Why Christian Writers Don't Have to Publish a Book to Make a Difference

From Edie: Lori Hatcher shares why Christian writers don't need to publish a book to make a difference. Learn how your words can encourage others and serve God through writing.

Why Christian Writers Don't Have to Publish a Book to Make a Difference

by Lori Hatcher

Your writing ministry is bigger than a book. 

When you hear that someone is a writer, what’s the first question you ask? 

I suspect it’s, “What book have you written?” 

I spoke with a writer recently who’s been seriously pursuing writing for more than ten years. Guess what? She’s never published a book.

Is she a failure?

You decide.

She’s the treasurer of her local Word Weavers chapter and regularly encourages and equips ten to fifteen writers each month.

She writes God-honoring posts for her blog, which reaches 75 readers weekly.

Every Sunday, her church’s bulletin publishes a Member Spotlight she’s written introducing members to the congregation. Her pastor depends on her to edit the bulletin before his secretary prints it.

Twice now, she’s had stories accepted for publication in Chicken Soup for the Soul. The company featured one of those stories in an annual Christmas compilation.

And speaking of compilations, she’s contributed to four different ones so far. Her favorite is the one that donates all its royalties to a mission that provides food and personal care items to underprivileged children.

Her favorite writing assignment is to send handwritten cards to people on her church’s prayer list. She carefully chooses hope-filled Scripture to include with her prayers for them. 

Because she grew up in the foster care system, my writer friend has a passion for overlooked and neglected children. She often contributes articles to advocacy and professional agency newsletters to raise awareness of the children who fall through the cracks of the child welfare system. Sometimes she gets paid for her articles, but not always. “If I can change the outcome of one child’s life,” she says, “my effort will be worth it.”

I asked you at the start of this post if my never-written-a-book writer friend is a failure. 

So, what do you think?

Is she misspending her writing gift by not pursuing book publication?

Is she wasting her time and talent writing for her small blog, her small church, and her small prayer list?

Is she failing as a writer?

Share your thoughts in the comment box below and join the conversation.

His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' Matthew 25:21

TWEETABLE

Why Christian Writers Don't Have to Publish a Book to Make a Difference from Lori Hatcher on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Lori Hatcher is a multi-published author with Our Daily Bread Publishing. Her latest devotional, Walking in Faith: 60 Devotions to Renew Your Strength, recently released. Lori’s also a writing instructor, freelance editor, women’s ministry speaker, and career healthcare professional. She and her pastor-husband live delightfully close to their four grandchildren in Lexington, SC. Connect with her at LoriHatcher.com.