For the next few Writer Wednesdays, I want to talk about marketing yourself as an author. To do that, we’re going to have to begin at the beginning: believing you ARE an author.
I know a lot of writers struggle to define themselves. They’ve got a regular 8-5 job (and in this economy, they may even have part-time work on the side.) They write when they can, minutes and hours sandwiched around breaks, weekends, late nights or early mornings, and in between goals at Junior’s soccer games. So, when someone asks what they do, they are more likely to define themselves by their reality–that 8-5 grind–than by their dream–to be a published author.
But in the world of writing, you have to believe in what you’re doing. You have to set it up front and center. Being an author is about taking action and owning that action. You have to write it. Then edit it. Then submit it in order to find someone to produce it. Then you have to market it. And then you have to do it all over again.
No matter where you are in the cycle, you have to own the fact that you are a writer. No more putting it in the back closet with your hobbies.
Even God and Jesus wrote –and declared their actions. No, it wasn’t a book, but instead, parts of the story of their love and redemption of humanity. They talked about the writing they’d done in the greatest story ever told. They knew the action of writing made an impact. It had value.
In Luke 22:20, Jesus said, ”This cup is the new covenant written in my blood, blood poured out for you.” He wrote the story of salvation in the ink of His blood. He’s a writer.
In Isaiah 49:15, God describes His never ending love for us in purely authorly terms: “I’d never forget you—never. Look, I’ve written your names on the backs of my hands.” He took the action to write down the names of those He loves. He wasn’t shy about telling us he’d done it. He’s the author of our names.
This week, practice saying “I am a writer. I am an author.” When someone asks you what you do, tell them. You have to believe in yourself and the dream God has set in your heart.
Question for you: What keeps you from speaking up about the dreams God has placed in your heart? If you don’t think you qualify to call yourself a “writer” or “author” at this stage in your career, why not? If you do proudly call yourself a “writer” or an “author,” when did you get comfortable with that?
