Causes of CWS (Cranky Writer Syndrome)

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Want to know what makes a writer crabby? Not having enough time to write. Oh, I hear you... "If you love something, you'll find time to do it." True, but sometimes love is tough, and so is finding the time to write, especially when there are 3 big roadblocks that are sometimes in the way:

Roadblock #1: Illness
Thankfully, God has blessed me so that I haven't had much personal experience with this one. I do, however, have a friend who's a writer that deals with a debilitating illness every day. Each word physically costs her. The desire to write is there, but the ability to get that story out is excruciating. All the ingredients are there for a very cranky writer, but she's not. Why?

God's grace.

Roadblock #2: Family
Young children. Elderly parents. Ailing spouses. Hear that giant sucking noise? Yep. These family members take a lot of time. I have yet to meet a writer who doesn't have family commitments, some more than others. Want to know who the crankiest writers of them all are? The ones who put their writing ahead of their family. But how to write and meet family needs?

God's grace.

Roadblock #3: Fear
Every writer gets caught up in busy seasons, when writing must be set aside for a time. It's getting back into it that throws this roadblock in the way. Getting back into the writing saddle is scary. What if you fall off? What if you don't move at all? I suspect you've picked up my pattern by now. The only way to overcome this hurdle is God's grace.

The bottom line is that if you don't plead for God's grace to rain down fresh every day, you will be cranky, writer or not. They key to avoiding CWS is to stay connected to the Author of Creativity.