Amateur or Apprentice?

By Vie Herlocker (aka Book Mama)

I aligned the stamps perfectly, whispered a prayer, and then slipped the thick envelope into the mailbox. My first assignment in an eighteen-month writing course was on its way to my instructor. Several weeks later, my short manuscript came back to me—covered in blood. Okay, it was ink. Red ink. Bright red ink. As I read the instructor’s notes and flipped through a stack of handouts she’d included on craft that I didn’t know existed, I had a choice. I could request a tuition refund and continue to do things my way or accept the challenge with a teachable heart.

Yes, I cried, but I also chose the teachable heart and a tough hide. And that choice was a first step from self-confident amateur to God-confident apprentice writer.

If you choose to be an apprentice, start with a teachable heart. Then consider these three additional characteristics of a God-confident writer:

Apprentices Plan to Succeed

Jeremiah 29:11 begins, “I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. As Pastor RickWarren notes, “God has a plan, shouldn’t you?” Set aside a day for prayer and goal-setting for your writing. Where do you want to be in five years? Write that goal down. What measurable objectives can you tackle over the next twelve months to move closer to your goal? What can you do right now?

Apprentices Invest in the Tools of the Trade

Writing for publication requires both the art of writing (that God-given ability and vision) and mastery of the craft. Invest time and/or money in books, blogs, magazines, classes, conferences, membership in writing organizations, and professional critiques and editing. These are valuable tools of your trade.

Apprentices Are Alert to Industry News

Writing for publication means you are part of the industry ecosystem. Subscribe to the free Publisher’sWeekly Online. Even skimming the headlines will alert you to what’s going on in the industry. For news specific to the Christian Market, check the CBA website regularly.

Every not-yet-published writer has a choice to be an amateur or an apprentice, and that choice may be the difference between failure and an open door. An apprentice understands that, like any career, writing is a “becoming” process—a process of continual learning, no matter what level he or she achieves.

The choice is up to you. Amateur or Apprentice?

We would love to hear your thoughts on today's post. Please leave a comment and add to the conversation.

(Photos courtesy of canstockphoto.com and galleryhip.com.)

TWEETABLES

Advice from @vieherlocker on how to move from amateur to apprentice writer. (Click to Tweet.)

Developing the tough hide and teachable spirit of a writer @vieherlocker. (Click to Tweet.)

Vie Herlocker has published in Guideposts, Angels, Penned from the Heart, Miracles of Forgiveness, Chicken Soup for the Empty Nester’s Soul, Mature Living, Church Libraries, and The Christian Communicator. She co-authored a book for school support staff and ghosted a memoir. Vie, known as Book Mama to her clients, provides freelance editing services through Cornerstone-Ink. Her mission is to encourage and mentor other writers as they develop the skills needed to answer their call to write.