Good morning, everyone. Grace and peace be with you.
Yesterday was the start of two writing challenges. One is to write a book (50k words or more) in 90 days, which is daunting enough … however, the second one is to write a book (50k words or more in 31 days). I did not realize that the second one was a large-scale book project as well. Also, yesterday, there were video conferences to kick-start the challenges. Two different times of the day … thankfully, and I was able to meet both times.
The first conference call expressed that if we had work that we had shelved and had not gotten back to, that was perfectly fine to complete for this challenge. The idea was to create good writing habits. To create a discipline. Kind of like, I get up every morning with my coffee and sit down here to type these out. But to use this same discipline to write the books.
The second conference was after work, and I listened while I cooked dinner (which is another funny story…but I digress). As I listened to the rules and parameters of this challenge, my insides were twisting on how to do two 50k-word books. I was less scared of the above challenge because they said I could use pre-existing work … so I was like, maybe I can do this. That would be pushing me beyond any norms that I had set for myself. THEN….in the second conference, they also said that I could use pre-existing work … I was like SCORE. Two sets of accountability and encouragement in the writing world … one book.
The real win here is that my intention is to finish the fourth book of the series. Knowing that the challenges are 50k words or more, know that this is going to be a long book. None of my books have topped 40k. Most hang out in the 20-30k range. Since I already have over 15k words on paper, I am sure I can meet the 31-day deadline for the first challenge. Will diligence to typing, maybe even have it published by January.
So, why bring up my writing challenges? How far are you willing to push yourself out of your comfort zone? A few years ago, while on vacation in Germany, I had a random ad come across my social media for a writing prompt challenge. Write a 100-word story. I was like, my intros to my daily writings are nearly 100 words. That is impossible. However, I took a jump and started doing writing prompt competitions. In doing those, though I have never won, I have gained a wealth of knowledge and wonderful critiques on how to improve. Before the writing competitions, I was content with one book a year. Now, all I want to do is write. Not just write anything but write inspiration and hope. In all the competitions, regardless of the prompts … and trust me, they can be challenging … is to turn it into a God-song.
Stepping out in faith to write a 100-word story springboarded me into writing with more confidence, with more intent, with more passion. That first story scared the pants off me. But I stepped out because I felt that the challenge came across my page for a purpose. This 50k-word challenge … and at first thought of two separate … scares the pants off of me. This is pretty far out of my comfort zone. However, if I can overcome a 100-word scare while sitting in another country … I know that I can overcome this larger challenge sitting at my desk.
I have come to realize that some of the scariest bridges to cross are the ones that produce the most in the end. I am planning on retiring. I am planning on writing to keep me from getting bored. I am planning on hopefully having a spiritual hobby that might even give me some play money. To be honest. I am planning on creating such content that seeds are planted everywhere, whether I make a dime or not. I plan to fill pages upon pages of words for the intent of storytelling a hole filling … through His message. I could not do that if I had not accepted the challenge of stepping out of my comfort zone.
Change in routine can be a good thing. Embrace it. Do not run … but stand firm and enter the challenge with an open mind and heart of God. Do not allow the enemy to put up barriers of fear and contempt … know the call that He has put on your life and walk forward with confidence. You got this.
Be blessed today my friends.
***David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior – from violent men you save me. – 2 Samuel 22:1-3
Yesterday was the start of two writing challenges. One is to write a book (50k words or more) in 90 days, which is daunting enough … however, the second one is to write a book (50k words or more in 31 days). I did not realize that the second one was a large-scale book project as well. Also, yesterday, there were video conferences to kick-start the challenges. Two different times of the day … thankfully, and I was able to meet both times.
The first conference call expressed that if we had work that we had shelved and had not gotten back to, that was perfectly fine to complete for this challenge. The idea was to create good writing habits. To create a discipline. Kind of like, I get up every morning with my coffee and sit down here to type these out. But to use this same discipline to write the books.
The second conference was after work, and I listened while I cooked dinner (which is another funny story…but I digress). As I listened to the rules and parameters of this challenge, my insides were twisting on how to do two 50k-word books. I was less scared of the above challenge because they said I could use pre-existing work … so I was like, maybe I can do this. That would be pushing me beyond any norms that I had set for myself. THEN….in the second conference, they also said that I could use pre-existing work … I was like SCORE. Two sets of accountability and encouragement in the writing world … one book.
The real win here is that my intention is to finish the fourth book of the series. Knowing that the challenges are 50k words or more, know that this is going to be a long book. None of my books have topped 40k. Most hang out in the 20-30k range. Since I already have over 15k words on paper, I am sure I can meet the 31-day deadline for the first challenge. Will diligence to typing, maybe even have it published by January.
So, why bring up my writing challenges? How far are you willing to push yourself out of your comfort zone? A few years ago, while on vacation in Germany, I had a random ad come across my social media for a writing prompt challenge. Write a 100-word story. I was like, my intros to my daily writings are nearly 100 words. That is impossible. However, I took a jump and started doing writing prompt competitions. In doing those, though I have never won, I have gained a wealth of knowledge and wonderful critiques on how to improve. Before the writing competitions, I was content with one book a year. Now, all I want to do is write. Not just write anything but write inspiration and hope. In all the competitions, regardless of the prompts … and trust me, they can be challenging … is to turn it into a God-song.
Stepping out in faith to write a 100-word story springboarded me into writing with more confidence, with more intent, with more passion. That first story scared the pants off me. But I stepped out because I felt that the challenge came across my page for a purpose. This 50k-word challenge … and at first thought of two separate … scares the pants off of me. This is pretty far out of my comfort zone. However, if I can overcome a 100-word scare while sitting in another country … I know that I can overcome this larger challenge sitting at my desk.
I have come to realize that some of the scariest bridges to cross are the ones that produce the most in the end. I am planning on retiring. I am planning on writing to keep me from getting bored. I am planning on hopefully having a spiritual hobby that might even give me some play money. To be honest. I am planning on creating such content that seeds are planted everywhere, whether I make a dime or not. I plan to fill pages upon pages of words for the intent of storytelling a hole filling … through His message. I could not do that if I had not accepted the challenge of stepping out of my comfort zone.
Change in routine can be a good thing. Embrace it. Do not run … but stand firm and enter the challenge with an open mind and heart of God. Do not allow the enemy to put up barriers of fear and contempt … know the call that He has put on your life and walk forward with confidence. You got this.
Be blessed today my friends.
***David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior – from violent men you save me. – 2 Samuel 22:1-3
Good morning, everyone. Grace and peace be with you.
Yesterday was the start of two writing challenges. One is to write a book (50k words or more) in 90 days, which is daunting enough … however, the second one is to write a book (50k words or more in 31 days). I did not realize that the second one was a large-scale book project as well. Also, yesterday, there were video conferences to kick-start the challenges. Two different times of the day … thankfully, and I was able to meet both times.
The first conference call expressed that if we had work that we had shelved and had not gotten back to, that was perfectly fine to complete for this challenge. The idea was to create good writing habits. To create a discipline. Kind of like, I get up every morning with my coffee and sit down here to type these out. But to use this same discipline to write the books.
The second conference was after work, and I listened while I cooked dinner (which is another funny story…but I digress). As I listened to the rules and parameters of this challenge, my insides were twisting on how to do two 50k-word books. I was less scared of the above challenge because they said I could use pre-existing work … so I was like, maybe I can do this. That would be pushing me beyond any norms that I had set for myself. THEN….in the second conference, they also said that I could use pre-existing work … I was like SCORE. Two sets of accountability and encouragement in the writing world … one book.
The real win here is that my intention is to finish the fourth book of the series. Knowing that the challenges are 50k words or more, know that this is going to be a long book. None of my books have topped 40k. Most hang out in the 20-30k range. Since I already have over 15k words on paper, I am sure I can meet the 31-day deadline for the first challenge. Will diligence to typing, maybe even have it published by January.
So, why bring up my writing challenges? How far are you willing to push yourself out of your comfort zone? A few years ago, while on vacation in Germany, I had a random ad come across my social media for a writing prompt challenge. Write a 100-word story. I was like, my intros to my daily writings are nearly 100 words. That is impossible. However, I took a jump and started doing writing prompt competitions. In doing those, though I have never won, I have gained a wealth of knowledge and wonderful critiques on how to improve. Before the writing competitions, I was content with one book a year. Now, all I want to do is write. Not just write anything but write inspiration and hope. In all the competitions, regardless of the prompts … and trust me, they can be challenging … is to turn it into a God-song.
Stepping out in faith to write a 100-word story springboarded me into writing with more confidence, with more intent, with more passion. That first story scared the pants off me. But I stepped out because I felt that the challenge came across my page for a purpose. This 50k-word challenge … and at first thought of two separate … scares the pants off of me. This is pretty far out of my comfort zone. However, if I can overcome a 100-word scare while sitting in another country … I know that I can overcome this larger challenge sitting at my desk.
I have come to realize that some of the scariest bridges to cross are the ones that produce the most in the end. I am planning on retiring. I am planning on writing to keep me from getting bored. I am planning on hopefully having a spiritual hobby that might even give me some play money. To be honest. I am planning on creating such content that seeds are planted everywhere, whether I make a dime or not. I plan to fill pages upon pages of words for the intent of storytelling a hole filling … through His message. I could not do that if I had not accepted the challenge of stepping out of my comfort zone.
Change in routine can be a good thing. Embrace it. Do not run … but stand firm and enter the challenge with an open mind and heart of God. Do not allow the enemy to put up barriers of fear and contempt … know the call that He has put on your life and walk forward with confidence. You got this.
Be blessed today my friends.
***David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior – from violent men you save me. – 2 Samuel 22:1-3
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