I've been published before as a journalist - duh. Not yet as a book author. Movies like 'Julie & Julia' make it seem that just for the fact that you have a blog someone will magically publish you. I choose to believe they just might. For most folks it takes hours of pouring oneself over a manuscript and hustling to get someone to publish you. Others self-publish til the big publisher picks them up. There are many ways to being publish and few are NY Times Bestsellers. I can still dream tough.
Why do I want to write books? I think I have different things to say that would actually help people. I like to write. I would like to hold a book and say, this is fruit of my labor! I would like to write cheesy but heartfelt dedications of books to my loved ones. I love the CD and book dedications, it is the first thing I read.
I was very interested in starting the process two years ago and was highly discouraged by a published author. She thought my subject matter was already exhausted, especially cause we both know a lady who wrote a book about that. I never read or bought the book but she treated it as if it was a classic and I should try to mimic it... She also gave me a whole bunch of material and references - I lost it all - to self-publish or publish in different publications before taking the big step.
This is not the first Christian discourager I have met in my life. I was discouraged by a pastor to follow my call to the ministry while I was in grad school. Thank God I met another pastor right after that one who highly encouraged me to follow my call and dream in the here and now.
Discouragers are everywhere. I've been discouraged to stay at home with my baby. I've been discouraged to do many things that turned out to be great for me. I've been discouraged to wake up early and exercise. I've been discouraged to spend time with God. The list goes on. The fact is, discouragers are the fertilizers to your dreams. Don't look at them with hate and regret. Look at them as a way for your dream to grow faster. That's what fertilizers do. When added to good soil they bring optimal growth.
Haven't I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don't be timid; don't get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take. Joshua 1:9 (The Message)
It is so true....in fact, MOST of the discouragers I have met are Christians. Why is that?
I love turning negatives into positives... I'm glad you do too!
Have an awesome Wednesday!
thanks girl ;)
I totally agreed with you....self publish and eventually you will find a publisher who believes in you. I had a publisher for an african cookbook/stories and in few weeks i was droped. The reason being, they don't think it would sell. I self published, and sold more than 200 copies and all the profits went to my NPO. If that's all i got am happy. Just continue to believe in yourself.
@Riema's Journey - thanks for the encouragement. How awesome is your story. I will continue to believe!
Well, I am late in posting this (as I came to your blog only within the last six months) but this is a great post! Unfortunately, I too have had this same discouragement from other believers and it is so hard to not bury your dreams when that happens. It has been years, and I am just now starting to find mine again. I love the example of how to use the discouragement as fertilizer. ;) Thanks--and keep dreaming, girl!!!
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