Little By Little. Slow and Steady.

Posted on July 30, 2014 by

13 Comments

In case you didn’t know, I’m working on my third novel. It’s (for now) called A CUP OF DUST and it’s (I hope) the first in a series about my character, Pearl Spence.

I just want you to know that I love this book. I love the characters…even the antagonist (the bad guy). I love writing this book.

This story is different. I don’t know if it’s because I’m a more mature writer (oh, good golly, Miss Molly, I hope I am) or if it’s because it’s an historical setting, but this book has had more trudging days than the other two.

What are trudging days? They’re the days when I keep my tuchus in the chair and fingers on the keys for hours with the result of accomplishing a page or two of edits/rewrites.

I should have gotten more done! I whine in my brain while pouring another cup of coffee. What is wrong? Am I losing my abilities? Were the other two books a fluke? Of course they were. Beginner’s Luck. And everyone who read them were just being polite and…and…blahdity blah blah….pity party…WAAAAAAAAH!

Have I ever told you that writers are neurotic? Because we are. All of us. Big time.

Regardless of acute neurosis (not cute at all, though), I kept punching away, tapping the keys. Every day. At least a little bit.

But it didn’t seem like enough.

Then, Saturday at church…

My pastor said the words, “Little by little. Slow and steady”. He said them again and again.

How do you give away $100,000? One dollar at a time. How do you build a marriage? One day at a time. How do you start a good habit or quit a bad one? How do you run a race or climb a mountain? How do you…well…how do you do ANYTHING?

Little by little. Slow and steady.

One foot in front of the other.

Moment by moment.

How is a novel written? One word at a time.

So that’s how I’m going to write today.

I don’t know what you’ve got going on right now. I do know that most of us face a challenge or two each day. That some days it’s enough just to get out of bed.

But I want to encourage you. You can do it. Whatever it is. Slow and steady. Little by little.

And we have not been left alone. We have a God who has good hearing and a loving heart.

Keep moving. Keep trying. One step at a time.

If you want a little encouragement, I’ve attached the link to the sermon titled “Slow and Steady” by Jeff Manion at Ada Bible Church. I hope it inspires you as much as it did me.

http://www.adabible.org/watch/media-player/

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13 Comments on “Little By Little. Slow and Steady.”

  1. oh Susie. Those words may have been music to your ears, but I think its exactly what I *needed* today. As the pain from this stupid disease and the cancer treatments continue and I see no end in sight and no hope from the doctors, its … wearing on me. And then there are the daily struggles of just managing, and overcoming past. Little by little. Yeah, I’m whiny today. Feel free to slap me. And now I’m going to listen to the sermon.

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    • It’s rare for me to leave a Manion sermon without a big chunk to chew on. This series is such a blessing!

      Keep going on your epic aweseomeness, Bob. You know I’ll be among the many Author Bob fans one of these days. 🙂

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  5. This post has been an incredible encouragement. Right now. I’m working on a novel rough draft and it seems as if I’m straining to pull out every single word. It’s kind of nice to know other writers experience this as well.

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  6. Thanks for sharing this. What a wonderful mindset when the words become sticky and the next plot turn a little foggy. And a great philosophy for life as well. That’s all we have–one step, one moment, one word. We lay that forward and God will provide the next.
    I needed this today. Thanks!

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