Writing: A Journey or a Race?

Woohoo! This isn't so bad. After quite a few heady acceptances, the stories of rejection from others rolled off me. What was the big deal? I was doing just fine. Then it happened.

Not one, but several rejection slips landed in my mailbox and inbox.

I took a deep breath. Okay, this wasn't the worst thing that could happen. Yeah, I'd hit the ground running at breakneck speed and crashed. Maybe it was time to slow down and get some education under my belt.

The problem:  I approached the educational aspect with the same intensity. Craft books, blog posts, workshops, and advice from other writers littered my desk. The rejections kept coming.

Desperate prayers followed. Finally, I did something I should have done from the beginning: I confessed that I couldn't do this in my own strength. If He wanted me to write, I needed His guidance, strength, wisdom, and favor.

The temptation to worry trailed me like that little dust cloud following a Charles Schulz Peanuts character. I kept writing, but slowed my pace. Not long after the "I give up trying to do this on my own prayer," the concept of using fiction techniques in non-fiction writing came my way. I could almost hear the Hallelujah Chorus.

Using dialogue and illustrations, I drafted and edited a devotional. Sweat beaded my brow as I stared at the "send button." I bit my lip, and reached for it. Once the piece zoomed into cyberspace, I checked my email every ten minutes. Yay! It was accepted.

The New Year is still young, but the lesson holds true. Put the Lord first in all you do, and trust Him to lead you on your journey.

Writers and Readers: What lessons have you learned in writing and life?

Photo Credit: leagun