“I’m a writer, not a marketer or speaker!” Can you identify with these
words? And yet the truth of the matter is that, “Writing is a business, whether
we want it to be so or not,” wrote Tracy Krauss, our blog moderator. “Writers—even
those working with traditional publishers—are now responsible for many ‘para’
writing activities.”
Prompt: Tell us about the joys and
challenges of your “para” activities. How have you managed both writing and
marketing? How is God opening doors for you? What advice would you give to
those struggling with the business end of writing?
A Time to Prepare
At the current time, I don’t have much in the way of “para” activities in
my writing business. But while thinking about this month’s topic, I can see how
God has been graciously preparing me for these tasks.
Last year I accepted the role of co-editor for our InScribe anthology, 7 Essential Habits of Christian Writers.
In the next the months as I worked with our anthology committee, I learned what
is involved in the business of publishing a book. Our committee and volunteers,
headed by Ruth Snyder and Kimberley Payne, decided on the seven categories and
invited InScribe members to choose a front cover and enter a contest to write
the back page. We decided on the size of book, font, and other details. the After
the submissions were selected, our editing team worked with the authors to hone
the articles, and then team members proofread to check for little errors we
might have missed. From there our book was formatted for both print and e-book.
Our work was not finished, however. Again proofreaders reviewed the
galley proofs. Ruth sent several articles and poems to prominent authors to get
their endorsements. We obtained a Canadian ISBN (learning how to do it in the
process) and selected a local printer. When the technical side was finished, we
began marketing—advertising on InScribe and social media.
Along the way He taught me other principles, some of which I share with
you.
God gives us encouragement to begin the tasks. When I was
considering whether to become involved with the 7 Essential Habits anthology—I knew it would be a big job—I felt
like Gideon; I needed proof. While visiting a church, I opened one of their guest
Bibles. Out dropped a business-sized card. “For Mark, our Mark,” it read. A
Bible verse followed, written, I presumed, in the trembling handwriting of
Mark’s Grandma: “Be strong and very
courageous. Don’t be afraid or discouraged by the size of the task, for the
Lord God, my God is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you” (adapted, 1 Chronicles
28:20 NLT). It was as if God was saying—no, shouting—“Yes! Do it.”
God prepares us as we
intentionally investigate the business side of writing. “Knowledge is power.
Information is liberating. Education is the premises of progress,” wrote Kofi
Annan, former Secretary General of the UN. I’ve taken online courses and webinars; I follow writing coaches online
and learn so much from InScribers and other writers. All this information is
giving me a clearer picture of what I will need up ahead.
At the right time, God will open doors for us if we’ve been walking
steadily along the path He has designed for us. I’m reminded of His promise: “I will go before you, and make the crooked places
straight (Isaiah 45:2 AKJV).When we pray His promise, we know that we have the
requests we have asked of Him.
God will also give us wisdom in
balancing time; sometimes marketing and public speaking can overtake the
writing process, and so we need God’s discernment as to what speaking
engagements to accept and how to manage marketing (and this can include
delegating some tasks to those with expertise).
Today, God has gifted us with living in a time when
publication and marketing are moving targets, often going “madly off in all
directions,” to quote Stephen Leacock. Each of us has our own experiences in
some of these directions. Now it’s your turn to tell us your story.
PS I appreciate so much all the various perspectives that
you, our InScribe authors, bring to the topics each month. Sharing your stories
adds to our wealth of experience and enriches us as writers. God bless you.
