By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills
Disappointments have a way of wiggling into our confidence, especially when our writing friends are at a conference, and we are at home. How does a writer survive? The following tips will help you overcome your sadness while providing tools to improve your craft.
It’s easy to let self-pity infect our lives when circumstances don’t go our way. But gratitude, first to God for His gift of life, then for all our blessings is a sure way to lift our spirits.
Hope is a precious commodity when regrets chase us into despair. Hope showers us with a desire, wish, or expectation that we believe will bring us joy. Hebrews 11:1 ESV gives us the perfect definition for hope. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
Surviving Everyone is at the Conference but Me by @DiAnnMills on @BRMCWC #Writing #Writinglife #BRMCWC Share on X
Staying home from the conference is an opportunity to take care of ourselves. Ask yourself: is it time to begin an exercise program, initiate healthy eating habits, further our education, enjoy a hobby or seek out a new one, or dive into God’s word for a deeper study?
Prayer is our strongest battlefront. When we ask God to hem in others with His protection and keep others safe and healthy while speaking to our hearts, victory results.
Not attending the conference doesn’t mean you need to neglect your craft. Plan a retreat that grows your writing, marketing, and social media skills. Use blog posts, physical and e-books, YouTube, and other means to personalize the retreat for you.
We all have stacks of to-be-read books. This is an amazing opportunity to binge on reading: fiction, nonfiction, biographies, and more. Oh, the adventures you will have.
Have you been itching to try writing an essay, poem, or explore another genre? Detail and plan a blog? Use this time to investigate what might be next in your writing life while appeasing your muse.
This could be the project you’ve put off for so long. A busy writer often doesn’t have allocated time to learn how to build a professional website. Discover the many aids out there. You might find the process is fun.
Last but incredibly important, understand each person who isn’t at the conference will be missed. You are valued.
So, there you have it: some ways to survive everyone is at the conference but me. This time has possibilities to grow you as a writer. What will you choose?
DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who invites her readers to step into stories where suspense meets adventure and romance warms the heart. Known for crafting unforgettable characters tangled in unpredictable plots, DiAnn believes every breath we take unfolds a story waiting to be told—so why not make it thrilling?
Her novels have consistently landed on bestseller lists including CBA, ECPA, and Publishers Weekly, and have won prestigious awards such as the Christy, Selah, Golden Scroll, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol awards.
DiAnn is a founding board member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Conference Advisor for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers. She actively participates in Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, International Thriller Writers, Outliers Writing University, and The Christian Pen. DiAnn passionately invests in helping fellow authors succeed through mentoring, book coaching, and editing. She travels nationwide speaking and teaching engaging writing workshops.
A proud coffee snob who roasts her own beans, DiAnn also enjoys diving into good books, experimenting in the kitchen, and unabashedly spoiling her grandchildren—whom she insists are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband make their home under the sunny skies of Houston, Texas.
Connect with DiAnn online for behind-the-scenes glimpses, writing tips, and lively discussions: Facebook, X, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, BookBub, YouTube, LinkedIn, or her website: diannmills.com.
The Conversation
Perfect timing for this blog post! I’m one of those you mentioned who planned on attending the conference, but God ordered my steps in a different direction.
Just this morning, I texted a friend, pondering why I’m home instead of at BRMCWC, the place I wanted to be.
Although the answer to my “why” should be obvious, since I just came home from the hospital yesterday. I am confused about God’s timing.
However, God used Diane’s blog to broaden my thinking and help me view my situation through a different mindset.
God is so good to provide just what we need when we need it, which encourages me to keep writing. Just like I benefited from reading today’s blog, someone needs to read something I write.
Thank you for sharing this much-needed, timely truth through your blog post today.