By Amy Earls
When I first agreed to become the next director of the Cascade Christian Writers Conference, departing director Christina Suzann Nelson shared with me the number one piece of advice that someone passed on to her when she stepped into the role:
Don’t stop writing.
This is good advice for any writer, but it carried extra weight since Christina had continued to write while serving as director. Her advice sounded simple enough. But over this last year, I’ve realized how life’s deadlines, responsibilities, meetings, and opportunities can easily push writing to the side. After finishing a series, I also discovered something else: Sometimes beginning again is harder than finishing. Starting a blank page after years spent immersed in familiar characters and worlds can feel intimidating.
And yet, Christina’s words have stayed with me. They have become the voice in the back of my mind, urging me forward whenever I feel stuck:
I’ve realized that creating is what truly energizes me. Writing is part of this, and my inherent nature includes creativity. Looking back, I can see that reflected in so many projects over the years. I’ve self-published three novels, recorded my own audiobooks, hosted a podcast, taught workshops, and stepped into leadership with CCW. Most recently, I’ve been creating Christian meditation videos centered on the theme woven throughout my books: faith over fear.
This fall, I’ll also be teaching a workshop at the CCW Fall Conference, something I never imagined I’d be doing years ago when I first started writing. But that’s the beautiful thing about creativity: One step often leads to another. Sometimes the skills we learn while pursuing one dream open doors to entirely new opportunities we never expected.
Every project looks different, but each one starts the same way—with the willingness to create something that didn’t exist before.
That’s the joy of being a creator. God created us in His image, and I believe using the gifts He placed inside us brings something deeply lifegiving. We can sometimes find creativity in books and stories. Sometimes it appears in music, art, speaking, teaching, or encouraging others. Other times it simply looks like faithfully continuing the work God has placed in front of us, even when we feel tired or uncertain.
And if we’re honest, there will always be another obligation competing for our attention. There will always be another reason to wait until life feels calmer or more manageable. But if we wait for perfect conditions before we begin to create, we may never begin at all.
So let me pass along this learned wisdom to you:
Be exactly who God made you to be. A writer.
Continue visiting the page even when inspiration seems far away. Don’t stop trying new things. Keep learning. Keep dreaming. Your words, your stories, and your creativity matter more than you know.
As we look ahead to the upcoming CCW Fall Conference, I hope you’ll join us ready not only to learn and connect, but to create. Whether you’re beginning your first manuscript, exploring a new genre, or simply trying to rediscover joy in the craft again, you belong in this community.
Amy Earls writes fiction that explores intersections between life issues and faith. A college advisor, she holds a master’s degree in education for adult learners, with an emphasis on writing. Amy lives in Oregon’s Willamette Valley with her husband and two daughters. Amy will teach “How to Record Your Audiobook” at the upcoming CCW Fall Conference, Saturday, October 10, being held in Lebanon, Oregon. For more information and to register, visit our conference page.
