Gust blog by Suzanne Hartman
Although I have some training in writing, I have little background in writing fiction, so God’s nudge to take the stories I’d created to occupy myself while at my children’s music lessons and sports practices was all it took to bump me into the discomfort zone. All through the nine months it took to write the first draft of The Race that Lies Before Us, God encouraged me as I wondered if I could complete the task He gave me.
But I had no idea of what the discomfort zone was truly like until God led me to my first critique group. My “baby,” my first novel was done. Now I needed to put it before others so they could point out what was wrong with it. And there was a lot wrong. Once again, God stepped in. He strengthened my resolve and used the wonderful ladies in this group to teach me how to write fiction.
This level of the discomfort zone deepened when I started querying agents and the rejection letters flooded back. Despite a few requests for the full manuscript to encourage me, I nearly gave up when I allowed my focus to stray from God. Bitterness against the system built up until God reminded me that I needed to look to Him for direction, not those in the publishing industry. Soon I was back on track and revising my manuscript again.
Perhaps the hardest part of my writing journey, however, has been learning to give God control. Shortly after I finished the second major revision of The Race that Lies Before Us, I felt God whisper to me that I should stop querying after a small publishing house asked for the full manuscript. It went against all common sense; there was no guarantee that the editor would offer me a contract. Yet God’s voice was clear. So I followed His leading to work on my blog and increase my social networking instead of querying. I have never heard a decision from that publisher, but the waiting period brought me to God’s timing for contacting the agent who eventually offered me a contract.
I wish I could say that trusting God’s control has become more comfortable for me, but I still struggle with it. To my shame, the waiting game has become my comfort zone. As much as I long for my book to be published, I know God will push me even further into the discomfort zone with the need to market myself and my book. But I have experienced God’s perfect timing and come to rely on God’s encouragement as I continue this journey He set me on almost four years ago. I need to cling to Him as He leads this quiet, introverted, reserved woman to the point where He wants me to be—far, far from the comfort of my own private little world.
About Suzanne: Suzanne is the author of the pre-published book, THE RACE THAT LIES BEFORE US. She is also the Editor for the Port Yonder Press. She is wife to a wonderful husband, and homeschool mom to her three children. She and her family live in the St. Louis metro-east area.
For more info, please visit her websites: Suspense with a Twist (website) / Write at Home (blog).
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