Writer's Guide
Or...let adversity inspire the character forming within you

I know I've said this here before, but we creative types are at our absolute best when we're in absolute hell. Guess where I am right now. It's horrible. But I'm using it for my best. And I want to share it with you other writers out there because this is the absolute best time to write...and I have more ideas flowing through me than you can shake a stick at.

Here's a snapshot: A fellow in one of the online groups I belong to is sharing a major financial blow that's been leveled at him. Another fellow has been dealing with losing his grandchildren through an insane and mind-boggling judicial system fiasco. Freelance workers are causing me angst up against multiple deadlines at work. Someone I thought was going to be a pillar of friendship in my life has bowed out - exit stage left. Someone else who vowed to stay with me for better or worse is causing major headaches instead of the kind and gentle "exit stage left" that I would prefer from him. An exciting and uplifting trip I had planned for a few weeks from now has fallen through due to unforeseen circumstances. A variety of financial surprises have hit me in the past 72 hours. The landlord of my new abode isn't taking care of things to make the new abode properly livable, yet I'm trying to live there. A girlfriend who needs more than I can possibly give right now is hurting emotionally and I cannot physically get to her... I'm quite literally stunned by it all. What visitors to the site might find interesting (or horrific) is that I'm not listing everything that's gone wrong this week. (but wait, there's more)

Here's the point: I'm listing all this crapola because I know there are people out there going through worse than this. Good God, I pity you. Seriously. I can't imagine getting out of bed under the weight you're under. It was hard enough for me this morning, wondering what new and horrific surprise I'd find awaiting me when I opened my eyes or walked out into the living area of the apartment... So far, so good. Again, we can use all this pain. At some point, it all has to get better. It all has to improve. So let's take notes now and learn what we can from our reactions to these stressors. Character is forming within us at the moment, and the type of character we form out of this adversity says much about the heart within each of us.

While this character-forming is going on, here's something fabulous to inspire you writers visiting the site today:

"Any change, any loss, does not make us victims. Others can shake you, surprise you, disappoint you, but they can't prevent you from acting, from taking the situation you're presented with and moving on. No matter where you are in life, no matter what your situation, you can always do something. You always have a choice and the choice can be power." -- Blaine Lee

Here's wishing you much power in your writing...

"Some days, I just want the dragon to eat everyone in my path."

Tags: writers guide, writing tip