by Lynn Blackburn @LynnHBlackburn 

I’ve been writing since March of 2009. It’s been almost twelve years since the night I sat at a computer in our bonus room and the story in my head found its way onto a page. That book remains in a drawer, but that night was the beginning of all that has come since.

I’ve been thinking about my career and the steps that led me from that day, to where I am now, and as often happens to me, the insights came in waves. 

The first wave that hit me was, “Holy Cow! March is a great month for my writing life!” 🙂 And it is. 

I started writing in March, entered the contest that led to my first book in March, signed my first contract with Revell in March (are you sensing a pattern) and then signed yet another contract with Revell . . . in March. And if things continue as planned, I will release my next three books . . . wait for it . . . in March. 

But then the second wave hit. While all of the above statements are 100% true, there’s much more to this story. 

When I started writing in March of 2009, I was in the middle of such a painful season in my life that I hope I never experience anything like it again. 

When I entered the contest in March of 2014? Utter chaos reigned! Thanks to a burst pipe, our kitchen was gutted and our home was a construction zone for three months. I was so stressed out that I made lists of my lists and then would stare at them in horror because there was no way I would ever get everything done. It was not a good time. Definitely not the right time to enter a contest.

I can see now that those March days and nights when I was hurting and harried, those were times when God was growing something in me. Something I couldn’t see or even imagine. Just like when we plant seeds in the spring and they spend time in the soil, in the dark, alone, only to burst forth at a later time, blooming and beautiful, God was doing something new and amazing. But in the moment, I didn’t realize it. It’s only now, over a decade later, that I can see His hand in it. 

And then the third wave hit. 

And it’s the one I can’t get out of my head now. Thanks to the chaos and confusion of 2020 that we are all experiencing, there are a lot of writers out there who are waiting on the right time to write. The right time to submit. The right time to pursue publication. They are waiting for things to settle down or level out or ease up. 

Guess what?

There is no right time and if you keep waiting for it, you’ll wait a lifetime. 

I can’t remember why I entered that writing contest when everything in my world was topsy-turvy. I just did. It wasn’t a great time, but it was a great contest, and I took a chance. 

And I’m not alone in this. Many writer friends write despite unbelievable personal trials. These are the things that don’t make it into tweets and Instagram stories. You probably won’t see this on their author pages, but there are books on bookstore shelves right now that have been written by men and women living with mind-numbing pain, suffering from autoimmune diseases and debilitating migraines, going through chemo and radiation, taking care of spouses, parents, or children with overwhelming needs, working multiple jobs to make ends meet, mourning the recent loss of loved ones, and even fleeing abusive relationships. 

And guess what? They’re still writing. Still submitting. 

Now, are there ever times when life throws you a curveball so twisty that you need to step away from everything including writing? Absolutely. 

Is it possible that God will ask you to set your writing aside for a time to focus on something else He has for you? Absolutely.

But for most writers, do you know what’s even more likely? That God is ready for you to finally get on with it already! Finish that book. Query that agent. Enter that contest. Go to that conference even if it’s virtual. 

Quit waiting for things to get better so you can pursue your writing dream and actually pursue your writing dream! 

Then check back in with me in a few years and we’ll chat about what God has done!

Grace and peace,

Lynn H. Blackburn loves writing romantic suspense because her childhood fantasy was to become a spy, but her grown-up reality is that she’s a huge chicken and would have been caught on her first mission. She prefers to live vicariously through her characters and loves putting them into all kinds of terrifying situations while she’s sitting at home safe and sound in her pajamas!

Lynn’s titles have won the Carol Award, the Selah Award, and the Faith, Hope, and Love Reader’s Choice Award. Her newest series kicks off in March 2021 with Unknown Threat, Book 1 in the Defend and Protect series.

She is a frequent conference speaker and has taught Scrivener to writers all over the country. Lynn lives in South Carolina with her true love and their three children. You can follow her real life happily ever after at LynnHBlackburn.com and @LynnHBlackburn on Bookbub, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.