As I’m sure you’ve figured out by now, my first novel, The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn, is being published by Steeple Hill next summer. I couldn’t be more thrilled, and I know that I owe all of it to God. He happened to use a couple of my friends, Kelly B. and Jess B., to help me get the first draft of that story finished–keeping me accountable to get my words written. But since then, I’ve been in the process of writing two or three other stories and making edits to Kenzie’s story. Now that I’m committed to working on the follow-up novel, I find it especially hard to buckle down and get words written each week.
Then last week, I chatted with another author that I work with. He’s been writing books for more than 15 years. He’s a great guy, so when I told him that I was working on my second novel, I expected him to give me loads of encouragement. I said something along the lines of, “For some reason, getting this book written is harder than the first.” And he said, “They just get harder.”
Ouch! Talk about a reality check. He told that no one ever tells aspiring writers the truth–even if it is your calling, writing is tough, and it just gets harder over the years.
At first I was a little disillusioned. Was he just really jaded after so many years in the business? Was he just telling me that every book is harder to write than the last because I was having a hard time? Was I so different from every other author that says it’s easy because God has given them a message? I grappled with these questions for an evening, until I finally came to freeing conclusion.
It’s okay for the second book to be harder than the first–regardless of what every other author says. After all, writing isn’t about being easy. It’s about being dilligent with the talents that God’s given me. Getting in front of my computer and putting words on paper, er, screen. It’s just up to me to be available. God will take care of the rest of it for me. His strength is made perfect in my weakness.
Now this post just passed 370 words. Would these words have been better used if I’d added them to ch. 6 of my current project? Hmm … Not enough answers tonight. So I’ll say goodnight here before I add a couple more lines to ch. 6. – LJ