by Alena Tauriainen, writing as Alena Wendall, @alenawendall
I attended the ACFW conference feeling like such a loser. I mean, I started this writing journey almost a decade ago. And what have I accomplished? But on the advice of my friends, I went anyway.
Debbie Macomber, the keynote speaker, had me either laughing or crying. She said things that stuck with me. She talked in depth about receiving rejection after rejection and wondering if she should still use her family’s limited finances to keep trying.
Ever felt that way?
The very next week, I attended a church service where Priscilla Shirer was the guest speaker. It was a night where I wanted to stay home. I mean, a rainy dreary Friday all the way in Houston?
One of the first things she started talking about? Writing.
“God has called you to write the book. Write the book.”
Really, who talks about writing in a church service? And hey, I did write the book and they said no.
Her next statement?
“They don’t want to publish it? Self-publish.”
Okay, God, I’m listening.
As if that wasn’t enough, three weeks later, I went to a contractors conference for work. The ratio was 97% guys, and 3% women. John Maxwell was the speaker.
Maxwell talked about being intentional.
“Decide to do one thing and do it every day. Results will come.”
Remember, I said this was a contractors’ conference. You know, like air conditioning contractors, plumbers, and electricians. Could have fooled me because then Maxwell said, “People always ask me, ‘John how do you write so many books?'”
John’s casual response, “One word at a time. One word turns into a sentence, then a paragraph, then a chapter and so on.”
If you’re feeling discouraged, know that we are all in this pursuit of writing impactful stories together. God sent Jesus so we can start our story. Will you finish it?
For me, I’m feeling pretty special. He sent Jesus, Debbie Macomber, Priscilla Shirer, and John Maxwell to get me in line.
Take what tools you have and write the story God has put in your heart because as Debbie Macomber so brilliantly stated, “God has called us to be an answer to someone.”
Writing as Alena Wendall, Alena Tauriainen pens contemporary Christian romance novels that always end with a happily ever after. By day, she partners with her lifelong mate Clyde, to run the family HVAC business. She manages both business and family life with four lovable but crazy kids. She is the Retreats Coordinator for My Book Therapy. She is represented by Rachelle Gardner with Books & Such Literary Management. Visit her at alenawendall.com.