A Writer May Wonder—When Is it My Turn?
By Tammy Karasek
Whether attending a conference to pitch your book or submitting
your writing piece to a place accepting submissions online, we would all agree
that our desired outcome is to hear:
This is the best story/article ever. We
want this book/article from you and want to pay you top dollar! Who cares what
your platform numbers are. Who cares if you even have a platform. Why,
you’re just the next best writing thing that has come along!
I say that with tongue in cheek, because I am—after all—a
fiction writer like some of you. That scenario is not likely to happen unless
we write that into a book.
We can fall into the trap of the comparison game if we allow
ourselves to go down that path. How did she get a deal? She just started
writing, and I’ve been slaving away for years? Why does he get every article
published that he submits no matter where he submits it to?
But what if we begin to think differently about our writing
and our writing timelines. More than likely you are writing because you felt
God nudge you to do so. Since He has done that, He probably gifted you with the
talents of stringing words together to form understandable sentences. Maybe
it’s not Chicago Manual of Style perfect, but you’re getting there. The message
is clear, but maybe not presented in perfect grammar—yet.
We need to continue to write the words God gives us to
spread the gospel where maybe someone may not expect. We as Christ-followers
and Christ-writers can share about Him to a person who may never pick up a
Bible, but they may pick up a book to read a “good” story. God has you writing
right where He wants you for this moment.
I’m reminded of Queen Esther. She needed to keep her
identity a secret to protect her people. But her cousin/guardian Mordecai
reminded her that while the work may be toilsome and somewhat scary, he posed
the question to her in Esther 4:14b: “Who knows if perhaps you were made queen
for such a time as this?”
I know, I know … you’re going to say, “But ,Tammy, how will
my words get out there if God isn’t giving me a book deal?” Who told you God
wanted you to have a book deal? Did He actually show you that He wanted you to
write a book to be published?
Could He be asking us to write the words He gave us and when
He is ready, will place them where He wants them? Who knows where God wants
your words to land. If we don’t get a book deal on our first pitch, should we
throw in the towel and quit forever? I don’t think so.
Instead of becoming discouraged because you haven’t landed
that multi-million-dollar book contract yet, maybe just take a breath. You may
be in the process of pitching a book at a conference or submitting an article
to a magazine or compilation book. And with these, you might hear a yes or a
no.
So, here’s my what if for you:
What if we change that to:
Instead of NO and a string of negativity behind that simple
word, how about we change our thinking. What if when we hear NO, we take that
as no, not yet.
God has us right where we are just as He had Queen Esther.
We don’t see the why. She didn’t either. But let’s keep working the craft and
learning all we can. Attending writing
conferences, joining a writers’ group, or finding a writing partner is a great
way to grow as a writer. Let’s be excited for the others as they get the long
awaited Yes. You need to know, someday that will be you—or me—and we
will want to feel free to share without making someone else sad or angry. Let’s
rejoice when others rejoice. Our time will come.
Though the writing journey may may not feel exciting at
times—and we may have to stand up for Jesus in our writings to non-believers—let’s
remember what Peter instructed to the Elders at the end of I Peter 5:12b: “My
purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are
experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in this grace.”
I encourage each of you to stand firm in the grace of God
and keep on writing for His glory, no matter what.
Share with us something you have found to help you when you
hear about the success of others that overwhelms you with self-doubt and
discouragement, making you question whether you should continue to write and if
you might ever get a turn for that yes.
Tammy Karasek uses humor and wit to bring joy and hope to every aspect in life. Her past, filled with bullying and criticism from family, drives her passion to encourage and inspire others and show them The Reason to smile. She’s gone from down and defeated to living a “Tickled Pink” life as she believes there’s always a giggle wanting to come out!
A writer of romantic suspense—with a splash
of sass—her debut book, Launch That Book, released in 2023. She’s
published in a Divine Moments Compilation Book—Cool-inary Moments. She’s
also a writing team member for The Write Conversation Blog, Novel Academy, Blue
Ridge Conference Blog, The Write Editing, and more.
Known as The Launch Team Geek, Tammy helps
authors launch their books. You’ll also find her as a Virtual Assistant for
several best-selling authors, the Social Media Manager for the Blue Ridge
Mountains Christian Writers Conference, Founding President and current
Vice-President of ACFW Upstate SC,
and Founding President of Word Weavers Upstate
SC. Connect with Tammy at https://www.tammykarasek.com.
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