February Fruits: Joy

Author's Character Series
February Fruits: Joy
Net's Notation Tuesdays

And we write these things to you so that your joy may be full.
(1 John 1:4)

Isn’t that a beautiful verse? It speaks to us as Christian writers.

Today’s fruit is joy.

First, though, I have to say that I don’t believe that verse is speaking about always writing happy, happy words. Rather, it’s about endorsing joy because we write for God. Does the verse mean the story can’t delve into tough places before ending with hope? Nope. It means we offer something the world doesn’t—hope. And hope brings joy.

We can’t impart joy, without having a firm grip on gladness ourselves. As God’s authors, we have joy inside us from past experience:

Joy overcame during tough seasons.

Joy displayed despite tough times.

Joy because you believed God when all circumstances implied otherwise.

And as His authors, we’re called to share this with our readers.

Let’s get practical.

I believe joy comes from insights.

As you spend time in God’s Word, He gives you insights about His character, His plans. Ever opened to a page of the Bible where the verses spoke directly to your situation? And not only did the verses address that situation, they offered direction or a promise. Those times bring joy.

In a smaller way, (of course), as your readers devour your books (non-fiction or fiction), may the insights you unfold bless them with joy. May they bring breakthroughs in your readers’ thinking and mindsets. May those insights point with praise to God, so all may rejoice, so their joy may be full.

Let’s embrace (risk?) joy. God’s kingdom is unshakable. We can rejoice because this isn’t all there is. We will see Him. We can point others to Him. He puts His joy inside us, and we bear fruit. Joy is a part of the author’s character.

The Author's Character Series - Courage

Net's Notations Tuesdays
The Author's Character Series

Courage

Accusing voices mocked me when I saw the notice come up about an upcoming booksigning. I wouldn’t participate. After all, it’s for well-established authors, right? I have a little book from a small press. What can I bring?

Remember how we talked about faithfulness on a recent Net’s Notations Tuesday? Well, there I was disqualifying myself and letting the accusing voices intimidate me.

What’s the antidote to all that self doubt? Courage!

What about when a rejection letter comes in the mail (or email)? Ugh… You’ve waited months and finally a word, but it’s not the one you want—a big NO. Now what?

Here’s what happens to me. I usually handle the rejection fine in the moment. But later, for a few days (at least), it really begins to eat away at my confidence. (Which probably means I didn’t process it fully in that first instance.) What rejection can lead to, though, is my not wanting to submit anything again. Multi-published inspirational romance author Colleen Reece has a solution for this. You get a rejection one day, you get your project back out the next. What great advice. That’d keep you hoping for a positive response. And odds are, someday a "YES" will come!

I’ve learned that doubts don’t disappear once you’re published. Multi-published writers have to beat back the monster, too. For them, it’s critical reviews, negative reader letters, or editors who reject their latest work.

So, what do you do when intimidation or doubt creeps into your writing life?

Embrace courage!

Courage is intentional. You can’t just accidentally happen upon courage. It’s inside you. So, when a tough situation presents, you have a choice—fight or flight, right? So, fighting (or facing the issue at hand and pushing through) is a choice—it’s intentional.

Courage is the sign of a mature writer, a mature person. If you’re a man or woman of courage, congratulations on embracing this virtue. If not, let’s press in and let God refine this part of our author’s character.

The Author's Character Series - No Easier Roads

Net's Notation Tuesdays
The Author's Character

No Easier Roads

I don’t write historicals (yet—never say never in fiction writing). Why? I’d rather avoid the extra research involved. You can’t even write about people having a normal conversation without painting the setting (research), using the correct wording (research), and considering the clothing (research). What should be simple becomes so much more complicated because of the extra legwork involved.

Oftentimes I’m tempted to take the easy way out. Like while writing a recent Author’s Character post, I used a word I wasn’t 100% sure of the meaning on. Then the temptation—just choose another word or use it anyway, who’s gonna notice? Am I the only one to take the easy way out in the past? ;-) Not anymore!

I recently launched an editing business. How many of you know if you’re serious about editing you can’t avoid the tough stuff?! So, welcome to the world of intentional and in-depth use of the CMS (Chicago Manual of Style). As a writer, I think (and sometimes rightly so) “The editor will apply what fits her house. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Write a good story!” But as an editor myself, the tables have turned! Like with acquiring all your awesome pieces for this site. Dawn and I get to be the editors—read it through one more time. Make sure it reads smoothly. The other side of the desk, but necessary to grow as a writer and, as God would have it, as a person.

So, are there areas where you’re just getting by? Areas you’d rather not go through the extra steps to ensure you’ve got the right info, the right words, etc.? I’m feeling the challenge of God lately to stay on the difficult road. That’s what makes a mature writer, a mature person. Going through the tough stuff, the stuff we’d rather avoid. After all, He's working on the author's character.

The Author's Character Series - Faithfulness

Net's Notation Tuesdays
Author's Character Series

Faithfulness

Those who are faithful with little, will be given more.

I’ve had one book published for a while now and hope to be in contract again very soon with another. But it’s been a long wait. Not for lack of trying, mind you. ;-) I have many projects. Can you relate?

Before that first book was accepted by White Rose Publishing (then a division of Wild Rose), I remember writing the story. I always spend Christmas seasons reading Christmas books. Love to match up the read with the seasonal joys around me. I can really sink myself into the stories and enjoy them. So, as I was reading novella after novella that year, I remember beginning to form a story idea of my own. I’d been writing for several years, so it was logical to just begin writing.

So I did.

After the story had come together, I began to seek publication. I thought, “The house which published all these novellas I’m reading would be a great place to start.”

Problem—I’d written a story of a married couple finding their romance together again. The house I’d targeted didn’t publish novellas around marrieds romance. So I gave up. For a season.

About a year later, God began stirring that story up again. I’d moved on. I was working on a trilogy and other novellas. But God wanted me to bring that story back out, polish it up and keep hope burning that He’d show me where to go.

Through networking I discovered a new house which had launched with a wide open door for writers. And after I submitted my story, they wanted it! Love Letters had a home!

And since that time God’s been teaching me so much about the process and how to be faithful with what He gives me.

First, not to despise small beginnings. It all began so much earlier with articles and devotionals published elsewhere, but in terms of books, my publication road started here for me.

Second, to be faithful with this “little” thing so He can grant larger things. Jesus talked about that in Matthew, chapter twenty-five.

"His lord said to him,‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ ” Mt 25:21

That meant, market this story. Try things out. Get out there. Participate in booksignings. Be faithful to promote and honor this story God had given me.

Of course, we can’t be faithful without God’s help. Thankfully, He covenants with us in faithfulness (both His that He extends toward us, but also the grace to make us faithful). (See Hosea 2:16-19)

Faithfulness is a sign of a refined author’s character. How has He worked in your writing life around faithfulness?

The Author's Character Series - Integrity

Net's Notation Tuesdays
The Author's Character Series
Integrity

Who are you when no one’s looking? Would a “fly on the wall” recognize you by your deeds? Do you have a separate public persona from your private one? Does your family know a different you than say, attendees at a writer’s conference?

One of the broadest areas God highlights in our writing lives/careers is integrity.

We pray and work toward breakthroughs. Then, a contract! We meet the deadlines, learn the ropes, climb the ladder. But here’s a question: are we skipping steps we’d rather omit? Are we avoiding areas we’d rather not face? Careful, no evasion of tough stuff allowed.

That brings up a point: Tax time is coming with this new year. God wants us to be honest in our reporting. (That’s a touchy topic, I can sense it. I’m gonna leave that at that.) :-)

So, the business side of writing requires integrity. How about the writing side? Say we discuss a project with one house, but think we’ll find a sweeter deal with another. Oh, boy. Did you see that? A tempting side path just appeared. Looks all sunny and friendly now, but if you venture down there you may just run into briers and trolls.

God wants us to be people of integrity, glorifying His name, trusting Him and obeying His guidance. Watch what He’ll do when we follow through and remain people of integrity. He will honor those who honor Him, whose character matches up with the ultimate Author’s character.

The Author's Character Series - Ego-Feeders

Net's Notation Tuesdays

The Author's Character Series

Ego Feeders!

Can I be super honest with you, our dear readers? There’s a reason I’ve had to wait this long before more publication. God’s been working on my character.

This writing thing isn’t all about me. So, isn't it ironic how God uses the journey to refine me?!

I get a charge out of writing. I feel affirmed just in the act of penning novels because it’s so much fun for me to write that first draft. (Some of my writer friends HATE the first draft. To them, editing is best. What planet are they from? ;-} )

I get kudos from writing. My crit buddies always find stuff I could fix in my writing—as it should be. But they also tell me what’s working, and that’s fun! My husband likes my work (though he’ll tell me where it needs help too). And my sisters enjoy reading my works in progress, too.

I get status from writing. Uh-oh, an ego-feeder has surfaced. Like Lock Ness Monster this kind of benefit surfaces mysteriously, bearing shadows. Watch out, chasing it can take us on an unwanted path. If writing becomes the part of my life where most of my affirmation comes from, I might obsess. And then I may even let successes go to my head. Any character in your Christian novel whose ego outweighs his humility is not a sympathetic character, right? Guess what? Same thing applies to your character as the author.

So, be honest with yourself.

Are there ego-feeders in your writing experience? If so, how do you head off their potentially self-focused consequence? (i.e. how do you avoid pride?)

Are there ways you are looking to writing to provide the affirmation God wants to give you? (Perhaps He gives you affirmation through writing. What I’m talking about is idolatry—putting writing above God. If God affirms you as you serve, no worries. That’s His fatherly heart showing.)

Is writing more about you than it is about ministering to others?

Is writing about building your name, your platform, your renown more than it’s about building God’s?

Let’s unite against the ego-feeders and beat them back. God first! Serving God takes precedence over our own desires for fame or fortune. Serving our reader takes precedence over serving ourselves.

This season, as we approach the New Year, I’m going to prayerfully allow God to point out ego-feeders in my life so I can cooperate with Him as He works on this author’s character.

The Author's Character Series - Jesus' Character

Net's Notation Tuesdays
The Author's Character Series
Jesus' Character

It’s Christmas week. What a great time to focus on Jesus and His character.

As we work our way through this new series on the author’s character, let’s zero in our example: Jesus, the ultimate Author. As God works on our character, He invites us to study His.

looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2, NKJV)

Jesus is the author of your life. He knows the length of your days. Your life is a book He’s penning. (see Psalm 139:16)

And He is perfect. He does all things well, even the writing of Your life. He knows the best timing for everything to take place. He calls us to aim for perfection in our character, in our lives.

He is humble. He inspired the entirety of Scripture (He is the Word, spoken of God), yet do you ever see a prideful boast come from His mouth?

He is patient. He is waiting what feels like forever for His bride, but can you make out even a whispered complaint?

He trusts God. He went to the cross in full trust of God’s perfect plan.

He is a servant. He washed His disciples feet, the act of a slave, setting an example of His people serving others with their lives. He didn’t come to be served, though He is the King of kings, He came to serve others.

He is self-sacrificing. He left glory to come to earth and suffer on our behalf so we could have life more abundantly and an eternity with Him in glory.

He ministers to others. He put others above Himself while He lived on earth and even now He lives to make intercession for us.

He is joyful. God has anointed Him with joy above His fellows because He loves righteousness. (see Psalm 45 and Hebrews 1)

As you read that short list of some of the attributes of Christ’s character, do you see any areas where you could stand to grow? I do.

God is at work conforming us to the image of Christ. Our responsibility as God crafts our character is to cooperate. Respond whenever He shows you things about yourself that need work. Don’t recoil or immediately feel ashamed. He’s not showing us areas where we need work in order to shame us. He’s showing us because seeing the area that needs work is the first step to getting free.

Rest in Him. He’s working on the author’s character.

Merry Christmas, dear readers. May this Christmas season draw you nearer to His heart.

Annette