By Susan L. Tuttle, @Susan_Tuttle5

Writing is a tough world. First, we have to learn our craft. Then we have to find the time to apply what we’ve learned. Once we craft a story or an article, we have to do the most daunting part: allow others to read it. That one act opens us to the opinions of others, which oftentimes they aren’t shy to share. We must develop a thick skin, and we know this, even if it is tough to grow that extra layer. Yet, all these things are within our control. Meeting our word count, reaching “the end,” learning how to respond to others’ comments, and applying feedback when necessary are all skills we cultivate and use as writers. Which is what makes those things that lie outside our scope of ability so hard to accept. This is where we can tend to lose hope.

When we are signed by an agent, when a publisher offers us a contract, if people buy our books, if we win an award, or if that prestigious site chooses to review our books … All of these things and more are not within our ability to make happen. Yes, we can hone our skill, but we cannot make someone buy our stories: publishers or readers. And, no matter what stage we are in the writing world, there will always be an element of this truth. How do we navigate this then?

Simple, we hold onto hope even when we can’t see the outcome we desperately want. Hope is often defined as a feeling of expectation and a desire for a certain thing to happen, along with a feeling of trust. And the Bible tells us in Proverbs that hope deferred makes a heart sick. The basic gist of those two things together is that when we stop trusting in or desiring for something to happen, we’ll grow heartsick. The writing life is full of more ‘no’s than it is ‘yes’s, and a string of ‘no’s can lead us to the mindset that nothing is ever going to happen with our work. When these thoughts set in, we become defeated … we become sick at heart. Yet what would it look like if rather than that “no” defeating our strength, we let it build our muscle?

What if we decide to look at our writing through eternal eyes? If we choose to say that this “no” isn’t a rejection, but a pause while we wait on God’s timing? Or while we might not hit a bestseller list, maybe that book was meant for just one person—and isn’t it just like our God to pursue the one? If we resolve to believe God has a plan for each of our stories, and while each of our plans look different, his purpose for us all is to bring him glory so that none are lost? If we remove ourselves from the equation and simply say, God, use me no matter what it looks like because your ways are so much better than mine.

Our hope is safe in Jesus. We can trust in him and take him at his word. He’s told us that he has plans for each of our lives and those plans will give us HOPE. We simply need to remember they are his plans, not ours.

If you’re called to be a writer, yes, you must grow those skills. You need to be dedicated with your time and your education. But when it comes to your expectations, those need to be solely focused on God’s plan—big or small—for your career. Don’t look to the right or the left at what he’s doing with others. Don’t get hung up on certain statistics or numbers. Lay it all before him and say, “Here I am, use me” and then watch him go to work as your hope grows.

 

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Out of the Blue

Falling in love again wasn’t on her checklist, but he’s about to pencil it in.

Nate Reynolds’s ugly history has dogged him long enough. He has spent years reforming himself, but there has to be a purpose for all the pain in his youth. When he discovers the perfect campground for rehabbing juvenile delinquents, he sees his chance for redemption. Even if it means butting heads with the owner’s granddaughter, Gwen Doornbos, a woman who, for all her sharp edges, possesses a heart similar to his. The more time he spends with her, the more he envisions a future he once thought impossible.

Four years ago, Gwen Doornbos lost her husband at the hands of a troubled teen. Her dream of ministering to kids died with him, and she returned home to help her grandfather run their family summer camp until his retirement. That day has finally arrived, except her grandfather has other plans for Camp Hideaway, and they include the irritatingly handsome Nate, a do-gooder with more brawn than sense who insists on bringing the past right to her door.

When an accident requires Gwen to temporarily assist Nate, she discovers that the campers challenge her in ways she’s not ready to face. Yet if she can find the courage to stay, the darkness that has shrouded her for so long may lift to reveal a love arriving out of the blue.

ACFW Carol Award finalist, Susan L. Tuttle lives in the Mitten State where she’s a mom of three and happily married to her best friend. Between still homeschooling her youngest and leading the women’s ministry at church, she finds time to write stories filled with inspiration, hope, and encouragement. Connect with Susan at www.susanltuttle.com.