Writing is hard. Writing can be discouraging. As you have probably heard, writing can be like opening a vein and bleeding all over the page.
Why do we do it? Do we enjoy pain? Are we gluttons for punishment? Do we need something to do between games of Spider Solitaire and reruns of I Love Lucy?
That last one may be a bit too personal.
I write because I feel called to write. I truly believe God has called me to spread some joy and Good News in this ever-darkening world. For me, the calling is the only thing that makes it worth it.
Writing can be a lonely thing, and don’t get me started on the rejection. Knowing God is ultimately driving the train makes it a bit easier, but it is still hard at times. I recently went through a tough period with writing.
Proposals were submitted and rejected in record time (I even wrote a previous A3 post about that). Words were not flowing as usual. No one seemed to want what I was producing.
To be honest, I felt like giving up. What was the point of writing if it was all about rejection? I felt that still small voice telling me, “Don’t give up,” but I tried to override it. As always, God wins.
One evening, I was minding my own business, watching a game show, and decided to check my email. It was more of a habit, as I wasn’t expecting anything. There it was in my inbox.
A contract. For the “book of my heart” I have been pitching for six years. Wow!
I realized God is faithful, and I should have never doubted Him. I’m not exactly Max Lucado, but I do have something to say—I just hope people want to read it.
So don’t give up—in the end, all the sweat and tears of writing will be worth it.
Carlton Hughes, represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary, wears many hats. By day, he is a professor of communication. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, he serves as a children’s pastor. In his “spare time,” he is a freelance writer. Carlton is an empty-nesting dad and devoted husband who likes long walks on the beach, old sitcoms, and chocolate—all the chocolate. His work has been featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Dating Game, The Wonders of Nature, Let the Earth Rejoice, Just Breathe, So God Made a Dog, and Everyday Grace for Men. His latest book is Adventures in Fatherhood, co-authored with Holland Webb.
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