Stuck in the Middle, image and post by Julie Arduini
When I first took this picture in Holmes County, Ohio, last summer, I had many ideas about how to use it. The swampy muck invokes so many thoughts for a devotional, but since this is romance, I can make this picture tell a story about writing contemporary romance.
At least I can share how this picture shows so well what it is like for me to write a contemporary romance.
My third book, ENGAGED: Surrendering the Future, releases this month and I found with all three that I got stuck in the middle. It wasn’t just the middle of the book, a problem a lot of authors have, but the middle of specific plot points.
I outline my books and sketch plot points out that will serve as major events to move the story forward. Everytime when there’s filler experiences to take me from one place to the next, I s-t-r-u-g-g-l-e. It’s not that those conflicts aren’t important, they are. But, they aren’t the major things I wrote out, and I’m excited to get to that place. Getting there, wow. I realized I procrastinate terrible. I add extra Facebook time to my day, read Buzzfeed articles, change my cover pictures on Pinterest, it’s shameful the time I waste because I don’t feel like wading through those middle places.
Engaged by Julie Arduini releases later this month.
The good news with Engaged is that I have those smaller events out of the way, and the writing is flying because I’m near the end. That’s a good thing given the book releases this month! Still, I cringe when I think about how I act the same writing those situations as much as these animals look muddling through. Even worse, I have a funny feeling I’ll do the same with my next series.
Is there anything you do that looks the same as this picture? You aren’t at the beginning, you’re not at the end, but you’re barely managing forward? How do you work through it?
Julie Arduini loves to encourage readers to surrender the good, the bad, and ---maybe one day---the chocolate. She’s the author of ENTRUSTED: Surrendering the Present, as well as ENTANGLED: Surrendering the Past. The last book in the series, ENGAGED: Surrendering the Future, is coming soon. She also shares her story in the infertility devotional, A WALK IN THE VALLEY. She also blogs every other Wednesday for Christians Read. She resides in Ohio with her husband, two children, and chocolate stash. Learn more by visiting her at http://juliearduini.com.
That’s quite a photo, Julie! It certainly captures how it can feel sometimes when pushing through to get to the end of our manuscript. But what a great feeling when we get to the other side! Good luck with Engaged. Cute cover!
It’s a pretty picture and describes exactly how I’ve been feeling right now. I’m not a student anymore (haven’t been for a while after my PhD) but I’m not a teacher/lecturer/professor just yet (need to get officially hired first), but I do a lot of odd jobs teaching here and there and I work in several labs in different institutions hoping someone will hire me eventually, but I’m just feeling completely stuck in the middle these days. Like my life is not going forward. Some days I wonder if I’m not swimming hard enough and other days I just don’t have the strength to move… I know God is there for me, but I just can’t see the end right now.
It was nice to hear what you saw in the picture. I am from Ohio and I did not like to see the water that way. Yuck! I like your book cover.
Are there dogs in the mire? Yes, I’ve felt like that with life in general.
I put off cleaning my house. I wish I had a self-cleaning house as easy to use as my self-cleaning oven.
Thank you Jill. I’m terrible at remembering animals, but I sure have felt like the ones with the horns up front. Just slugging through, barely! You’re right, it’s worth it when you reach the other side. Thanks for liking the cover!
Priscila,
That’s a hard place to be. My family has been going through the same thing. It has been difficult, but we are trying to praise Him in that middle as we wait for direction. I encourage you to look in His word and praise Him. We have been thanking Him for ordering our steps even if we aren’t seeing what they are just yet. We thank Him that because we delight ourselves in Him, He will give us the desires of our heart. Some answers have come to pass, others, we are waiting on. We have reached a place in prayer where we believe it is done in heaven, so we’re pulling those promises down on earth where we can see them. It has been a refining experience, for sure.
Heavenly Father, I lift Priscila up to You and ask that You direct her steps. Give her strength for the journey, Your strength. Show her the Hosea 2:14 of this season, that there is purpose in the waiting. Give her divine connections and encouragement. Flood her with peace that passes all understanding. May there be acceleration and favor in the search, and that You assign her exactly where she needs to be to move Your Kingdom forward sooner, than later. For Your glory alone, Amen and Amen.
(((hugs)))
Lori, that was an Amish farm in Holmes County. I have no idea why it was so green. It was a hot and humid day, so the animals were probably cool, but it didn’t look pretty at all. I’m so glad you like the cover. Thanks for reading today!
I don’t think so, but maybe? I saw ducks and then the animals with the horns up front. That was what really spoke to me.
I love the way you think, Merrillee! I would enjoy that, too!
I guess I can’t see the front the pic well. Must be my eyes.
Thank you!! I just got “fired” today from one of the odd job positions (the only one that paid me, though). I knew it was coming (and I have peace it was time), but it is still unsettling.
I’m currently applying for two positions (full time) and I’m hoping a few other places will open up soon after summer. We’ll see.
Those animals up front look like water buffalo… but what are they doing on a farm in Ohio???!!!
I loved that picture! And congratulations on your upcoming release!
I am believing with you!
That does look like them! Good question. It was an Amish Farm. Crazy, right?
Thank you, Alexa!