By Cindy Sproles @CindyDevoted

Stop it. Please, stop it.

 I’ve seen discouraging post after post on conference sites and social media, and it upsets me to see things like, “My skills will never improve? Am I even meant to be a writer? Who wants to read my work anyway?” So, from one writer to another, I feel led to give you some encouragement, direction, and maybe a little tough love too.

We live in a world where everyone (almost) feels as though they are entitled to everything they want. Your fear or discouragement toward your writing falls into this same mold. If things don’t happen in the time we have allotted, then discouragement sets in. Evil wants you discouraged. Sometimes the very love of what we long to do, like writing, can be deceptive. Satan plays on your self-pity. He pushes at your anger and attitude when your work is not accepted. The little Devil tries hard to work you into a lather and make you feel unworthy. The momma in me says, “Come on, buck up. Don’t believe the lies.”

You’ve chosen to write in the Christian world. You can expect a little pushback. You are not unique to the hardship and if you question that, reflect on Christ. He took the ultimate pushback and when things got their toughest, even knowing the outcome for His physical body, He walked headlong into the storm. Want to write Christian? Prepare to walk.

We all suffer discouragement and frustration when we are called to write. It’s part of the business, but allowing a setback to take you down…well…that’s not acceptable. (There’s the tough love.) 

I understand discouragement. I stood at the Blue Ridge Conference ten years ago, looked at my friend, and allowed these words to fall from my mouth. “I don’t think I’ll ever be a published author.” (She reminds me continually about that moment. Tough love again.) I’d been rejected to the point, I had no skin left on my bloody knees. And that, my writer friends, was when a change took place in me. That was when my attitude was transformed.

For years, I’d prayed a simple prayer. “Lord let me be a writer. The glory is yours. I just want to be a writer.” Silly me. I couldn’t see the blessing for my whining. For ten years, I’d been writing devotions. God worked through myself and my ministry partner to begin a devotional ministry that, well…became worldwide. My devotions were printed in newspapers across the eastern seaboard and yet, I dared to say, I don’t think I’ll ever be a published writer. (Palm slap to the forehead). I never earned great recognition nor was I paid for the work I did, but God used my efforts to His glory.

My eyes were focused on one thing – publishing a book. I wasn’t viewing reality and worse, I didn’t recognize 1) that God had already answered my prayer and 2) that the work I’d done was being used, and used to His glory. Not mine.

It’s easy for writers to sit back and insist their writing isn’t going anywhere. We can insist we’ll never be published because we are only viewing our gift and work through the eyes of what we want. Not of how God chooses to use us. 

Here are some simple realities and advice that every new writer needs to grasp hold of in the publishing industry:

Don’t focus on publication in the beginning

I hear the gasps as all the air is sucked out of the room but the truth is, very few publish immediately. The world leads us to think we can start at the top and skip the details of growing into a superb writer. If you want success, you have to work at it. You have to learn to be a writer. Advice – Focus on learning the craft and forget about publication early on. When you have matured as a skilled writer, publication will follow. 

Keep your dream alive and continue to run after it

But you just said, forget being published. No, I said, don’t focus on publication in the beginning. Writers come into this industry with the misconception that publication is easy. Remember, babies have to learn to crawl before they walk, and then run. They see the popcycle at the end of the hallway, do the work to learn to balance, walk, and run, then they pursue. Achieve. They never lose sight of the reward they seek. Advice – never lose sight of the ultimate goal but don’t make that your priority. Early on, your priority is to learn the skill. When the skill is developed, the prize can be obtained. Patience grasshopper.

Put your priorities in order and abide by them

I didn’t have my priorities in order. I was writing like a madwoman. My devotions were being published (though I wasn’t being paid), but all I focused on was publishing a book. My prayer was to be a writer and God answered that prayer. I didn’t acknowledge the gift. Once I did, everything came together. I was so busy running after what I wanted, that I failed to see the multitude of ways God was using the work I did in His name. It took Him opening my eyes for me to understand humility. Once I acknowledged that, God graced me with the prize. Advice – if you claim to write Christian then give credit where credit is due. God is in control of everything and when our priorities fall into order, He gifts us the prize.

Trust in the gifts and tasks God assigns

That is pretty self-explanatory. Trust in God. He has gifted you. Don’t let the world tell you lies. You have the eyes to see past them. Advice – Look to Romans 8:28 (ESV), And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 

Remember, you are called, reminded numerous times, do not be discouraged. Do not be afraid. The world cannot take your calling from you. Now stop believing the lies of the world and get to work. Write!

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