What drink helps get you into the writing zone?

This totally made my day! Super grateful to Chloe for taking this picture!

The Covered Deep >> https://amzn.to/3TbrLY3 

Within the Veil >> https://amzn.to/4dE33Hm

Things writers do:

~While writing a scene, listen to the same song for hours, trying to get the mood just right.

~Spend entire days finding and editing photos and videos for promotion.

~Search pictures of “light on stone” on Pinterest, trying to describe the light on the stone in the scene. Other searches may include “Tudor necklace” “illuminated manuscript” and “Glastonbury Tor.” Somewhere along that line of thought, you’ll come across a picture of a random cave in France. That will give you and idea for something having to do with Templars. Spend three hours researching Templars and then decide that idea won’t work after all.

~Go back to searching Pinterest. Decide that you need more pictures of the actors who are the inspiration for your characters. Find the perfect picture of them, reflecting the mood that you need for a scene. Go write the scene. The scene is garbage because it is a first draft. This does not deter you as you know the drill. You’ll come back to the scene again. And again. And again. And . . . Laugh/cry

~Realize you’ve been sitting at your desk all day and the only thing you’ve eaten is walnuts.

~Look at your Yoga pants and realize that you have been wearing the same Yoga pants since 2012. They have holes and you resemble a beggar. You should really do normal things like shop.

~Guzzle tea/ coffee. You may have a problem with this.

~Obsess about ________________. Use your imagination and Google. Find a random website or fact that solves that one fact you’ve been needing for weeks/ months. Insert the fact into your work in progress. This adds one sentence.

~Force yourself to edit X number of pages. It feels like trying to wrestle an octopus into a Mason jar.

~Message bestie writers, telling them you don’t know how to write, your book is stupid, etc. They talk you off the ledge because you’re tight like that, and you’ve done the same for them. Gifs are used in the conversation. Mystic goat challenges are issued. Plots are contrived to rule the world.

~Write some more. Bleed on the page. Have an epic idea. This one works. Your book might work. You smile.

~Get up the next day. Sit at the computer. Embrace the madness. Repeat. You’re thankful. You get to tell stories! And that is one of the best jobs in the world.

Sometimes you’re having a low day and someone posts something like this. <3

When you decide you really want a published book, you won’t stop until you’re holding it in your hands. You’ll revise. Then revise again. Cancel social plans. Stay up late. Get up early.

Yes, you’ll get discouraged. But this is a fire that won’t die. It’s a calling. And it sits heavy sometimes.

As Maya Angelou said, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you.” 

Decide that you’re worth it. Decide that your story really does matter.

Most of the times the greatest thing stopping us is our confidence in ourself.

Do you have a decided heart? 

I love this verse in 1 Kings 18:21 and it applies:

And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.

It’s the same thing for writing and writers. We want to be published but most of the time we complain about not being published.

I’ve gone through many dry seasons with my writing. I’ve also gone through grief seasons when I couldn’t write. This is different.

For me, this is just me saying, “I’m worth it.”

So I’m telling you that you’re worth it even if you don’t believe it. We lie to ourselves in many different “shades” surrounding this.

So dig deep. Time for some introspection.

Do you really want this?

Because if you want this it will happen. But sacrifices will have to be made.  

How long have you been trying to get published?