From Edie: Julie Lavender knows waiting to be published can feel overwhelming and uncertain. Discover faith-filled encouragement and practical tips to help writers stay motivated, grow their craft, and keep moving forward during the long countdown to publication.
The Writer’s Countdown: How to Keep Going While Waiting to Be Published
by Julie Lavender @JLavenderWrites
Since last summer, I’ve taken part in the countdown for 2026 Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference grand celebration—50 years of BRMCWC! Almost every Wednesday I’ve posted a countdown meme on social media and a question about the conference.
As I’ve taken part in the countdown (only a few more memes left to share), I thought about other milestone countdowns in my life.
- The countdown to high school graduation.
- The countdown to college graduation.
- The countdown to my wedding day.
- Deployment countdowns until my favorite sailor returned.
- Forty-weeks’ worth of subtraction to my due date X 4 for each of my precious children.
- Similar countdowns for three grandchildren.
With the above countdowns, I had a general idea of an ending date. I knew what number I had to get to for my countdown. (Except for that one deployment—The Gulf War. How difficult to keep counting days, not knowing when my husband would return home safely!)
As a not-quite-published writer, we often have no clue about the elusive date which will end our countdown: our debut publication date.
What’s a writer to do?
Keep counting. Keep praying. And keep moving forward. PRESS ON!
Tips to Help Writers Move Forward in Your Countdown to Publication:
P – Pray!
Continue to seek the Lord’s guidance about your writing journey. Be specific. And don’t forget to pray for fellow writers.
R – Read related Scripture.
Find verses to keep your faith strong in the waiting, like Psalm 27:14 NIV: “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
Read verses that remind you to praise Him and trust Him.
E – Engage with other writers.
Attend conferences to meet other writers in person or connect with writers online. Find ways to surround yourself with other writers who can encourage you and can benefit from your encouragement.
S – Study the craft of writing.
Again, attend conferences! Research. Read. Listen to podcasts. Read blog posts about writing. Immerse yourself in the industry of writing and learn as much as you can about the craft of writing.
S – Share your writing pieces.
Join a critique group (like Word Weavers International) and share your writing with others to gain valuable insight and wisdom on how to make your work stronger.
O – Open your heart to new ideas.
While counting down the days to a longtime writing goal, be open to other projects and opportunities. Sometimes, the “dream” project follows the publication of one or two or lots of other acceptances. Hold onto your dream, but open your heart to other writing areas. Dreaming of a book? Be willing to write articles while you wait. Got your heart set on a memoir? Write some devotions along the way.
N – Never give up!
Persistence pledges a gold medal for writers. It’s not a sprint to the finish line. Sometimes it’s a long, complicated, cross-country race with all sorts of obstacles to overcome. Trust God’s timing and press on!
Dream big and keep counting! And I hope to see many of you at this year’s BRMCWC 50th Anniversary celebration.
TWEETABLE
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