blogger: Cynthia Ruchti
Contrary to popular belief, the writer’s theme song is not “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Not that it isn’t wonderful. So much of what we do–musing, creating, building story worlds, research, interviews, developing characters, or finding ways to express what others can’t–fills our souls. But especially now, it’s good to remind ourselves that our actual theme song is “It’s a Flexible Life.”
What’s certain? Death, taxes, and change. Sometimes abrupt change. When have we heard the words pivot and agility as much as recently? How we handle change or disappointment, how we respond to upheaval reveals a lot about who we are as writers.
Writers who are inflexible during times of uncertainty bruise easily.
They paint themselves into wordless corners.
Inflexible writers see pauses as defeat, rejections as demoralizing, interruptions as irritations, and schedule changes as intolerable.
Unless a writer dances to the tune of “It’s a Flexible Life,” he or she will assume a contractless season is a fallow, unproductive, wasted season. But it can be just what the author needed to:
- Write with wild abandon and possibly discover a different genre that’s a more perfect fit.
- Invest time in connecting with people and build an audience (harder to do when you’re on back-to-back deadlines).
- Update a website, start a podcast, bank blog and social media posts.
- Write more books.
- Read more books.
- Emerge from the fallow season stronger, more confident, wiser about the industry, the craft, and life.
You, writer, may be facing upheavals in your writing schedule, your contract terms, the way your mind processes even simple tasks. You may have been told your project is on hold, postponed indefinitely, or not quite there yet. Your plans may be scritch-scratches that seem laughable now.
How pliable are you?
The writing life is a flexible life.
My body’s badly hurtin’,
and now I cannot eat,
but of this I am certain,
that I will not retreat
though cancer kills my every day,
and I am feelin’ trapped,
I have no choice, no other way
but somehow to adapt
and run the race that God demanded,
that seems it never ends;
if unto hell I am remanded
I’ll fight on for my friends
and give them hope of life to come
with Father, Holy Ghost, and Son.
Andrew ~ you are a poetic, trail-blazing warrior in my eyes. Pray for you daily, my friend.Hope you revel in the love of a good God who loves you wildly, plus Barb’s, the dogs’, and your friends’.
Mary Kay, thank you so much…from everyone here.
I know I haven’t commented a lot lately, but I always enjoy reading your poetry and prose, Andrew.
Write with wild abandon and possibly discover a different genre that’s a more perfect fit. Write more books. Read more books–these inspire me to add: take my eyes off writing to publish, and remind me to write purely for the joy of it. Thank you for the reminders, Cynthia.
Thank you, Patricia. Grateful it’s encouraging for you.
Six great bullet points ! Enjoyed the pliability picture, also.
Thanks, Patricia!
One thing that writing has taught me is patience. With that, comes flexibility. I’m not good at it, but I have little control over what happens–except the actual writing and editing of a manuscript.
I can submit until I my fingers ache, but I’m not guaranteed an acceptance. I can attend conferences and still not make a needed connection. My prayer is that I continue to keep my heart and mind open to God’s plan for my writing career; that the patience He is teaching me is something I will accept as part of the process; that I will continue to give Him glory for all that He has done in my life, because without Him, I can do nothing.
“I can submit until my fingers ache.” Great line!
What a great post! Good advice for writers during the pandemic, and, I would say, for anyone during their life! Flexibility, making the most of each day–that’s my goal.
Sonja, after committing these thoughts to the screen, I’ve seen their application in so many areas of life.
Thanks for the great reminder to remain flexible with my writing. I quickly learned flexibility on my first mission trip in the mid 90’s, and every mission trip since, and need to apply the same principles to every aspect of my life.
I distinctly remember the moment and older mom told me that now that I was a mom I needed to realize I could never again write my calendar appointments in pen, only pencil, so they’d be erasable, flexible.
Love the post. Just started learning yoga for more physical flexibility and focus. This fits right in with the flexibility in striving for! Thanks for the continued encouragement and seeing solutions when I can’t!
Great comment, Kim! Keep on!
So true! The setbacks just might be that important thing that spurs us forward to be what we were meant to be as a writer all along.
Great insights, Kristen!
Blessed are the flexible for they shall not break!
So true!
Love this! I need more flexibility in my life in all areas. Thank you, Cynthia. ☺
It’s a message we probably all need to revisit from time to time. 🙂