by Angela Ruth Strong, @AngelaRStrong

Last week I signed a contract for a book I started praying about four years ago. It’s not a book I would have thought to pursue on my own, and as the contract fell in my lap at a time when I was going through chemo and not physically capable of doing anything, I have to give all the glory to God. He’s definitely a factor in success, but let’s also reflect on what else is involved.

1. 1. Talent. This one might discourage you if you feel like others are more naturally talented with writing, because, honestly, someone always is. But I like how Beth Moore puts it. She says God entrusted you with two things—the Gospel and our gifts. As Christians, you are called to share the hope found in Jesus. How you do that is based on the gifts God has given you. According to the parable of the talents, some were given five, some two, and some only one. The point isn’t how much talent you have but that you do have talent. You get to choose whether to use it or hide it away out of fear the way the servant with one talent did.

Robin Jones Gunn once spoke at a writer’s conference about how her dream had always been to be a missionary in Africa where she imagined herself washing laundry in a river and carrying a basket of clothes on her head, but this dream never worked out for her. Instead, she ended up writing books with a talent she didn’t even know she had. Eventually, as an author, she got an invitation to speak in Africa where she saw women washing clothes in a river and excitedly asked if she could help. It turned out to be a very disappointing experience for her, and she realized that her old dream never would have lined up with the gifts she’d been given. She even told the large group of writers that some of the people listening would find out their dream of writing was not where they could best use their gifts for God, and that’s okay. It doesn’t make your call any less important.

Agent Terry Burns compares a calling to write to that of tithing. When you’re called, you write out of obedience. But there’s also the offering of writing. You can still use your gift of writing for God’s glory even if He hasn’t told you directly to write something. Both can be beautiful.

One last thought on talent. Even within the writing industry, all authors have their own unique talents. Some are good at description. Some dialog. Some are better at social media than others. Some excel in the business aspect. These are all gifts that will make your career unique and should keep you from envying each other. Rather than compare yourself, celebrate each other’s success and put your energy into the areas where you can personally excel.

1. 2.   Hard work. Even if you are gifted with ten talents in the area of writing, you still have to invest them. You have to learn the craft. You have to do your research. You have to know the market and network. As in any field, a hard worker could very easily have more success than someone with a lot of talent.

If the writing world is where you are supposed to be, then stay the course. Learn from rejection. Seek mentors. Become an overcomer like the character you are writing about.

What not to do: Don’t tell an agent your story was divinely inspired so that if they choose not to represent you, they are doing the work of the enemy. Don’t self-publish a book the Lord put on your heart without hiring a professional editor and cover designer. Don’t refuse to market because it’s “in God’s hands.” This happens, it’s super cringey, and it makes Christian authors look lazy.

---

1. 3. The God factor. All good gifts come from God. Some call this luck. For example, one woman wrote a picture book about farm animals and the publisher only bought it because they had an illustrator who drew really cute cows. On the other hand, there might have been a better picture book manuscript that got rejected because it didn’t have any cows in it. This isn’t something you can predict as an author.

Editors and publishers can’t predict the market either. The bestseller 90 Minutes in Heaven was only supposed to sell 10,000 copies but has now gone on to sell over six million. Conversely, author Bette Nordberg was flown to visit the publisher who told her Serenity Bay was expected to sell over 100,000 copies, then she didn’t even earn out her advance.

Jerry B. Jenkin’s son Dallas directed a Christian rom/com that didn’t do well in theaters. He thought his career was over, but God used this “failure” to send him another direction. Dallas claims that without bombing, he never would have made The Chosen, which he believes to be the greatest thing he’s ever done.

Using your talents and working hard can prepare you to step through a door when God opens it, but like Proverbs 16:9 says, “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.” The beautiful thing about “the God factor” is that it requires you to be in communication with God for direction and it also relieves you from the need to prove yourself.

Everybody defines “success” differently, but whether you reach that pinnacle in your life or not, you can write in peace by knowing you used your talents, you worked hard, and you trusted God’s plan.

---

A Latte Difficulty

  Can two baristas track down a gunman after the espresso shot heard ‘round the world?

When Marissa witnesses an attempted murder during the 4th of July parade, it starts a battle for her independence. She is forced to hide out in a safehouse, leaving her co-owner, Tandy, to run their coffee shop, track down the criminal, and, worse, plan Marissa’s wedding. Thankfully Tandy has help, but can she really trust the P.I. in a bow tie, her new deaf barista who acts more like a bartender, or a wedding planner who’s keeping secrets?

The threat on Marissa’s future goes from bad to worse when her bridal gown is covered in blood. Though her fiancé, Connor, agrees to give up his identity to join her in the Witness Protection Program, Marissa refuses to wave the white flag. Instead, she enlists Tandy to help her fight for truth, justice, and the Americano way.

Angela Ruth Strong sold her first Christian romance novel in 2009 then quit writing romance when her husband left her. Ten years later, God has shown her the true meaning of love, and there’s nothing else she’d rather write about. Her books have since earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, been optioned for film, won the Cascade Award, and been Amazon best-sellers. She also writes non-fiction for SpiritLed Woman. To help aspiring authors, she started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho, and she teaches as an expert online at WRITE THAT BOOK.