I’m often asked where I get my ideas for a novel. So far the sparks have ignited over observations of human behavior, a trip to a particular location that inspires a new idea, a comment from an editor about what they’d like to see more of, or a story in the news.

Sometimes a character shows up unannounced. Despite my best efforts to tell him or her to “Scram!”

Last summer, I woke from a sound sleep and I was certain this new fictional friend was standing next to my bed. Except there wasn’t anyone there. Yet she knocked so loudly and persistently on the door of my imagination that I found it difficult to sleep. Some writers say this is a ‘eureka’ experience and given the opportunity, they’d leap from their bed and scrawl notes on anything they could find, desperate to document it out of fear that the inspiration might vanish in the morning light.

I wasn’t that motivated. I like to sleep. Besides, I had plenty of other good story ideas, thank you very much. I didn’t care that she had ‘arrived’ as a fully developed character, bursting with key plot points and a resolution to her dilemma.

I told her to go away. Her story was (and is) too hard to write. Too painful.

I’m not here for that. I like sweet, clean inspirational romance, remember?

A few weeks later, fifteen thousand gallons of water poured through our home, earning me a free pass to ignore this pesky character. And yet, I distinctly recall sitting in a lawn chair in my backyard while the water mitigation team demolished what was left of our first floor, and whispered to my agent that I had a “Big Scary Idea” and I’d probably have to write about it.

Then I changed my mind. Too hard. Too scary. I’m busy. My real life is bleak. I can’t wade into this fictional pit.

My new imaginary friend wouldn’t take no for an answer, though. Determined to ignore her, I wrote two more manuscripts and revised two more. I’d show her. A cast of secondary characters, a hero and a subplot materialized. So what. It’s probably all garbage. Who’d even publish this if I did write it?

Still she hung in there. Finally, I passively-aggressively scrawled three chapters and all the details swimming in my head down in my journal. Maybe if I get it out, it will all just go away.

And yet, she’s still with me. I don’t think she’ll be satisfied until I tell her whole story. Fine. I give in. Avery Lansing Crawford, you are no match for me. At last, you can take center stage.

Friends, I’m sharing this snapshot of my creative process not because I want your empathy (although empathy is always nice), but because I want you to be inspired to do the HARD THING that God has called and equipped you to do. You might not be a creative, but more than likely you are facing or will soon be facing something that seems big and scary and impossible right now.

While self-doubt often plagues us, and the enemy wants nothing more to convince us we are not equipped to do what God has called us to, here’s a quick reminder of the ultimate truth from Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Thank you for stopping by. If you’d like to hear more inspiring words of encouragement, head over to Holley Gerth’s website for her Wednesday Coffee for your Heart link-up.

Blessings!