Let the emotion happen. The emotional connection is a powerful part of good writing; it connects you to your characters in a way that provides deeper insight and makes the story more relatable and engaging. That’s the good side of emotional engagement. There is also the bad side – the stress of deadlines, unrealistic expectations or negative feedback. Ultimately, the stress from all of these negatives is self-imposed – we get to decide how we will react to them. Every challenge is a lesson – step back, take a breath and learn from it then make course corrections. This is how to grow as a good writer.
My first book was a 20-year haphazard accident that grew into a novel. I don’t mind admitting that. It began as an outlet for dealing with some of life’s hardest moments and turned into a story of hope and redemption that reflected something God was doing in my life personally. It also taught me how to be more practical and focused with writing. Now I use outlines, rough scene drafts and realistic deadlines to help me.
Negative reviews can be hard, especially when the reviewer seems to have missed a key point about the plot (such as saying a story about someone’s search for God is ‘too religious’). However, even those offer good insights that can make you a better writer. I’ve been extremely blessed with many that are good -- offering glimpses into ways that a story has touched someone’s soul. That’s ultimately why I write!
