Write His Answer

Nurturing the Heart
of the Storyteller
Donna Brennan
Interviews Allen Arnold
Part 2

Question: So I need to work with God as I write my novel and tell my story. But what about after the story is written? Then I have to go to conferences and pitch my manuscript; and get a blog and try to build a following; and I’ll need an author page on Facebook; and I should start tweeting on a regular basis; and what about Pinterest and Instagram… That all sounds so exhausting. Is there a better way to get my book in the hands of readers and still find time to work on my next story?

Right – it doesn’t just sound exhausting. It is exhausting. What I’ll say here is counter to much advice within the industry. But I think sometimes those in an industry can repeat an answer so many times that it starts to sound like absolute truth when it is just opinion. Let me offer another opinion based on working with hundreds of authors during 20 years in publishing as well as my experience now in a ministry that focuses on the heart.

I understand that publishing houses have less staff than they did years ago – so the more an author can do to promote their book, the better. And the larger following they have online, the higher the odds of a successful launch. That is horizontal (human) wisdom – but large on-line followings actually don’t guarantee a book’s success. And those called to write are not usually equally gifted at marketing. So rather than taking half your writing time to strive after social media – what if you spent 95% of your time doing what you were called to do, which is to create and write?

Sure it’s important to promote your book. Find others who are gifted at marketing and find a way for them to spearhead it – whether you pay them or trade services. Absolutely do the interviews and participate in spreading the word about why you wrote your book. But to assume your project will only succeed if you succeed at social media is not only exhausting…but basically godless because the assumption is it is all up to you to make it happen. In the great stories of the Bible – victory was never all on the shoulders of the person following God. If God has given you this message, then He will not be sidetracked by you not tweeting enough or not building your platform.

Please don’t take my comments as minimizing the promotional aspect of publishing. My degree is in marketing and I spent much of my career at major advertising agencies and overseeing author branding. I believe in the power of great promotions – I just don’t believe the author should feel they must become marketing experts or spend hours a day on social media to achieve success in the calling God has given them. I want these words to alleviate stress and allow authors to breathe deep so they can focus more on their calling.

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Note from Marlene: Thank you, Donna, for your great question. And thank you, Allen, for your important and insightful response. Father, please help us not to leave You out of the equation. Forgive us for thinking we are responsible to make it happen in our own strength.

Be watching tomorrow for the chapter, “Driven or Led?” from my book, Write His Answer – A Bible Study for Christian Writers.

Allen will be keynoting and teaching a continuing session of almost 6 hours at the May 11-14 Colorado Christian Writers Conference. His topic:

From Overwhelmed to Creative Breakthrough
Has the initial joy of creativity been replaced with feeling sof being overwhelmed, disheartened, and alone? A refreshing journey into why God invited you to write in the first place, what your true identity means, and how you can actively create together with the Creator. It’s an interactive, invigorating class that is equal parts practical and mysterious. Gain peace, clarity, and break through to the story you are living as well as the story you are writing. You were never meant to write alone!