I’ve been in publishing a long time, first as a writer, then as a literary agent. Throughout my journey, I’ve found emotional support and praise from expected quarters and have always been grateful for those people.
But I found no support and even criticism from other quarters. Some of these places weren’t surprising. But when no support came from some other Christians, I felt as though a burning pitchfork seared tender places in my soul.
In my publishing journey, writers shared similar feelings with me. Some said even their pastors derided their work. Should Christians focus their criticism on writers seeking to edify the Christian community? I have a feeling you can guess my opinion, but this blog post is about approval.
Where should Christian authors try to find approval?
In God, of course.
But it still hurts when other Christians don’t approve of our writing because they (we) are God’s representatives on Earth. And just as we may feel hurt when other Christians don’t like our work, we have to admit we have our favorite Christian authors while others don’t seem to reach us.
What to do?
Keep writing.
Keep reading.
Keep edifying.
All of us are in different places in our spiritual walks. Rather than worrying about what certain readers think of our books, let your words touch those who are willing to be touched. You may well be surprised and pleased by the result.
Your turn:
What comments have you received about your work that have surprised and pleased you?
Have you made a pleasant comment about an author’s work that seemed especially to please him or her?
What book by a living author has made an impact on your life? Did you contact the author?
Worshipping Words
Unless we are at a place with God where his approval is all we seek, then I don’t know how anyone could survive negative comments such as I see on Amazon reviews. Why Man Creates was an excellent film produced by Kaiser Aluminum in the 1970’s I think. In it, an artist hears criticism and each statement hits him like a sharp arrow head. The pain is real and may kill unless our satisfaction comes from God alone. The last comment I received from a close but truthful friend was a comment based on the experiences of my character. My friend affirmed that my character was was truly described in a manner consistent with his character and calling. The most surprising comments were ones that showed the person’s ignorance of current archaeology and the persons’ own dogmatic belief that if it’s not in the Bible, it didn’t exist. Another surprising comment was that my novel was a young adult novel. That one caused me to consider whether I was writing for young adults. I still haven’t figured that out! I haven’t contacted any authors I admire (I have, but only in my own thoughts), because either they are dead, or I don’t know how to contact them without intruding on their busy lives.
Now that it’s so easy to contact an author online, I often will contact an author when I’m touched deeply by her/his book.
Years ago my husband and I flew to LA for him to have a specific brain surgery that the doctors of St. Vincent had perfected. We had to stay there 17 days, and I read a lot of books. When we got home, dizziness was one of the problems my husband battled. I had read a Terri Blackstock book while in LA, and her hero battles dizziness. I pushed my husband to fight through the dizziness by taking baby steps (along with giving him medicine to fight the dizziness). I felt like her book helped us conquer that faster than we would have if I hadn’t read her book. I doubt this was one of the goals of her book, but God is so amazing in how he helps us through reading.
I think I need to drop her a note. Thanks, Tamela!
Like golden apples set in silver is a word spoken at the right time.
Pro. 25:11
I feel like your article could be the foundation piece for understanding Social Media or Platform as a writer. If you desire to receive give. You reap what you sow. We should be pursuing ways to encourage others.
I like to find authors I read on Facebook and tell them something I liked about their work.
And if I don’t like their work… then I quote Thumper from Bambi, “If you can’t say something nice, then don’t say nothin’ at all.”
Tamela, I’d like to acknowledge a book that affirmed my Christian writing: Writing in Obedience, by Terry Burns and Linda W. Yezak. The authors point out the difference between writing in obedience to God’s instructions or writing your story and offering it to God.
It’s wonderful food for thought to all Christian writers.
That was a very encouraging post. A firm foundation in life is to truthfully encourage others. I believe I am guilty of enjoying books and not letting the author know – I will pay more attention to that opportunity.
The best comment was from my brother-in-law who called in tears and said that “Breathe” has helped him through the death of his parents. I do “pay to publish” which is discouraged in the writing community, difficult to get out, and a bit of a lonely walk. So I always consider it a kindness from God when I get encouragement from readers.
Last year I was invited to participate in a reading and book signing at Baker Book House in Grand Rapids, MI. I was the newbie author on the platform and felt intimidated…especially when Julie Cantrell sat beside me. I had to read from my book right after she read from Into The Free. I was TERRIFIED.
After I finished reading, Julie whispered words of encouragement in my ear. I cannot express how much her approval meant to me.
Tamela, what an uplifting, perspective-adjusting post. Your line here: “let your words touch those who are willing to be touched.” I loved it!
We’re NOT going to touch everyone with our words. Nor, do I believe, does God charge us to do so. So, if I/we focus on writing what God’s given us to write, we can touch the hearts God wants us to touch, right?
Angela Hunt’s book, The Debt, spoke deeply into my life—challenging me to evaluate some of what I thought was important. I never did tell her. Maybe I should . . .
This is so timely, Tamela! I was just contemplating the other day how there are projects I have started that were not necessarily given to God but written for man’s approval. Thing is, I was always disappointed when the not so great comments rolled in. I was looking for my worth in the wrong place. It also goes for social media …sometimes I cower and worry about a post… I check my heart when it’s something that might not get man’s approval…but is a conviction from God. We really have to stay in-tuned to the Spirit and trust that what may stir up disapproval might just be God’s hand at work. So tough, and something writers really have to be mindful of. Thank you for your great advice and encouraging comments to me!
I think the point is to come to a place where you are not writing for yourself. It a lesson I learnt in a reluctant move into selling, that its wearying to achieve sales targets but fulfilling to serve the needs of customers. For 10 years I wrote with all my heart and to be honest I identify now with a prophet being without honor, because frankly few I know could care less – its as true of my family (I love them anyway and don’t have a stitch of resentment). Its been a very private journey, although whenever I verbally express what I learnt in that long, oft heart-breaking odyssey, it resonates deeply with others. Seeing that kind of impact gives me peace with possibly never being published, for as Paul implies in our being the letters of God written on tablets of stone, what God teaches us in the shadows will come to light and change our world. I can’t say publishers, Christian or not, are any more empathetic, so to me I am content enough to sit at His feet and be the pen of a ready writer. Let Him have the last say – perhaps it will be a last laugh. The climax of my journey came in a reflection on Job’s dilemma and the moment when his silence reconciled to the sovereignty of God who actually does know better.
Beth Moore once said that we need to keep our eyes on our own test. Bingo. My writing Jedi sent me Love Idol by Jennifer Dukes Lee for my birthday, and told me that every writer needs to read that book. At first I was confused since I’m far to independent and don’t struggle with seeking approval from others, but I’m half way through and God has shown me that there are areas where I definitely need to seek His approval more. And the Lord has shown me that I need to let people in more. Probably not the typical response from readers, it’s like the opposite affect actually, but this is the stage I’m at in life and it’s how God is using Jennifer’s words to stretch me.
I contacted Lisa T. Bergren back in the fall of 2013 after reading Waterfall. My sister lives out of state and we wanted a good, clean romantic adventure series to read together so we could talk about it. I emailed Lisa and told her how my sister and I were reading her series together and I praised her for a great and entertaining story that made my stomach flutter in all the right places, haha! She wrote back saying that my message made her smile SO much and to let her know what i thought of Cascade. I emailed her after each book 🙂
Once I’m done with Love Idol I will email Jennifer and let her know of how God spoke to me.
Lisa T. Bergren was also one of the authors I contacted. She is a “class act” although not acting of course. Seems to genuinely enjoy her readers and their comments.
Beverly, I agree! All her words whether in books, on social media or email seem legit and from the heart. I really respect her sincerity toward her audience as well.
Over 5 years ago, I emailed through Zondervan Pub. back to Phillip Yancey’s blog on something he wrote about the difficulty and joy of writing his books. I noted that he seemed satisfied with the results and it was worth it all. He emailed me and said keep going on what I was doing because it might be something no one else has done. That sentence plays in my head here and there and is encouraging. A friend at church has been struggling for years to do a highly researched biography of her dad that helped in the 60″s and 70’s non violent protest with his once, neighbor Martin Luther King Jr. The last 4 years I’ve given words of encouragement. They just put an article up on Wikipedia-Charles Coates Walker. It is satisfying to help someone else. All you that write here, do a great job and I read most of the comments. It makes me a better person and writer. Thank you for your time and effort to contribute.
I read several devotionals every morning – Joyce Meyer, Cindy Trimm and more. But, my favorite, and the one that gives me the most confidence in my walk with the Lord, is Steven Furtick’s Sun Stand Still 40 Day Devotional (which I have read about ten times = 400.) His encouragement to pray audacious prayers (and how to pray them) has impacted my personal life and my writing. Plus, he is a gifted and fun writer. He encourages you to pray for what God ‘can’ do and believe what God is willing to do. Strong belief and strong faith are important. With Furtick’s encouragement, you can have that, too.