Changing the Past

ACFWAdvice, Encouragement, Friends of ACFW, tips, writing 6 Comments

By Loretta Eidson

Last Sunday, Steven Goudeaux, pastor of our East Memphis church, made several powerful statements during the morning service, but one, in particular, caught my attention.

“You can change your past,” he said.

I lifted my eyebrows and listened while I waited for his explanation. My curiosity piqued. There’s nothing too difficult for God, but how would Pastor Steve pull words together to support his claim?

“If you change your life today, then tomorrow will make today your past.”

There’s a lot of depth packed into that short sentence. The sanctuary fell silent.

Of course, he was talking about our relationship with Christ and making the appropriate changes in how we live, but it can also relate to how we view what we write and how we allow others to sway our thinking?

In our writing journeys, how do we view the past? Receiving too many rejections? Feeling disheartened? Failing to place well in contests? Entertaining thoughts of giving up?

If someone took a poll on the number of authors who felt their work was inadequate, we’d probably be stunned. Most everyone, including published authors, suffers moments of self-doubt and unworthiness, yet they keep plugging away.

We can have a new start and change our past writing track records by refusing to give up. Be determined to resist the negative inner voices that tell us to quit and allow the voice of God to whisper words of encouragement and nudge us forward. He’s the one who placed the calling on our lives in the first place. Don’t let doubt in our abilities stop us from writing and striving for success.

“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 NIV

Start over and be positive. We can write.

  1. Sit in front of your computer and pray for God’s guidance.
  2. Alleviate distractions so you can focus better. Example: Shut down social media and email notifications and turn the ringer off on your phone.
  3. Move away from the television. Some people may be gifted enough to multitask while writing a novel, but the divided thoughts could prove detrimental.
  4. Grab a glass of water, iced tea, or another beverage to have on hand while you work.
  5. Gather your thoughts.
  6. Set a goal for the number of words you want to write each day. It doesn’t have to be hundreds or thousands. One sentence usually brings another which turns into a paragraph and transforms into a full page.
  7. Place your hands on the keyboard, dive in, and start writing. There’s nothing to edit if there’s only a blank page. Just write and don’t get bogged down trying to be perfect. The editing comes once the story’s written.

Change tomorrow’s past by being pro-active today!

How? Let yesterday’s uncertainties drift away. Choose a new outlook today so your tomorrow will turn today into a new past. Dodge disappointments with confidence and don’t let them shut us down.

Can you really change your past? #acfwblog #amwriting @lorettajeidson Click To Tweet

Loretta Eidson writes romantic suspense. She was a double finalist in the 2017 Daphne du Maurier contest, won second place in the 2017 Catherine, first place in her genre in the 2014 Novel Rocket Contest, a 2013 and 2015 semi-finalist in ACFW’s Genesis contest, and finalist in ACFW’s 2014 Genesis. Visit Loretta on Facebook, Twitter or her website.

 

 

Comments 6

  1. Thank you, Loretta. Thank you. Doubts and the past have been lolling about on the desk beside my computer. They’ve been getting away with their mischief. And they know it. I’ve seen their smug little smiles and I’ve cowered. But I’ve been praying and today I found your post. Tomorrow will be different.

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