by Robin Luftig @RobinLuftig
Attending a writer’s conference is one of the best investments an author-in-waiting can make. But beware. Nobody ever tells you to watch out for the depression that may be lurking when you get home.
Think about the months prior to the conference. You put all your concentration into preparing for the event. One sheets. Paid critiques. Class schedules and faculty.
The day finally comes, and you walk up to the registration desk. You made it!
Your decisions were spot-on. Your classes fit your needs. The notes you take during the keynotes are pillow tapestry-worthy. The conference is more than you ever thought it would be and your life has truly been changed forever. During your trip home you plan your writing time, certain you’ll have your work-in-progress finished before the end of the year.
This is perfect. Your writing will be perfect. Your life is perfect.
Then it happens. You sit in front of your computer ready to bang out the next thousand pages, and you freeze. Worse yet, you start to cry. You reach for your Bible to help you find your way back and you can’t concentrate. Your mind thinks in gibberish and your heart feels like stone. The depression has set in.
What happened? Satan happened.
Watch for some of Satan’s most subtle moves:
- He taps into your weariness. It’s a challenge to take in all the info offered at a conference. Between late night meetings and too much caffeine, sleep suffers. When you’re exhibiting signs of fatigue, Satan sees it as an opportunity.
- He draws your attention to uncomfortable feedback. Everyone liked your pitch for the new piece you’re working on—except that “one person”. Control your mind and stay away from taking it personally. If you were given constructive feedback, treat it as gold, then move on. Don’t think you’re a failure. Know that writing is a subjective business and you’re not going to please everyone.
- He taunts you with goodies. It was a treat to sit with your friends and brainstorm characters over rich desserts and café mochas. Your calorie count sharply increased, but now you’re back on solid ground and trying to eat the foods that work best for you. Returning to reality can be painful and distracting. And Satan’s ready to sabotage your every move.
- He stresses the urgency to rush. There were several people around you pitching to the same agents/publishers and you’re afraid you’ll be late with your submission. Instead, you work through your sleep time (that you need) and skip meals (that you need) so you can impress others with speedy submissions. Ironically, the people you’re submitting to are busier than ever trying to meet all the demands put on their time because of all the conferences. You don’t need to be fast, you need to be professional.
Remember, Satan is always seeking to destroy us: “The thief’s purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. My [Jesus’] purpose is to give life in all its fullness.” John 10:10 TLB
But we have a Comforter waiting for us: Lord, when doubts fill my mind, when my heart is in turmoil, quiet me and give me renewed hope and cheer. Ps. 94:19 (TLB)
Be kind to yourself. Let the Holy Spirit soothe your heart. And get ready to use the talents God gifted you with before time began.
You can do this, but do it with a heart full of peace.
What’s one way you conquer doubt about your writing career? We’d love to hear your ideas in the comments!
Robin Luftig is the founder of Renew Ministries and loves sharing how God has a healing plan for our lives. Her self-published book, From Pain to Peace: A Journey of Forgiveness After Divorce offers lessons learned—both good and bad—that there can be healing after divorce. She posts for Florida Christian Writers Conference. Luftig is a sought-after speaker and shares stories of God’s mercy and grace at women’s retreats and conferences. She is an active member of Word Weavers International where she serves as both writer and mentor. She and her husband Lew live in Central PA. Connect with her at her blog or on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
The Conversation
Thanks for these encouraging words. For me the attack of the enemy has come from two areas. The first is the overwhelming amount of information and ideas of things I should do to improve my writing, engage on social media, support and encourage new friends and fellow writers. All good things I want to do, but quite a mountain to overcome when lumped all together. And the enemy is ready to whisper in my ear that it’s just too much. He wants to tell me there is no way I can get it all done so why keep going. A friend and fellow writer (Donna Nabors)… even if it takes five years, the five years are going to go by anyway and where do you want to be then.
The other attack is something I’ve never experienced before–FOMO. I watch new friends attending more conferences, hanging out, growing in the ways you can only do at great conferences and I feel like I’m missing out. The green monster of envy! But then I remind myself how awesome it is that I had such a great experience that I want more.
Thanks Robin for the reminder that the battle is real… and so is the victory!
Thanks, Lori, for jumping in on this.
I’m confident that everything we hear from the stage at these conferences has been thought out, re-written, and reviewed by others. Isn’t it just like Satan to take good material and twist it in our minds when we’re tired, stressed, or overwhelmed? You’re right … the battle is real, but so is our victory. So keep coming back! God’s purpose for our lives still remains.
Such an encouraging and much needed post, Robin! Thanks for sharing these tips to resist the enemy’s attack upon our calling. As Creatives sculpted in the image of our Creator, we know we’re fulfilling our role when the enemy targets us!
Blessings!
Thanks, Tina!
The more we try to improve our craft, the crazier Satan gets with us. Every sentence we tighten or every thought we express showing God’s grace and mercy is like waving a red flag in front of a bull. It’s no wonder he tries to destroy us, often using slow and methodic ways. We have to be vigilant … and help others be vigilant, too.
So true, Robin! I love what you’ve shared here. particularly the part where you ask…
What happened? Satan happened.
Knowing that he is after my demise is a useful tool in combatting his attempts. Plural there…attempts. We must stay on the battlefield, our hand frozen to the sword, and pray for focus and diligence “post-conference” !! 🙂
Thanks, Mary. What you wrote is huge!
Satan IS after our demise, and remembering that point is an important part of the strategy. Our battlefield is not a sleepless night or two during the conference. It may be the sleepless nights after we return home when he keeps us awake, filling our heads with doubts and lies.
Your word picture with our hand frozen to the sword is awesome. Sobering. Thanks again for taking the time to respond.
This is so good, Robin! You’re right — we need to be alert to the enemy’s schemes at all times but especially when coming home from this conference. Talk about a mountaintop experience! Sure do miss you. 🙂
Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment, Cathy!
When I’m at BRMCWC I focus on what happens around me. I forget that Satan is stalking me, waiting for the perfect time to take me out. I need to remember to enjoy the mountaintop view, but not rely on it to carry me too far.
Miss you, girl!
I experienced this AT the conference last year. I had two projects I was pitching, one of them my first ever nonfiction. I had queried ahead to two agencies on that and those packets got waylaid so I didn’t even see the feedback until near the end of the conference (so I was wondering about it through everything else). As opposed to the last two conferences when I pitched fiction and agents were asking for pages, no one wanted my nonfiction. When I pitched my fiction, my verve was gone. A few people showed interest “If I added at least 15K to the length” or “honed in on a single character arc” or whatever.
The classes were good and I met a handful of writers I still keep in touch with, but it felt like a lot of money for heartache. I spent plenty of time walking around away from people, praying, crying out to God, and trying to adjust my expectations. When I came home, I dumped both those projects and worked on some fiction I had interest in already. I think tempering expectations is the biggest thing that will keep the depression at bay. This was my first “Christian” conference since I’d just contracted a Christian romance and the projects I was pitching would fit a Christian market.
Thanks for this post. I chose to invest my “conference” budget in a hands-on writing retreat this year. Each writer needs to decide what’s the best use of their time and resources at that point in time.
“You don’t need to be fast. You need to be professional.” Excellent point, Robin!