Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Nothing Good Comes Easy

Being a writer is the life … isn’t it?

Two and a half years ago, after working with my daughter on a story project for school, I got the bug. I wanted to write. I came up with some ideas for a story and laid them out on paper. Oh, was it fun! I hadn’t been that creative in moneyyears.

Did people really get paid to do this?

Then, the Lord spoke to my heart. I can almost envision Him shaking His head, warily as He imparted the message. “This won’t be an easy journey. Prepare yourself for a long and bumpy road. But don’t give up.”

Long and bumpy? How?

Um. Well. I know now. After writing, re-writing, critiquing, being critiqued and re-writing some more—only to start the process over again—Oh, do I know. So, seeing His word to me was true, I do as He instructed. I don’t give up.

It’s hard work. Harder than I’ve ever encountered. And yet—though I’m still not “published”—the most rewarding work I’ve ever engaged in. My manuscript has brought my sister and I closer as it allowed me to communicate, through my characters, things I had never been able to say. I’ve been told about families who have found great success using vision therapy for their once struggling readers after reading about it on my blog. Yes, the Holy Spirit has shown me the fruits of this labor. Labor I might have given up over a year ago had He not spoken that warning to me.

But the Holy Spirit, in His infinite wisdom, didn’t stop there. A year and a half ago, I went to a Third Day concert and heard Trevor Morgan sing for the first time. He played the song, Easy, which reminded me of the message God gave me above (click here to listen to that song), so I bought his CD. Thank you, Jesus, I can be reminded on a daily basis, after a long, weary day of hard critiques and brutal re-writes. And it encourages me to keep plugging away. Because, after all …

Nothing good comes easy … easy.

verr croppedConnie is a 2012 Genesis semi-finalist for Women’s Fiction. She was awarded an Honorable Mention in the Winter 2012 WOW Flash Fiction Contest for her entry, Why Not to Kiss on a Park Bench (aka. Harold and Violet). She also writes the What’s Your Story column, interviewing debut fiction authors for the My Book Therapy Ezine. Come visit her on one of her other blogs:

Living the Body of Christ

InfiniteCharacters.com

4 comments:

Brandi Boddie said...

Writing is a study in patience. When I get frustrated with the erratic ups and downs, I am reminded that we will reap a harvest if we do not lose heart. As you perfectly illustrated, Connie, writing can bless others and be fruitful without its success being solely defined by publication.

Connie Almony said...

Yes, Brandi. God has a plan whether we see it or not. However, I do like it when He gives me a glimpse of what that is :o).

Molly Noble Bull said...

Interesting.
Love,
Molly

Teresa Slack said...

You said it, Connie. I don't think any of us would stick with this if not for the Lord's nudging and his promises that he had plans for this calling he's put inside us. Glad to know I'm not alone. Glad to know he is using each of us in his timing.