by Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes @khutch0767

Not long ago, I went for a walk at my neighborhood park. As I pulled into the lot, I noticed a small group of men practicing soccer. After completing one lap around the pond, it began to sprinkle. At first, it was just a drizzle—nothing to stop me. But then the rain picked up. And kept picking up. I decided to hunker down in my vehicle until the storm was over.

I sat in my car, watching the drops pound against the windshield, waiting for the rain to let up so I could continue my walk. But to my surprise, the soccer players didn’t stop. The harder the rain fell, the harder they played. Their focus didn’t waver, their teamwork didn’t falter, and their joy seemed to grow as they splashed across the soggy field.

It hit me—many of us writers tend to wait for “perfect” conditions before we get to work. We want our schedules to be clear, our energy to be high, and inspiration to strike. But life rarely gives us a sunny forecast. Rain comes.

Sometimes the rain is a sickness that saps our strength. Sometimes it’s family tension, financial stress, or the sting of rejection from an editor or agent. Sometimes it’s all the above. But just like those soccer players, the question is, will we keep playing? Or will we sit it out, waiting for ideal conditions that may never come?

[tweet_box design=”default” float=”none” inject=”#Writing #BRMCWC #Writinglife”]Write Despite The Rain by @khutch0767 on @BRMCWC[/tweet_box]

As writers, playing through the rain builds our perseverance, our skill, and our faith. Here are a few ways to keep going when the skies darken:

1. Pray before you write—Ask God to clear the mental clutter, give you fresh inspiration, and remind you why He called you to this work.

2. Stay in community with other writers—Fellowship fuels perseverance. Encourage and be encouraged.

3. Cry out to God for guidance—Writing isn’t just a craft; for Christian writers, it’s a calling.

4. Worship as you work—Whether through music, Scripture reading, or silent praise, let your writing time be an act of worship.

5. Feed your mind—Read good books, study excellent writing, and practice your craft daily—even if it’s just a paragraph.

6. Attend conferences and trainings—They refresh your skills and connect you with others who “play in the rain.”

In my experience, choosing to persevere through imperfect seasons has helped me become a more professional and disciplined writer. Like those soccer players, we can decide to push forward—not despite the rain, but through it.

Because here’s the truth: The rain will come. But when we keep playing anyway, we don’t just finish the game—we grow stronger for the next one.

Author, speaker, educational consultant, and editor–Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes, Ed. D. has had her hand in leadership for many years. She loves speaking to groups and delivering messages with a quick wit and real-life stories. Katherine is a freelance writer/content editor, a content editor/writing coach for Iron Stream Media, and a sensitivity reader for Sensitivity Between the Lines. She is a review board member and contributor to Inkspirations (an online magazine for Christian writers), and her writing has been published in Guideposts. Her work in art/writing is distinguished by awards, including the New York Mayor’s Contribution to the Arts, Outstanding Resident Artist of Arizona, and the Foundations Awards at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference (2016, 2019, 2021, 2022). She was a finalist in the Genesis Contest ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers/Romantic Suspense 2022). She is a finalist for the Claymore Award 2022 (Thriller Division) for the best-unpublished manuscript. She is a member of Word Weavers International and serves as an online chapter president and mentor. She belongs to FWA (Florida Writers Association), ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), CWoC (Crime Writers of Color), AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association), and AASA (American Association of School Administrators). She serves on the board of the nonprofit organization Submersion 14 and is an art instructor and virtual exhibition specialist for the nonprofit organization Light for the Future. Katherine is the host of the podcast Murder, Mystery & Mayhem Laced with Morality. She has authored a Christian Bible study for women and is currently working on the sequel and prequel to her first general market thriller novel, “A Fifth of the Story.”