I’ll never forget the first hour of my first writers conference.
I had flown all the way from California to Minneapolis because God had called me to write… and I had no idea what to do. But I figured someone would tell me at what I thought was the only Christian writers conference in the universe.
With my cafeteria lunch on a tray, I sat by myself in a booth. But a group of women soon descended on me, sliding into all the physical and airwave spaces.
“Where are you from?” and “Why did you come?” they asked.
Soon I learned that they all had stories. Abuse. Divorce. Neglect. Cancer. Job loss.
I did my best not to look wide-eyed from the frank details of their lives, quickly learning there is no such thing as small talk among writers. No, writer talk is echo-like cavernous or Grand Canyon-esque or oceanic dark-storm-turned-sunset-beautiful.
But then the question turned to me. “Why did you come, Janet?”
And I only had three words: “I don’t know” …followed with a summer rain of tears.
My life wasn’t perfect, but I had no dramatic story. God had said, “I want you to write for me” at a women’s retreat earlier that year, and I had no articles or devotions or book proposals. All I had was the Lord’s seven words echoing in my head.
In the 1991 film City Slickers Billy Crystal’s character drags his three friends on yet another adventure to escape their boring lives and prove their manhood on a cattle drive. In one scene the crusty old cowboy played by Jack Palance tells Crystal’s disillusioned character that the secret to life is “one thing.”
Billy asks what that one thing is.
And Jack says, “That’s what you gotta figure out.”
We Christian writers probably all have our one thing in common: we know God has called us to write. That calling may have come in different ways—a lifelong passion, encouragement from others, a word from God, or a wild, unexplainable a-ha moment.
Writer friends, it is important to hang on to that one thing—that calling—because the calling doesn’t mean the writing/publishing dominoes will all fall into place with the breath of our words.
Joseph in the Old Testament found that to be true. God gave him dreams that clearly represented a calling to greatness (Genesis 37). But when he shared his dreams with his brothers, they resented him, and his father rebuked him. Then his brothers sold him to merchants who hauled him off to Egypt.
Much like Joseph, we may experience resentment or even ridicule when we share our calling with our family and friends. And even if they do encourage us to “do our thing,” we may find they don’t buy our books or read our blogs.
The most important takeaway from the Joseph story, though, is Joseph’s faithfulness. He did not step right into greatness. In fact, he lived thirteen years in prison for something he did not do. Despite all that, he stayed true to his faith, and because of his eventual position of power, he saved his family and thus, the future twelve tribes of Israel.
His success was less for himself but more for future generations.
The writing life is hard. Most of us experience more rejection than acceptance. Discouragement stabs us, and doubt wields an occasional hammer. Early in my writing career I got thirteen rejections for a single article. After that last rejection, I took another look at that personal experience story and took out a bitter scene. It sold on the next submission.
There’s a fine walk between experiencing discouragement and determining to be humble and teachable. The rejection we experience will develop our character and drive us to become better at our craft . . . if we choose faithfulness.
What will guide us through those seasons of waiting and disappointment is the assurance of God’s calling and his perfect, sovereign timing and connection. While we may never have an influence list like Joseph’s or experience the signet ring of a contract, we will always have God’s Word to remind us this:
“God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20 NIV).
When our words point others to God and his Word, we are living out our calling in life-changing ways.
Question: How have you experienced God’s call to write? I’d love to read your comments.
About Janet McHenry
Janet McHenry has been writing for the Christian publishing industry for 38 years. A national speaker, she has had 27 books published traditionally—eight on prayer, including PrayerWalk, PrayerStreaming, and her newest, Looking Up! Finding Joy as You Read and Pray Through the Bible. Janet loves to coach writers and serves as the host for the twice-yearly Sierra Valley Writers Retreat. She’s a frequent writers’ conference teacher and you can connect with Janet at https://www.janetmchenry.com.
Thank you for the blog! I appreciate how authentic you are.
For me, I have been told “You should write a book,” by many people for the majority of my adult life. Like everyone else, I have had many challenges over the years. I never thought my experiences to be all that unique, so I never really considered writing a book. I have, however, been writing journals over the years. Finally, it hit me, I should write about God since He was the focus of all of my journal entries.
Yes, God is the thread of our lives!
I started pursuing my writing calling by attending writers’ conferences. In fact, I went to three week-long ones that first year.
The Speak Up Conference would be a great place to start understanding the publishing process. Blessings!
Amy, I love that! When people ask me where I get the ideas for my book, I say, “The Bible.” Truly! If I only wrote about my experiences, people would get tired of all that blah blah blah. But there are SO many rich teachings in God’s Word. You’re on to something!
Thank you Janet for this timely post.
In the past, and on occasion, I repeat the fact that I am a speaker, not a writer,, but I cannot deny the call, which came in 2006.
I am continually looking for the ‘one thing’ and even as I’m typing, there is a stigma that comes to mind. I will pursue this thought.
Blessings from Canada… Ruth
Ah, the speaker who writes! LOL! I’m the writer who speaks!
If God has called you to write, He will equip you . . . and the Speak Up Conference is a blessed opportunity to step into that calling. Hope to see you there!
Thank you Janet. You know my “one thing” and obviously I’ve known it for 11 years. God said. I’ve made excuses, I’ve stalled, I’ve said no. But God. He is my one thing in everything and why I will be at Speak Up.
I’m excited to see you there, Jenn! And delighted to see how much progress you’ve made in pursuing that calling! Hugs!
Hello,
This was right on time! Don’t you just love how God does that?
I have been asking myself this very question.
What’s the one thing??
I look forward to meeting you in July!
Thank you!
Tammy Douglas
Oh, I’m so glad, Tammy, and look forward to meeting you, too!
Blessings!
What an encouraging post! Thank you so much!
Oh, I’m so glad, Rita! Thanks for encouraging ME!
Janet, this is so well-written and thought-provoking. I am one who entered the crazy world of writing following a life event that seemed to cry out for a book. I wrote the book – then attended my first writing conference. I had so much to learn. Along the way, it was easy to get distracted from the “one thing.” It was also difficult to clearly define that thing. One event in my life inspired me to write, but that single event didn’t seem to be the one thing to write about. It was what I learned from that experience, and how I was comforted and healed by the holy spirit. Comfort and healing seemed too broad to be the one thing – and it was. Through prayer, journaling, and concerted effort to seek God’s guidance, I now think I know the one thing God has called me to focus on. Four years later, I am publishing my first book; and it is not the first book I wrote! I am glad God’s timing makes more sense than my own. The day my story gets published, I will be much better equipped to speak to my defined audience in a way that meets their felt need. It takes time, prayer, and trust in God’s guidance to find the ONE THING God has equipped and called us to. I believe God will further refine the one thing for the rest of our days.
Writing is just ONE of the things God has called you to do, Lisa. You are making a difference fo the kingdom and for those for whom you advocate.
This blog is so timely as we approach the annual Speak Up Conference. Janet, thank you for helping us to avoid being “scattered” in our thinking and for the challenge to ask God to guide us to “the one thing” that we need to be focused on at this time. We’re so glad that you’ll be on our 2023 faculty!
Thank you, Carol! It was a privilege to serve this year! What a wonderful conference you all have created! Superb!
This was the perfect encouragement for me today. Thank you.
Thank you, Dyann! YOU just encouraged ME! Blessings!