I found it encouraging yesterday that even in the midst of my wrestling with the logistics of being a writer, specifically today in exploring who my audience should be, or figuring out who my audience already IS (hard when I only have 20 subscribers), that one of my fears was put to rest (or at least a short nap).
It hit me after reading Lisa-Jo Baker’s post about her own wrestling with her professional writing life: I realized that what served ME as a reader was not brand new and incredibly unique stories that were all shiny and interesting and entertaining as much as the stories that remind me that someone else was ALSO IN THE PROCESS of going through something I am facing. To know there is company in the trenches. To hear what I already know, affirmed and called right by someone else.
I realized I can do that for other people, too. I can take my unique story and tell it, and keep in mind I am only then as effective as my relatability to others. Can others look at my story and be encouraged or challenged? I don’t need to be the cutest or funniest or wisest in the room, I just need to be IN the room. On a couch waiting to talk. Handing out coffee. Smiling a welcome. Making puns. (I have the spiritual gift of eye-roll inducement). I’m just pointing to Him, and there’s not much I can say there that’s new, as He’s been offering the same gifts for the entire span of creation, but I can offer what He has through the foggy spectacles of my own experiences.
It’s in the same breath unique and tale as old as time. It’s infinitely freeing to know that I don’t have to drum up some quirky, brand new “try this” method. I just have to hone in on what is already proven worthy and effective in the Bible, and share that. Jesus is the abundant life, not me. My voice is just what He wants to use, and for that I need to get out of the way and let Him work.
If I’m worrying about how I’m going to get more followers and be effective, I’m not going to get more followers and be effective. I’m going to serve best when my eyes are not on the waves or the other disciples, but on Jesus outside of the boat. Yes, I can learn how to do things a right way, and use marketing to my advantage, etc. but I have to use it with the goal of serving the people that God will bring in to hear what I am saying, not to use it to build up my own name or influence and serve me and my ego.
Brian Dixon, (whose insight I’m just getting acquainted with via hope*writers), Emily P. Freeman and Gary Morland were discussing on the hope*writers podcast how a good application of the “wise as serpents, harmless as doves” verse, is to use wisdom with the restraint of gentleness, and be gentle with people while also being wise in relation to how we use social media and marketing and networking and that realm of the business side of writing.
So this blog post is for anyone else going through this same journey. Who feels like “who needs another painting of a sunset?” Maybe it’s not writing, maybe it’s sharing your art, or your handmade works, or your talents, it all still applies. There’s much more to let go of than to hold on to, and what I want to keep, I still need to put into God’s hands and let Him work out what He hasn’t tasked me to work out. I will pray for wisdom and then trust that He’s given it and I have the ability to stop and hear His voice in my own head.
What I’m Currently Reading:
• Saturate by Jeff Vanderstelt
• The Story Girl by L. M. Montgomery
• The Cat Who Dropped A Bombshell by Lilian Jackson Braun
• A Circle of Quiet by Madeleine L’engle
• The Fringe Hours by Jessica Turner