For me, the absolute best thing about writing is watching God's plan unfold. God was active in my previous career, but my dependence on him has increased a hundredfold since I began freelancing. I listen for his guidance as to which publications to study and which submissions to send.
Every job, every query, every word written depend entirely on his guidance and his will. This is how we are meant to live, and as I continue to put pen to paper, and one foot in front of the other, I am blown away at what God can do with a humble servant. Acceptance letters are streaming in like never before, and I'd be lying if I claimed responsibility. It's all him. He is a rewarder of those who seek after his will.
Friends, never give up faith on the dreams God has placed in your heart. Remember the one who put them there in the first place. He will carry you to the places you need to be, and walk with you every step of the way.
Devotions are one of my favorite markets. Short, specific, and packed with the work of the Holy Spirit, devotions compliment the stay-at-home mom's lifestyle. If you'd like to break into this rewarding market, but aren't sure where to start, this is the article for you.
1. Seek out the guidance of the Holy Spirit. A good devotion will inspire the reader to draw close to God. The only way to accomplish this goal is to be completely dependent on God to lead your writing from the lead to the conclusion.
2. Select your scripture reading, or review the assigned verses. Study the scriptures and summarize them in your own words. What do these scriptures mean to you?
3. Vividly describe a tangible example of how this scripture applies to our world. This is the most difficult part of devotion writing. Ask God to lead the way, then listen to His reply. Write in as much detail as possible in your initial draft.
4. Keep your audience's age and location in mind when choosing an anecdote. Many devotionals are translated and published in locations around the world. Stick with examples that are relevant to the human experience as a whole.
5. Put it all together. Lead with your anecdote, or experience. Grasp the readers attention and help them to relate to your topic. Summarize how your audience can apply the lessons learned to their own lives.
6. Set it aside for a few days. Allowing your mind to move on to other things for a few days will help you with the editing process.
7. Review the writer's guidelines for the publication to which you are planning to submit your devotion. Edit your manuscript to conform to the required format, keep your eye out for spelling and grammatical errors as well.
8. Submit your devotion for publication. When you are satisfied with the results, take a leap of faith and send your manuscript for consideration.
9. Move onto new topics, scriptures and ideas while you are waiting to hear back on your submission.
10. Praise God for your success. If your devotion isn't accepted the first time around, don't despair. Lean on God to lead you to a market where your writing can be a blessing in His kingdom. Rework your manuscript and try again. If your heart is set on the will of God, failure is not an option.
Volunteering to help out with your local church is one of the best ways a Christian writer can find inspiration and gain credibility with publishers. Writers naturally tend to migrate to the ministries that are most in need of their services, such as writing and editing the church newsletter or web content. This is a worthy use of your time and talents, but have you considered expanding your ministry? Volunteering our time outside of the realm of writing allows us to gain new experiences, and expand our writing abilities.
Maybe you already know that you are a gifted children's writer, but how well do you understand the needs of your audience? Volunteering with your church's children's ministry will help you to understand where the interests of today's children lie, and how you can best nurture their spiritual growth through your writing.
Involvement within your local church will help you gain the experience you need to break into a new market, not to mention the limitless rewards of giving in the name of Christ. New ideas for our writing are all around us. All we need to do is ask God to lead the way, and be a willing servant when he is ready to use us. Here are some things to consider when choosing a ministry:
- What are my interests and talents?
- Where are the needs within my church?
- How much time do I have to give?
- Have I sought God's will in this decision?
When it comes to freelance writing, Christians have a decided edge against the competition. Freelance writing is a fierce profession, accompanied by the pitfalls of rejection letters and an unsteady employment status. Many writers leave the profession because of these harsh conditions.
For the Christian writer, these difficulties are yet another means for God's strength to shine through in our lives. We are not called to be writers to gain notoriety or wealth, instead we are called to use our talents to bring the light of Christ into a dark world. We do not define ourselves by the number of clips we have, nor do we need an editor's approval to be assured of our place in this world.
If your desire is first to please God in all that you do, he will direct your path. The writer's gift is not one to be cast aside as some childish dream. It is a calling that God can use to impact generations to come, if you are willing to let him.
Go now, write it on a tablet for them, inscribe it on a scroll, that for the days to come it may be an everlasting witness. - Isaiah 30:8
Labels: encouragement, inspiration
