It’s been far too long since I posted here. I apologize, and I appreciate all of you who have asked me how my book is going.
Things are going well, albeit very slowly.
After I went to the conference, I sort of lost my momentum. Even though I had a great time, learned a lot, and got good feedback, I had a hard time continuing with the book. It still burned in my heart to write this story, but I went through a time when I felt almost paralyzed by fear.
I was afraid of three things.
- I felt that the expectations on me were really high, higher than maybe I could live up to.
- I felt a lot of pressure to hurry up and finish the book because people were waiting on me.
- I realized how much I don’t know about writing a book, and I wasn’t sure I could ever learn it all.
These were all very good reasons to be afraid, but not reasons to quit altogether. I had to work through them and give them to God. And He has used these fears to help me grow. First, I don’t have to worry about living up to anyone’s expectations. God called me to write and He will equip me to do what He has called me to do. (Philippians 4:13)
Secondly, writing a book takes a long time, and I have a limited amount of time in which to work on it. This is my reality. God’s timing is always perfect, and when the book is ready, the opportunities will be there.
And finally, knowing how much I don’t know led me to delve into learning more about the craft of writing. I bought a couple of great books and signed up for a class on outlining. This class has been so helpful! I’ve been able to get further along with the book than I had before.
I’ll write more in the next few days about my class and what I’ve learned.
Thank you for continuing with me on this journey. It’s quite an adventure!
Hope Welborn 
I really enjoy hearing about your journey and all the things you are learning as you work on this writing project. It shows that God can use even the “down” times to teach us. I love hearing about your progress, or even your slower times. It will all come together in God’s time. Thank you for including me in your updates.
Love, Toni
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Fear certainly has a paralyzing effect. It can creep up on you and stifle your progress even when you aren’t fully aware that you’re under its influence. I’m glad to hear that you’re stepping back and taking your time and that you’re turning over your challenges to God. If you know that this is what you’re supposed to do, you can certainly ask Him for all the help you need to accomplish your goal!
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Thanks, Chuck! I have found that, in my life, fear often masks itself as procrastination. When I find myself avoiding something, I have to ask myself why. Most of the time, the answer is that I’m afraid that I can’t do it. The truth is that I can’t do it… alone, but I can in His strength. And yes, I know it is what I’m supposed to do – without a doubt! 🙂
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Thank you, Toni, for your support! It means a lot to know that you and others are enjoying this journey with me.
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