Episode 155: Is It Up to Me or Up to God? Effort, Faith, and Marketing Your Writing
Many faulty mindsets sit on top of an exaggeration or an oversimplification. This episode looks at one of them: the question of how much of our writing for God is our effort and how much is God’s work. We explore the image of co-creating with God, then apply it to the area where this mindset shows up most, which is marketing and promoting our writing.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why neither extreme holds up: “all God, no effort” or “all me, no God”
What co-creating with God looks like: abiding, time in Scripture and prayer, then writing while asking for wisdom
Why the “let God promote my work” mindset is so common, including discomfort, uncertainty about how to market, pride concerns, and imposter syndrome
Why using promotion as a test of whether God values your work is problematic
How to see marketing as a way to serve your readers rather than something separate from your calling
What it looks like to approach marketing the way you approach writing: abiding, praying, working, and trusting God with the results
Key takeaways
You don’t need a magic formula or a percentage split of effort and faith. Co-creating with God is the guiding picture.
If you want to write for others, getting your writing in front of them is an integral part of the process.
God typically works through normal, natural processes. We do the work and He blesses those efforts, or doesn’t.
Marketing is a way to help readers find what you’re offering them, and it’s part of glorifying God and building up the Body of Christ.
Secular marketing methods have plenty to teach us, but they should be followed prayerfully.
Uncomfortable doesn’t mean wrong. It just means uncomfortable.
Resources:
Sign up for Pen Points, a weekly email to encourage you in your writing.
Download the Christian Writer’s Mindset Makeover.
The Purposeful Pen is a weekly podcast for Christian writers designed to help you build a writing life with eternal impact. Each week you’ll hear practical tips and Biblical truth on topics such as improving your writing, honing your message, and managing your time. I always respond to listener emails and I’d love to hear from you! Amysimon@amylynnsimon.com