From Edie: When plans fall apart—like a birthday dinner gone wrong—God’s better plan shines through. Writers, will you trust Him to order your publishing steps?
Dipping the Quill Deeper: Who Do You Trust Most with Your Writing Plans
by Eva Marie Everson @EversonAuthor
My husband’s 75th birthday approached. After realizing—duh—that this was a monumental date on his lifeline, I decided to take him to a restaurant he had long wanted to check out. I also called the two of our children who live nearby and asked them to join us.
The Friday before the big day I called the restaurant and asked if they accepted reservations. They told me they accepted “call aheads” for parties of 10 or more. I told them we would have 10 in our party. They asked date and time, and I told them. They said I’d have to call back on Monday.
I made a note on my calendar, and, on Monday, I called again. I was placed on hold. For over ten minutes I held. Then the line clicked and went dead. I called back. The woman on the other end of the line apologized. I told her I wanted to place a reservation for 10 on Friday night at 6:30, last name: Everson. She repeated the information and said, “See you Friday.”
My husband and I arrived at 6:20 to a full parking lot. “Good thing we have reservations,” the birthday boy said. We finally found a parking place, went inside, and stood before the host’s stand or a minute or two before he approached us. I told him, “We have a reservation for ten at 6:30. Last name, Everson.”
He said, “Hold on.”
A minute or so later, amid the buzz of business, he asked when the rest of my party would arrive. I told him “any minute.” By now our 18-year-old grandson had joined us. I asked if we could go ahead and sit. He said more of our party would need to arrive. I thought that strange, but . . . okay.
Another family member arrived, and the host asked, “Do you think the rest will be here soon?” I told him yes; they were circling the parking lot looking for vacant spots. He then said, “And you wanted the oyster bar, right?”
Having never been to this restaurant, I shrugged and said, “I don’t know. I didn’t request anywhere in particular.” He left and came back. By now, all but three had arrived. The host said, “Follow me,” after which he led us to . . . an oyster bar . . . with ten bar chairs angled at the bar.
I immediately shook my head. “No, no,” I said. “I reserved a table. We’re a family. We’ll want to chat.”
He said, “But you reserved the oyster bar.”
“No, I didn’t . . . I’ve never been here. I wouldn’t know to reserve the oyster bar. I want a table.”
He left to get the manager who asked, “Didn’t you just call about thirty minutes ago?”
“No,” I said. “I called on Friday. Was told to call again on Monday. So, I called on Monday. Made a reservation for ten people at 6:30.”
She asked, “Isn’t your name Maddie?”
“No,” I said, frustration rising. “Everson.”
“We don’t have a reservation for you,” she said. “And we are—as you can see—a full house. Let me try to figure out what I can do.”
I looked out over the sea of patrons. No way would a table for ten open up anytime soon. After a few minutes of discussion, the family decided to check out an Asian all-you-can-eat buffet down the street.
I told the host we were leaving. He apologized. I said, “Don’t worry about it.” And we were gone.
Minutes later, we arrived at the buffet-style restaurant. I’ll admit, I was pessimistic. The eatery had been at this location for some time, but I’d never been wooed by an “all-you-can-eat” type establishment. Well . . . not in a lot of years.
We walked into a large, lovely room, tastefully decorated and impressively boasting about ten buffet counters burgeoning with food. Heavenly aromas! We were immediately taken to a back room for privacy by a kind staff member and our drink orders taken by another equally kind staff member. After visiting the buffets, “dinner was served!” We ate. We laughed. We talked. We celebrated the birthday boy without the raucousness of other patrons jammed around us. We left with a new “favorite” place to dine.
So why am I telling you this story in a writer’s forum?
Because, as the Word tells us, we make our plans but the Lord orders our steps (Proverbs 16:9).
When we write, we think we know where we want our work to land—this publisher, that publication, etc. But our plans may not be what is, in the end, the best for us. The real question for any Christian writer is this: do you trust your desires or God’s when it comes to publication placement?
Years ago, one of my favorite works was contracted by a wonderful house—one of the best. This novel was to be a part of a series (from myself and other fiction authors) that would be highly publicized, etc. I couldn’t have been happier. But then the house decided to drop their fiction line. Contracts were returned and my excitement plummeted to disappointment faster than a cat running from a bubble bath.
But then the contract was picked up by Tyndale. Tyndale! Not only did they publish the book, it went to #1 in the ECPA fiction charts!
What I had thought to be the worst that could happen turned out to be the best.
So now, ask yourself—what are you presently working on? Who do you trust it with—yourself or the One who orders your steps?
Imagine the possibilities . . .
TWEETABLE
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