3 Wise Investments to Jumpstart Your Writing or Speaking

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’  Matthew 25:23

“What should I be doing now?” she asked. 

I sat across from the newly-called writer who wanted more than anything to pursue God’s plan for her life. But the next step seemed vague and she needed help understanding how to walk out what she believed the Lord had whispered to her heart. In fact, she wasn’t sure that she heard Him correctly!

All writers, speakers, leaders have times when we long for the magic bullet. The key to propelling our ministries into motion. The quickest platform-building strategies. The ultimate publicity opportunities. Many times we seek the viral moment, perhaps without fully realizing it, only to discover that the viral moment didn’t produce the fruit we were chasing. 

When time is limited, how does a writer, speaker, or leader choose the wisest ways to spend the time we have for ministry? Check out these three wise investments to jumpstart your ministry.

1.Offer to serve others.

Are you wondering what to do next? Look for an opportunity to serve someone else’s ministry. Whether they are brand new or further along on their speaking or publishing journey, learning from others as we work together provides growth opportunities. 

How can you best offer to serve someone else? Know your skillset and work in your area of strength. Maybe write a blog post. Create an email campaign. Be a book launch team member. Craft an article. Share an idea. One of the best ways to position yourself to know the needs of others is to be a part of a mastermind group. Be wise in your offerings and make sure your idea is a win-win for both parties. 

2. Commit to learning.

The learning curve in the publishing or speaking world can seem overwhelming. Platform-building, book proposals, and “show; don’t tell” can all feel like a foreign language. But you can do this! You don’t have to know everything at once; just make a commitment to learning what God has for you step by step. Take that course, find the right coach, get a beginner-level manuscript critique. Join a Facebook group or subscribe to a publisher’s email list. 

Above all, commit to your personal Bible study and prayer time. Fill up with God’s Word and use a journal to document what the Lord is teaching you in your quiet time. The results you’ll experience from prioritizing this will be monumental in your ministry journey!

3. Attend events to connect with publishing professionals.

Conferences and events are the most logical place to connect with professionals. It’s easy to focus on soaking up the knowledge an incredible opportunity like Speak Up Conference offers and forget the importance of meeting industry professionals. There is nothing like a face-to-face meeting with a Christian publishing professional who cares about your calling from God. 

Make it a purposeful event and schedule meetings beforehand. Know the reasons you want to meet with that agent, publisher, or coach. Did you know that Speak Up Conference offers the opportunity to do just that? As a part of your registration, you will be able to connect with industry professionals who can help you connect the dots to your best next step. 

Lord, help the one reading this article right now to surrender to your plan fully. May he or she be encouraged to pursue one or all of the above steps so that their faithfulness is known to You. 

Question: What was your most important take-away from the last writers or speakers conference you attended?

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