DON’T GIVE UP! January 27, 2008

One day last week author Sharlene MacLaren sent an email announcing her new book. The email not only talked about her accomplishments, but Sharlene talked about her JOURNEY to publication. Her message was especially encouraging to me because I had received a rejection letter the day before. Sharlene stated “it took me six years to land a mainstream publisher, and that was without an agent (because I couldn’t even find one agent who would represent me), and a rejection file much thicker than a Big Mac”. 

During those years, she kept questioning, — Why would God plant this HUGE seed of passion in my heart (this seed that keeps growing and growing) if He didn’t intend to use it for His glory someday?  After reading this question, I realized that Sharlene’s question is not a question that only aspiring authors ask. It’s a question most of us have asked or may be asking now.  

“If you believe in your heart that God has gifted you with a true desire and passion for writing, then I believe He didn’t do it in vain.  There is a purpose, a reason why we are passionate about things, and usually it’s so that we can GIVE BACK.  People who are passionate about hurting lives often go into the ministry, social work, or medical fields; people who love children go into education or childcare; people who love numbers become accountants, bankers, investors; people who love art and design and can look at a rickety old house and see its potential often go into interior decorating or even architecture — and people who love to write, and have a PASSION for words, usually wind up in the publishing field.  In a nutshell, in whatever area God bestowed you with gifts, those are the places you’re going to want to invest your time and energy.  I tell you, people, God makes no mistakes.   It’s when people lose their dreams, grow too lazy to continue the uphill fight, start feeling sorry for themselves, and then eventually give up — that they fail to fulfill God’s plans and purposes.

DON’T GIVE UP.  Look at your writing as an outlet of pleasure and fun if you’re not yet published, but DON’T GIVE UP just because you haven’t seen it happen.  Maybe there are areas that still need polishing, skills that still need learning, manuscripts that need fine-tuning, or simply stories in your head that still needs writing.  They won’t write themselves!  DON’T GIVE UP!  God loves you so much.  He just can’t wait to see you accomplish all that He has planned for you.  You are precious beyond imagination in God’s sight, and He made you just the way you are, passions and all.”  

What’s your passion? Your gift? Your purpose? Are you still pursuing it or have you given up? I hope Sharlene MacLaren’s email encourages you to keep following your dreams and rekindles the passion burning within. 

Sharlene’s newest book Courting Emma releases Spring 2008.