Tag: Daydream

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A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life

Don’t Quit Your Daydream

lighter look at a writer's life

I was ministered to by a bathroom cup a while back.

One day I was getting ready for work and grabbed a cup for my mouthwash. The little saying on the cup caught my eye.

“Don’t quit your daydream.”

There it was, my life story on a mini-cup.

Fourteen years ago, God gave me a dream to write for Him. I didn’t quite know what to do with that dream, but over the years I have tried to fulfill it. I have attended writers conferences, made lots of writer friends, paid for critiques, and pitched enough projects to fill a library.

Were there times I wanted to quit? ABSOLUTELY IN ALL CAPS. But God wouldn’t let me.

I had one of those “I need to quit writing” pity parties right before a writers conference earlier this year. I just wasn’t feeling it, but I prayed and prayed. God has His own sense of timing . . . and humor.

On the way home from that conference, I got a message from my agent. A legit publishing company was ready to offer me and my co-author a contract. A real contract. For an actual book. With my name on the cover.

A couple of weeks later, we signed and began writing our book . . . with a deadline of less than two months (Remember that thing about timing and humor).

It has been fourteen years, and that dream, God’s dream planted deep in my heart, is coming true. I want to pinch myself sometimes. Then I remember that deadline, so I start typing again.

It’s been a long journey, but, if there’s one thing I have learned, God is faithful. If the dream came from Him, He’ll see it through. The path will not be clear at times and you will want to quit, but just trust Him.

Don’t quit your daydream. Bathroom cups are pretty deep.


Carlton Hughes wears many hats. By day, he’s a professor of communication at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, he does object lessons and songs with motions as Children’s Pastor of Lynch Church of God. In his “spare time,” he is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including Chicken Soup for the Soul and several devotional books from Worthy Publishing—Let the Earth Rejoice, Just Breathe, So God Made a Dog, and Everyday Grace for Men. Carlton and his wife Kathy have two sons, Noah and Ethan, both of whom recently flew out of the nest. He is on the planning committee for Kentucky Christian Writers Conference and is a year-round volunteer for Operation Christmas child. He is represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary Agency. His book Adventures in Fatherhood, a 60-day devotional co-authored with Holland Webb, will release in April 2020 from Worthy/Ellie Claire.

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Create. Motivate. Inspire.

3 Simple Ways to Grow as a Writer

Most days, writing brings us joy. Our brains stay on overdrive as we scribble ideas on scraps of paper, napkins, and the edges of our church bulletins. A song on the radio sparks an idea and we scramble to record our thoughts. Middle-of-the-night inspiration brings a groan from our spouse as lamplight is needed to locate a pen fast.

But then, creativity stalls. The blank screen seems to mock us and make us wonder if the words will ever come. Or we are restless—writing the same old words, the same old way.

How do we avoid stagnation? Here are 3 simple ways to grow and to rediscover joy in our work:

  1. Read. And not what we always read. Read short stories and full-length novels. Read poetry and screen plays, magazines and newspapers. Read biographies and draw inspiration from stories of men and women who made a difference in our country and the world. Read about the amazing—about dragons and brave warriors. Be a kid again and devour tales of animals that talk and heroes who fly. Read words that make you think and ponder. And when you find a great book, slow down and ask, why is this good? Why did this book make me laugh, or forget the time? And how can I use these techniques in my work?
  1. Listen. There are stories all around us. When our parents or other family talk about the good old days? Listen closely—there are incredible story ideas tucked inside. When we hear bits of conversation waiting in line at the grocery store or sitting in a restaurant, let it spark our imaginations. Most importantly, listen for the heart-cries of our world. Are there needs God wants us to meet through an encouraging article or devotional? How can our words minister to someone today? Listen for God’s direction in each sentence composed.
  1. Daydream. Writers must be dreamers. Go a little crazy and lose the cellphone, turn off the television and computer, and simply be still. Something magical happens when we allow ourselves time to think and dream. Our imaginations take wing as we step away from everyday chaos and lift our hearts to the Author of creativity.

To be good stewards of our gifts, we must be intentional about growing in our craft.

Are we ready? Fire the laptop.

Prime the pen.

Keep writing!

How do you avoid stagnation in your writing? How do you keep the joy?

[bctt tweet=”We must be intentional about growing in our craft. @A3forMe @LThomasWrites #write #amwriting” via=”no”]

[bctt tweet=”Our imaginations take wing as we lift our hearts to the Author of creativity. @A3forMe @LThomasWrites #write #create” via=”no”]

Categories
Create. Motivate. Inspire.

Sometimes, Yes

bball

I had just settled on our front porch swing with my yellow legal pad and favorite pen when Katie, my home-for-the-summer college girl, stepped outside with a basketball.

“Wanna shoot?”

When I didn’t respond right away, she continued down the porch steps and headed toward the ball goal.

I sighed. There was still a good hour of daylight and my mind was swirling with thoughts and ideas that I wanted to capture on paper. Writers are supposed to be disciplined and structured, right? We will never complete anything if we allow ourselves to be distracted from our work.

I watched Katie’s retreating form as she bounced the b-ball with one hand and inserted her iPhone earbuds with the other.

Decision made.

“Yeah, I’ll play.”

“Oh, okay. Cool.” She removed her earbuds, tucked them into a pocket, and launched her first shot. Swish.

I took a shot and watched it fall short (it had been awhile).

For the next hour, my daughter and I laughed, competed, and junk-talked. We took joy in the game, the wide-open night sky, and each other. And somewhere in that hour it hit me:

I needed this. I needed to step away from the legal pad and refresh a little.

Sometimes, it’s okay to say yes. We are better writers when we feed our souls in other activities and see our world from different angles.

What can you do to shake things up in your writing-life?

Play a game of b-ball (or golf, or tennis, or…).

Make a blanket-fort with the kids or grandkids.

Get in the kitchen and try that new recipe.

Take a friend up on that lunch invitation (it’s really okay).

Go on a date with your spouse.

Kick back with friends and watch a movie.

Daydream a little.

(More ideas here.)

On that special b-ball evening with my daughter, I did write a few words…

H-O-R-S-E (I lost this one, even with 2 shots on the “e”)

C-A-T (I lost this one, too.)

I-T (Um…yeah. But I did make her work for it.)

As a writer who needs to refresh once in a while, how can you say “yes” this week?

 

[bctt tweet=”What can you do to shake things up in your writing-life? #writer #amwriting”]

[bctt tweet=”We are better writers when we feed our souls in other activities and see our world from different angles. #writer #amwriting”]