3 Tips on Writing Through Life’s Pain

By Mesu Andrews

A few weeks ago, I watched a fascinating discussion unfold on a writers’ loop about writing through life’s ups and downs. The multi-published author who began the discussion believed her real-life pain might have driven her away from bleeding onto the keyboard. So, here’s my question for Southern Writers:

Do you write while experiencing emotional upheaval? Or does real-life trauma sap your creativity?

 

Getting Some Answers

While you ponder, I’ll share my answer along with three things I learned in 2018, when this one-book-a-year author stumbled into a three-book-contract year. My hubby, Roy, and I are planners. We were careful to cut down on some of my 2018 commitments, but…

 

Lesson #1

There are always unexpected joys and sorrows.

A quick list of 2018 surprises:

• My mom was hospitalized twice in Indiana; 8 hours away; a total of four weeks away from home and no writing.
• Our oldest daughter delivered healthy TWINS on our 34^th anniversary! After two false alarms, each way a 5-hour commute, I stayed a total of four weeks to help this amazing family of eight adjust to its new normal.
• My husband experienced a gut-wrenching job change from pastoral ministry to a better fit. Still close to family, but it’s half the pay with no benefits. We’ll sell our dream home in the spring and move into our kids’ basement.
• I won a Christy in November for Isaiah’s Daughter! Beyond what I could ask or imagine…and chewed three days out of my already-impossible deadline.
• On Christmas Eve the final straw landed on the proverbial camel’s back. Our marriage began to crumble. Divorce wasn’t mentioned. No infidelity. Nothing immoral or illegal. Just two overly polite people who loved Jesus but had forgotten how to show it.

Lesson #2

When we pour too much emotion into our work, our family gets the dregs.

I set aside my third book project, missed the deadline, and we began the hard work of marriage rebuilding. Six days later, the man we looked to as a spiritual father suffered a serious heart attack. Seven days after that, he ran into Jesus’ arms.

Still feeling pressured with deadlines, I tried to write this article. For six hours I wrote. And rewrote. It was awful. Drivel. Even my mother would have hated it.

I started packing and rearranging schedules for the funeral trip to Indiana. After picking up prescriptions, I stopped by my neurologist’s office to reschedule an appointment. This is the doc I must schedule three months out.

I told the receptionist my sad story, and she said, “You know, Mrs. Andrews, this never happens, but we had a cancellation for 1pm today.”

I looked at that sweet girl and said, “My Jesus is simply amazing, isn’t He?”

“Yes, ma’am,” she said in her unmistakable Blue Ridge drawl. “He is indeed!”

 

Lesson #3

The Creator created us to be creative, and He is sovereign over every tick of the clock.

This morning, before rewriting this article in lingering peace, my prayer partner texted: “Read Psalm 62:2,5.” I encourage you to read it and then ask again, Can I write while experiencing emotional upheaval?

My answer today: What upheaval? He is my Rock, my Salvation, and my Fortress; my Rest and my Hope. I. WILL. NOT. BE. SHAKEN.

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Mesu Andrews is the Christy Award winning author of Isaiah’s Daughter and has received numerous accolades for her other novels including Love Amid the Ashes, The Pharaoh’s Daughter, and Miriam. Her deep understanding of and love for God’s Word brings the biblical world alive for readers. Many of her faithful readers are members of her launch team—Mesu’s Biblical Fiction Fans (BFFs)—and offer their time and service to promote God’s word through story. Andrews lives in North Carolina with her husband Roy and enjoys spending time with her growing tribe of grandchildren. For more information, visit www.mesuandrews.com. Connect Info: Please visit http://www.mesuandrews.com/ to order free bookmarks, download Bible studies or group discussion questions. Facebook: Mesu Andrews Twitter: MesuAndrews Pinterest: MesuAndrews Goodreads: Mesu Andrews Instagram: Mesu Andrews

Writing: Craft and Call

By Meg Wilson

I’ll never forget meeting my friend, Mesu Andrews, in the community bathroom at a mountain writers’ retreat. She likes to remind me of my fuzzy pink robe. I remember the easy connection we shared. Both of us were mothers of teenage daughters about the same ages. We both held our fresh dreams of getting published as budding writers, new to the conference scene.

Though we lived in different states, we stayed connected. We built an easy trust as kindred spirits often do. She was sure her project would be non-fiction, but as she shared her thoughts, I felt her ideas had greater potential as fiction. While I was working on a series of fiction children’s stories, as a distraction from the work I was doing with hurting women, she challenged me to put my experience in writing. Neither of us took the other’s advice—at first.

We were two ladies with earnest goals and passions, working on the craft of writing. This is one of the many benefits of attending writer’s conferences. The workshops, meetings with editors, keynote speakers, and connections with like-minded people—all priceless benefits of my writing journey. Learning the craft is essential as is finding writing buddies to share the often-solitary journey. Finding safe and honest critique partners is also invaluable.

When I realized that there was more than just a desire to be published—there was a call—everything shifted. My writing became an integral part of my story and my passion for helping others. There was a shift when there was a greater purpose for the words I was putting on the page. What drove me were the face of a hurting women who could be helped by gaining tools and discovering she was not alone. That’s also when doors began to open.

Fast forward, 13 years later, my friendship with Mesu is rich and deep as we have shared much of life together. She even lived nearby for a sweet season. She has gone on to become an award-winning fiction author with her ninth book about to launch. My non-fiction book, Hope After Betrayal was published in 2007 and the Revised and Expanded version re-launched this year.

My writing today presents itself in many forms—curriculum, blogs, articles and more—for the call has morphed into a non-profit named after the book, Hope After Betrayal Ministries. The craft of writing continues to be used, but what gives it wings is the call to make a difference. So, if you are a writer, seek to use your gifts and talents for the greater good. The written word is powerful and often abused. Use your written voice to heal, help, and elevate our shared human experience in the way only you can.

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Meg Wilson is the author of Hope After Betrayal and a regular speaker to women’s groups, Bible studies, and conferences. Eighteen years ago she began leading Healing Heart groups, then in 2013 she founded the Hope After Betrayal Ministries. Wilson and her husband, Dave, have been married for more than 35 years and have two adult daughters. The Wilsons make their home in Vancouver, Washington. Learn more about Meg Wilson at hopeafterbetrayal.com. You can also find her on Facebook (@habministries) and Twitter (@HopeAfterBetray).