Passion to Persevere

ACFWAdvice, Authors and writing, Encouragement, Friends of ACFW, Perseverance, Rejection, tips, writing 1 Comment

By Davalynn Spencer

My writing desk sits in the middle of a tiny spare bedroom facing a window. The wall space next to the window is covered with framed prints of my book covers, a few awards, and two decorative, inspirational plaques.

One of the plaques was a gift from my daughter that reads:

Dear God,
I want to
take a minute,
not to ask
for anything
from you,
but simply
thank you
for all I have.
 

The white block print on a black background serves as a clear and present reminder of priority.

The other plaque says:

Passion
stirs our hearts
to do what
Reason
says cannot be done.
dcs
 

Also a reminder, these black cursive words on white prompt me to press on. Together, the plaques lend a sense of balance to my see-saw world of fiction writing.

Twelve years ago, I met with a well-known author who donated valuable one-on-one time to aspiring novelists attending a popular writers conference. I was green as a spring aspen tree, in spite of my many years as a successful nonfiction writer. The over-worked, overly tired veteran recognized my leafy eagerness. But the counsel given to me boiled down to this: “It’s too late. You should have started years ago. Don’t waste your time.”

To this day, I remember a sense of resolve stiffening inside me. A concise verbiage one might hear through the inner thoughts of a bull-headed character: Watch me.

Arrogance? Pride? Or determination not to quit. A fine line threads its way between the three perspectives.

Many writing conferences followed that initial meeting. Many workshops on craft and story line, many revisions and complete do-overs. Reason said my fiction-writing goal was unreachable; passion said, “don’t quit.” And thankfulness rooted me in the necessary foundation to take a chance on the words within me begging for release.

Each time I lean back in my desk chair and take a look at that wall, I see the two black-and-white plaques—opposite in their visual presentations, almost opposite in their messages. Around the plaques hang sixteen brightly colored book covers of work all published after I was told I was too late to the author table.

There’s something to be said for passion.

As a hybrid author today, I have eight titles traditionally published and eight independently published, which gives me a fairly balanced footing in our quickly changing, see-saw industry.

For anyone reading this blog post who is just beginning the author’s journey, I have two questions. 1. Do you have the confidence of His calling in your life? 2. Do you have the evidence of skills to do the work? If so, then I have two words for you.

Don’t quit.

Arrogance? Pride? Or determination not to quit. @davalynnspencer #ACFWBlogs #writetips #ACFWCommunity Share on X

Bestselling author and winner of the Will Rogers Gold Medallion for Inspirational Western Fiction, Davalynn Spencer is the wife and mother of professional rodeo bullfighters and can’t stop #lovingthecowboy. When she’s not writing Western romance, she teaches writing workshops and wrangles Blue the Cowdog and mouse detectors Annie and Oakley. Connect with her at www.davalynnspencer.com.

 

 

Comments 1

  1. I JUST wrote about this in my journal and spent much of Sunday reflecting on exactly this! Thank you for unknowingly writing confirmation on a message I am to learn, absorb and act upon! Today’s word for me? TENACITY! With abundant gratitude for your writing, Christina M. Eder
    Oak Ridge, TN

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