SELF-DISCOVERY

During my time of soul searching (see my last post), I felt like I was floundering, or, as Webster's puts it, "acting ineffectually" or "struggling to obtain footing."

What is my voice? was crying out inside of me.

What am I supposed to write? (Genre, style.)

More importantly...

What am I destined to write? (For I truly believed I was destined.)

A famous, multi-published author graciously read some of my work during this time, sensed my struggle, and gave me some good advice.

First, he asked me what did I see as a weakness in my writing?

Innocence, was the first thing I said, thinking of Pollyanna and Christy.

Surprisingly, he said that was a good thing! He said, "Take comfort in your simplicity or naïf style."

That was good news to my cynical self.

He also told me some other things to do—some practical things such as studying bestselling novels and identifying more of my weaknesses and working on them.

His best advice?

"For the time being, forget your doubts. Revel in the writing."

"Forget the outside world around you and put all your energy into the joy of creating."

So that is what I am attempting to do. I'm going to put my inner editor—my harshest critic—aside and simply…

CREATE!

And I'm excited about what God and I are going to produce…