Tag: setbacks

Categories
Embrace the Wait

Find Your Fellow Tesserae and Stick Together (Part 3): Don’t allow setbacks to keep you from chasing your writing dreams.

In this series of posts I’m interviewing writers who God has placed in my life to complete His divine mosaic. Each piece of a mosaic is called a tesserae. I’d like to introduce another tesserae in my mosaic—Patricia Tiffany Morris. I first met Patricia through an online critique group. The combination of her technical expertise and artistic talent blew me away, but it was Patricia’s willingness to take the time, apart from our regular meetings, to lovingly share her knowledge that caused me to consider her a dear friend.

Patricia had a huge publishing dream. She worked hard and invested time and money to plan for that dream. Finally, the time to realize that dream came and … a series of major technical setbacks threatened to steal the joy of seeing her dream come to fruition.

But God…

1) Briefly explain the original dream/plan for your journals

After my husband retired, and the empty nest stage of life arrived, we had little capital, but enormous dreams.

We brainstormed ideas to create a residual income for ourselves and our children after our death. Leaving a legacy, using my skills in creative writing and art, sparked my imagination. With my architectural and design background, I sketched plans and details of a perfect tiny house nestled in the mountains of North Carolina. I designed a home in college in the style of Sarah Suzanka’s Not So Big House, and continue to write and draw, filling stacks of notebooks and journals.

Two years ago, I pulled out a planner concept I’d developed over the past 20 years, still in a folder with no concrete plans.

A fresh idea germinated. One that planted itself between my desire to write and create art, and my need for organization. If wanted specific identification of my journals’ contents, I reasoned that others also did. You see, whenever I wanted to locate an entry, I would pull the assortment of journals out of two overflowing 18-gallon Rubbermaid containers.

If I wanted to find a book title, why couldn’t I design a journal with the words on the spine or color-code the cover so writing journals were one color, and creativity or spiritual journals were their distinct colors? I color-coded our family cups and towels. Why couldn’t I categorize journals the same way?

I immersed myself in this project. I could spend my entire life developing this planner or complete a portion of the project right now. For however long God plans for me on earth, I hope to share inspirational writing prompts, organizational ideas, and create places to brainstorm, sketch and create. And dream.

2. Can you tell me more about the journal series?

The series of journals separated by various category topics or by content, could help other creatives manage their creativity and planning needs and provide that financial legacy for my children.

I cracked open my new bullet journal and prayed. One idea after another poured onto the pages. Categories took shape. Digital art programs aided the workflow and Journaling Scribbles came to life.

The idea of a series of color-coded journals, organized by categories labeled with a colored band, found momentum with a small group of friends who encouraged me. Some joined my launch team and propelled me toward the goal of self-publishing.

I’m not sure I would have had strength through the many setbacks without my empathetic and courageous launch team.

3. What sorts of twists and turns did you encounter while trying to publish?

A more precise question might be, “What sort of trials didn’t I encounter?”

We don’t know how much we don’t know, unless we experiment and learn from our mistakes.

I believe that technology became my biggest enemy. Also, my lofty expectations that I would be published before Christmas in 2020. Ironically, I’m writing a fiction series called the Virtual Strangers Series. Technology is the ultimate antagonist to my heroine and her family. It also becomes the helper to solve the mystery. Fiction imitates life.

I experienced many crashes, lost files, and consumed hours and days of extra work. The temptation to give up and the waves of depression that I might never publish, brought me to my knees more often because of my need and a realization that I wasn’t in control.

The digital learning curve throws me daily, but I’m thankful for geeky solutions and platforms that help meet my long-term goals for the Journaling Scribbles™ series of journals.

4. How did you handle the discouragement?

In addition to having a wonderfully supportive husband who prays for me and with me, I found courage to ask for help and prayer. As setbacks delayed my timeline and as each twist developed, like any true plot-twist in a novel, I could either give in, press forward, or wait.

Option 3-Wait. I reset the iPad, worked on what I could. I dove into yet another unfamiliar app, but at least I inched forward in the waiting.

I put some steps on hold and grappled with the reality that my timeline was not in God’s. I struggled with the KDP proof-copy and pulled the books from Amazon’s distribution in November 2020. The proofs were sub-standard, see-through paper, and not at all suited for journaling.

I asked for prayer and announced the delay while researching options. Integrating my artwork into the software asset library proved almost therapeutic. I also brainstormed ideas with my husband again and continued to create journal themes to keep the dream alive.

My team was immensely supportive and patient with schedule changes. I found renewed hope. Even during this set-back, I could search for solutions and make progress toward the dream of self-publishing and creating a legacy for my family.

5. What practical lessons have you learned through your set-back that might help another author, who is just starting out?

I think I may have appeared foolish to many people, but that doesn’t usually stop me. When the Lord continues to shine through the pages of the Bible and keeps me in His presence despite the trials of this life, I’m confident I can’t fall without Him catching me. Ideas may fail, but He reminds me I’m not a failure.

I also developed a practice of taking notes during worship and lettered His words while watching the sermon. Illustrations came to life through videotaping the coloring process. Sundays kept me grounded in the Word and exercised my creativity. These times swept away discouragement and allowed me to dive into the writing and publishing flow on Mondays.

6. What God lessons have you learned that you might not otherwise have gleaned on a smoother publishing journey?

Remember I mentioned “my timeline”? That was my biggest lesson. I am much afflicted by pride. And I need God’s timeline. His plans might ask me to wait, but I can keep learning. The waiting time is so important.

As authors, writers, and artists, we create and design. We make plans and press ahead sometimes without waiting for the Lord’s direction. How precious and glorious when I rest in the flow of His purpose. Like riding on a calm lake, floating sometimes propels me off course or causes the craft to drift to the shoreline or get caught in the weeds. Sometimes stepping into the boat at the top of a hill and careening through a waterfall upside-down until I emerge in yet another stream toward the goal.

I think there’s always another stream to navigate. Don’t you? Another trial. Another goal. Success resides in the journey, the process, and how we view ourselves as we travel. We can either walk on our own merits, or with God’s direction and a bit of community cheerleading to remind each one of us that we need one another to succeed in this world.

7) If you had it all to do over again, would you take a different path?

This question tumbles through my mind quite often. My dream would still be present. Or another dream stacked waiting for my time. The imagination pulses continually. That’s who I am. My creativity and inspiration to create, flow from my allegiance to Christ. But the path along each tributary is fluid. I see many tributaries in this journey. I might have taken the path of Ingram publishing instead of KDP. I may have hired a marketing director instead of the FB team. Or I might have bought into the Adobe Design software instead the Affinity products.

But the dream still keeps me awake at night.

If not this dream, another equally complex and time consuming one would surface, because the goal to create a product that meets other believer’s needs for reflection and planning and creativity would still be there, wrestling for an answer to the problems of our identity in Christ. And souls like me, who find peace and joy in processing our thoughts, words, and ideas, might still be waiting for us.

While the exact path might be different, the end goal or product faces me and reminds me to keep pressing forward.

If you are a writer. If you are a creative artistic person who wakes up to a dream, keep pressing forward. If you need to hop out of the figurative boat to reassess the current, do it. If the dream calls to you, and God doesn’t say no, or stop, keep praying. Keep researching and reevaluating your path. And brainstorm, collaborate, and network until God redirects your path.

I’ll pray for you as you write, create, and inspire others to do the same.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:26, Hebrews 10:24, 1 Peter 3:8

Fun Fact or Helpful Resource:
Artist, writer, and Christian creative, Patricia Tiffany Morris, weaves original hand-drawn artwork, digital illustrations, and traditional planning elements throughout the pages of the journals. For more info check out Patricia’s website: https://www.patriciatiffanymorris.com/

Annette Marie Griffin is an award-winning author who has managed and directed programs for children and youth for more than twenty years. She has written curriculum for character growth and development of elementary-age children, developed parent training seminars to benefit the community, and counseled at-risk youth. Her first children’s book What Is A Family? released in 2020. She and her husband have five children—three who have already flown the coop and two adopted teens still roosting at home—plus two adorable grands who add immeasurable joy and laughter to the whole flock. 

Categories
Embrace the Wait

Survival Tips for the Waiting Part of Writing Tip #16 – Be Ready For Setbacks

As I write this post, my publishing dream has yet again been delayed. Three weeks before my first children’s book was supposed to release, I received word that shipping issues would keep us from hitting the original release date. Hateful Covid. For the past month I’ve gathered an amazing group of people who have agreed to be on my launch team, I’ve alerted friends and family—basically everyone who has been walking this journey with me since I signed the contract two years ago—and I’ve even planned a huge launch party for the day of my book’s presumed launch. Now, the book is not expected to hit the market until a month later … maybe.

When you’re running a marathon, and the finish line finally comes into view, the last thing you want is for some unknown force to pick you up and place you a mile or two back on the track. When that happens, and at some point in your writing career a setback will happen, here are some things to keep in mind.

1) Remember and trust that your writing journey, all of it, is in God’s capable hands. Before I ever began writing, and every day since, I’ve asked God to take the words He has given me and use them for His plans and purposes. Shipping delays, Covid, and a host of other complications may be able to stop little ole me in my tracks, but nothing can or will ever stop the plans of our great God. If this work is His—and it is because I surrendered it to Him—then this delay is part of His sovereign plan. And I can trust that He will see to completion the plan for it.

2) Don’t allow yourself to crumble beneath the weight of disappointment. Yes, it stings. Yes, it doesn’t seem fair. Yes, you are allowed a small meltdown. But after you’ve had your pity party, and cried if you wanted to, pick yourself back up and get back to work. Don’t give yourself permission to throw in the towel. Continue to write through the frustration. Adulting is hard, especially when you choose to call yourself a professional. But professionals are able to press on, even when their emotions try to take control. I’m learning to take the setbacks and spin them into positive energy—while I wait for God to make them into something beautiful.

3) View the setback in the right perspective. In the whole scheme of things, my irritation over my book’s delay, and your disappointing writing obstacles, are not the end of the world. No matter how important and painful these experiences may be to us, they are first world problems. All over the planet people are suffering through dire hardships that threaten to take not only their dreams but their livelihoods and even their lives. I’ve found that one surefire way to avoid becoming too consumed with my own disappointments is to focus on the things I have to be thankful for, and to choose to care for and pray for those who have it much worse. When we take our focus off our problems, it gives God a free hand to work things out for good.

Scripture: Proverbs 16:9, Psalm 121:4-5, Philippians 2:3-4, 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Fun Fact or Helpful Resource: I realize that my setback is so miniscule to what some of you may be experiencing. And if I’m honest, it’s miniscule compared to other disappointments I’ve experienced in the past. But this song has gotten me through some very rough patches. The lyrics express perfectly my hope for what trials may produce in my life … and yours.

Annette Marie Griffin is a award-winning writer who speaks at local women’s group meetings and women’s retreats on the topic of biblical womanhood and finding our identity in Christ. She is the Operations and Events Coordinator at a private school for special needs students and is the editor of their quarterly newsletter. She has written custom curriculum for women’s retreats and children’s church curriculum for Gateway Church in San Antonio, Texas where she served as Children’s Ministry Director and Family Program Director for over twenty years. She and her husband John have five amazing children and two adorable grands. She’s a member of Word Weavers International, ACFW, SCBWI, and serves on the Board of Directors for The Creative Writing Institute.

Categories
Writing with a Disability (Different Ability)

Setbacks

As I write this month’s post from my home office, the world around me is shut down as caution to the coronavirus. The writing conference season has come to a screeching halt before it ever got started. Because most conferences have either been postponed or canceled.

As social-distancing has become the norm, I have had more time to think about a lot of things. I know a lot of writers, both established and aspiring are disappointed by lost opportunities to pursue their passions or missed chances to reunite with other writing friends.

But, I can’t help but shake the memories and feelings I had over two decades ago when my life literally came to a screeching halt. It seemed like everything had been taken away from me: dreams, finances, relationships and even some physical abilities.

You could say, my life was over with as I knew it. But, it wasn’t over—it was just a turning point in my life that would put me on a new course. I’ve shared how difficult it can be to live with a brain injury.

But since, this month is brain injury awareness month I want to share with you some insights I have learned from navigating the hurdles life has thrown at me. Because as the world is learning now, you don’t have to have a disability to experience the trials in life.

Below are a few truths about life we can bet on.

  • Everyone struggles at times in life.
  • Just because you get knocked down in life, doesn’t mean it’s over with.
  • Slow down and learn to listen when life pauses.

Setbacks in life prepare us for what may lie ahead on our journey. By now we all know that writing isn’t an easy career. There are hurdles to jump. How we handle the setbacks will determine how our careers go.

Setbacks?

I googled the definition for setback and found a couple of interesting definitions: “1) A checking of progress 2) A space between buildings. 3) Automatic scheduled adjustment to a lower temperature setting of a thermostat.”

It’s interesting because these characteristics of setbacks apply to all facets of life, especially the writing life. Setbacks help us gauge the progress of our writing, they give us space and time to think, and they help us make adjustments to our writing.

Setbacks should help us focus, not make us fearful. I think our country and world have been humbled by the coronavirus. Hopefully we can learn from this setback.

About eight months after I had my accident, I suffered my first seizure and was scared to death. It took me two days after going to the emergency room to regain the movement in my left arm. For two days I cried because I thought all the progress I’d made over the previous eight months was lost. I was sure I would never walk again or be able to use my left arm. It wasn’t until eight years later when I had my second seizure that I began to connect the dots.

My seizures were triggered by becoming dehydrated. Once I made the correct adjustments to my life to avoid those situations, I have become seizure-free for over a decade, without any medication or doctor visits. Setbacks can teach us something if we pay attention.

I recently reached out to one of my writing mentors for some advice about navigating the hurdles of a writing career. She agreed that there are many. She was the one who first who noticed and helped me hone my writing voice. The following list is a compilation of hurdles that I have experienced along with some from my closest writing friends.

  1. Finding your “writing” voice.
  2. Finding your target market.
  3. Building your platform.
  4. Finding an editor that fits.
  5. Landing representation for your writing projects.
  6. Securing a publishing contract.
  7. Book marketing.

These are only a few hurdles I’ve heard about within the writing community. There will always be unplanned hiccups in the writing life, in life and definitely living with a disability.

These are times when patience and persistence are vital to a writer. After I had that first seizure I wanted to just give up completely, but then I learned to use it as a tool on my road to recovery. Write on!

Hang On?

Whether I’m at a writer’s conference or listening to online teleseminar, I always hear the same thing.

  • Don’t give up.
  • Keep learning.
  • Listen.
  • It’s okay to ask for help/advice.

Although I had therapists twenty years ago, there was no one I could turn to who could explain to me what my life would be like after losing 30% of my brain.

Now I have the opportunity to encourage other brain injury/stroke survivors about what to expect. I am also fortunate enough to have established writers in my life to help me navigate the writing hurdles.

As the world pauses to deal with the coronavirus, it is a great time to ask for help, listen and continue to learn our craft. That is the best way to make the most out of this setback.

Martin Johnson survived a severe car accident with a (T.B.I.) Traumatic brain injury which left him legally blind and partially paralyzed on the left side. He is an award-winning Christian screenwriter who has recently finished his first Christian nonfiction book. Martin has spent the last nine years volunteering as an ambassador and promoter for Promise Keepers ministries. While speaking to local men’s ministries he shares his testimony. He explains The Jesus Paradigm and how following Jesus changes what matters most in our lives. Martin lives in a Georgia and connects with readers at Spiritual Perspectives of Da Single Guy and on Twitter at mtjohnson51.