Be Strong and Courageous
A word for the writer in the middle of the slog
There’s a certain kind of tired that only writers know. It’s not the kind of tired you can vanquish with sleep or coffee. It’s the kind you feel after looking at your own words so many times that you can no longer tell if they’re any good—or if they ever were.
That’s where my client was when she emailed me the second draft of her manuscript for a final round of developmental editing.
“I’m hoping this round will be easier,” she confessed.
A few weeks later, I was wrapping up her editorial letter when I stopped and read it back to myself. It was long. Detailed. And I knew—even as I felt proud of the work—that it was going to land hard. She had already been through one round of revisions. She was tired. And I was about to ask her to do it all again.
I sat with that for a moment. Then, almost without thinking, I typed one of my favorite Bible verses at the bottom of the letter:
“Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.” 1 Chronicles 28:20 (NIV)
King David said these words to his son Solomon as he handed him the plans for the Temple. Solomon had an enormous task ahead of him, and David’s counsel was simple: Be strong and courageous, and do the work.
Friend, if you are in the middle of the revision process—if you’re feeling weary and too close to the material, if the idea of going through your manuscript one more time makes you want to cry and scream and throw up all at once—those words are for you too.
Be strong and courageous, and do the work.
The revision process can be a slog. What once poured out of you in a fit of passion and unbridled inspiration now has to be wrestled with, word by word. I know. As an editor, I see it all the time. And I promise you—every suggestion in every editorial letter I write is labored over and offered with one conviction: that it will make your message clearer and your manuscript stronger. This hard work of revision, of refining, is important, sacred work.
So don’t give up. Don’t be afraid. He called you to this message, and He will see you through it. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for your manuscript is finished.
This is my prayer for you this week:
Father God, I lift this weary writer before you today. Would You renew her strength and steady her heart? Grant her fresh eyes to see her work as you see it. Give her the endurance and wisdom she needs for this task you’ve set before her.
As she moves through these revisions, rekindle her passion for the message you’ve entrusted to her. You are the source of all creativity—please supply what she needs for each day. May she sense your pleasure as she faithfully runs this leg of her race. In your Son’s name, amen.
Keep writing, friend,
Mary K.
This Week’s Quick Win:
If you’re struggling to do the hard work this week, here are a few practical ways to ease yourself into it:
Rest. Yes, I know—I’m supposed to be helping you get back to work, not step away from it! But truly, one of the best things you can do for your mind and your work is let them rest. Take the evening off, take a day, take a weekend, and step away. Once you have rested, you’ll find it much easier to sit back down and do the work.
Pray. Once you sit down, take a calming breath and say a prayer. Ask the Lord to sit with you as you edit. Ask Him for wisdom and strength as you wrestle with your words. Pray for inspiration and creativity! Pray for a fresh passion for the work He has set for you to do. And finally, pray for the reader who will one day read your words. Then begin.
Set a small goal. Doing something a little bit every day adds up. If you’re in the middle of an overwhelming revision — or a terrifying first draft — break it into teeny, tiny, bite-sized goals. Set a word count goal each day, or a time limit. Personally, I like to commit to one chapter per sitting — it’s small enough to feel doable and satisfying enough to feel like progress. You have made progress. And that’s all you need to do.
Treat yo’ self. Listen, I know we like to act like we’re better than toddlers, but the truth is, everyone likes to be rewarded for good behavior. So go buy yourself your favorite treat (I personally love Ghirardelli chocolate squares with caramel!), or promise yourself a fancy drink—a margarita, frozen frappe, your favorite cuppa tea—or pick up a pack of fancy stickers and give yourself a gold star for every session completed. Anything to signify and celebrate all the work you’ve done, because, honey, you deserve it!
Resource Round Up
If you’re just starting out on your writing journey, the road from first draft to published book can feel unclear—and a little overwhelming.
That’s exactly why I wrote The Indie Author’s Editing Roadmap: From First Draft to Published Book.
This post walks you through each milestone of the editing and publishing journey, helping you understand not just what to do, but when and why—so you can make informed decisions and avoid common missteps. Read the full post here and start mapping your next steps with confidence.
Work With Me
I’m a developmental editor for nonfiction works, and I would love to work with you!
I’m currently booking smaller pieces (devotions and articles between 250–2,000 words) for May and have limited availability for manuscripts beginning in June. I’m beginning to schedule projects for the summer, so if you’re planning ahead, now is a great time to reach out.
You can email me at edit@marykathryntiller.com, request a Discovery Call (for manuscripts), or submit an Article Inquiry (for shorter pieces) to begin the conversation.
Thanks for reading along with me this week! Do you know someone who could use these words? Share them with a friend!
Timely encouragement for me, thanks for sharing!
Beautiful encouragement for the writers, especially me as I am new in writing a book. Love this community!