By
Josie Siler
I’m
sitting here at my favorite small-town coffee shop on National Talk Like a
Pirate Day. Snippets of Pirates of the Caribbean flash through my brain
and I can’t help but smile. Hold on to your tricorn hat because I’m about to
shed some light on a group of writers who are just as elusive as those
rascally, roguish pirates.
Who
are these mysterious writers? Writers who live with chronic illness. We’re a
mysterious lot, we know, but it’s time to come clean. We’re rule breakers, and
we’re okay with that. We’re constantly breaking one of the biggest rules of
writing: Write Every Day.
Sometimes
weeks or months pass when we’re not able to write a word. Does that mean we’re
not real writers? No!
Let
me tell you a little secret. Writers come in all shapes, sizes, and abilities.
Every
writer comes to the moment when, like Elizabeth Swann in Pirates, we
learn that the rules of the pirate’s (or writer’s) code are more like “guidelines”
than actual rules. When we understand this, we find the freedom to be ourselves
and do what we need to do.
I’d
like to share with you five guidelines that have been helpful on my writing
journey, especially on the days when I’m too sick to write.
1.
Extend
grace to myself and understand that rest isn’t a waste of time, but the most
important thing I can do some days.
2.
Let
my imagination run wild, making notes to remind myself of any grand ideas I’ll
want to write about later.
3.
Read
or watch movies. Collect ideas from other creatives and make notes to remind
myself of inspiration I discover.
4.
Be
prepared to take advantage whenever and wherever inspiration hits. Just a few
weeks ago I wrote a page on my iPad in the middle of a medical treatment. This
page will make its way into my book.
5.
Befriend
other writers who are chronically ill. We understand each other, know how to
encourage one another, and help each other get back to writing when it’s been
too long.
Our
writing journey may take a bit longer, but it’s a journey we still get to take.
When
deadlines loom and we need to write through brain fog or pain, more times than
not, those are the best things we write. Why? Because we’re forced to depend
completely on the Lord.
That
brings me to my most important piece of advice: Pray. Pray hard, pray often,
and allow the Lord to speak through you. Whether you live with chronic illness,
work full time, care for family members, or just have days when you struggle,
it’s okay. You’re still a writer and God can use you in amazing ways.
If
you’re ready to go rogue and take control of your writing career, I invite you
to join me in invoking the pirate’s code. Take up the cry of “Parlay!” and
negotiate your own rules. After all, rules are made to be broken!
Josie
Siler is a small-town Wisconsin girl with big dreams. She’s won multiple awards
for both writing and and photography and has been published in Breaking the Chains: Strategies for Overcoming Spiritual Bondage. She is the Vice
President of Broken but Priceless Ministries and the Editorial Assistant for Broken
but Priceless: The Magazine. Josie’s passionate about helping people to
discover and walk in the freedom found in Christ. When she’s not writing or
taking pictures, you’ll find this biker chick riding her motorcycle, curled up
with a good book, drinking coffee, eating chocolate, or shooting something at
the range. Josie shares God’s gifts of beauty, hope, and adventure at www.josiesiler.com.
Links:Twitter: www.twitter.com/josie_siler
Breaking
the Chains: http://a.co/d/hDPO9kA
Broken but Priceless Ministries: www.brokenbutpriceless.com
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