When I was younger, I used to bite my nails because of fear or anxiety. They’d bleed, become infected and generally look terrible. My grandma, a farmer’s wife, used to put black salve on them to help with the infection. As I grew older, I learned better coping mechanisms for dealing with fear and anxiety such as prayer, talking with others, and refocusing my perspective. And my nails grew. Because of my profession, I need to keep my nails short, but they’re still trimmed, neat, and polished when the mood strikes. However, yesterday, I found myself picking at a nail fragment on my ring finger. I kept tugging on it until it pulled free. This morning, I have an “owie” (I work with small children, so that’s a normal part […]
Read the RestTag Archives | Finding Balance in Writing & Life
Finding Balance in Writing & Life: Between Deadlines
Once I turned in my latest manuscript, I realized something—I was between deadlines, meaning I don’t have any contracted novels to jump right into. While that’s good to allow myself time to relax after back-to-back deadlines, it doesn’t help the bank account. However, I needed the downtime. I needed to refresh my spirit and refuel my writing energies. Here are five suggestions for others who may find themselves between deadlines or without contracts yet: Breathe. Maybe you’ve put in long hours finishing up your manuscript before your deadline. Or perhaps, you’re still waiting for that offer to come through. Either way, take time to simply breathe…relax. I submitted my last manuscript during a family crisis, which tripled the stress level. But, once I turned it in, I was able to […]
Read the Rest
Finding Balance in Writing & Life: When Your Cup is Empty
I knocked over my cup. Tea flowed out of the mug, onto the floor, and raced toward any crack or crevice it could find. I picked up the cup to find it empty, and my shoulders sagged.
I felt like that cup.
Empty. With nothing left to offer.
You see, I spent a week in June at my youngest son’s hospital bedside praying fervently for God to spare his life. A seemingly simple diagnosis of bronchitis led into pneumonia only to have his body attacked by an unknown virus that wrecked havoc on his organs, spiraling him near death.
Oh, and by the way, I had a book deadline that week.
Read the Rest
Finding Balance in Writing & Life: Is This Your Writing Season?
If writing time continues to get crowded out by other demands, then ask God if this is the right season for you, or if you need to take a writing break.
Read the Rest
