Well, guess what. That didn’t happen. However, after my fourth completed novel, God has granted my dream. I am going to be a published author for the Love Inspired Suspense line with Harlequin and my book, Cave of Secrets, will hit the shelves in October of 2020.
Before being published, however, there were several lessons I had to learn. And not just about writing. God used my passion for creating stories to adjust my expectations and attitude.
These are the three primary lessons, I learned:
Humility
The first thing that needs to go is Pride. Yes, we all love our book babies and think they are the best thing since Shakespeare, however, when we allow pride to override reality, our publishing dreams move further away. Here are some ways you can know if pride is getting in the way of your writing.
•When someone critiques our story, we dismiss their advice. (Even though they have multiple books published and have won awards for their writing)
•When we cling to each written word with ferocity and are unwilling to change our sentences or cut paragraphs that bog our stories down. Chances are we may be dealing with pride.
•When we feel competitive or jealous of another writer’s successes. Social media is a writer’s marketing tool and we often see others post images or stories about their publishing contracts and awards they’ve won. If we haven’t won any, then pride will stir up envy. To combat this destructive reaction, post a congratulatory message on every celebratory writer’s post you see. If there is one thing I’ve learned, it's that most writers are inclusive and supportive of each other because we understand how much time and effort it takes to accomplish these goals.
Motive
I had to truly look inside my heart and determine what my motive was for writing. Was I writing to be published? Or was I writing because I loved to create characters, plots and show God’s love through the story?
This heart change doesn’t come easy and one I had to continue to pursue. When we write only for publication, then this journey can be discouraging and long. Traditional publishing is not a fast process by any means and there will be rejection. Each of my first three books -which will probably never see the light of day- got me a little closer to publication. I learned more every time I wrote. My craft improved with the practice and now I can truly say, I write because I love to create stories.
Perseverance
We won't be published if we give up and quit when things get tough. Perseverance and discipline is key. A writer must never give up, never stop, but must write every day or at least multiple sessions during the week.
Several times, I thought about quitting, but God continued to urge me forward, gently and in ways I never dreamed. The goal of becoming a published writer is not a sprint. It's a daily walk with God, putting each story he gives, one at a time, onto the page.
All writers want to publish books. However, the most divine author of all wants to create stories within us by drawing our hearts to his along the way.
All writers want to publish books. However, the most divine author of all wants to create stories with us by drawing our hearts to him along the way. @shannon_redmon @MaryAFelkins #amwriting #writerwisdom #seriouslywrite
Shannon Redmon remembers the first grown up book she checked out from the neighborhood book mobile. A Victoria Holt novel with romance, intrigue, dashing gentlemen and ballroom parties captivated her attention. For her mother, the silence must have been a pleasant break from non-stop teenage chatter, but for Shannon, those stories whipped up a desire and passion for writing. There’s nothing better than the power of a captivating novel, a moving song or zeal for a performance that punches souls with awe. A rainbow displayed after a horrific storm or expansive views on a mountaintop bring nuggets of joy into our lives. Shannon hopes her stories immerse readers into that same kind of amazement, encouraging faith, hope and love, guiding our hearts to the One who created us all.
Shannon’s writing has been published in Spark magazine, Splickety magazine, the Lightning Blog, The Horse of My Dreams compilation book, and the Seriously Write blog. Her stories have been selected as a semi-finalist and finalist of the ACFW Genesis Contest and won first place in the Foundation’s Awards. She is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. The StoryMoore Blog is named in memory of her father, Donald Eugene Moore.
Connect with Shannon:
www.shannonredmon.com
The StoryMoore Blog
Twitter @shannon_redmon
Check out Shannon’s story in a compilation with other authors published by Revell.
The Horse of My Dreams
