By Cindy Sproles @CindyDevoted

Let me begin by giving you this somewhat obscure statement. For others, we must.

I recently worked with a writer who’d never written a novel before and as we worked through her critique, I could hear the discouragement in her voice. Sympathetically, I asked, “Do you want to write a novel? Is this something you really want?” 

“Yes, but I’m wondering if I should just quit?”

My response was no! Quitting is not an option. I could see the bones to her work were amazing, she simply needed to learn how to write a novel. That comes with time and practice. No one writes the perfect novel first time out.

When I was a new writer, my peers were far more advanced in writing than me. I was new and green around the gills, but I had this burning desire to learn. Many of them shared with another friend, “She’s not ready. She doesn’t fit in our group.” From that moment, my friend took me under wing because he saw the potential and desire I had to learn. No one knows everything and it’s not for us to shun those folks to the side. Rather, it’s our job to help nurture them along And honestly, if any writer can’t take the time to do that, then I question their heart.

Because my friend took me under wing we and our spouses ended up sharing in a ministry that is 15 years old. Because he was determined to help me learn, I now have traditionally published books. It took years for me to learn the craft of writing and truthfully, I’m still learning. The point is, whether you have someone who wants to be a writer or a painter, or whatever…encourage their dream. Serve as an accountability partner. Be truthful and honest, encourage, lift up. When you do this not only do you help that person achieve their own dreams but you may just find yours along the way.

It’s easy to get lost in our desires and accomplishments and even easier to forget that we were once beginners. When I teach first-timer classes, I do my best to remember how it felt to sit in the chair in the back of the room and dare to raise my hand to ask a question. Would people think my questions were silly? No question is silly because, again, we all have to start somewhere. 

This is why, if you manage a critique group, you must maintain a general respect for every writer regardless of their learning level. Critique groups can be tremendous writer helps or they can be dream killers. 

The one thing I love most about the Christian Book Association and the writers therein is that rarely do you find a well-published author who is unwilling to help advance newer writers. The family of God seems to get that there is room for everyone. We simply have to understand that the room holds multiple levels and stairs to get there. For every author who has helped me, it has given them more experience in teaching and speaking. For those I have helped, it has brought encouragement to me and satisfaction to see others shine. Hopefully, for those who were helped, they too will turn the favor over and help others. There is room for us all. God has an amazing jumbo-sized mansion. 

I worked for a national cosmetic company for the better part of 20 years. Though I loved and still love the company and its standards and ethics, I am not always a fan of how I received help. To access those who were much higher up in the ranks and learn for them, I always had to earn the opportunity. Rarely, was that information and time offered to me to simply help me succeed. I’m not suggesting you get something for nothing, but I am saying when you elevate yourself far above others and the only means to reach you is by doing something for you, it’s not exactly fair. But when you freely offer loving direction it propels you and the person you are helping ahead. That, my friends, is what Jesus did. He offered His love and teaching at no charge. All He wants is our love.

When I look back over the years, I see that those original friends were very successful for a time. Some walked away from writing after having great success while others succumbed to self-publishing. A few continued to strive ahead making some headway but mostly spinning their wheels. If it makes you feel any better, of that group of friends we will label as my graduating class, I was the last one to publish. Ten years after their successes, my time arrived and it was no thanks to their help. I am blessed today because one person saw the potential and had the desire to help nurture my dream.

Help others realize those dreams. It doesn’t mean you invest your entire life in them, only a snip-it. Only a word or two, a line, a suggestion, an encouraging word.

One last thing. I’ve never been great at winning anything. I’m best at getting 2^nd place. In high school, I ran track. Never could muster the first-place win. My finishes were always a solid second place. So much so, my track coach nick-named me, Consistently Second Cindy. It stuck and to this day, at well over 62 years old, my high school peers still call me by that name. The whispers of those words still resonate in my head every time I start a new project. When the publishing industry pasted the words, best-selling, award-winning author after my name, I still struggled to forget the naysayers. I find my greatest success now in being the rung of the ladder that helps those with a dream and a desire to take the step to attain their goal.

Dreams are for everyone. Be the one who helps others in their writing path and you will see the amazing results you too will achieve. Now you see why I gave you the obscure sentence because it is true. For others, we must!

Cindy K. Sproles is an author, speaker, and conferenceteacher. She is the cofounder of ChristianDevotions.us and the executive editor of ChristianDevotions.us and InspireaFire.com. Cindy is the managing editor forStraight Street Books and SonRise Devotionals, both imprints of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. She is an award-winning and best-selling author and the director of the Asheville Christian Writers Conference. Visit Cindy at www.cindysproles.com. @cindydevoted