by Ginny Cruz, MPA, PT
Recently, a friend asked me that question. Since I signed a book contract a few years ago, friends and associates have wondered when the book will be in stores. The publication has been pushed to a future date twice, so it is normal for folks to wonder what I am doing in the meantime. Hence, the question, “Are you still writing?”
Writers write—it is what we do. We pen books, articles, devotions, or shopping lists on paper. Words are our superpower, and we love spending time with them. But I must admit, my friend's question made me pause and reflect on my writing journey. If you feel sluggish, unnoticed, or even depressed about how your writing is going, take out a pen and some paper and answer the following questions.
3 Questions for the Discouraged Writer
1. Why Do I Write?
When I began my writing journey, I thought, "If only one person benefits from my work, I will be satisfied." Has that thought crossed your mind? After many years spent improving my craft, seeking publication opportunities, entering writing contests, and hobnobbing with successful writers, I can honestly say, "That sentiment is no longer true. I need more than one person to appreciate my work for me to continue."
Understanding why you write can motivate you when you feel unnoticed or underappreciated. If you write for one person, then one person it is. That may well be what God intends. But God may want you to work harder to reach more people. If you want a larger audience, caring enough for their needs should motivate you to write the words they love to read.
2. Would I Write Even If No One Cared?
I would write a daily journal, pen my travel diaries, or assemble an ancestry book for my family. But would I sit for hours writing content to elevate my social media exposure? Would I meet deadlines month after month to produce a blog few read? While I have done these things for years, my goals are more extensive than creating a personal diary. My primary goal moved from writing to please my creative urges to securing a traditional publishing contract. Therefore, I would not continue with the same fervor I have maintained for nearly a decade without the goal of creating a larger audience of readers.
As a Christian writer, my primary audience is God. He called me to write, and I know He cares that I use my talent. While I write to please Him—the only one who matters—it became clear along my journey that He had bigger plans than I had imagined. To reach more people, building an audience for a book has become what I believe He desires.
3. Would I Feel Successful As A Writer If I Was Never Traditionally Published?
No, I would not. Self-publishing is relatively easy in today’s digital world. I have self-published three books and discovered firsthand that publishing is easier than finding buyers. Again, my goal, and I believe God’s desire, is a larger audience. So, I have worked tirelessly to get traditionally published, gain more fans, and hopefully win a few awards because awards sell books. Am I proud to admit that my desire is no longer to help only one but many? No, not really. It sounds more noble to do all this work to only help one. But I find it keeps me motivated when I admit the truth. God has convinced me that He wants my writing to reach more than one person. And that knowledge keeps me motivated.
Much work often goes unnoticed for a long time in this business. Yet, the writer who knows the real reason he writes has a better chance of continuing to put words down on paper. You know you must when the One who called you to write nudges you to reach more people.
If you feel blue about your writing, maybe it is time to ask yourself some probing, possibly difficult questions. Knowing your answers will help you maintain forward momentum when the world does not notice or appreciate all your labor.
What motivates you to write when you feel discouraged?
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