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The Steve Laube Agency

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World Word by Word

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Home » The Writing Life » Page 8

The Writing Life

Show Me the Money!

By Karen Ballon June 7, 2017
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I’ll never forget the Sunday I was getting ready to leave church, and the pastor’s wife came up to me and touched my arm.

“Karen, my son can’t find a job, so he’s decided to make some fast money by writing a book and having it published. Do you have any counsel for him?”

I’m so proud of myself that I didn’t guffaw in her face. Not so proud that I fixed her with a hard look and replied, “Do me a favor. Don’t ever say anything so stupid to me again.”

Yeah, those spiritual gifts tests. The category I always lack is mercy.

Anyone who has ever gotten involved in this gig knows that writing and being published isn’t the way to make “fast” money. Or, for far too many, any money.

Okay, reality check. Walk into any large bookstore and take a look at all the books. Now, how many of those multitudes of authors do you think are making a living at writing? Brace yourselves. One percent. Yup, one percent! In fact, with all the things authors need to do to find a readership (marketing/promotions, writers’ conferences, reference books, and so on), and the costs for indie publishing (in addition to what traditional authors have to pay for, they have the expense of covers, copyrights, editing, and more) many end up spending far more money than they earn. So is it any wonder several authors responded to my initial blog on obstacles by saying money is a big one? Or the lack thereof.

Yes, there are financial realities to this whole thing. But let me ask you something: What if money isn’t an obstacle at all? I mean, God could, if it was the best thing for you, rain money down on you! So what if the real obstacle is a lack of trust? The feeling that if you don’t do all the things you’re told you need to do, things won’t happen the way they should? That you’re in this on your own, and if you have to put yourself in debt to do it, well, you’re doing it for God, right?

No. You can’t honor God by doing things He says not to do, like going into debt. But here’s what you can do:

  1. First, realize your task is to write. Make sure you’re doing that. Just get your seat in the chair and write.
  2. Then, when a seeming financial need arises, submit it to God’s approval and guidance.
  3. Ask trusted friends and family to pray about the issue, that God will make it clear what He is asking you to do. If God, and your advisors, don’t give you the amen, then let it go. And move on in the freedom that God’s in control of your writing.
  4. Know, in your heart of hearts, that you serve a God who WILL provide what He knows you need. And if that’s money, you can rest in His promises. Promises like those below. Promises to put an end to Writer’s Obstacle #9: Money Concerns–

Deut 28: 8, 12— “The Lord will guarantee a blessing on everything you do and will fill your storehouses with grain. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you…The Lord will send rain at the proper time from his rich treasury in the heavens and will bless all the work you do. You will lend to many nations, but you will never need to borrow from them.

Psalm 34: 3-5, 6-10– …let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together. I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces…Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.

2 Corinthians 9:10– For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.

Philippians 4:19-20– And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen.

 

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Category: Economics, Money, The Writing LifeTag: Economics, Faith, Money, The Writing Life

The Writer’s Responsibility

By Dan Balowon June 6, 2017
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When you decide to pursue writing as a career or even an avocation, you probably are unaware of the responsibility bestowed upon you by the decision. There is no official ceremony involved, but there should be. This responsibility will change the way you interact with friends and relatives. It could even cause some friction between you and those close to you. Here’s the promise you make, which is …

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Category: Encouragement, The Writing LifeTag: Discouragement, Encouragement, The Writing Life

A Green-Eyed Obstacle

By Karen Ballon May 24, 2017
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I know better. And yet I did it anyway. Not my fault, really. I never would have given in if I hadn’t seen that best-seller list. With that name. That author who started years after I did. Who was getting all the accolades, all the lists, all the awards… I mean, I’d had a book on the bestseller list. So what if it was years ago? So what if the book that mattered most to me got panned by an …

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Category: The Writing Life, TheologyTag: Jealousy, The Writing Life

The Lies That Bind

By Karen Ballon May 10, 2017
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 Years ago at a writer’s conference I was confronted by a pastor who demanded to know why I promoted lies to God’s family. As you can imagine, I was somewhat taken aback at this accusation and asked the irate man to explain what he meant. “Those books you write. Those novels. They’re lies!” I pointed out that if I was lying by telling stories, then so was Christ seeing as He did the same with the …

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Category: Career, The Writing Life, TheologyTag: Career, Faith, The Writing Life

Obstacles are a Pain

By Karen Ballon April 26, 2017
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You may have noticed that my blog was missing last week. That’s because I’ve been fighting with today’s obstacle: chronic pain. I’ve had a series of headaches and migraines that have made it hard for me to think, let alone write a blog. I’ve dealt with pain before, but this…this ice pick in the temple that doesn’t let up…this assault on the body that had me hiding under the covers in my bed, …

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Category: Personal, The Writing LifeTag: Obstacles, The Writing Life

Five Lessons from the Road to Publication

By Guest Bloggeron April 24, 2017
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Our guest post is by Ginny L. Yttrup who is the award-winning author of five novels including her latest, Home, which released earlier this month. She writes contemporary women’s fiction and enjoys exploring the issues everyday women face. “Publishers Weekly” dubbed Ginny’s work “as inspiring as it is entertaining.” When not writing, Ginny coaches writers, …

Read moreFive Lessons from the Road to Publication
Category: Conferences, Get Published, The Writing LifeTag: Get Published, The Writing Life, Writing Conference

Repeal and Replace

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon April 20, 2017
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Writers live full and demanding lives. Let’s become more focused and productive with my unscientific version of Repeal and Replace! Repeal: Exhaustion. Replace: Go to bed earlier. Even fifteen minutes can help. If you like how you feel, shave off a few more minutes until you find that perfect bedtime. The more often enough rest helps you be vibrant the next day, the more you realize how little you …

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Category: Personal, The Writing LifeTag: The Writing Life

The Danger of Discouragement

By Karen Ballon April 12, 2017
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Some days, I have to admit, it feels like I’ve been working and working, doing everything I’m supposed to, and yet, nothing ever changes—unless it’s for the worse. The struggles are still dragging me down. The sense that no matter what I do, nothing will change, weighs on my spirit. It’s days like that when the questions start… What’s wrong with me that I can’t get anywhere? How can I be losing …

Read moreThe Danger of Discouragement
Category: The Writing Life, TheologyTag: Discouragement, The Writing Life, Theology

Tell the Truth

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon April 6, 2017
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I’m writing this post because of inspiration provided by comments from my readers. Thank you, readers! Recently I blogged about seasoning our words with salt. If you haven’t read the comments on that blog, I recommend you do because they are insightful and uplifting. That post referred mainly to social media, but this post applies to all parts of life, and even to some fiction. For example, …

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Category: Social Media, The Writing Life, TheologyTag: Career, The Writing Life

Ignoring the Face of Fear

By Karen Ballon April 5, 2017
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Fear. It’s there, whispering to you in the dark. Telling you you’re wasting your time, that you’ll never make it, that no one cares what you have to say. It eats at you when you try to write, telling you those words you just crafted are garbage. It crawls up your spine when you finally work up the courage to send out a proposal for review, telling you the only response you’ll get is rejection. Or …

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Category: The Writing LifeTag: Fear, The Writing Life
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