Episode 02

Mick Silva

Learning To Appreciate The Process

Mick Silva is a freelance editor and writing coach who has spent nearly 20 years in the Christian publishing industry. He has worked for Focus on the Family Books and WaterBrook & Multnomah, an imprint of Penguin Random House.
Mick Silva is a freelance editor and writing coach who has spent nearly 20 years in the Christian publishing industry. He has worked for Focus on the Family Books and WaterBrook & Multnomah, an imprint of Penguin Random House.
00:00 57:14

Show Notes:02. Mick Silva —Why Writing Is Hard: Learning To Love The Process

I have had the pleasure of working with Mick as a writing coach and editor on my latest manuscript. Mick’s knowledge runs much deeper than book publishing and marketing. Mick deeply understands the challenge of writing and the struggle authors face. This episode is a deep and honest dive into the soul of the writer and why writing is hard.

“There are, it seems, two muses: the Muse of Inspiration, who gives us inarticulate visions and desires, and the Muse of Realization, who returns again and again to say, ‘It is yet more difficult than you thought.’ This is the muse of form. It may be then that form serves us best when it works as an obstruction, to baffle us and deflect our intended course. It may be that when we no longer know what to do, we have come to our real work and when we no longer know which way to go, we have begun our real journey. The mind that is not baffled is not employed. The impeded stream is the one that sings.” — Wendell Berry

Read more: https://onbeing.org/blog/the-vital-obstacles-in-the-creative-process/

Mick strikes an important balance in articulating a kind of heuristic approach to first drafts and a focused and intentional revision process. Writing is more than what we know, but Mick acknowledges we all have to start somewhere. Once we have found a place to start, we have to be sensitive, yielding, and courageous to follow where God is leading.

Mick writes on his blog:

“I’ve long maintained that writing well is one of the hardest things one can do. It requires so much. I’ve justified that by saying the hardest things have the most opportunity to be life-changing. And that’s true. The hardest work is the most trying, but it’s also the truest test of your deepest beliefs. And God knows, we wouldn’t do it if it wasn’t for the promise of that reward. Maybe that’s base self-interest, but I think God takes what he can get. And if it gets us to start writing with God, he delights in taking the work and making it an adventure.

Like discovering unexpected treasure along the way, writing with God is ultimately writing for yourself. You will always be the primary beneficiary. And yet, because he is God, you may find this is also the best way to write for your readers.”

“I write because I don’t know what I think until I read what I say.” — Flannery O’Connor

  • We saw a lot of ducks and only got the chance to shoot at a few, but another great day outdoors. Special thanks to @rwakie for a great day hunting.
  • Taco Tuesday. Yes, that is cheese sauce she is covered in. Who doesn’t like queso.
  • Well, it’s been a long season with lots of ups and downs, but I finally walked away the champion. Though my wife continues to remind me that it’s all pretend, this trophy is very real.
  • Need just a little more snow, or weight. #christmassledding
  • Our local county paper featured The 5 Masculine Instincts this week. I’m so grateful to Leah Greenwood for a wonderful article.
  • Cold nights mean blankets.
  • Link in bio. It's the season of giving and we all know how hard it can be to buy gifts for men. This season, give the men in your life a gift to help them grow into better men. The 5 Masculine Instincts is great for husbands, sons, and grandsons and best of all, it fits perfectly into those fireplace stockings.

Even better, today, Moody is offering the book at 50% off! You can buy the book anywhere you shop for books.
  • Snow, ice, and minus zero wind chill but we got the job done and had some great dog work. South Dakota pheasant hunting is hard to beat.
  • This week, I had the chance to spend a few days at the C4 ranch just out side of Coronado. The ranch is owned by a veterans organization that provides retreats and workshops for Navy Seal operators and their families. The ranch is ran by the Keatings, a gold star family, whose Navy Seal son Charles Humphrey Keating IV was killed in Iraq. This Veterans Day I’m grateful again for those who have sacrificed, including so many families. Thank you.
We saw a lot of ducks and only got the chance to shoot at a few, but another great day outdoors. Special thanks to @rwakie for a great day hunting.
We saw a lot of ducks and only got the chance to shoot at a few, but another great day outdoors. Special thanks to @rwakie for a great day hunting.
We saw a lot of ducks and only got the chance to shoot at a few, but another great day outdoors. Special thanks to @rwakie for a great day hunting.
We saw a lot of ducks and only got the chance to shoot at a few, but another great day outdoors. Special thanks to @rwakie for a great day hunting.
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
1/9
Taco Tuesday. Yes, that is cheese sauce she is covered in. Who doesn’t like queso.
Taco Tuesday. Yes, that is cheese sauce she is covered in. Who doesn’t like queso.
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
2/9
Well, it’s been a long season with lots of ups and downs, but I finally walked away the champion. Though my wife continues to remind me that it’s all pretend, this trophy is very real.
Well, it’s been a long season with lots of ups and downs, but I finally walked away the champion. Though my wife continues to remind me that it’s all pretend, this trophy is very real.
3 months ago
View on Instagram |
3/9
Need just a little more snow, or weight. #christmassledding
Need just a little more snow, or weight. #christmassledding
3 months ago
View on Instagram |
4/9
Our local county paper featured The 5 Masculine Instincts this week. I’m so grateful to Leah Greenwood for a wonderful article.
Our local county paper featured The 5 Masculine Instincts this week. I’m so grateful to Leah Greenwood for a wonderful article.
Our local county paper featured The 5 Masculine Instincts this week. I’m so grateful to Leah Greenwood for a wonderful article.
3 months ago
View on Instagram |
5/9
Cold nights mean blankets.
Cold nights mean blankets.
4 months ago
View on Instagram |
6/9
Link in bio. It's the season of giving and we all know how hard it can be to buy gifts for men. This season, give the men in your life a gift to help them grow into better men. The 5 Masculine Instincts is great for husbands, sons, and grandsons and best of all, it fits perfectly into those fireplace stockings.

Even better, today, Moody is offering the book at 50% off! You can buy the book anywhere you shop for books.
Link in bio. It's the season of giving and we all know how hard it can be to buy gifts for men. This season, give the men in your life a gift to help them grow into better men. The 5 Masculine Instincts is great for husbands, sons, and grandsons and best of all, it fits perfectly into those fireplace stockings. Even better, today, Moody is offering the book at 50% off! You can buy the book anywhere you shop for books.
4 months ago
View on Instagram |
7/9
Snow, ice, and minus zero wind chill but we got the job done and had some great dog work. South Dakota pheasant hunting is hard to beat.
Snow, ice, and minus zero wind chill but we got the job done and had some great dog work. South Dakota pheasant hunting is hard to beat.
Snow, ice, and minus zero wind chill but we got the job done and had some great dog work. South Dakota pheasant hunting is hard to beat.
Snow, ice, and minus zero wind chill but we got the job done and had some great dog work. South Dakota pheasant hunting is hard to beat.
4 months ago
View on Instagram |
8/9
This week, I had the chance to spend a few days at the C4 ranch just out side of Coronado. The ranch is owned by a veterans organization that provides retreats and workshops for Navy Seal operators and their families. The ranch is ran by the Keatings, a gold star family, whose Navy Seal son Charles Humphrey Keating IV was killed in Iraq. This Veterans Day I’m grateful again for those who have sacrificed, including so many families. Thank you.
This week, I had the chance to spend a few days at the C4 ranch just out side of Coronado. The ranch is owned by a veterans organization that provides retreats and workshops for Navy Seal operators and their families. The ranch is ran by the Keatings, a gold star family, whose Navy Seal son Charles Humphrey Keating IV was killed in Iraq. This Veterans Day I’m grateful again for those who have sacrificed, including so many families. Thank you.
This week, I had the chance to spend a few days at the C4 ranch just out side of Coronado. The ranch is owned by a veterans organization that provides retreats and workshops for Navy Seal operators and their families. The ranch is ran by the Keatings, a gold star family, whose Navy Seal son Charles Humphrey Keating IV was killed in Iraq. This Veterans Day I’m grateful again for those who have sacrificed, including so many families. Thank you.
This week, I had the chance to spend a few days at the C4 ranch just out side of Coronado. The ranch is owned by a veterans organization that provides retreats and workshops for Navy Seal operators and their families. The ranch is ran by the Keatings, a gold star family, whose Navy Seal son Charles Humphrey Keating IV was killed in Iraq. This Veterans Day I’m grateful again for those who have sacrificed, including so many families. Thank you.
5 months ago
View on Instagram |
9/9

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