To interact with this post on Friday, click here to go to Seriously Write.
All around us, authors are struggling. Sales plummet. Amazon removes book reviews for reasons never announced. We weary of the constant marketing and promotion allotted to authors in this era. We question ourselves, wondering if this is worth it at all.
To keep us going, the Lord sends exactly what we need during those times of doubt – a review written for one of our books, a comment from a connection on Facebook, a tweet from another author on Twitter, a spoken endorsement, an affirmation from God’s Word, or a reminder that our reward is with Christ alone.
And so, encouraged to remember that we work for the Lord, we press on.
How can we keep encouraged during times like these?
Last month, I wrote about the importance of book reviews and the need for authors to review one another’s work to help each other along. I suggested we purposefully begin to tackle our To Be Read (TBR) book piles, systematically working through those titles and writing reviews for other authors’ books.
That post struck a nerve. Last I knew, it had been read over 1,000 times. If you missed it, here’s the Tweet I’ve been using to educate the public on how essential reviews are to writers. Click on the graphic to go to that original Seriously Write post.
Reviewing other authors is but one way we can help one another. Jesus’ Golden Rule applies to our careers and our conduct as writers just as much as it applies to all other parts of our lives.
So, ask yourself: What do I wish others would do for me? Consider carefully.
That is where we should begin to help others.
I encourage you to evaluate your heart in this matter. Often, we feel jealous of another’s success, or we’re fearful that if we promote another writer our own work will suffer. These are sinful responses to what we know the Holy Spirit would have us to do. Our response should be to obey him.
“Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31 NIV). It’s not complicated. It’s simply hard to do, for we place ourselves ahead of others. But, surely, the Lord will enable us.
Some writers have banded together, some in structured affiliations, some through spoken or unspoken agreements. We retweet one another. We comment on one another’s blogs. We read, review, and promote one another’s books. We encourage one another.
Some authors pay heed to the sound of discouragement or frustration voiced by other writers on Facebook, Twitter, or a discussion group, and we take advantage of the first God-given opportunity to uplift that one with a shared word, a retweet, or an addition of their name to a list of authors we recommend.
Some seize the opportunity to read the post of an unknown Christian writer when it comes across our feed, and then to comment and affirm that writer.
These actions are simple and take far less time than reading an entire book and writing a review. But they can have a powerful effect in the life of a writer. Helping others encourages us as well.
As Christian writers, we aren’t in competition with one another. We’re ministry partners together – all of us living and working to please the Lord. He’s the one we serve. He gifted us. He inspires us. He provides the market for our work. We must knock down jealousy, comparison, and the desire to be regarded higher than another.
These truths that we know so well apply right here in our world of writerly work. We write about the Lord and for him. Surely, with his help, we can treat others as we would like to be treated, doing even more than the minimum.
The world is watching. Will we demonstrate Christ-like living?
Even more importantly, Jesus is watching. Will he be pleased with our choices?
Click on me to enjoy my faith-filled fiction
Loved this, Melinda!
Thanks, Gail!
Good post!
Thanks, Rebecca!
That is a wonderful message. I don’t know how many authors I’ve contacted through their “contact me” address, praising their work, not promoting my own books but simply commenting as simply a reader to have no response at all. I cherish every letter, every email, every review (OK, except the guy that said he was disapointed because he thought my memoir was about a talking dog). We are indeed Christ’s community and the support we provide one another is both our framework and the nails that hold us firm
I so agree! I cherish the interactions I share with you, Katie, Patricia, and so many others who feel like a sisterhood of writers to me. I, too, have had that experience of reviewing another author’s work and then even sharing it around on social media to no response at all. It’s always stunning. Thank you for all your comments and support of my work! I am so grateful! I’m glad to be on this writing journey alongside you, LB!
Hi Melinda. I remember your post about book reviews, but somehow I missed this one. Thank you for retweeting it. I continuously remind myself that God wants me to publish my Bible studies, and He will get them into the hands of those who need them. My 2nd book is already in cobwebs, but I’m encouraged by this post because uplifting my fellow writing partners is exactly what I’m focusing on. It truly matters, this community God gave us to be a part of. Thank you for your commitment and wisdom.
I wrote Bible studies for our church for ten years. I found that the writing of them was one of the greatest gifts of my life, for the one who prepares the material digs much deeper into the passage and comes away with it embedded in the heart. When we write Christian material to honor God, to inform others, and to bring glory to him, we must trust him to get that material into the places he wants it to go, to touch the lives he has had us prepare that material for. He’s in charge of the outcome, and our prayers to that effect are our way of submitting it into his hands. It’s been a pleasure to share your material whenever I come across it. I’ve read your descriptions and your reviews on Amazon, and I’m glad to give them a boost. This is how Christians are to serve together, helping one another along. Thanks for stopping by to comment today! God bless, brother!