Fifty-two days—not quite two months. That’s how long it took Nehemiah and the others to rebuild the wall surrounding Jerusalem.1 He knew the result he wanted to accomplish and stayed focused on his calling despite mockery, threats, and assassination plots from his enemies. Discouragement, poverty, hunger, and conflict assaulted his co-workers.
Finishing a book is like building that wall. Sometimes I wonder if what I’m doing is worth it: writing, editing, recording, waking up in the wee hours to write one paragraph or change one phrase or a word. If I don’t do it then, I’d surely forget it. I’m sure other writers experience the same doubts.
Not long ago, before breaking into individual critique groups with Cascade Christian Writers,2 the leader read a devotion. I wrote down some phrases, but mostly pondered the message: “If your story, whether it is fiction, nonfiction, self-help, or children’s picture book, is inspired by the Holy Spirit, then the story isn’t yours to keep. So—finish, publish, and launch.”
That encouragement is what I needed to hear. I finished Speckles the Ordinary Chicken, and she is at the printers. I passed on the text of Speckles the Brave to the illustrator, wrote and began editing Speckles’ Family. In addition, I’ve found an illustrator for Beautiful Hands, a manuscript I’ve held close to my heart since 2022, the year my mother “graduated” from her life on earth. I have other walls to build, though. I need to finish editing the second book in the Spruceland Farms series, Valley Low.
What are you working on? Cleaning up the garden? Harvesting and processing? A creative endeavor or doing the next thing in your life’s journey? What do you hope to accomplish over the next fifty-two days? Whatever it is, just like Nehemiah couldn’t complete the wall alone, we all do better when connected with others.
Fifty-two days from today is October 17th. If you need someone to help you with accountability, contact me. I am willing to check with you weekly to see how you are doing with your wall building! Let’s encourage each other.
Linda Hartwig
meadowspring@tuta.com