Why do you want to get published?
This question popped into my mind recently. I’ve noticed over the last eighteen years, since I’ve been congregating with other writers, that there’s a desire, a deep desire, for most of us to attain publication. Why?
I know for me, when I first caught the writing bug at the age of about twenty-eight, I felt enthralled to finally discover an occupation that I enjoyed! I’d been reading books my entire life, and the mere thought of sharing shelf space among authors whom I’d enjoyed reading gave me an unexplainable sense of joy and euphoria! Whenever I met new people, the first thing I proclaimed about myself was that I was a writer!
I’m not as vocal about my writing as I used to be, but, the joy of writing is still within me. I still long to see my books in a bookstore again.
So how about you? Why do you want to get published? Leave a comment!
I have had the writing bug since I was in middle school. My reasons for writing now are not what they were back then, however. Back then I thought that if you were a writer that you would get prestige and money. Now I write because I believe that God wants me to bless people with my writing. I want by writing to show Jesus yet publication still eludes me.
Kathy, it’s great that God wants you to bless people with your writing! When I was younger, I wasn’t much of a writer. Yes, I kept a diary for a few months when I was around twelve! I wrote a story called Candyland when I was around ten, but, that was the extent of my writing! I may have a few short pieces that I wrote too, but, I didn’t get serious about it until my late twenties.
I would love to get published, it would be a dream come true. Right now I’m working on finishing my manuscript. I’ve been working on it for so long it is starting to feel like a pregnancy. I am so ready to give birth to it for crying out loud, but I’m very limited to when I have time to work on it. I have to keep reminding myself that slow and steady wins the race or at least that is what we learned from the book, “The Tortoise and the Hare.” lol I’ve been an avid reader since childhood and I have always had a vivid imagination. So yes, I would definitely loved to be published.
Tiara, it’s great that you continue to work on your manuscript! I find that getting up early in the morning helps me to get some writing into my schedule. At times, you’ll find me waking up at 4AM or 4:30AM just so that I can get some writing time in before my family awakens! Sometimes, though, I am a bit tired when I get to work!
I just realized ive been doing my writing for the wrong reasons. I was reading writing christian fiction great but bytheway and i got to the chapter on being called to write. I almost threw the book accross the room. Theres always this elusive prestige that comes from being chosen or “called” i mean there are those who feel they are in the right place with respect to their gifts i say go for it. If you know you are called and in the right place no demon in hell should push you off your spot because after all your call is from God but somehow when it came to christian romance i somehow didnt fit. And i was writing because i liked writing got jobs and was good at it. But i cant say i feel “called” especially to write stories, biographies maybe. So im wondering if im in the right place. But for thosecwho arent ‘called’ so to speak i suppose i better ask God.
Hi, Allison
You should write what you feel is best in your heart. I know I want to write stories. This passion has been burning in me for eighteen + years now and it doesn’t seem to be going away! So, am I called?
When I first started writing, Christian fiction barely existed. Christian romance barely existed. Actually, I recall the launch of Love Inspired happened AFTER I’d started writing!
I started off writing secular romance, but, I paid an editor to review my romance and she asked if it was a Christian romance. I was unfamiliar with Christian romance, so, I finally congregated with other Christian writers and like I said, the genre was still so new, which is why I didn’t really know about it back then.
I then decided that’s what I wanted to write. My writing fit that genre, and I loved talking about God and faith. I say I was called, because, Christian fiction seems to fit me and I feel it’s what the Lord wants me to write.
Just go with how you feel and write what feels most comfortable for you – and, in a nutshell, pray about it.
I feel more desire to write urban christian fiction i just maybe think love inspired isnt really for me anymore.
Again, write what you feel most comfortable writing. Writing is so great because there are so many genres and styles and needs – there’s no “one size fits all” not even in Christian fiction.
yeah, thanks cecilia thats good advice, i just want to be where i belong, because rejection will happen either way but i just dont want to bang my head up against a closed door.
Allison, you are welcome! I hope you have a blessed Christmas!