Someone has said you’re not a professional writer until you’ve received one thousand rejection slips. One thousand! That’s a lot of disappointments, especially if, like me, you’ve struggled all your life with feeling rejected.
“Why, God? Why aren’t you opening the doors?” It’s a legitimate question; but if we listen closely, we may find the tone of our voice bordering on a whine.
Diagnosis? Disappointments have made us vulnerable to discouragement. Left unchecked, doubts will get a stranglehold on us next. Then despair will follow as the Deadly Ds disable us. I know. I’ve been there. [Yes, I’ve gotten over one thousand rejection slips, but I’ve also made over one thousand sales and have published nine books.]
The Evil One knows where you’re most vulnerable. The more he sees you as a threat, the more fiercely he will attack. Can we recover from the Deadly Ds? Of course, as long as we submit ourselves to the care of the Great Physician. But we must remember that the virus will always be latent. We need to faithfully follow the Doctor’s orders:
Be careful—watch out for attacks from Satan, your great enemy. He prowls around like a hungry, roaring lion, looking for some victim to tear apart. Stand firm when he attacks. Trust the Lord.
1 Peter 5:8-9 TLB
The above excerpts from chapter 26 of my book, Write His Answer – A Bible Study for Christian Writers, ring as true today as when first published 25 years ago. Click here to read the entire chapter, “Conquering the Deadly Ds.”
Far too often I see gifted writers give up – writers who I truly believe are called by God to write His answer. That’s why I keep on keep on directing two Christian writers conferences. May 17-20 is the 21st year for the Colorado conference; July 26-29 the 34th year for the Philly conference.
About half of the faculty for Philly is chosen, but I’ve not yet begun updating the Philly website. The faculty of 55 agents, authors, and editors is in place for the Colorado conference. Click here to see who is coming.
I’m still choosing the 57 workshops we’ll offer in Colorado, but the 8 continuing sessions are in place. Click here for descriptions of each as well as the bio of the instructor.
The Chase (for novelists & screenwriters)
D.J. Williams – Executive Producer, Director, Author
You Can Indie Publish & Market Your Book
Sarah Bolme
Director, Christian Small Publishers Association (CSPA), Author
Writing Powerful Narrative Nonfiction
Sherri Langton
Associate Editor, Bible Advocate & Now What? ezine
Freelance Writer
Writing that Changes Lives
Bill Watkins
Author; Senior Editor, BroadStreet Publishing Group
Develop and Market Your Nonfiction Book
Mike Loomis
Book Developer, Editor, Ghostwriter, Literary Agent
Reaching Women through Writing & More
Linda Evans Shepherd
Author, Speaker, Publisher
Founder/Director, Advanced Writers & Speakers Assc. (AWSA)
Market Your Message without Selling Your Soul
Eryn Lynum
Author, Marketing Specialist
The Courage to Write
Judith Couchman
Author, Speaker, Writing Coach
Let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up.
Galatians 6:9 TLB
Write His Answer 
Leave a Reply