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| Christina Rich |
Whether published or on the way to being published, I think
most writers want to know how others obtain certain achievements. Then once
reached, how are they maintained? Today on Seriously Write, author Christina Rich shares experiences on her personal journey to publication and offers insight on
success.
~ Dawn
Keys
to Success
by
Christina Rich
So, you want to be an author, and not just any author but a
published author. Well, let me tell you, it’s a lot easier said than done. No,
really. Of course, that’s not what you want to hear, is it? Do you remember
reading that book; the one with the sagging middle and the less than satisfying
ending? Yeah, the one you really wanted to toss against the wall but out of
respect for the paper it was printed on you decided against it. I’m here to
tell you that you can write a much better book. Seriously. I know you can, but
it takes work. A lot of work. And the hardest part of that work is actually
sitting down in your chair and writing.
I’ve come across people who’ve been working on the same book
for years, some up to over twenty years. Hearing that freaked me out a little
bit. I mean really, did I have what it took to chase my dream for that long?
Did my support system? Because let’s face it after a while we writers start
perceiving the eye roll when we talk about our stories.
I quickly learned it didn’t matter how long my journey to
publication was to be; that was in God’s hands. And it didn’t matter what other
people thought, or what I thought other people thought. All that mattered was
my obedience to what God had asked me to do. But hey, I’m human, right? I was
bound to lose focus and become disappointed, especially when I received those
rejection letters.
Speaking of rejections, I once queried the same agent three
times. Not because I’m a glutton for punishment, but because she wanted changes
and she offered me hope. After that fourth non-acceptance letter I decided to
move on. I also decided to start praising God for each rejection. After all,
Scripture says we are to be thankful in all things.
“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in
Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV).
And more rejections I did receive. But that’s okay, they
gave me the opportunity to practice praising God in the midst of my
disappointment.
I’m going to let you in on a few secrets to success where
this writing journey is concerned.
Foremost, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will
establish your plans” (Proverbs 16:3). I might be guilty of overkill, but I try
to pray for my story line, my characters and the message God would have me
weave onto the pages before I write.
Secondly, if you fear failure, as I suspect many writers do,
you have to know you’re guaranteed to fail if you don’t even try. You have to
be more than a talker, you have to be a doer, which means sitting down and
writing words, even when you don’t feel like it.
Yeah, I know these tips may not lead to a writing contract,
but success isn’t always what we think it is. Sometimes it’s learning to lean
on God more and more as we pursue this crazy journey.
Tweetables:
Rejections are
opportunities to praise God in the midst of disappointment. Click to tweet.
In order to
succeed, you must be a doer, not just a talker. Click to tweet.
You’re guaranteed
to fail if you don’t even try. Click to tweet.
Success isn’t
always what we think it is. Click to tweet.
An evil
queen and her royal guards will stop at nothing to find—and kill—the rightful
heir to the throne of Judah. When their pursuit leads them to Mira's village,
only her father's bond servant, Ari, a man shrouded in secrets, can keep Mira
safe.
Abandoning
his life as a temple guard and becoming an indentured servant was the only way
Ari could protect young Joash, the true King of Judah, from Queen Athaliah. But
his sacred duty prevents him from confessing his feelings for his master's
daughter. With the future of their nation on the line, Ari and Mira will risk
everything to save their people.
Born and raised in Kansas, where she currently lives with
her husband and children, Christina
Rich loves to talk about Jesus, read, research, history, photography,
knitting, ancestry, and writing stories with happily ever afters.
You can learn more and connect with Christina here:
