By Penny Reeve

Trying new things as a writer can be scary. I’ve had some experience with this over the years, and especially this year. You see, until now I’ve been a traditionally published author and I’ve been thankful for it. I value the relationships I have with my publishers: the expert advice I receive from my editorial teams, the input of design and layout specialists, the distribution, the reputation, the networking… the list could go on. I love being traditionally published, it’s what I know and am used to! BUT… this year brought me the opportunity to try something new. To consider whether I could I step out of my comfort zone into the land of independent publishing. And I’ll admit it, I was pretty scared. 

That’s because, trying new things as writers is venturing into the unknown. We can no longer trust the way we’ve always done things, the way we’re most comfortable writing. It requires us to change up our skills, test our endurance and grow. 

As a Christian and as a writer I firmly believe that we cannot afford to let our craft go stagnant. Our audience, our market, or message must remain ever relevant and on pointe. If nothing else, the blessings of 2020 (and I use that word deliberately, see below*) shows us that we can no longer just rely on the way things used to be. 

For me, writing something new means considering a new way of writing and publishing. It means I’ve had to equip myself to deliver online school author visits. I don’t know about you, but it sometimes feels overwhelming to learn new things and try imagine new ways of connecting with my readers. If I’m honest, I frequently wonder whether the investment of time will pay out in the end. And this is where I feel faith steps in. 

I know very certainly that writing is a work, as much as lopping trees is for an arborist, or prescribing new lenses is for an optometrist. But for me, and many writers I know, it is also a particular walk of faith. When we are open to writing in new ways and learning new skills, we place our craft before God and ask what he might have us do best, next. 

Stepping out of our comfort zone can and should require a grappling with faith. We weigh up those things we know God has asked of us – both as disciples of Christ and as writers. We lay our priorities out for the Holy Spirit’s analysis. And then we must lean our hearts towards the results. When we try new things we embrace the possibility of God doing new things with and within our work. It’s exciting! 

However, there is a word of caution in this. While courageously facing something new may be a journey of obedience God is calling us to, the perpetual pursuit of something new is unlikely to be so. That may simply be procrastination dressed up as professional development. If you find yourself wondering the difference between the two, here are a few questions to help you find clarity:

Question 1

What is it about this new thing that adds to, or enhances my writing, in line with God’s wider calling on my life? 

Question 2

Does this new thing take time or resources from those things I have already had confirmed as priorities in my writing life? 

Question 3

How does this new thing help my writing bear real fruit?

Whatever we write, whether it be something familiar or fresh, may we be writers of faith and courage to face whatever new thing God might have us do with him! 

(* My use of the word ‘blessing’ deliberately frames a twofold expectation: firstly, that God can and will bring good things from this year and secondly, that my heart might be ready and open to whatever work He may need to do in me along the way.)

Penny Reeve (also writing as Penny Jaye and Ella Shine) is the award winning, Australian author of more than 20 books for children and older readers. ​She writes picture books, junior fiction, children’s Bible studies and young adult fiction. She’s an experienced writing workshop leader, conference presenter and writing coach with a particular interest in equipping Christian children’s writers. Her newest writing project is an independently published, collaboratively written series of books for 6-9 year olds, called Pet Sitters (launching December 2020. Eeek!).
You can learn more about Penny at www.pennyreeve.com and www.pennyjaye.com