Unexpected moments of grace.
Or, how prayer healed my creative paralysis and clarified my 2024 writing goals.
My brain is a scanner brain—my imagination is always chasing the next shiny idea that comes along. I’m not one of those writers who’s frustrated by a lack of ideas. Truly, sometimes I wish I could just pick one good idea and stick to it. I get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of potential projects that rattle about my mind and that all seem equally worthy. The consequence of this is that I have a lot of half-finished drafts, abandoned outlines, and lists of story ideas that are gathering dust in Google Drive.
I’ve tried a lot of exercises to get my scanner brain unstuck. My writing coach knows how much I’ve struggled this year with making a plan and staying the course. The lack of measurable progress was making me depressed. Honestly, I’ve been tempted to give up on writing altogether! At my wits end, I decided to bring the issue to prayer. I mean, Jesus healed a paralyzed man—surely He could dispel my creative paralysis!
The Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist is the great treasure of the Catholic Church. I’m a strong advocate for praying before the Blessed Sacrament, a practice Catholics call Eucharistic Adoration.
My home parish, St. Dominic’s holds exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on Wednesday afternoons, so I made a point of attending last week. I decided to make a bold request—Lord, I want you to show me today whether you want me to continue writing. Please send me a sign of some kind.
Wouldn’t you know it—a few hours later I got an email out of the blue from an acquisitions editor at a Catholic press. I didn’t know this person, but they praised a recent article I published and encouraged me to keep writing.
Wow! Some might call that a coincidence. I call it a “God incident.” A moment of grace. I believe in the power of prayer, now more than ever. And the graces didn’t stop there. Two days later I was stunned when my summer writing goals became suddenly clear to me!
Late that evening the subject of my next children’s nonfiction book unexpectedly revealed itself. Ever since my debut kidlit manuscript was accepted for publication, I’ve been struggling to brainstorm a sequel. I’ve tried out several ideas; none of them worked. But this new idea was like lightning! I knew at once that this was the sequel I’d been hunting for.
My imagination was so electrified by this eureka moment that I couldn’t sleep! I stayed up past midnight scribbling in my journal—I just wouldn’t rest until I nailed down the perfect title for this new book. The premise for this book fit my interests and goals so perfectly, that I’m convinced the inspiration didn’t come from my confused scanner brain. Another moment of grace!
(Sorry If I’m keeping the details vague. The first book in this potential series hasn’t even been announced by the publisher yet. I promise, as soon as I have any info I can share, you’ll be some of the first to know about it!)
Over this summer I plan to begin researching for this book. (Yes, even nonfiction for children requires a lot of serious research!) I already have a list of sources I want to reference. I feel so energized! Hopefully, I can gather enough information to begin work on a rough draft in the Fall.
In that same grace-filled week there was one more surprise in store for me! Some of you may remember that I’ve been brainstorming some short story ideas with my good friend
. Last year we wrote a paranormal sci-fi tale called “Field Station Delta,” a sequel to Paul’s story “Operation White Phantom” (which is collected in The Third Crown and Other Weird Tales). Well guess what? I was hit with the sudden inspiration to expand “Field Station Delta” into a novella!
Most of the work is already done—the current short story draft sits at approx. 12,200 words. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association defines a novella as at least 17,500 words long. Paul and I are already within striking distance! This week I completed an new scene-by-scene outline—a total of 7 chapters plus an epilogue. My plan is to do most of the writing over the next eight weeks or so.
So. . . . That was my incredible week of blessings. Please forgive the length of this post, but I was just so excited to tell you all about everything that’s happened. I can’t wait to find out what other amazing creative adventures God has planned for me in the future!
And speaking of future writing projects—I'm considering a pen name for my short fiction and novels (to differentiate them from my essays and nonfiction books). I’ve chosen "Murray" as a tribute to my maternal grandfather Thomas Murray (who passed on before I was born). What do you think of the three pen name options below? Thanks for your input!
Before I wrap up, I’d like to leave you with a quote I came across recently from Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. No joke—I’ve tacked this saying up on the bulletin board above my writing desk:
The faith given to me in baptism suggests to me surely: of yourself you will do nothing, but if you have God as the center of all your action, then you will reach the goal.
For too long, I’ve had myself at the center of all my writing projects, and (big surprise) found myself frustrated, rudderless, and ready to give up. I’m finally ready to place God at the center of my creative life—He’s the Captain of the ship now, I’m just the helmsman. I’ll steer in the direction He chooses, and write the stories that He wants me to create.
Now, I’m sure the voyage won’t be perfect. And I may even lose confidence in the Captain on occasion. But I’ll quickly find that steering my own course isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Take my advice—if you struggle, like I have for years, with creative paralysis—take your problems to Jesus. Spend some time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament if you can. I promise, you won’t regret it.
God bless, and happy writing!
This is so much fun! What a great post, and kudos on the novella! and I loved this line: "Some might call that a coincidence. I call it a “God incident.” "
Yes! So excited to hear about your breakthroughs -- I love it when God's will becomes so clear.
He truly cares for His creatives. ❤️