by Angela Ruth Strong, @AngelaRStrong
I messaged the producer of my movie, Finding Love in Big Sky, yesterday to see when I’m going to get the link to watch it. I was supposed to receive it in May, but because of reshoots, it won’t be available until September.
I was thinking about it on my walk this morning and felt led to pray. See, one of the big differences in writing books and writing movies is that only authors have to promote their work. In a movie, there are so many other hands that go into the finished product (director, cinematographers, actors, music), that sometimes a very good script could turn into a very bad movie, so writers don’t always want to claim their work. In that case, they sometimes even change their name on a project to Alan Smithee. (He’s not real, but he’s responsible for a lot of disappointing films. Look it up.)
I don’t want that to happen to my movie, and I don’t think it will based on the trailer that’s already out. It bodes well that my producer is reshooting scenes to make sure they release a quality film. But the truth is that no matter what I write or how I write, what happens when I’m done with it is out of my hands.
Yes, I need to market. But I’d like to think that there is more purpose to my book than getting a Bookbub Ad. With this morning’s prayer walk in mind, here are three things to ask God for as you open the cage and release your story into the wild.
- God’s timing. Ideally, I would have gotten to watch my movie in May. I’d been planning to take my daughters to Arizona to watch it with my grandmother, and now we may not get to based on when they’ll be at college. But if my movie had been pushed out on my timeline, it wouldn’t have been as well made. God knows the future. He knows everyone attached to the project. There is a lot more involved here than just me.
- Open doors. People have assumed my movie will air on Hallmark, but no contracts have been signed with any networks yet. Once it’s ready, the producer will pitch the film to Hallmark along with other networks and streaming services. This would be like pitching a novel to publishers. I pray for contracts with networks/publishers who will be the best fit for my message and my audience.
- Open hearts. Once a network picks up the movie or a publisher picks up a manuscript, you ultimately want it to touch the lives of the viewers/readers. Even if there is just one person out there who needs your message, you want God to prepare them for it. May it end up on their TV or in their hands when they are looking for the exact inspiration you have to offer.
That’s what I prayed for this morning, and that’s what I’m praying for this blog post. May this list of three prayers make it onto your screen when you are needing the peace that comes with doing your best and leaving God the rest…whether in writing or in your own life story.
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.