Buckled in for the long haul.

​Those who receive my author newsletter have probably heard a little about some of the other writing projects I've been working on in the background to my part-time PhD. I tend to have a few projects on the go at the same time even as I chip away at the big ones. This way of working, however, does have its challenges because the more projects you have on the go, the more ups and downs you encounter, as well as multiple versions of uncertainty.
And here's the thing, uncertainty is just part of the game when it comes to creative pursuits. We make, we hope, we dream, we build and then - with tentative imaginations and wistful expectations - we send that creativity out into the world.

Sometimes we get wins. Many times we don’t (even if we are very good at what we do). Facing the whiplash of this emotional roller-coaster can be costly. It can, at times, terrify us from starting something new. Or can hold us back from finishing something we once so passionately believed in. And this is when a few generous words along the way make all the difference. 
Let me give a few examples of the roller coaster ride I've been on recently, referring back to some of those writing projects my newsletter readers may remember. 

Project 1 - let’s call this one ‘The tale of a dream too big’. 
I love this story. It’s about a big bear and a small bear and is an analogy of God’s love. I took this book to America two years ago to find it a suitable publishing home. Several agents later, and some lovely comments about my story, the manuscript remains without a contract. The main problem? I’m not famous enough (the roller-coaster just stalled mid climb and started rolling backwards). I still love this book, and am hopeful, but not sure what to do next.

Project 2 - let’s call this one ‘The tale of the too slow cassowary’. 
This book was about a cassowary. But I took too long in the writing, researching and rewriting process that I missed a critical submission window. The end result: I’ve got a great book about a cassowary (if anyone’s interested). But the manuscript is going nowhere fast (the roller-coaster pulled verrrrrry slowly to a stop and waited for me to get off).

Project 3 - let’s call this one ‘The tale of the stubborn picture book’.
This project was an exciting idea for books about God’s world, aimed at preschool children (I was aiming for something for a similar audience to my Find The Animal series that are currently on their way out of print. Insert sad music). Unfortunately, by the time I had wrangled the stories into a form I loved, the publisher I hoped to pitch to wasn’t interested anymore (the roller-coaster slams to an unexpected stop part way round a precarious decent). I am currently praying through the options for this project.

Project 4 - let’s call this one ‘The book I gave up on’. 
This story is a little different, because it’s about a book that was published 17 years ago and not a picture book. The Back Leg of a Goat was my first junior fiction novel for children. The books are on their way out of print, having sold very slowly over all those years and although I love Tania as though she was my real-life childhood best friend, I'll admit I’d sort of given up on the series. The other week, however, I received an email from a stranger on other side of the world, telling me my book had helped her grand-daughter come to faith in Jesus (the rickety old roller-coaster just careened around the widest bend with the greatest view!). This woman ended her email with: ‘keep writing.’  

And here’s the thing: when you’ve been shaken by the ups and downs and unceasing unknowns of a creative roller-coaster, it’s tempting to consider climbing off for good. Let it swing round the last bend, come to a stand-still, unbuckle the belt and set your wobbly legs on solid ground. It’s times like this that a small assurance from your daily quiet time make all the difference. Or when that little ‘keep writing’ at the end of an email is the answer to the question you’d been secretly asking. These things offer the courage we need to stay buckled in. Pencil to the page, fingers on the keyboard, chin up and ready to imagine what might be outside our comfort zone. 

All that to say... If you are a writer on the roller coaster, and you’re wondering whether it’s time to climb down or keep going, let me encourage you to press in to your ‘why’, and ask God for clarity. He will provide it at just the right time (even if the wait is hard).
And if you are a reader, please never underestimate the power of your prayers, your encouragement and those random emails you feel led to write. They keep us writers buckled in. They keep us writing. Thank you!