Often in our writing careers we get weary of writing novel after novel, (or non-fiction book after non-fiction book, or magazine article after magazine article), only to have it passed on by publishing houses, agents, or editors. An opportunity might come up to self-publish, to ghost-write, to pen a novel that will put food on the table but not be our heart's desire.
I think it's important to know why we write, what we hope to accomplish so that when opportunities present themselves, we can be sure of what to say yes to, and what to pass on.
Years ago, I came up with my own mission statement so that these decisions would be no brainers. It's helped a lot.
Not that you asked, but I want to write novels that aren't just good, but great. Books that: explore the human condition, stories that point readers to their creator, to raise questions that only He can answer, to bless others, to bless God and yes, to earn a living from. I'd like to be so succesful that I can afford to sustain one African (or other country) orphanage. I have big, big, dreams.
I'd love to hear about your writing dreams and what opportunities that you have passed up to realize the bigger picture. (Or opportunities that you have seized because it served your ultimate goal.)
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Monday, March 03, 2008
Interactive Discussion: The Bigger Picture
Thanks for starting this discussion, G. I'm interested to see the responses. The cool thing is that having known you for a few years, I've seen you keep your dream consistent. You keep moving in that direction, and I haven't seen much wavering. Good job!
ReplyDeleteMe? My goals are different. And...er...undefined. There is definately, for me, a desire to find more joy in the actual writing instead of keeping my eyes on publication (though publication would be just super.) I'm not sure where God is taking me. I'm going to school and hope to have a great carreer that will provide my income so that I won't feel pressure to make money off of writing. Mainly, I want to walk humbly before my God. And be used by him to bless people through what I'm writing right now that is seen (ie. devotions). I might have bigger goals later on.
I want to write the stories God puts on my heart in an engaging way that pulls the readers through the story and slips truth into their lives while they are being entertained.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to make a living at it -- someday. But more important I want to chase God's heart for this ministry that He has given me.
I write to communicate. I see the world from a different perspective than anyone else and I want people to see what I see. Writing is one way to reach that goal.
ReplyDeleteI do not get paid for most of what I write. Though I wouldn't mind getting paid more, my dream is that the day will come when a reader reaches the end of one of my novels, closes the book and says, "Wow!"
Thanks guys. Those are great goals!
ReplyDeleteA friend gave me Habakkuk 1:5 as a vision for my writing. "Look at the nations and watch--and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told."
ReplyDeleteWhile this may be a bit out of the context of Habakkuk, I began thinking what it would mean for me. Even though I haven't sold the book yet, my vision is for worldwide distribution ("Look at the nations"). That's more than I can imagine right now, but God asks us to think big. So that's what I'm asking for. Even if I get just a small portion of that, it will be amazing.
Hey Linda, there ain't a thing wrong with thinking big. It shows your faith.
ReplyDeleteFor me, the hallmark of what I write has to do with truth-telling, evocatively sharing the truth in story form. I just finished a very difficult novel with lots of truth, lots of pain, and lots of hope. My next one stands to be even more layered.
ReplyDeleteBut the coolest thing to me is just being able to write in the first place, to string words together (and even getting paid for it!) What a privilege.
Yeah, that too Mary :) Sounds like a great novel.
ReplyDeleteI have come to writing (for compensation) a little late in the game. I worked in human services for several years, and have spent most of my life trying to figure out what it is I'm supposed to be doing. I finally turned it all over to God last summer and quit my full-time job to pursue writing as a career this winter. It's been frightening, exhilerating and exciting so far, and I can't wait to see what else is planned for me!
ReplyDeleteTo me, being successful means making enough money to live comfortably, doing what I love. I would much rather do without expensive things and really LIVE my life, have time for family/ outside interests, and live in a balanced way. Also, I hope to fund either adoption or donations in large amounts to causes that I believe in (someday). Until then, I'm just grateful that I've been given this incredible opportunity.
I want to encourage people. If my life or my words can inspire someone to stop being afraid, or start living for God instead of against Him, or grabbing life and kissing it right smack dab on its lips...then I'll consider that I've succeeded.
ReplyDeleteDo I want to make a living and support orphanages? Yes. But I also know myself too well and only want success when God says I'm ready for it.
I'll take the open writing doors and opportunities until God shuts down the thought flow in my mind and takes the desire to write from me. So for now, y'all are stuck with me.
My passion is for the lost. I want to write novels that provoke people to rethink their worldview. My stories always seem to come back to the same theme - people finding faith. I love to challenge people's assumptions about the nature of reality; to help reveal the blockages that blind them to the truth.
ReplyDeleteIf my books can change the eternal destiny of any of my readers, I'll consider my life's work well done. My greatest prayer is for fruitfulness. "A harvest thirty, sixty, a hundredfold."
Dreaming is, I think, one of the most important things that writers do. It was T. E. Lawrence who said:
ReplyDelete"There are dreamers, but not all human beings dream equally. Some are dreamers of the night, who in the dusty recesses of their mind dream and wake in the morning to find it was just vanity. But the Dreamers of the Day are dangerous people because they act their dreams into reality with open eyes."
Writers are Dreamers of the Day. With a leap of faith we finish that novel, write that short story, and submit that article. In so doing we mirror the image of a God who creates.
Beautiful quote, Ariel!!
ReplyDeleteI love that. Dreamers of the Day.