by Angela Ruth Strong, @AngelaRStrong
In my last blog, I told you about a time in my life when I was called NOT to write. It was a sacrifice. At the same time, there have been things that I haven’t wanted to write, but I felt like God told me to keep going. I would consider this a calling, as well.
I loved how agent Terry Burns explained the call to write. He said, most things you write are going to be something you want to write, and you can do it for God as an offering. Then there are the things you are supposed to write, and that’s more like a tithe. That’s when you’re called to write.
I used this analogy when critiquing a manuscript for my writer friend, Lisa Phillips. Lisa has written for Love Inspired Suspense but also had great success indie publishing. I joke that she writes faster than I read. She’s never had a literary agent before, and a while back she was considering submitting her manuscript to an agent with the idea of pursuing traditional publishing. But she was questioning herself. “I could release this book on my own and have it do well. Should I really wait for an agent’s response then the whole publishing process? What am I trying to prove?” I had an immediate answer for her: “You have nothing to prove. Maybe this is just supposed to be your tithe, and you get to sit back and see what God does with it.” My response resonated with her, and she messaged me this morning that it looks like she’s going to be working with a top agent.
Maybe Lisa needed to feel called in order to have patience with the traditional publishing process that can often be discouraging. I know that’s how it is for the projects I’ve felt called to write.
Just recently I’ve had a book proposal considered “dead” by an agent. In a normal situation, I’d be sad but move on. Not this time. The way the book came to be is no accident. This is something I’d prayed about and had God confirm in miraculous ways. There’s really nothing I can do but trust God to raise the story from the dead. I’ve got other manuscripts I could be working on, but nope. He’s called me to this, so when the book is in your hands, He’ll get all the glory.
Having a calling isn’t always logical. There are going to be times when it’s not fun either. It takes faith.
Being a Christian writer can make this a little tricky. Some writers think if God’s called them to write then He’s called others to publish their book, and if an agent or editor rejects them, then they are out of the will of God. But I think the opposite is true. If you’re called to write, it’s because God knew you were going to have to be sure of that call in order to overcome all the obstacles that will stand in your way. He’s preparing you.
I had another book pronounced “dead” once. My book went out of print. My publisher went out of business. I parted ways with my agent. Then God provided direction in getting my rights back, rereleasing the novel, and making it part of a series. The second book in the series just got made into a movie. Lisa and I were talking about it again this morning.
Lisa: You wrote the film adaptation?
Me: Nope.
Lisa: You wrote a treatment though, right?
Me: Nope. I just showed up on the set and danced in the cowboy ball scene.
That’s all I did, guys. God made it happen. After seeing Him work through one dead book, I know He can do it again if He wants to.
I love how Brandylin Collins describes her similar experience. She didn’t sell her manuscripts until she reached the point where she could say, “God has called me to write. But He never said He was calling me to publish. So I’ll keep doing what He’s called me to do and leave the rest to Him.” It was her tithe for God to use how He pleased. And He’s used her work mightily.
Being called to write is a scary place to be. But it’s also the best place to be. Because if you are entrusting your work to Him, then it’s on His shoulders. It’s not about failing or succeeding. It’s about obeying your call.
In a world full of happily-ever-after love, Meri Newberg feels like the last young woman on the planet to be single, at least in her Christian friend group. So when she’s handed a strange present at the latest wedding–a 1950s magazine article of “ways to get a husband”–she decides there’s nothing to lose by trying out its advice. After all, she can’t get any more single, can she?
Her brother’s roommate sees the whole thing as a great opportunity. Not to fall in love–Kai Kamaka has no interest in the effort a serious relationship takes. No, this is a career jump start. He talks Meri into letting him film every silly husband-catching attempt for a new online show. If it goes viral, his career as a cameraman will be made.
When Meri Me debuts, it’s an instant hit. People love watching her lasso men on street corners, drop handkerchiefs for unsuspecting potential beaus, and otherwise embarrass herself in pursuit of true love. But the longer this game goes on, the less sure Kai is that he wants Meri to snag anyone but him. The only problem is that he may not be the kind of husband material she’s looking for . . .
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.