Pull Up a Chair...Let's Chat

I was going to save this whole idea for next week, but it's burning in my mind so much, I decided not to wait. And although this post has to do with writing, please translate it in your mind to fit YOU.

Earlier this week, one of my writer friends posted to Facebook that she'd just learned her book was about to be backlisted {which in short, means her publisher pushed it down the food chain just a bit, in favor of newer titles}. You can still buy the book {and you should!! Go here!} but the publisher isn't pushing it anymore. That's not fun news to hear as an author.

While she wrestled with the legitimate sadness that her book...her literary baby...had been pushed to the back of the line, my inner fire reignited about this whole marketing thing. I really do get it. Publishing companies have to make money, and in this world of give me more, give me better, give me new, make it happen faster, they have no business-sense choice but to satisfy the cravings of their readers if they want to stay in business. I get it!

But here's my struggle: those of us who have words to share are forced to make a choice between being popular right now so we can make it to the front of the line or being obedient right now so we can do what the Lord has placed on our hearts.

And yesterday, I sat at my desk in my home office and pounded my fist in support of this article by Terry Burns, an author who has chosen to write in obedience rather than to write for the New York Times best seller list. He writes even if only a handful read his words. He writes knowing that impacting the eternity of a few is more important than impacting the temporary of many.

Yes. Just YES.

In his post, Terry asked what defined success? Is it found in how high the book climbs in a list of titles? Is it found in the number of sales? Is it found in the number of times the book reaches the hands of those God intended it for?


Just for fun, I went to the CBD website and looked through their bestsellers on marriage. Five pages of books. Five pages of very recognizable titles and acclaimed authors. {And rightfully so, I might add.} Five pages of books filled with excellent wisdom. Five pages of books that have helped many.

Do you know what I didn't find on any of those five pages? My favorite marriage book. The one I read when I was single and the one filled with wisdom that has served me more fully in this new marriage of mine than any other book I've read. And I've read many.

The book, Married Lovers, Married Friends by Steve and Annie Chapman, was written in 1999, and it's hard to even find for purchase online. But my goodness...I sure am glad they put forth the effort to write it, because it makes a difference every day in my marriage. Every. Day.

That book was a wild success for me. It shaped me as I prayed for a husband. It shaped me as I dated my husband. And it shapes me now as a wife. I don't care how far down a list it is for marketing purposes. The marriage of Ryan and Bekah Shaffer is what it is today - in part - because of that book. To me, for us, it's a bestseller.

Writers want their word-babies to be loved just like moms want their child-babies to be loved. There's no shame in that. I sit at my desk almost every day, writing, editing, researching, dreaming, shaping, forming...and I want those words to reach far, because I want them to matter to others like they matter to me. But truly, even more deeply than that, I want them to reach the souls God needs them to reach.

He said for us to go and make disciples. We do it in different ways...words are my way. But the command is to make disciples. It says nothing of making the MOST disciples. It's not a competition to Him. And I need to make sure it's not one to me.

I ache to be an obedient writer. To trust Him to slip my words in front of those who need to read them and to equally trust that those who don't see them...don't need them.

Success doesn't come from having a bestseller. {And that's not just something non-bestselling authors say. It's true.} Success comes from hearing Well done, good and faithful servant. I want to do well with my words and trust Him to arrange the recipients.