In the last year (and a few months), many writers have posted
blogs or articles about how they are feeling discouraged, sometimes too
discouraged to write. It can be hard to see the value in writing fiction when the
world is burning. Other writers face crises in their personal lives, or
struggle with depression. Sometimes it's easy to find reasons not to write, and
hard to find reasons why you should.
At our January SCBWI Shop Talk meeting in New Mexico, we
discussed this issue. How can you feel motivated to write when times are tough?
How can you dedicate time to writing when there are so many other important
things to do? How can you keep believing that your writing has value, when
you're not getting published?
In the Writer Unboxed
post Write a
Book, Save the World, Bryn Greenwood quotes
people describing the book that saved them. For one it was a book that showed
someone surviving the Holocaust, letting the reader know she too might survive
her dismal life. Another mentioned the first time he read a book where being
sensitive was shown as a good thing. For others it was the first time they saw
a representation of someone like themselves
When writing for young
readers, you never know what effect your book might have. It may be the novel that
helps a child fall in love with reading. It could be the book that inspires
them to be better, stronger, kinder. My favorite fan letter came from a young
reader who said of The Well of Sacrifice,
"It inspired me to never give up, just like Eveningstar."
Our books can show
kindness and courage. They can help young readers explore different ways of
living. They can act as mirrors and windows.
And they can offer
escape. Never underestimate the value of escape. Many readers have gotten
through terrible times, such as medical treatments or the loss of a family
member, by escaping into books.
Saving Yourself
What about unpublished
books? If you've never sold a manuscript and are losing hope that you might,
you might find it that much harder to keep writing. But the books you write can
still benefit you. “If you only have to
save one person to save humanity, then saving yourself counts,” Bryn says.
Anne Lamott notes that publication won't heal you – “But writing can.”
I am a full-time writer
who needs to make an income, and I have deadlines, which means I have to sit
down and write even when I don't feel like it. But most of that work is
nonfiction educational publishing. I could give up on writing my own novels.
Yet I know I feel better when I'm working on a personal project. It feeds my
spirit in a way nothing else can.
If you can't write
anything else, keep
a journal. Not only will it give you a way to
share your thoughts, but it will keep you in the habit of writing. When things
improve, or when you're feeling stronger, that will make it easier to get back
into writing stories.
So please, keep writing. For the
world, for yourself. If you need more advice on how to survive the hard times, check
out this article on “How
to Stay Sane if Trump is Driving You Insane.”
Anne Lamott adds one more tip: “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a
few minutes, including you.” It's okay to take a break once in a while.
For more thoughts on how to combine your writing and
social justice, see my August post on Art
and Activism.
Chris Eboch is the author of over 50 books for children,
including nonfiction and fiction, early reader through teen. Her novels for
ages nine and up include The Eyes of
Pharaoh, a mystery in ancient Egypt; The
Well of Sacrifice, a Mayan adventure; The
Genie’s Gift, a middle eastern fantasy; and the Haunted series, about kids
who travel with a ghost hunter TV show, which starts with The Ghost on the Stairs.
Chris’s writing craft books include Advanced Plotting and You
Can Write for Children: How to Write Great Stories, Articles, and Books for
Kids and Teenagers.
Learn more at https://chriseboch.com/
or her Amazon page,
or check out her writing tips at her Write
Like a Pro! blog.
Chris also writes for adults under the name Kris Bock. Kris
Bock writes action-packed romantic suspense involving outdoor adventures amidst
Southwestern landscapes. Read excerpts at www.krisbock.com
or visit her Amazon
page.
