Embracing YOUR Path

By Elle E. Kay @ElleEKay777

We’ve all been there.

Whether we’re watching a virtual webinar, attending a conference, reading a craft book, or chatting with a fellow writer, we hear all about the BEST way to write a book. One person may tell us to throw out the plot, while another insists we plan every scene in detail.

Some say to follow Save the Cat. Others push the hero’s journey. Use beat sheets. Try index cards. Write in a physical notebook. No, write in Word. Or Scrivener. Use sticky notes. Keep color-coded spreadsheets. Use character worksheets. Try enneagrams. The suggestions are endless.

And we try.

We try so many things we get fed up with trying.

We twist ourselves into knots trying to conform our creative process to someone else’s mold. And when it doesn’t work, we don’t blame the mold—we blame ourselves.

“I’m not disciplined enough.”
“I must not be cut out for this.”
“Real writers don’t work like this.”
“If I could just stick to those suggested writing sprints, I’d be fine.”

But the truth is, God didn’t design us all to function the same way.

Personally, I’ve tried so many methods, and none of them have truly fit my needs. But with a little creativity, something we writers have in spades, I can come up with my own systems. Systems that work for me.

I don’t write every day. I’ve tried to. I want to. But it just doesn’t work for me. I may never stop being a binge-writer. Yet somehow, despite the popular wisdom that authors need a daily writing habit, I’ve managed to publish twenty-three books. So, one way or another, the stories are getting written.

Some authors thrive with beat sheets and three-act structures. Others chase rabbit trails and discover the story as they go. Still others, myself included, land somewhere in the middle, plotting just enough to keep from getting lost but pantsing enough to enjoy discovering the characters and their journey as I write.

The same goes for our publishing paths.

Maybe you’ve been told that traditional publishing is the only “legitimate” route. Or that indie is the only way to have true control. And maybe you’ve tried indie publishing and found yourself overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the work. Or you tried querying agents and became discouraged by the rejection letters.

It’s okay to switch paths and try another way. Follow the direction God leads you, and don’t get caught up in trying to fit where you don’t belong. That old cliché about square pegs and round holes makes a lot of sense when you think about it.

Here’s the thing: just because a path works beautifully for someone else doesn’t mean it’s meant for you. And that’s okay. We need to let go of the comparisonitis and embrace who we are as children of the one true God.

He is not mass-producing authors on an assembly line. He’s crafting individual journeys with care and intention. “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). Sometimes, those steps lead through trial and error. Sometimes they look messy. But if you’re seeking Him and writing for Him, those steps aren’t wasted.

So, to my fellow neurodivergent writers, ADHD brains, creatives who can’t color inside the lines, and anyone who’s ever felt like they just don’t fit—you’re not broken. You’re designed differently. And that difference might be the very thing that makes your voice needed.

Stop trying to contort yourself into someone else’s process.

Learn from others, yes, but don’t lose your own spark in the process.

Your journey isn’t supposed to look like anyone else’s.

It’s supposed to look like yours.

And God’s pretty good at directing steps, even the meandering ones.

So, take the time to pray and trust the Author of your journey with the plot.

Elle E. Kay writes gripping Christian romantic suspense rooted in faith and authenticity. She lives on a hobby farm in Pennsylvania, where she enjoys farm life, music, youth ministry, and pointing readers to truth through compelling, redemptive stories. Learn more at elleekay.com.