I began writing at school, just silly stuff about pop stars and dreaming of marrying one of the Osmond brothers. The kids at school were really interested and loved reading my stories. But my parents, mostly my mother was not keen on my writing career. There are no jobs in writing. You couldn’t earn a living from it anyway…unless you were Steven Speilberg or C.S.Lewis.
But how does a small freelance writer get to that level. Its not easy, not even in the publishing world. Rejections after rejections are an endless battle, even when your work is at the top level. You begin to feel like no one cares for your work and you give up. Musicians, Actors, and Sports people get more Sponsorship support than a writer does, even with writers workshops, support groups, and friends you are interested in your work.
But God has given me a gift for writing. I write letters to papers, as well as books. But, when you tell people that you love to write, they look at you funny as if you are some kind of hippy. Getting your book into a local bookshop is virtually impossible, due to cost and whether your book will be a risky adventure. Why would it be risky? Because no one has read it yet. No one knows you. So how can a writer get known.
I found a Christian e-authors group which is a great support for my work. I also found a POD site where i can upload my books to the public and the site print and ship on demand. God has given me the internet where i can become known. I can now say to myself “who needs publishers?”
I still get looks from people when I tell them I am a freelance writer. People, even your own church, don’t know how to relate to you as as writer. I’m a normal person. I still eat takeaway food and sleep and struggle to make ends meet. I’m not a hippy on valium. But, the world see writers as a freak out group.
Why?
Writing is just an art form, like painting and music and cartooning and acting. It’s just another way that God talks to His children and to the world, not just in Christian books, but also in other forms of literature.
It’s another witnessing tool.
My mother used to bag and verbally abuse me for my writing, but now I’m published, she is pleased about it. If I had of had more support from her earlier on, I would have been published a long way back. What did she think it took for me to get published. Not out of thin air.
Roo
Hi Roo,
Your testimony is an encouraging one. I too have a call to write and have had such problems getting published. However, the Lord continues to encourage me. What is the name of your e-Christian Writers’ Group? I am always getting new inspriations and ideas and I long to have them out there instead of in there (top shelf). May God bless and encourage your ministry,
Marie
I am inspired to read your testimony. For Christ we are all very important. Its good to know how god uses his people for his glory. What is the name of your e-Christian Writers’ Group?
REGINOLD
I just found this site and haven’t been published here yet. I did send one item in last night. If, for some reason, I don’t get published here, I’ll try other places. This is what God wants me to do. I have been writing on several sites—some under my own name; some under a user name.
God keeps opening new doors for me. After this I will send how I became a writer. It is so awesome how God called me and provided a way to do it against all odds.
I don’t have any high goals now as I once did—that is to be rich and famous when I was wasn’t saved. I am retired so I don’t really care if I make any money or not. I am just happy to be have something worthwhile to do while I live in a High Rise.
I just don’t fit in here. I don’t like the constant complaining and gossipping . I don’t play bingo, cards, throw darts or shoot pool. What’s left? I have no transportation.
I belong to Faithwriters 500. You get a private messenger where publishers can contact you to write for them. They don’t always pay much but it can give you the feeling of being published.
I have turned most of them down. I just wasn’t ready to commit myself yet. In February, it will be the first Christian newspaper publication I will be in.
The young editor/publisher is just starting. He can’t pay right now but hopes to really get going. He knows this is what God wants him to do but it is a struggle, his test to prove his faith.
I just have to keep writing with or without pay. Two other oportunities are waiting for replies. Giving my testimonies on different subject, hopefully will help someone who is going through the same things I have. Then my 75 years would not be in vain.
I rambled enough. I’ll send my story and get back to bed. In the middle of the night, it seems, is when I write my best. My mind is dead and the Holy Spirit leads me in the way I should go with the writing. He points out the scriptures I should use.
God bless you Roo and other fellow writers. Trust in God as to where He wants you to go.
Joan
I have a manuscript that is ready electronically.I want to publish it but dont have the money.
I’ve enjoyed reading your testimony page, I too am a published author of poetry, and have been writing most of my life. I’ve struggled as well as an writer to get my workd published. Although I self published my first book of poems titled “The Words I Could Not Say” I am now on my second book,titled “Testimonies and Poetry” Which God have lead on my heart to write. I pray for any one that is searching for answers on their gifts, to seek God first.
Roo,
Your ability to touch people through your writing is a gift from God. I am glad that you were able to perservere despite the lack of encouragement and support from your mother. Often, friends and family do not see or understand the call on your life. God did not make them privy to His plan for you. It is a testament to your strength that when he knocked, you answered.
I listed my art blog, but also have a writing blog if anyone’s interested in that. I’m a struggling Christian writer, and would like to connect with others in the same boat. I do performance poetry – not slam – but reading “live” original material to recorded music, as well as crafting short stories. I have a strong call for this, but it’s extremly difficult to find open doors. The church, in general, doesn’t recognize poetry as a valid form of ministry. Will provide my e-mail addy and places online you can read my stuff if you ask. Hope to hear from some of you.
Jim.
Roo, its great that you are on the road with your writing. May God be gracious to you so will do his will, well and proper.
I like to comment on how you look at your mother’s discouragement. Firstky youare where you are now because it is the will of God that you are where ever it is in His timing. We all get disencouraged sometimes or other.I have been born again 26 years, my family of 2 brothers and 6 sisters and a crowd of uncles,aunties and cousins still look at me as the odd ball, or the blach sheep of the family even after all this time. I never gave up and never will give up, I trust only in my God the Almighty and let Him do right for me. I have been writing about scripture for at least four years, and I have kept them for myself because I knew the time was not right yet. I submitted two stories on this sight and I wait for admin or the webmaster to publish them. But what I am really trying to get at is DONT blame your mother for the late start or her attitude then, that she had towards you being a writer then.
God bless you and all of us on this site.
charlie
TooRoo
Hello all, Two chapters of my short story “The Prisoner” is posted at somescribbles.blogspot.com and the story has a strong Christian theme, so I hope some of you might enjoy what’s been written so far. Two more chapters are not posted yet, as they’re in the formative stages. Where can I read some of you guys’ writing?
Jim.
PS: For any who are art lovers, go to jimcee2005.blogspot.com to see my work. (grin)
God bless you Roo for your perseverance. For all of us that are genuine writers, we’ve been there. So glad to see that you kept fighting for the Dream God gave you and that you didn’t quit…
I had to self publish first (Xulonpress.com) God then blessed through the whole process, even sending me the money I needed to self publish! (Only God…)
After that, the manuscript (‘Dark Things’, by David Humphrey) was noticed by a major Christian Publisher and then published by their company.
So, I’ve been through a lot and learned a lot, but through it all God is Faithful and Jesus is Lord…
So to all my fellow artists and writers in the Lord, keep pushing and going fprward, however small your steps may have to be now. Stay encouraged. Stay Faithful. Stay committed…
And you WILL succeed in the end..
David…
I too have spent many times writing stories that everyone said was great but said I would never get published. To be straight forward, I have actually never tried to publish anything. Mostly because I don’t have the know how or the financial means. I come from a very poor background. My story is one that most Christians would find hard to share with the world. It begins being raised in foster homes, to becoming a crack addict, to joining the US Army, to being thrown into prison for five years for something I wasn’t guilty of and many more crazied experiences. The fact that my life bares witness to the Lords amazing Love and merciful hand of protection is something I must, as a Christian, share with the world. It is our job as Cristians to let our light shine through our life experiences as a testimony to the Lord. Because the Lord allows us to sometimes walk by faith alone, that is my walk, in this adventure to publish a book I am almost done writing. I don’t have the finacial means nor do I have the complete knowledge of how to publish this testimony but, I do have my faith and willingness to trust in my God to one day provide the means.
LOVE LORD JESUS CHRIST
Hi dear brothers and sisters !
My name is Eugen ; I am living in France ; I am by origin Romanian .
I wrote a book about God , the existence of God etc;
I am trying to publish it but it’s to hard , it cost . . I am so glad to found this website ;
love you all my blog ; shoutlife.com/love777
eugen
Hello Fellow Christian Writers:
For most of my life, I have wanted to write a book; though for the longest while, all I was inspired to write was poems.
However, it was in 1995, four years after I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior, that God (through his Holy Spirit) began giving me input concerning exactly what it was that I would write. You see, I had been an active lesbian before I surrendered my life to Christ. It was a behavior that I discontinued from the very moment I came to know Him because I immediately began to receive input from the Holy Spirit concerning homosexuality and about why I had found it necessary to act out that way.
When I determined that my lesbian mindset would be far more difficult to bring under submission to God than my flesh had then perceivably been, I appealed to Him to just make the thoughts go completely away. “If you can do this, you a good ‘un”, I said to God. “And I will testify about it to all who care to listen.”
Well, it’s 2008 now and, though I’ve remained sexually inactive, I’ve experienced and learned a lot concerning what it takes for me to remain victorious over my own lesbian issues; eventhough they are indeed a thing of the past. In this, I’ve concluded that overcoming the flesh and not making provisions for it is likely an extremely difficult task for any person, Christian or otherwise, because it takes a lot of courage to go through all that is necessary and absolute commitment to a proess of overcoming. For myself, it has only been “the process” of overcoming which is in and of God’s Holy word. Right now, I’m struggling with making no provisions for my unhealthy eating habits and learning to cooperate with God in order to overcome them.
So, if homosexuality has not been your plight in life, whatever else you may be trying to overcome,you are truly blessed.
Anyhow, through the power of Jesus Christ and the counsel of the Holy Spirit, I can truthfully say that I have overcome a lesbian mindset and have no desire to ever engage in the behavior again. This blessing has occurred in my psyche because I have diligently sought to have it; sometimes in unorthodox ways—none of which included actual sexual encounters, I might add. You see, I have believed in the power of God from the very moment I accepted Christ. I just didn’t know how to utilize that power. I have had to grow in my faith and learn to cooperate with God; in fact I’m still growing and learning and hope to continue to do so until I leave this world.
Having experienced all that I have for a number of years now, most of which concerns my spiritual growth process in learning to acknowledge and utilize the power of God, I have indeed published that book which was placed on my heart many years ago. It is called “The Barbed Wire Fence,” by Tina Peters.
I chose to publish this first book of mine through Xulon Press because, first of all I borrowed the money, and because I wanted to take the short cut to becoming a published author. Let’s face it….Most publishers won’t touch the subject of homosexuality, especially when it involves deliverance from the lifestyle. It’s just one of those subjects, in this politically correct society, that most people don’t want to approach. Even the practicing gay or lesbian mainly only wants to hear how to cater to their ways as being, to their way of thinking, “just like everybody else;” Hardly ever do most of those caught up in the behavior want to hear from those who have overcome it.
Nevertheless, there are those who have chosen, through the power of God, to discontinue acting out homosexually. It’s just that most of us don’t seek to talk about the process of recovery.
Even so, it is for me to talk about my lesbianism and how God has delivered me from the mindset because I have been anointed to do so in order to minister to those seeking input on the subject. In this, I speak of only what God has revealed to me concerning my own behavior; not anybody else’s as I attempted to do way before God showed me that wasn’t the way he wanted me to relate on the subject.
Few Christians, including myself, actually want to acknowledge having a homosexual history; neither to their family and especially not in front of audiences. But I do so because it is the message which has come out of the mess I made of my life, as a lesbian or otherwise, before Jesus came to me. And I might add that I feel privileged to testify about the power of God through Jesus Christ, even in this way. For nothing else appeals to me apart from seeking to worship and follow Him in spirit and in truth, to the very best of the ability He’s gifted me. I am a joy filled Christian today; albeit it a Christian with few close friends, nevertheless I am joyful. The joy of the Lord lifts me up even in the very midst of sadness. And believe me, when you have had my tough row to hoe, there will be moments of sadness. But all I have to remember is who my true helper is; that he is all powerful, omnipotent, omnipresent, and that nothing can pluck me from his hands…nothing. That’s the kind of love I sought, but never found, which made me act out as a lesbian during the years before I came to know Christ. And that’s the kind of love that I now have in Him which gives me an incomparable manner of peace and security. He is my rock, my shield, my salvation. He is a topic of conversation I can fully engage in; eventhough I can’t quote a lot of scriptures from memory.
I hope you get the chance to read “The Barbed Wire Fence” by Tina Peters
It is available through xulonpress.com, amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com
Thanks for listening
When God gives you words to write, there are souls waiting for that message. Visit the Lots of Links Index on my site, for gobs of ways to get your message to a lost and dying world.
My name is Bryan Gillmartin and I am looking for a fellow Christian to Write a book about my testimony and my life. I was misdignosed an spent 756 days in the hospital. I was in 3 comas, went septic, was given my last wrights 8 times, and alot more. Before during and after I became an alcoholic and Lost everything from my wife of 25 years to all assets, Until I found JESUS sence then my life has changed drasticly.
Thank You,
Bryan Gilmartin
513-403-3200
GOD BLESS
Hi Roo,
Thank you for your testimony, as I just stumbled across this at the right time. I have always had a gift of writing, but no one really understands it, especially my family. They don’t see that I have a passion for it, and it’s something that makes me feel good, because i know im good at relating to people with words. I study creative writing at university, and lately I am finding it hard, because its not a christian university, so the main focus isnt on christianity and helping people’s lives, its more a critical look at novels and picking them to pieces. I find it really hard these days, because it puts a lot of doubt on my mind as to why im doing this degree, when its so challenging and i dont know if its where im meant to be. But im in my 2nd year and I figured I will just continue.
I know its going to be extremely hard to be published in the future, and this also causes me great stress. I have prayed to God for a sign of his future plans for my career, but i haven’t received a reply yet. I do become quiet impatient at most times. I have written a book though that I want to get published. I wrote it when I was 16 and im 19 now, so I really have to get going with it, but I just hope that my passion for writing doesnt get drowned by the universities expectations of ‘brilliant writing’
I am a Christian Writer and tried to sending my work to Christian Agencies, but they rejected me partly because my work is science fiction/fantasy. After much rejection I prayed to the Lord about the rejection I was getting from Christian Agencies because my work is science fiction/fantasy and the Lord said to me, “Are you writing for them or for me?”
The Lord was right. I went to my own, but they received me not. My query letter is posted below and I encourage all Christians to keep writing. Even we as writers must stay in our field of expertise. You don’t see George Lucas writing Horror, or Steven King writing Comedy. Do what the Lord has put in your heart to do and remember what Jesus told me in a dream referring to my writing when I was falling off track. Jesus said, “The gift I gave you is for me”
Terrell Owens
Towens1983[at]yahoo[dot]com
Story Entitled: The Sages
Dear Editor,
My script is entitled The Sages. It’s a story about Good and Evil and is something Shakespeare would recognize. Set in a mythical, war weary world, where embattled kings and great violence rule supreme, where monsters are always lurking and where the tension between characters is nearly palpable.
While most of the characters are Sages (a race similar to humans), still others are Shadow Sages, the sworn enemies of the Sages, who battles with them throughout the manuscript.
One of these sages, Reyo is born with an uncommon power that is unknown to him. It’s his destiny to challenge his master some day, but his quest is to find his father so he can know how he came to be. It’s a quest that might lead to Reyo’s death. While many characters are literally battling for power, others are trying to learn to harness their internal powers.
This doesn’t bother Reyo because he is a self-centered, arrogant, person who fights for himself, but in his quest he makes a promise to an old friend, to protect a young princess in a trouble kingdom. From abandonment to betrayal to rivalry to confusion to grief, these characters experience the emotional gamut.
Reyo and Princess Miranda, band together to fight the evil sages, but in this alliance Reyo is distracted from his search for his father and is fooled about who his enemies are. For the threat of greater, cataclysmic circumstances lurks always in the background.
Terrell Owens
Email: Towens1983[at]yahoo[dot]com
All rights reserved
To God be the glory in Jesus mighty name,Yes the Bible tells us that any one who calls upon the name of Jesus will be saved, let the name of Jesus Christ be in our mind and mouth every time, Thank you