I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'm a firm believer in God's perfect timing. Today, debut author Barbara Britton shares her experience with that perfect timing. -- Sandy
Barbara: In October, my debut novel released. It wasn’t the
first novel that I wrote, it was my fourth. I had amassed over two-hundred
rejections by the time Providence:
Hannah’s Journey sold. Did I get discouraged along my nine year journey to
publication? Of course, who wouldn’t? I had heard stories of how someone’s
first book—a NaNoWriMo novel no less--got repped and published in a very nice
deal. What about my stories? With every story of overnight success, there are
countless stories of authors writing five, ten, or many more years, and
remaining pre-published. It can be discouraging until a writer remembers who
created life’s time clock.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us “There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven.” The Biblical writer goes on to
list activities. I like to list in my mind, a time to be published. I believe
in God’s sovereignty and provision, and when I truly thought about it, I knew
that I would not be published one day sooner, or one day later than God
ordained.
Now, this doesn’t mean you can sit back and not
write, or not learn about the business. We need to be diligent with the gifts
God has given us, and trust in His timing. When I received my release date for Providence, I was discouraged because I
had a fall release and I would have preferred a spring release. I know, petty
right? But then I was diagnosed with breast cancer and I realized a spring
release would be a disaster. I couldn’t launch a book during six weeks of
radiation therapy. God’s timing was, and is, perfect. He knows the story of my
life better than I do. He knows the big picture. He holds my future (Now the
hymn is playing in my head).
We never know how God is going to use others in
bringing about our “time.” I thought I would submit my work to agents, receive
a request for a full, get “The Call” from a literary agent for representation,
and away to editor submissions and publication I would go. I heard this was the
way to get published. Right? Wrong. Everyone’s journey is unique. My path to
publication started with an e-mail from a writer I knew who wondered if I was
doing Pitch Wars. I had never heard of Pitch Wars. It sounded scary. Little did
I know that Pitch Wars is a mentoring program for pre-published writers. I was
chosen to be mentored, and my mentor “just happened” to take on an alternate
who was an acquiring editor for Pelican Book Group—a Christian Fiction
publisher. The rest they say is….a God thing.
Pray that God will open your eyes to His timing. We
think we have it all figured out, but He will orchestrate your best journey. In
His, and your, perfect season.
Care to share your experience with God's perfect timing---whether it's writing related on something else?
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Barbara M. Britton was born and raised in the San
Francisco Bay Area, but currently lives in Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it
accumulates under three inches. She writes Christian Fiction for teens and
adults. Barb has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip
healthy strawberries in chocolate. Barb kicks off her Tribes of Israel series
in October with the release of “Providence: Hannah’s Journey.” Barb is a member
of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the Society of Children’s Book
Writers and Illustrators, Romance Writers of America and Wisconsin Romance
Writers of America. 