Clear Your Plate
A Word From God
“Clear your plate.” My friend told me she’d been praying for me and the Lord told her to give me this instruction.
Clear my plate? I had more than one plate spinning endlessly on very wobbly hands. Writer, editor, acquisitions editor, writing coach, social media poster, wife, book reviewier, conference teacher . . . And I worked as a camp host 35 hours a week.
And . . . I had six books under contract for 2025.
How does one clear one’s plate from all that? Slowly. Carefully. I started by saying no to all new requests. No new conference teaching requests. No requests to write a guest blog. No to judging upcoming writer’s contests.
No to constant posting on social media. I unsubscribed to almost every newsletter that hit my inbox.
Fear encroached. Would I lose all momentum in my writing career? Would people forget about me if I didn’t release a book every other month? How would new readers find me?
I asked for and graciously received a reprieve on the sixth book I was expected to produce this year. The story wouldn’t come and the words seemed frozen.
I was burned out. I stopped writing. Stopped posting.
Stopped.
Have you ever faced a wall that seemed impossible to go over, around, or through?
As I write this, I’m finishing up with my final coaching client for 2025. I’m finally able to pound out a few hundred words each day. In the past, I’d set my goal at 3,000 words a day. Now I’m lucky to reach 1,000.
My plate is clear. My prayer is now “What next, Lord?” I’m ready.
Oh Jane. I wish we could have all prayed more specifically for your struggles. You are beloved. You were at a pace that no one could keep up with. I am joyful with you that you are able to start picking up now—more concentrated, more honed in, more direct.
May you feel His presence and His guidance as you move forward step by step. And please do not forget your rest and self care. 💙