Friday, July 25, 2014

Writing as a Prayer Warrior by Nadine Brandes


Nadine Brandes

As Christian writers, we want God to bless our creative efforts, right? But how diligent are we when it comes to inviting him into the process? Debut author Nadine Brandes shares her journey to publication and the role prayer has played. ~ Dawn





Writing as a Prayer Warrior
by Nadine Brandes

How often do you pray over your writing? I mean really pray over it?

I'll be honest, I flit in and out of the habit. Some days I'm on my knees surrendering my book to Him and other days I'm imagining myself famous off my own merit without even a thought of God. I'm ashamed when this happens, but I'm thankful I'm aware of it.

Genuine prayer has been my cornerstone to writing. And looking back at my publication process, I'm amazed at how...smoothly everything has gone.

It's important to write from your passion. I write because I must. God has called me a writer. I'm not content doing anything else other than following that calling. I started writing my debut novel, A Time to Die, in October 2010. The idea for the story interrupted everything—graduate school studies, work, my other writing pursuits. It needed to be written, so I completely handed it up in prayer.

Seven months later and only a third of the way into the book, I showed it to Jeff Gerke—the founder of Marcher Lord Press (now Enclave Publishing)—at a writer's conference, hoping for advice. He requested a full manuscript. I told him it wasn't finished, he said he'd wait. I told him I wasn't even pitching it, he said he wanted it.

Shock. Disbelief. Giddiness. All emotions jumbled together at such an unexpected request. Marcher Lord Press was my top choice for my publisher and, at that moment, I felt like God handed me a promise. "Nadine, I promise to publish you through Marcher Lord Press." Instead of wondering if Jeff Gerke would offer me a contract, I just wondered when. The when turned out to be July 15, 2013.

It's an amazing thing to see God fulfill a promise you never asked for over something you've always dreamed of. And every time I look back, I see little prayer spots. Prayers for courage, prayers for guidance, prayers for publication, prayers for inspired writing, and most of all prayers for God's glory.

“Remember Your word to Your servant, in which You have made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your promise gives me life.” Psalm 119:49-50

Even being the weak, unfaithful, distracted child of God that I am, my small hurried sometimes-selfish prayers resulted in...this—my debut novel contracted by my favorite publishing house. Imagine what strong, faithful, intentional prayers can do in your life surrounding your writing.

So, my friends. Whether you never prayed over your book or you've done it every day, pursue God with intentionality. Truly surrender your writing to Him every time you sit down at that computer, typewriter, or notebook. Trust Him to take it where He desires it. It's the most incredible journey I've ever stepped into and it's only just started.

Do you find it hard to pray over your writing?

What are some ways I can pray for you and your book right now?



Tweetables:

It's an amazing thing to see God fulfill a promise you never asked for over something you've always dreamed of. Click to tweet.

Imagine what strong, faithful, intentional prayers can do in your life surrounding your writing. Click to tweet.

Truly surrender your writing to Him every time you sit down at that computer, typewriter, or notebook. Trust Him to take it where He desires it. Click to tweet.




A Time to Die

How would you live if you knew the day you’d die?

Parvin Blackwater believes she has wasted her life. At only seventeen, she has one year left according to the Clock by her bedside. In a last-ditch effort to make a difference, she tries to rescue Radicals from the government’s crooked justice system. But when the authorities find out about her illegal activity, they cast her through the Wall—her people’s death sentence. What she finds on the other side about the world, about eternity, and about herself changes Parvin forever and might just save her people. But her clock is running out.

A Time to Die is scheduled for release in September 2014. But you can add it to your Goodreads Bookshelf now! http://goodreads.com/nadinebrandes



Nadine Brandes writes stories about authentic faith, bold living, and worlds soaked in imagination. She lives in Idaho with her husband and works as a freelance editor. When she's not writing, editing, or taste-testing a new chai, she is out pursuing adventures. A Time to Die is her first novel. Visit Nadine at www.nadinebrandes.com


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