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The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World Word by Word

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Home » Personal » Page 6

Personal

When You Hit the Wall of Discouragement

By Steve Laubeon June 6, 2022
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I once received the following question from an award-winning author:
Is it common for an author to hit a wall of discouragement? To feel as though they’re working so hard for so little? To question why they’re doing this?

Unfortunately, it is quite common. Doesn’t mean it aches any less. Sort of like getting old: everyone does and it aches, but it is a common malady.

One writer in the general market wrote in their blog, “Why am I doing this? I work so hard for so little money only to have critics tell me I have no talent at all.”

It truly comes down to whether your calling is stronger than the frustration and anguish of the writing process. I will never forget reading Charles Spurgeon’s Lectures to My Students (in particular chapter two starting on page 19 of the linked PDF). I read it in college while trying to decide whether to pursue becoming a pastor or a teacher with my Bible degree.

Spurgeon, in essence, said the only reason you should become a pastor is if you cannot do anything else. The call is that strong. I realized I was making the pastorate one of a number of options, which immediately revealed where I placed it in my passions. So I began changing directions immediately. I set my sights on becoming a professor of theology after going to seminary and graduate school (my fiance, now my wife, would be a professor of Old Testament). But in my last college semester, I began working part-time in the Christian bookstore located one block off campus. And a rather different journey to my profession began. If God had not led me to make a life-decision regarding my calling, I may not be where I am today.

In some ways, it is like the life of the writer. If you can’t not write, then you know where your passions lay. If you can put it aside and write only when the inspiration strikes, then that may speak to your passions differently, and you should treat writing as something to explore. I find this separates many in this profession rather quickly. There’s nothing wrong with the latter. In fact, you won’t know if the skills and passions are aligned until you explore. I think you catch my intent here.

The author who asked the original question above replied a day later with this:

“I had two dark days, for whatever reason. But yesterday afternoon, wouldn’t you know, those dark hours translated into my writing in just the way the manuscript needed. I’m learning that the work of writing and the love of writing are a bit different. I love having written! And I could step away from it for a time, but writing will always woo me. I fought for 17 years to follow what I believed was a call from God, so throwing in the towel now would be silly.”

I pray that, for you, this is not a day of discouragement, but one of hope and joy. That you take every thought captive and your work is for the glory of God, in everything you do or say.

Your Turn:
What do you do when discouragement strikes in your writing career?

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Category: Book Business, Career, Personal, Writing CraftTag: Career, Discouragement

Why I Read

By Bob Hostetleron April 28, 2022
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Writers write for many reasons. Therapy. Self-realization. Compulsion. Etc. But professional writers, those who are published with regularity, find an intersection between why they write and why their readers read. Sure, sometimes that intersection is at the corner of “I’m brilliant” and “Everyone loves everything I write.” But more often, we start not with our own need to express ourselves but …

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Category: Encouragement, Inspiration, Personal

A 40+ Day Musical Experience

By Steve Laubeon April 18, 2022
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I’ve been making an annual musical journey during the pre-Easter Lenten season. I wrote about a couple of those before (here and here). I thought it might be fun to reveal this year’s version. Since mid-February, the only music I’ve listened to in the car or while on a plane has been the collected works of Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741). While most of us are familiar with his …

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Category: Inspiration, Personal

He Is Risen!

By Steve Laubeon April 17, 2022
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He is risen indeed! “Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we …

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Category: Personal, TheologyTag: Easter

Maundy Thursday

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon April 14, 2022
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Today is Maundy Thursday. As you feel led, visit this passage regarding the Last Supper and meditate upon it. I can never read this passage without thinking about how often I have disappointed Christ. And no matter how much I deny it, no matter how much I wish I were perfect, I am not. I will wretchedly and miserably betray Him again. And yet He forgives. I am nothing without Him. O Lamb of God, …

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Category: Personal, Theology

It Was a Year

By Bob Hostetleron January 13, 2022
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You thought everything would be “normal” by now, didn’t you? There’s a scene in the Mel Brooks classic film Young Frankenstein, in which Dr. Frankenstein (“Fronk-en-shteen”) discovers the brain his assistant supplied for the doctor’s grand experiment came from “Abby Someone.” “Abby who?” the doctor asks. “Abby … Normal,” comes the answer. That’s where we are, living in “Abby Normal” times. In …

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Category: Book Business, Personal

Taking a Break

By Steve Laubeon December 27, 2021
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No new posts for the next two weeks. We all are taking a short break for the holidays. Back in the saddle starting January 10!

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Category: Personal

God’s Timing vs. Ours

By Dan Balowon December 22, 2021
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With Christmas coming soon, we pause to remember what happened a couple thousand years ago. Of course, we know the whole story. The King of heaven was born, lived and died, resurrected and returned to the Father where he came from, all over a period of about 33 years. We can read a lot about his life, family, teachings, friends, followers, and foes in the pages of Scripture. But if we had a …

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Category: Personal, The Writing Life, Theology

Christmas Blessings to All Our Readers

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon December 16, 2021
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The Christmas season is a lovely time to bless and remember our blog community, to let you know how much your thoughtful comments have brought insight and pleasure over the years. Thank you for being part of our community. I pray that this next week of Advent is blessed as we all await in glorious anticipation to celebrate the anniversary of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I pray …

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Category: PersonalTag: Christmas

A Writer’s Favorite Things

By Bob Hostetleron December 15, 2021
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It’s always struck me as a bit odd that the Rodgers and Hammerstein song from The Sound of Music, “My Favorite Things,” is considered by many to be a Christmas song. I suppose it’s related to the reference to “brown paper packages tied up with string.” Or maybe the sleighbells or snowflakes the song mentions. Sure, okay.  But as Christmas approaches this year, I thought I’d list a few of “my …

Read moreA Writer’s Favorite Things
Category: Personal, The Writing Life
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