Sometimes there is this pressure as a parent to make each summer special and memorable for our kids. We can get caught up in comparison. What’s everyone else doing this summer? Maybe we get caught up in check-lists. Okay gang, here’s the list and let’s check off every item. 

We do this as writers and creatives too. Sadly, it has the potential of making the process of writing hard with the weight of expectation.

What if we could approach our writing process differently?

These 3 guiding questions help me re-discover my joy of writing:

    • Is it fun? If not, how can I make it fun?

    • Is it simple? If not, what can I take away or add to make it simpler?

    • Does it feel light and easy? If not, what would make it that way?

Sometimes the answer to these questions is easy, like adding fun stickers to the plotting of my next book. It might mean focusing on only the next small step (instead of the next ten). Sometimes it may even mean setting aside a project for some much-needed nap or time to dream and play. When I follow the fun in my writing, my words carry more energy and power because I am enjoying the process.

My 7-year-old son drew this a few weeks ago and it inspires me to live and create with childlike freedom and fun.

This is why I’ve been pondering this a lot lately. What would it look like to harness the fun and freedom of a child in my writing? When Jesus calls us to become like little children, what does this look like? How does this impact my creativity?

Last week I even taught a workshop on the subject and because of the positive response, I’m thinking about offering it via Zoom because this is such an important topic.

I would love to hear from you: what do you think it looks like to write and have fun like a child?