by Alycia W. Morales @AlyciaMorales

Every December, I ask God for a word to focus on in the new year. In 2020, I knew what that word would be in November. Write.

Little did I know as I set up my business planner for 2021 that my life would come to a screeching halt three days into the year. And it would remain empty until the end of February. Aside from the occasional Facebook post, I wrote zero words.

Our nineteen-year-old son, Caleb, died in a car accident on January 3^rd. It’s taken me two full months to even want to face a computer screen. Or to be able to put two words together and make a comprehensive sentence. My mind was foggy as my creativity took a nosedive into grief.

Whatever your setback is that requires you take a sabbatical from your writing, be sure to give yourself the grace and time to get back into creative work mode.

Here are 7 Steps to Get Back into Writing after a Sabbatical:

1. Recognize that you are able. 

There is power in the grace of God, and through that, we are able to do things we may not personally feel we can. Give yourself the time you need to deal with life’s lemons, then allow yourself the grace to slowly ease back into writing.

2. Review where you left off. 

If, like me, you took an extended break from writing and writing-related work, go back through the last things you did and make note of what comes next.

3. Brainstorm. 

You may need some help getting back into the flow of things. Don’t neglect the potential of brainstorming. Maybe your thoughts are all jumbled together like a ball of yarn after a cat has gotten its claws into it. Take the time to sort them out on paper. And write down any “bonus” thoughts that may surface. Organize them, untangling that ball of yarn.

4. Do the research. 

I left off on a romantic suspense novel, a YA fantasy novel, and I came back with a deep desire to write a nonfiction book for moms. Some of those require research into world building or characters or things I need to know in order to write a believable plot. Rather than skip this step and end up frustrated as I try to write, I’m going to take the time to do the research.

5. Plot.

I know, I know. Some of us are pansters. Saying to plot feels like we’re using a curse word. But if you’re coming back from a writing sabbatical, you may need to pause and look at where your book is going. Or where your thoughts are going. Draw yourself a roadmap so that you can get to your final destination on the page. It may save you from crashing and burning along the way.

6. Just start. 

Find the courage to face the screen and keyboard. Open your laptop. Pull out your notebook and pen. Whatever format works for you. Put words on the page.

7. Pray. 

When you hit a snag, wall, or feel like you are braindead, say two words. Grace! Grace! God knows what needs to be on that page. Ask Him to give you the grace to write them. Don’t forget the Holy Spirit when you are writing. Let Him lead and be faithful and obedient to follow.

In mid-February, I went back to my creative planner. I decorated it. I wrote in it. And things on my to-do list were checked off on a much more regular basis.

The fog has begun to lift. Creativity is returning. And I no longer dread the blank page on the screen. I find myself writing coherent sentences, and people who are reading them are responding with encouraging feedback and comments. So when I face my inner self-doubt, a burst of grief, or a day I just don’t feel like it, I can do what needs to be done instead of wanting to set it aside for yet another month.

Which leads me to my final point and a bonus step. Recognize when you need another day off. Whether you are facing the loss of a loved one, a major career change, cancer, that virus, a major family issue, or any other life-changing trauma, take care of yourself. The words will be there when you’re ready. And God will see you through the journey to get to that creative juncture in the road you’re on. Grace! Grace!

Alycia W. Morales is an award-winning freelance editor and author. Her clients have won the Selah Award, BRMCWC Director’s Choice Award, and many others. Her writing has been published in Thriving Family magazine, Splickety Love, and several compilation books. She is a member of ACFW, the president of Cross n’ Pens critique group, and a BRMCWC Conference Assistant.

When she isn’t busy writing, editing, and reading, Alycia enjoys spending time with her husband and four children taking hikes in Upstate SC and NC, creating various crafts, coloring in adult coloring books, and watching TV.

Alycia blogs at The Write Editing and Life. Inspired. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.