Hello Friends! I realize it has been too long since I posted an update. But don’t worry—the reasons aren’t bad.
First, The Widower and the Washer is a step closer to publication. I recently finished some minor post-editing revisions, and the book is moving to proofreading and layout.
Meanwhile, the cover art is complete, and I’m awaiting designs with text. In case you are wondering, the AI-generated image that has been on this site since last year is (and always has been) a temporary placeholder. I’ll announce a cover reveal in the near future.
With the current book approaching the finish line, my next step was to discern what to write next. Prayerfully, I first decided to revisit the project that I put on hold over a year ago.
What an eye-opening experience!
Lifting the Lid
Have you ever seen a child dig deep into the toy box and discover old toys that worked their way to the bottom ages ago? It has been so long since those toys have seen daylight that to (re)discover them is as exciting as getting a new toy!
I had a similar experience when I reopened my drafts, mind map, and research notes from my paused project. But before we explore each of those, we have to cover an important step.
Prayer and Discernment
When I first envisioned my second novel (over eighteen months ago), I was certain that the Lord led me to this figure, and this story idea. He blessed those early months of research with a flood of useful sources and story ideas. Every time I worked on the new book, I felt His presence.
Then He closed the door to that project when Angela entered into victory. That door stayed closed while He directed my writing of Angela’s story.
Because the Lord closed the door to my planned novel, it was necessary for me to seek His permission to reopen it. When I reopened the file to review all of my prior notes and drafts, it was clear that God was with me.
The project is officially back on. But where does it stand?
The Outline and Draft
When I last visited this book, it consisted of a bare-bones nine-point outline and three drafted scenes. By all accounts, this is very little material. But I had a chance to look at it with fresh eyes, through the lens of all the reading and growing (as a person and a writer) that I had done since I wrote these pieces.
As of now, the sparse outline of key plot points will stay the same. The framework is good. Next, I reexamined the drafts that I had already hung on that framework. While I think they accomplish, broadly, what they need to do for the story, I wanted to get feedback before I went deeper into drafting.
I recently connected with a Christian writing community, where I shared what I drafted so far. They offered valuable feedback that helped me understand where the threshold for graphic violence rests for different audiences, the types of questions they hope the story would ultimately answer, and even some illogical aspects of the character interactions I had presented.
Apart from the help their feedback provides to the project itself, their comments reminded me of the importance of working with a community of believers.
The Value of Community
Writing is a notoriously solo task. By contrast, God designed His kingdom and the work therein to be carried out by the Body of Christ—the assembly of believers working together for the sake of the Gospel. This is the key takeaway from The Widower and the Washer. At least, it was the key lesson that I learned from writing it, and the message I aim to convey through the book.
For this reason, I am thankful that God led me to a Kingdom-minded writing community that can encourage and inform my work as it progresses. I trust that He will use the people around me to shape my next book into what He wants it to be. But before I return to drafting, I have to catch up on my research.
This is not as easy as I thought it would be.
Debris Left Behind by the (Brain)storm
After rereading my early drafts, I opened the mind mapping program where I park and sift all my brainstorming ideas.
What a mess.
To be fair, a program like this is designed to be messy, with the option to organize. And, consistent with my work style, this piece is always going to be messy, with only the finished product being neat and tidy. Still, what I saw on my screen was messy even by my standards.
When I paused this project, I was still researching certain elements and adding further details to the board. So I knew, even then, that my brainstorming was far from finished.
What I didn’t know was how poorly some of these items would age. Not because they are bad or out of place, but simply because I have forgotten what they mean and why they are on the board in the first place.
Back to the Research
When I read source material, I take notes as I go and scan my notes into my research file. So I opened up my notes to jog my memory on certain story ideas and soon discovered that the meaning of my notes has also been lost over time.
I’m not a good note taker, at least not if I want long-term notes. My sparse scribbles are fine when I am frequently engaging with the subject matter. I’m the kind of person who will read a novel or watch a movie and forget much of the story after just a couple of months. A year-plus without opening my notes is going to have the same effect—only more obviously.
So my best choice is to effectively start over.
The Lord’s Timing
Abraham, Paul, and even the nation of Israel had to wait for the promises of God to come to fruition. Their stories took varied—and often troubling—detours. The fact that my work has encountered similar pauses and redirections simply means I’m in good company.
So in the weeks (probably months) ahead, I’ll be returning to my research, mind mapping, and eventually drafting. But I will do so knowing that the waiting season has not been in vain.
In the past year, I’ve learned important lessons about community and collaboration. I’ve connected with other writers who give me the right kind of insight and pointers. I’ve even read books relevant to my project that did not exist a year ago. In other words, I am better equipped to write this particular book now than I was when I began this project eighteen months ago.
But at the moment, I don’t have a timeline for my next novel. I’m okay with that.
In hindsight, I see that the waiting season itself was not in vain. As painful as it was (and often still is) to say goodbye to my wife, the Lord used that time to spurn me to record the story and lessons from my thirteen years with Angela. So I trust that He will use this story to produce fruit for His kingdom, even as He guides me (at His pace) through subsequent projects.