This blank page staring at me actually has a proper name, “Writer’s Block.”
Bob Welch, author and teacher, explains that the writing profession is the only one that grants itself a built-in excuse to fail – even naming it.
Giving examples, Bob says, “You never hear a plumber hanging out under the sink declare, ‘I have Plumber’s Block,” as he slides out and heads home.
“You don’t hear a surgeon announce, ‘I have no idea how to repair this knee. Close it up. Let’s call it quits.’”
But writers, like I’m attempting to be several times each week, sometimes just can’t seem to produce.
I felt God’s nudge to edit and update the first draft of some truths about His love and to share them at the upcoming Dare to Be Still retreat this very weekend.
I have a story in mind I want to include in my small booklet, “Christ’s Extravagant Love,” but I’m not sure how to start, how the middle should flow, or how to end it. And Writer’s Block seems to be the easy excuse.
“Writer’s block is partly a lack of courage to write badly,” Author Ron Powers says.
But what if, instead of giving in to fear, I believed this instead:
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
How? That’d be God. So I pray for grace to place my fingers on the keys, my ears on Him, my eyes on the women who’ll be at the retreat; and simply start typing.
In her book, Write What You Know, author Meg Files urges her Writer’s-Block-readers with this visual:
PLAYING WITH BLOCKS
Writers’ blocks are silent and invisible. They are made of fear.
Turn them into a pile of children’s alphabet blocks. Let them spell out the names of the fears. Build a tower and knock it down.
Throw out all but one or two blocks. Use the scraps of remaining fear to energize the writing.
And I pray “Lord, I don’t want to do – or not do – anything You ask of me based on fear.”
FEAR – such a sneak-around-the-corner trick by the enemy to tempt us to believe God is not present – not strong enough.
May the Truth set us free!
“God is great not just because nothing is too big for Him;
God is also great because nothing is too small.”
- MARK BATTERSON
Pull up a chair and sit still
Have you hit a RED LIGHT somewhere that God is signaling GO? Perhaps it’s time to sit still for awhile and ask Him to reveal the fear that has caused you to hit the brakes. Then remember… you can do all things through Him who gives you strength.