Is God Calling You To Be a Writer? Here are 8 Things To Keep in Mind
Is your desire to write a passing whim, a healthy interest in trying something new, or is it an assignment from God?
Ponder these questions:
Do you feel comfortable and equipped to pursue writing? Are the resources you need readily accessible?
Do you see commercial and critical success as your primary goal?
If the answer is yes to any of these questions, your writing, while excellent, may not be a calling from God. Being talented, interested, and motivated doesn’t mean that God has called you to the work, nor does major success. As you enjoy your success, realize that God may be calling you in another direction to fulfill your purpose.
Receiving wealth and fame for our pursuits is a tremendous blessing, but this may be separate from our calling. We can’t point to market success as an indicator of our God-given purpose.
However, for those of us who know that God has called us to reach the world through our writing, staying focused on the task can be difficult. We want our work to reach as many hands and hearts as possible, while our topics often don’t excite the literary marketplace.
God calls us to produce work with purity and integrity without being influenced by market forces. However, we need to market our work, but first, it needs to be written.
As you embark upon your creative journey of faith, bear these things in mind:
1. Embrace Your Calling: Recognize that the words you put down on paper have the power to inspire, encourage, and challenge readers in profound ways. Own it, my friend!
2. Define Your Audience: Consider who you want to reach with your message. Are you passionate about reaching fellow believers, seekers, or even skeptics? Understand your audience's needs, struggles, and hopes, as this will shape your writing and help you connect on a deeper level.
3. Cultivate Your Craft: Embrace a growth mindset and invest in your craft. Read books on writing, attend workshops or conferences, and, most importantly, practice writing consistently. Like any skill, writing improves with time and effort.
4. Find Your Unique Voice: Your voice is your personality, style, and perspective shining through your words. Don't be afraid to let your true self come through in your writing. Be authentic, share personal stories, and infuse your unique flavor into every piece you create.
5. Start Small: I started writing long novels, then blogs, but this takes time. Writing blog posts, magazine articles, or even guest posts for other websites allows you to share your message with a wider audience and build a platform for future endeavors.
6. Join Writing Communities: These communities provide valuable support, feedback, and encouragement as you navigate the writing journey. Plus, it's wonderful to have fellow believers cheering you on!
7. Be Patient and Persevere: It takes time, patience, and a dose of perseverance. Rejection and setbacks are part of the process, but they don't define your worth as a writer. Be resilient, keep honing your craft, and pursue your calling with determination.
8. Finish your projects!! Once published and out in the world, you can continually develop creative ways to promote your work. If you only have an arsenal of half-finished manuscripts, you’ll never have anything to share.
Remember, my friend, the impact of your writing extends far beyond the words on a page. Your words have the power to shape hearts and minds, to offer hope, and to bring people closer to God. So, don't be afraid to step out in faith and share your unique message with the world. You've got this!
