It's easy to write when life is all romping unicorns and your happy pants don't dig in at the waistband. Those are the times cranking out a few thousand words is easy.

But try writing when you just found out you've got cancer. Or your teenage daughter comes home and tells you she's pregnant. Or your husband packs his suitcases and walks out the door. Forever.

I'm not saying any of those things are going on in my life right now, but I guarantee you they're going on in someone's. How is a writer to write when the going gets tough?

There's no simple answer. Sorry, but I can't slap up a Top Three list and make everything better. There is one thing I know, however.

Just keep writing.

Writing when life gets gritty is often the most relatable for a reader. Everyone goes through turbulence and nose dives, and when an author bleeds their feelings onto the page, that's when a reader is going to connect in a very real, personal way.