The Good and the Bad ~by Susan Tuttle

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Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 

~2 Corinthians 4:1

I read this verse recently, and it brought home two points as I approach this writing ministry. I thought this might be a good place to share. :)

First off, if you’ve been in writing long, you know it’s full of rejection. No two ways around it, closed doors and “no’s” are all part of the game. We talk about growing thick skin and learning to love “constructive criticism”…all of which is true. Yet it can start to seep into our bones. Is this all worth it? Will I ever be published? Am I even good at this whole writing thing?

Fact is, if God has given you this ministry of writing, then yes, you are good at it. Yes, he’s going to use your work in some capacity. And yes, it is more than worth it. Do you still need to grow and polish your talent—of course! Does that mean you’re going to sell a million books? Nope. You might have written that one book just for the editor who rejected it but found healing in its pages nonetheless. And that is what makes it worth it. If you only change one person with your writing—and never even see it, just have to believe it—then it is still worth it. Because God’s seeing it, and he’s got the instant replay waiting for you to watch some day. Amen? Yes. Amen!

So don’t lose heart. This ministry that you have is all through God’s mercy. The rejection doesn’t lessen what he’s doing through you. Keep pushing forward, believing in the talent he’s given and that he’s using it, even when you don’t see it! Someday—either here or in heaven—you will see it.

Which brings me to the second part. While we cannot take on the rejection of this ministry, we also cannot take on the glory. He’s rather specific about this, in fact, one of my favorite reminder verses says: I am the Lord, that is my name! I will not give my glory to another! Isaiah 42:8 He doesn’t beat around the bush. Look. He’s even got exclamation points, and as a writer we know not to just throw those around. Touching his glory is like trying to take his place, and that never ends well. We don’t shine for people to see us, we shine for people to see him—it’s the reason he lights us up with his fire. Don’t redirect it.

I guess bottom line is this…your writing ministry is God’s. The good and the bad of it. Don’t touch either. Don’t lose heart in the “no” and don’t take the glory of your “yes”. Just let him use you however he sees fit. It’s a wonderful ride :)  

Susan Tuttle
Steps

Susan Tuttle is a homeschooling mom of three who is crazy about coffee, dark chocolate, and words—both reading and writing them. Combine that love of words with her passion for leading women to a life-changing encounter with Christ, and you’ll find her crafting Inspirational Contemporary Romance stories laced with humor, love, and healing transformations. When not cheering on her Ironman hubby, chasing the family dog, or tackling complex math problems to teach her kids (yes, even the third grader), you can catch Susan at her blog, Steps.

It's Never Too Late by Dora Hiers

Dora Hiers

When it comes to time, I'm a firm believer that most people fall into two different categories:

those who are usually a few minutes early

That would be me. I'm the one sitting patiently at the airplane gate an hour before the plane is due to board. 

and those who are perpetually running late 

Hubby fits in this category. You know the type. He's the guy standing in the Starbucks line as the airline announces the last call for a boarding flight.

My sweet hubby

He doesn't just arrive late, he also includes some type of dramatic announcement of his presence, usually a booming, "Well, well, well." Those of us who like to keep a low profile, well, we've learned to adjust or duck our heads in embarrassment, just accepting his energetic personality as one of the things we love about him. Can you see that mischievous glint sparkling from his eyes? >

What about when it comes to our writing? 
Do you worry that you'll be too late in achieving your dream, of holding your story in your hands, of seeing your baby in print?

Maybe you crested the "hill" more years ago than you care to admit, and you've been knocking on the publishing door for decades. Hundreds of rejection letters are crammed into the deepest, darkest hole in your closet. Or maybe the agent you've been hoping to land has just turned you down for the fourth time. Wherever you're at, take hope in God's promise:

To everything there is a season,

A time for every purpose under heaven:

Eccl 3:1, NKJV

We've all endured traumatic events at some point in our lives. Maybe it was a divorce, a tragic accident, a serious illness, or the death of a loved one. Whatever the circumstances, it shattered our perspective, made us lose our grip on reality for a time. It's only later, when we look back, that we realize something good came out of it, that God weaved those painful threads into a glorious tapestry as only He can do. 

Trust Him with your writing dream. He has a purpose, a plan, and He will reveal all of it in His time.

You see, God's timing is always perfect, never too late and never too early. Rest in that, stop fretting, release the stress and worry over not being published back to Him, and leave it there.

No matter where you're at on your particular writing journey, take time to treasure the friendships He's placed in your path, to savor the actual gift of writing for writing's sake. Cherish Him because He is enough.

Where are you on your writing journey?

Do you worry about the timing?

Journey's Edge
Purchase Link

A Routine Audit? Hardly.
Red flags—including some goon who's following her—raise McKinley Frasier's suspicions that numbers don't add up at the insurance firm. When someone tries to snatch McKinley's daughter from school, she turns to police officer and ex-fiance, Renner Crossman—the cop who walked out on her a month before their wedding. But Renner's not the same guy who broke her heart ten years ago. He calls himself a "new man." She trusts the new Renner with her daughter's safety...but what about her heart?

Dora Hiers is a multi-published author of Heart Racing, God-Gracing romances. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and the Treasurer for ACFW-Charlotte Chapter. Connect with her here on Seriously Write, her personal blog, Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest.

Megaphone Writing by Susan Tuttle

Dora here. As I announced last week, it's a pleasure to welcome my sweet friend, Susan Tuttle, as a regular  contributor to Seriously Write. She'll be back again on Nov 14, but after that, check out Susan's encouraging posts on the first Thursday of each month. Welcome, Susan!

Everyone has a story. For writers, we seem to have hundreds swirling around our minds. Talking to imaginary people isn’t all that crazy in the world we live in. Putting them onto paper for others to engage is what we love to do. Asking the Holy Spirit to weave himself throughout them is how they touch lives. It’s like he’s our megaphone.

See, when we write on our own strength, our stories don’t go all that far. Oh, we can get the words on the paper, but there’s no power behind them. It’s like standing on a stage and whispering…the message isn’t heard. But stand on that same stage with a megaphone, and suddenly there’s power bringing that message to even the person in the last row.

That’s what God does to our writing. He empowers it to touch every single person who comes in contact with it. For some of us, it might be as small as our circle of friends, for others their stage may reach thousands, but without his power the message is lost.

And the message is why we write.

So today as you sit at your computer, let your words flow through him, amplified by his power so that when others encounter them they hear the message loud and clear and can’t help but walk away changed.

Susan Tuttle

Susan Tuttle is a homeschooling mom of three who is crazy about coffee, dark chocolate, and words—both reading and writing them. Combine that love of words with her passion for leading women to a life-changing encounter with Christ, and you’ll find her crafting Inspirational Contemporary Romance stories laced with humor, love, and healing transformations. When not cheering on her Ironman hubby, chasing the family dog, or tackling complex math problems to teach her kids (yes, even the third grader), you can catch Susan at her blog, Steps.

Shaking Things Up

Me

Today's post is a little different from normal. But that's OK. Sometimes we need to shake things up a bit. At least, that's what my hubby tells me when he tries to convince me to venture out of my comfort zone. As I've shared in the past, I tend to be a bit obsessive about things...like eating in the same six or seven favorite restaurants for lunch or at the same time every day. Or even writing in the same spot, day in and day out, without varying my environment. 

So that's what we're doing. We're shaking things up a bit. You see, I'm not posting on a particular writing topic. I don't have any guest bloggers lined up. Today we'll talk about encouragement and I will introduce you to one of the most encouraging people I know.

Our goal, our mission, here at Seriously Write is to encourage and equip Christian writers along their writing journey. I've been encouraged by so many writers willing to share their journey to publication and their testimony, haven't you? Some writers have struggled for decades to attain a contract, others not so long. But the truth is...

We all need encouragement, don't we? Whether it's a spouse who insists we shake things up occasionally, or a friend to offer inspiring words when we're feeling a little down, when this writing road seems too long and lonely and we're considering chunking it all. Or when we just received what feels like the hundredth rejection letter and we aren't sure if we have it in us to keep putting our precious words out there, to keep setting ourselves up for one more "Thanks, but we don't have room for your book in our lineup" emails.

Every writer needs an encourager, cheering them on. Someone they can depend on to lift their spirits whenever they pop over to see them, whether that's just a quick visit to their blog or over conversation or coffee. It may be a smiling face, someone God plants in your path at the particular moment when you don't feel there's much to smile about. Or a kind deed that comes out of nowhere, unexpected and unrequested. 

God has blessed me with so many of these sweet friends in my life. Besides my hubby, there's Angie Arndt, Sandy Ardoin, Myra Johnson, and Tanya Hanson, just to name a few that immediately popped into my head. And then there's ....

Susan Tuttle

Can you see my grin? Just thinking of this dear one brings a smile to my face.

Susan was the first brave soul to volunteer to be an influencer for Journey's End, my debut inspirational romance. And, no, I didn't bribe her! lol. She's encouraged me with her reviews, inspired me with her devotionals, and blessed me with our online friendship. Hopefully, one day I'll be able to give her a hug and tell her how much her friendship has meant to me. 

So, it just thrills me to announce that Susan has agreed to become a regular contributor to Seriously Write. Starting next Thursday, 10/3, Susan will begin sharing posts on the first Thursday of each month. Except November, when she'll visit us on the second Thursday, but after that, we'll be in a normal rhythm. I'm so excited to have her join us, and you’re sure to be encouraged by her inspiring, uplifting words. 

But for now, for those of you who haven't met Susan Tuttle, allow me to introduce you to one of the sweetest ladies you'll ever meet.

Susan Tuttle

Susan Tuttle 

is a homeschooling mom of three who is crazy about coffee, dark chocolate, and words—both reading and writing them. Combine that love of words with her passion for leading women to a life-changing encounter with Christ, and you’ll find her crafting Inspirational Contemporary Romance stories laced with humor, love, and healing transformations. When not cheering on her Ironman hubby, chasing the family dog, or tackling complex math problems to teach her kids (yes, even the third grader), you can catch Susan at her blog, Steps.

If you haven't checked out her blog, Steps, you must visit! Susan, welcome to Seriously Write! We're thrilled that you will be visiting on a regular basis!

We all also need to be encouragers. We each have a journey, a testimony, that someone needs to hear so they won't think they're traveling this road alone. We can smile and lift someone's heart. We can act with kindness and out of love, and in doing so, will ultimately point towards God. 

Who has been your biggest encourager?

How can you be an encourager today?

Encouragement for Writers

Welcome to Fortifying Friday! This is the day we feature guest authors with their personal journeys to publication and encouraging words for writers.

But today we’re going to do something different.

We’re on this writing journey together, so this Fortifying Friday, we’re going to focus on encouraging and praying for other writers and each other.

Many of you will be attending the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) conference next week in Indianapolis. If not that conference, maybe you—or someone you know—plan to attend another in the coming months. It’s exciting to attend workshops, meet other writers, and even pitch your novel to an editor or agent. But it can also be an intimating, stressful, and overwhelming experience.

Perhaps over the next few days you could encourage or pray for someone who is

1) Attending a conference in the near future
2) Stressed about deadlines
3) Struggling through a personal or family crisis
4) Finding it difficult to financially make ends meet
5) Trying to meet the family’s needs
6) Feeling defeated and discouraged
7) Suffering through any illness, whether slight or serious
8) Searching for ideas while sitting in front of a blank computer screen
9) Desiring to have the support of spouse and/or family
10) Feeling spiritually dry
11) Seeking community with other writers
12) Needing to feel energized and inspired to write

Another way to offer encouragement is to write a note of thanks to an author who has entertained or inspired you through his/her words.

If you have need of encouragement, or would like prayer for yourself or someone else, please leave a comment. You don’t have to be specific. God knows your heart.

Blessings to you, dear friends and writers!

Dawn