. She laughingly replied that nap time is her friend, but then went on to say that somehow, God always provides the time. Isn’t that just like our God? He calls us to write and He provides what we need to accomplish that. But this is where I struggle: I have to get off Twitter and use the snippets of time I do have, especially when there are kids around with all their various needs. If I want to get any writing in, I have to plan my day and stick to it.

They make me get out and experience the world.

I’m an introvert. Even if you aren’t, as people who work in a rather solitary profession, it’s easy for writers to get wrapped up in our words and forget that there’s a whole, real world right in front of us. And that world provides endless inspiration! My kids require things like being picked up from school, getting food to make into meals, trips to the library, and hours spent eavesdropping on—I mean, accidentally overhearing—conversations during sports practices. All wonderful places to gather ideas that I would miss if I holed up all the time in my house.

"Hmm....I think this story would be better with a few
random letters sprinkled in."

They remind me to always include God.

As they all do, my kids ask questions. So many questions. My five-year-old is very much trying to make sense of how things fit into the world and his questions usually revolve around how things work together. When we get into a line of questions, often it will circle around to how God fits into the subject. Where’s God when kids are at school? How does Jesus eat if He’s invisible? It’s a great reminder that God is in everything we do. No matter the market or genre, there’s always a way to include God in our words and in our writing process.

Have you faced a challenge in your writing that turned out to hide blessings? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

Abbey Downey never expected her love for writing to turn into a career, but she’s thankful for the chance to write inspirational romance as Mollie Campbell. A life-long Midwestern girl, Abbey lives in Central Indiana, where her family has roots back to the 1840s. She couldn’t be happier spending her days putting words on paper and hanging out with her husband, two kids, and a rather enthusiastic beagle.

You can check out Abbey's books at www.molliecampbell.com

Photos from pixabay.com

Rising to a Challenge

Since this is my first post here at Hoosier Ink, I thought I’d start with a little about me. My name is Abbey and I write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Historical line as Mollie Campbell. I’ve lived in Indiana for 24 years, currently in Kokomo with my husband and our two kids.

Speaking of those two kids, isn’t it amazing how different siblings can be? My youngest is what I call a “try-er.” When she wants to do something, she fights to get it done. She puts in the needed effort and doesn’t let fear hold her back, meeting every challenge head-on.

On the other hand, my oldest…prefers not to be challenged. He would be more than happy to sit at home all the time, playing with the same old toys and never stretching himself. He’s very shy and lets his fear of new situations and new people keep him from doing things, even really fun things. No matter how hard we try to reason with him, once he decides he’s too scared or he can’t do something, he just won’t do it.

As writers, don’t we face this all the time? We all know what can happen when we face a challenge. Failure. Languishing in the process. Or…maybe success. We can choose to face a challenge head-on. Send that proposal to an agent or publisher. Step out and search for a critique partner. Go to a conference in spite of not knowing anyone.

Or we can choose to hide from the challenge. If I’m honest, I can be more like my oldest than I care to admit. Putting words that come from my heart in front of people who might judge or criticize can be terrifying. It’s easier to keep my writing to myself. And for years, that’s what held me back from even trying.

But once I found the courage to start sharing the words I love, I found that I always come out on the other side of that challenge better than where I started. Even if the outcome isn’t exactly what I hoped for, I learn and grow through the experience. And the same applies to all the hard things we come up against in writing (and life). Facing that challenge makes us better and makes our writing better. And that’s worth conquering the fear.