Make Your Writing Better By Resting

From July 2015 to July 2016, I wrote three books for a total of 250,000 words.

For some super writers, that's nothing. But for me, it was quite a feat.

While I've learned to write faster using the Story Equation, three books was still a bit much.

It started last summer when my editor proposed two books due by December 1st.

I was hesitant. I wasn't sure I had the emotional energy to write two books! In the fall of 2015 I was just over a difficult year physically in 2014. What if I ran into problems again?

Connecting emotionally to the characters is important to me and that's hard to do when I have to simply "produce." Hard to do when a tough year hang over your head.

Yet the Lord nudge me, "Do it. Diamonds come from pressure."

I did it. It was fun. But no time to rest. On to the next deadline to make this trio in a year complete.

Once I turn in The Writing Desk rewrites, I will have nothing pressing until January. I can take my time to read, dream, plan the next book.

And just be. Drive to the beach. Spend time just sitting at His feet.

Rest. It's so key to a writer's life.

In the Old Testament, God tells the people of Israel to "fast work." We have to labor to enter into rest because it's our default to work. To want to stay busy. To feel like the more we work the more we'll get done.

I've heard testimonies of successful businessmen who worked 12 - 15 hours a day and still didn't accomplish all they wanted.

But when they started "resting" before the Lord at the beginning of their day, they accomplished all their work and more in a regular 8 hour day.

I ended up on a two week vacation this summer in the middle of the deadline. I had a few restless nights wondering if I'd meet my July deadline.

How can one rest when there's work to be done?

I finished. Two days early. On the heels of my father-in-laws passing.

God can multiply our time if we take time to rest and just be!

This fall I can take the top down on the car and drive along the beach if I want. Let the wind blow through my hair and my thoughts.

Take time to rest. Don't go from one thing to the next.

Work hard on deadline. Rest in between.

You'll be better for it.

*** 

New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Rachel Hauck lives in sunny central Florida.

A graduate of Ohio State University with a degree in Journalism, she worked in the corporate software world before planting her backside in uncomfortable chair to write full time eight years ago.

Her book The Wedding Dress hit Amazon's bestsellers list the first half of 2016.

Rachel serves on the Executive Board for American Christian Fiction Writers. She is a mentor, conference speaker and worship leader.

Rachel writes from her two-story tower in an exceedingly more comfy chair. She is a huge Buckeyes football fan.

Here latest novel is The Wedding Shop. "Spellbinding." Starred Booklist Review

Visit her web site: www.rachelhauck.com.