What book are you avoiding to write? It's probably the one you need to write the most.

We avoid things that pull the deepest part of us out into the light for others to see. We want to share, writers have that desire to, but sometimes we are quick to pull a cape over the story. Sure, we have those moments of inspiration, scene-writing, etc. But actually being committed to sit down and spill it all out, the hard parts, the easy. To make ourselves be still and write out the slow parts that take more effort than the inspired.

What book are you avoiding? The moment you read this question, it pops at you. It popped at me.

Why am I avoiding it? It doesn't have to be controversial. No, writers kind of like that - and it's not that it's taboo - there are tons of that on the shelves - so why then is there a book you or I avoid?

Because within it is our vulnerability. Whether others see it or not, we see it. People may give accolades for the very thing that makes you turn your eyes the other way. Because while they're speaking about a book, a character, a scene, a piece of dialogue that truly hit them, made them feel, opened their eyes to a new perspective, all you hear is a deep fact about yourself. A fact maybe others didn't know and would've ridiculed, would've turned their eyes the other way.

What book are you avoiding to write? Think on it, pinpoint why you avoid it. The answer probably will come quickly or may take some time, may take some writing days to get through and see more clearly what nerve it hits.

The amazing part is ... we avoid mirrors sometimes in life and others do the same ... but through books we write we give readers the ability to look in a mirror without the sharp cut of glass. Writers can help readers see themselves more clearly, in a softer light, in another character, that gives them courage to face what they can't bear to see in the mirror.

So when people go on and on about what they did love about your writing, what spoke to them ... take a moment to not hear a personal diary of your life but instead see that something in your words spoke to them about their own life, they saw a glimpse into a mirror without the harshness of artificial light, without the reflection of their own disappointed eyes ... they saw a glimpse of themselves and weren't hurt by it but became free ... to be honest of their own vulnerability and wounds .. and a gift you get is they share that with you.

I apologize if this blog post is kind of all over the place, with typos or inconsistent sentences. I think that God just really struck me with that question - and He asked me it after I had thought of the book, after I had shied away from going there, from picking up that story that reads so closely to a period of my life, a section of my heart. Even writing about it makes me want to slap the laptop shut. And when the book comes out, you may not even catch it at first as to why. Your own story may have the same reaction. Sure, there are truths in it that may surprise but not everyone is going to know the depth your story has, how far the words plumb ... I like that word, Plumb. So that's why I added it there, just in case I didn't write it carefully.

What book are you avoiding to write?
I'm pressing this question, not really to you but to myself and then to you. I'm poking that sore spot, and maybe it's not a wound but just a sensitive spot. Like your toosh. You don't realize how sensitive it is until you knock it into a corner. It doesn't even have to be a sharp corner - it could be the armrest of an airplane (ouch, that happened not too long ago I think). Everyone can see your toosh and it's okay, you've got pants on (I hope some clothing) but when something knocks into it - reality of its sensitivity hits hard (unless you got buns of steel, maybe it doesn't feel the same) and you go 'ouch' and rub it, unless you're in public (or maybe you still rub it.) *shoulder shrug*

What book are you avoiding to write? And why are you avoiding it? If you do know, write it. And if you don't know why, write it, because you'll find out the why.

The book you're avoiding may be the very book you need to write. For you, for others.