Stay in the Game

We all know writing is a journey. As we go through seasons in the journey of life, we also go through seasons in the journey of writing. It’s a given. I’m just coming out of a long, dry, winter season myself. But one thing that’s helped me come out is keeping my foot (well, ok, more like my pinky toe) in the door of the writing world. I’m visualizing the wardrobe and Narnia here—that’s how different my world has been lately to my writing world. But there have been a couple of things that have helped me so I haven’t felt completely shut out of Narnia. I hope these can help you, too.

Keep writing. This may seem obvious, but if you’re having major writer’s block or are completely stumped about which direction to turn to next (yep, been there not too long ago), I don’t necessarily mean to write a hundred words each day in your next work in progress that’s covered in a layer of technology dust. I mean simply, write. Write in your journal (if you don’t have one, maybe this is the time to start). Write a blog post even if you don’t have a blog. Write a letter to someone who lives far away and send it through good old fashioned post mail. There are a million different ways to keep the creative juices flowing if you’re in between. Find one (or two) that work for you.

Another way to stay in the game is to offer your expertise to others. I am currently editing a full non-fiction manuscript for someone I just met a few days ago. Critiquing and editing or proofreading others’ work helps keep the mind in writing-mode and a foot in the door.

If you’re between pieces of work, or the ideas seem to be locked behind the wardrobe door of your Narnia, don’t stop altogether. Don’t lock yourself away from the writing world. Find a way to stay in the game even if it’s not what you hoped to be doing. I guarantee it—the door will open!