Phakama: "God came into the garbage dump of my life and...
Jamall: You know brother. Did you see all of the hits...
Jason: I too am believing in the Lord, Jehovah Rophe. I...
A Christian Writer’s Struggle
May 24th, 2005
I began writing at school, just silly stuff. about pop stars and dreaming of marrying one of the Osmond brothers. The kids at school were really interested and loved reading my stories. But my parents, mostly my mother was not keen on my writing career. There is no jobs in writing. You couldn’t earn a living from it anyway…unless you were Steven Speilberg or C.S.Lewis.
But how does a small freelance writer get to that level. Its not easy, not even in the publishing world. Rejections after rejections are an endless battle, even when your work is at the top level. You begin to feel like no one cares for your work and you give up. Musicians , Actors, and Sports people get more Sponsorehip support than a writer does, even with writers worshops, support groups, and friends you are interested in your work.
But God has given me a gift for writing. I write letters to papers, as well as books. But, when you tell people that you love to write, they look at you funny as if you are some kind of hippy. Getting your book into a local bookshop is virtually impossible, due to cost and whether your book will be a risky adventure. Why would it be risky? Because no one has read it yet. No one knows you. So how can a writer get known.
I found a christian e-authors group which is a great support for my work. I also found a POD site where i can upload my books to the public and the site print and ship on demand. God has given me the internet where i can become known. I can now say to myself “who needs publishers?”
I still get looks from people when i tell them i am a freelance writer. People, even your own church, don’t know how to relate to you as as writer. i’m a normal person. i still eat takeaway food and sleep and struggle to make ends meet. I’m not a hippy on valium. But, the world see writers as a freak out group. Why? Writing is just an art form, like painting and music and cartooning and acting. It’s just another way that God talks to His children and to the world, not just in christian books, but also in other forms of literature.
It’s another witnessing tool.
My mother used to bag and verbally abuse me for my writing, but now i’m published, she is pleased about it. If i had of had more support from her earlier on, I would have been published a long way back. What did she think it took for me to get published. Not out of thin air.
Roo
June 19th, 2005 at 7:16 am
Hi Roo,
Your testimony is an encouraging one. I too have a call to write and have had such problems getting published. However, the Lord continues to encourage me. What is the name of your e-Christian Writers’ Group? I am always getting new inspriations and ideas and I long to have them out there instead of in there (top shelf). May God bless and encourage your ministry,
Marie
October 21st, 2005 at 6:35 pm
I am inspired to read your testimony. For Christ we are all very important. Its good to know how god uses his people for his glory. What is the name of your e-Christian Writers’ Group?
REGINOLD
January 19th, 2006 at 8:56 am
I just found this site and haven’t been published here yet. I did send one item in last night. If, for some reason, I don’t get published here, I’ll try other places. This is what God wants me to do. I have been writing on several sites—some under my own name; some under a user name.
God keeps opening new doors for me. After this I will send how I became a writer. It is so awesome how God called me and provided a way to do it against all odds.
I don’t have any high goals now as I once did—that is to be rich and famous when I was wasn’t saved. I am retired so I don’t really care if I make any money or not. I am just happy to be have something worthwhile to do while I live in a High Rise.
I just don’t fit in here. I don’t like the constant complaining and gossipping . I don’t play bingo, cards, throw darts or shoot pool. What’s left? I have no transportation.
I belong to Faithwriters 500. You get a private messenger where publishers can contact you to write for them. They don’t always pay much but it can give you the feeling of being published.
I have turned most of them down. I just wasn’t ready to commit myself yet. In February, it will be the first Christian newspaper publication I will be in.
The young editor/publisher is just starting. He can’t pay right now but hopes to really get going. He knows this is what God wants him to do but it is a struggle, his test to prove his faith.
I just have to keep writing with or without pay. Two other oportunities are waiting for replies. Giving my testimonies on different subject, hopefully will help someone who is going through the same things I have. Then my 75 years would not be in vain.
I rambled enough. I’ll send my story and get back to bed. In the middle of the night, it seems, is when I write my best. My mind is dead and the Holy Spirit leads me in the way I should go with the writing. He points out the scriptures I should use.
God bless you Roo and other fellow writers. Trust in God as to where He wants you to go.
Joan
February 7th, 2006 at 8:13 pm
I have a manuscript that is ready electronically.I want to publish it but dont have the money.
June 9th, 2006 at 2:30 pm
I’ve enjoyed reading your testimony page, I too am a published author of poetry, and have been writing most of my life. I’ve struggled as well as an writer to get my workd published. Although I self published my first book of poems titled “The Words I Could Not Say” I am now on my second book,titled “Testimonies and Poetry” Which God have lead on my heart to write. I pray for any one that is searching for answers on their gifts, to seek God first.
March 23rd, 2007 at 4:30 pm
Roo,
Your ability to touch people through your writing is a gift from God. I am glad that you were able to perservere despite the lack of encouragement and support from your mother. Often, friends and family do not see or understand the call on your life. God did not make them privy to His plan for you. It is a testament to your strength that when he knocked, you answered.
May 6th, 2007 at 11:23 pm
I listed my art blog, but also have a writing blog if anyone’s interested in that. I’m a struggling Christian writer, and would like to connect with others in the same boat. I do performance poetry - not slam - but reading “live” original material to recorded music, as well as crafting short stories. I have a strong call for this, but it’s extremly difficult to find open doors. The church, in general, doesn’t recognize poetry as a valid form of ministry. Will provide my e-mail addy and places online you can read my stuff if you ask. Hope to hear from some of you.
Jim.
May 8th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
Roo, its great that you are on the road with your writing. May God be gracious to you so will do his will, well and proper.
I like to comment on how you look at your mother’s discouragement. Firstky youare where you are now because it is the will of God that you are where ever it is in His timing. We all get disencouraged sometimes or other.I have been born again 26 years, my family of 2 brothers and 6 sisters and a crowd of uncles,aunties and cousins still look at me as the odd ball, or the blach sheep of the family even after all this time. I never gave up and never will give up, I trust only in my God the Almighty and let Him do right for me. I have been writing about scripture for at least four years, and I have kept them for myself because I knew the time was not right yet. I submitted two stories on this sight and I wait for admin or the webmaster to publish them. But what I am really trying to get at is DONT blame your mother for the late start or her attitude then, that she had towards you being a writer then.
God bless you and all of us on this site.
charlie
TooRoo
May 14th, 2007 at 9:10 pm
Hello all, Two chapters of my short story “The Prisoner” is posted at somescribbles.blogspot.com and the story has a strong Christian theme, so I hope some of you might enjoy what’s been written so far. Two more chapters are not posted yet, as they’re in the formative stages. Where can I read some of you guys’ writing?
Jim.
PS: For any who are art lovers, go to jimcee2005.blogspot.com to see my work. (grin)
October 8th, 2007 at 9:05 pm
God bless you Roo for your perseverance. For all of us that are genuine writers, we’ve been there. So glad to see that you kept fighting for the Dream God gave you and that you didn’t quit…
I had to self publish first (Xulonpress.com) God then blessed through the whole process, even sending me the money I needed to self publish! (Only God…)
After that, the manuscript (’Dark Things’, by David Humphrey) was noticed by a major Christian Publisher and then published by their company.
So, I’ve been through a lot and learned a lot, but through it all God is Faithful and Jesus is Lord…
So to all my fellow artists and writers in the Lord, keep pushing and going fprward, however small your steps may have to be now. Stay encouraged. Stay Faithful. Stay committed…
And you WILL succeed in the end..
David…
March 27th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
I too have spent many times writing stories that everyone said was great but said I would never get published. To be straight forward, I have actually never tried to publish anything. Mostly because I don’t have the know how or the financial means. I come from a very poor background. My story is one that most Christians would find hard to share with the world. It begins being raised in foster homes, to becoming a crack addict, to joining the US Army, to being thrown into prison for five years for something I wasn’t guilty of and many more crazied experiences. The fact that my life bares witness to the Lords amazing Love and merciful hand of protection is something I must, as a Christian, share with the world. It is our job as Cristians to let our light shine through our life experiences as a testimony to the Lord. Because the Lord allows us to sometimes walk by faith alone, that is my walk, in this adventure to publish a book I am almost done writing. I don’t have the finacial means nor do I have the complete knowledge of how to publish this testimony but, I do have my faith and willingness to trust in my God to one day provide the means.