Tuesday, August 2, 2011

More Than Just a Book

I am an author. At this point I am not a published author, but one day that will change. Before I can be a published author, I must be an author - not just a writer, but an author. You may be reading this (Praise God if you are, because that means someone is reading my blog!) and wondering what the difference is. Brace yourself, because here it is:

I've actually written something.

That's right. Atop the heap of failed plot outlines, story beginnings that went nowhere, and character creations that never got their story I finally have a completed book. I started this project just like every other book I had attempted over the past twenty years, and then, almost before I realized it was actually going to go somewhere, I finished. I told my character's story and it was good! That's not to say it didn't need work; I've hacked and sliced and rewritten it until my screen looks like a kaleidoscope (I have track changes on). But the story itself is good. I liked it.

Which then brought up the question of, "What do I do now?" The easy answer was to publish it, but as anyone who has done anything in publishing has written all over their blogs - publishing isn't easy. I have three children under the age of five and my husband is a minister. This made the idea of embarking on the publishing journey seem impossible. So I sat before God and asked Him why I should even try. The answer is this: People learn through stories.

Jesus constantly used parables and stories in order to help people understand spiritual truths. People haven't changed that much since God created them. We still identify with stories and learn things God wants to reveal to us through watching other people, be they real or fictional. So I am beginning this potentially arduous journey into the world of publishing because God has given me a gift - the ability to tell a story. It's more than just a book; it's a parable. And God can only use it if people read it.

2 comments:

  1. Kris! I'm so proud of you. Can't wait to buy/read your book. I know a great editor when you're famous;)!!

    Love you!
    Shawn

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  2. You mean you don't know a good editor now? hehe

    ReplyDelete