Ah, here it is again, that blank slate I’ve missed so much.

Nope, you’re not seeing things. I’m back!

To all who have just found this blog, welcome. And to those who joined somewhere else along the way, welcome back. I’ve missed being here. I’ve missed you, and I’ve missed writing blog posts.

And oh, there’s so much to tell.

If we haven’t met yet, I’m E.J. Six years ago, I started a blog to record memories of my travels. Over the next four years, the shape of the blog grew, changed, and changed some more until I made the tough decision to step away from The Story Canvas.

I haven’t been the journaling type since my embarrassingly dramatic diary entries in middle school, so I can promise you this won’t just be a massive info dump all about me. I’m a teacher at heart, and much of this blog is about turning my experiences into knowledge to be shared. So it is with this post. The more I look back over the past two years, the more I see just how much I’ve learned. I didn’t realize when I went on hiatus just how crucial it would be for me to not have to worry about this blog in the coming two years, but as always, God’s timing is perfect.

So, without further ado, I want to share my biggest takeaways from my hiatus in the hopes that something will resonate with you, too.

Time spent with loved ones is never wasted.

I lost two family members and one dear friend over the past two years. There are no words to truly describe how it feels.

I’ve always treasured my relationships, but never more so than now. Having board games nights with my husband, going on coffee dates with my mom, playing with my nieces and nephews, calling my friends—it’s often not easy to dedicate time away from a busy schedule to be present for the people I love, but it’s worth it every single time.

On the other hand, these losses have been a twofold reminder. Firstly, they’ve shown me that spending time with other Christians—though important, inspiring, and integral to life—should never become a worry, as I know I’ll spend eternity with them.

It then follows that there is an urgent calling to tell others about the faith that has changed my life. Last year, I studied the Book of Revelation alongside hundreds of thousands of others around the world through Bible Study Fellowship (BSF), and it struck me just how important it is to tell the world about my hope, purpose, and security in Jesus. If my life could have a theme song, I would hope for it to be the hymn “Take My Life and Let It Be.” May my life be a living testimony to God’s greatness.

Reflect on where you are compared to where you want to be.

As I mentioned in my hiatus announcement post, part of what spurred on my break was realizing how far I was from my long-term goal to be a full-time author. I allowed short-term wants and needs to dictate my entire schedule. Rearranging my priorities, quitting some things, and getting back to a place where I could write more frequently took some doing, but I did it. I am doing it. My first full-length novel is coming out this year, and I’m already drafting my next book. Resetting my schedule and short-term goals has allowed me to get back to basics so I can focus my time on what matters most.

Please, for the love of everything, take a day off.

Six years into freelancing, and I never had a consistent day off. It’s not that I was working seven days a week (though sometimes I did), but at best, my “day off” would change from week to week, or be a half day where I still had to do some work.

I’m ashamed to say it wasn’t until this past winter that I realized I needed a dedicated day off. So, I set a day, and I stuck to it. Sometimes I make plans with my husband. Sometimes I write. Sometimes I just chill. The point is I don’t have to think about work or plan too much for this single day, and that alone has helped my headspace clear so much.

Deadlines aren’t always met, and that’s okay.

Amid everything else going on in my life, working on my writing goals was tough. There were a few deadlines with my editor that I didn’t meet—but praise God for compassionate editors! Each time, all was forgiven, and things got done.

I tried to enter a writing competition, too. I got so much done, had tons of fun with writing sprints, discovered a treasure trove of new ideas about my new WIP—but I didn’t meet the contest deadline due to too much else going on at the time. And you know what? I wasn’t upset. I was incredibly happy at how much it had motivated me to work on my book. Don’t get me wrong; deadlines are good and necessary. But surprisingly, the world doesn’t end with a missed deadline.

Less is more.

Before I went on hiatus, I spent a considerable amount of time spreading my presence across multiple sites in the hopes of more exposure. But I discovered that less is more. I’d much rather post consistently in two places rather than have a sporadic presence in six different places. And I’d much rather be consistent posting once a week than frequently making excuses for not being able to meet five posts a week. This way, I’ve settled into a place that feels more authentically me.

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I’m sure there are many more lessons tucked into my brain, but in view of the last heading, I’ll stick with those few for now and write on the rest as they come to me.

But next, as many of you are likely wondering: what’s new?

• New book: Whispers of Worlds, a sci-fi/fantasy novel told through several connected stories, is releasing this fall. If you’d like to be one of the first to read it this summer with an advance copy, send me a message!
• New theme: I’m playing with colors and a more space-like, whimsical theme. Let me know what you think!
• New purpose: This blog isn’t just for writers—it’s for readers, too, and anyone who loves stories.
• New imprint: I wanted to have a publishing imprint for my books and created a whole new brand, but then I wondered: Why would I do that when I already have a brand and community here? Therefore, look for my books to be published under The Story Canvas!
• New posting schedule: Look out for a new post every Friday (and make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss it)! Gradually, as I’m able, I’ll start posting more often.
• New social media: You can also find me on Instagram, where I share more about the daily life of an indie author and lots of pictures of my cats.

Through the new and the old, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for sticking with me. Here’s to good stories, cozy books, and a community of people who believe words can change the world.

Happy goal setting!
—E.J.

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