This is the fifth in a series of posts on various types of writers I think would be worthwhile giving our attention to. Those with military and missionary service in their backgrounds, young writers, and creative writers can each contribute to the conversation in the church as they each have perspectives different than what we see and hear around us today.
A persistent and humble writer might fit into these first four categories or be a fifth type. So, what does it mean to be a voice of humility?
For my purposes today, a humble writer has repeatedly tried and failed as a writer; and God picked them up off the floor, dusted them off, and gave them the courage and strength to continue forward in their work.
Publishing is a “failure” business. Things are tried and often fail. We learn from these failures and keep trying new things. Some of them succeed, but most do not.
A writer who hasn’t seen a measure of success in their writing likely hasn’t failed enough or hasn’t risked much out of fear of any kind of failure. If you write only one thing and it is rejected, write another thing, and another. Failure is the doorway to success. So, keep writing.
Writers humbled by publishing and who press forward, relying on God’s strength and not giving up, form the fabric of the Christian author community worldwide.
Persistent writers are important. Why? Because regardless of what they write, fiction or nonfiction, for adults or children …
Their work has been tested by fire. Rejection and critique are the refiner’s fire for the writer. Even successful self-published authors expose themselves to critique and editing, allowing someone else to speak into their work.
They have first-hand experience of how God “parents” his children. God is a good Father who desires his children to grow in grace and truth. Sometimes this happens through blessing them, but often it comes through allowing difficulty and failure. He works all things together for the good of his children, which is another form of blessing. This perspective is invaluable.
They hold tightly to the Word and loosely to their words. Successful writers know there are multiple ways to make a point. Humbled writers stay true to the truths of God’s Word but know there might be a better combination of words to get a point across than the ones they used in the first, second, or third drafts of their book.
They have a thankful heart. Thankfulness is the grout that smooths over the wounds and cracks in one’s heart. Those who have been writing for a while are thankful for the people who have helped them over the years. They realize it isn’t about them alone.
Persistent writers can come in all forms, even those mentioned in previous examples of important writers. But often they are simply those who have been unwavering in their commitment to writing, with God’s grace, of course.
Humble writers write differently. Readers can tell.
For the other posts in this series:
Why Military Writers Are Important
Why Missionary Writers Are Important
