The Catholic Writers Guild

Step One – We admitted that we are powerless over our human desire for fame, wealth, and power – that our writing life had become unmanageable.

Now that we have been truthful with ourselves about the dreams and longings that are natural and have looked at how Jesus handled temptation, what do we do with this knowledge? As Catholics, let’s take each temptation and see how we as believers can admit and follow “The Way” in our writing life.

Let’s start with our desire for fame. We would all like to be famous writers. Who wouldn’t like to be on Good Morning America talking about our latest book? Why wouldn’t we feel joy if there was a long line at our book signing? Wouldn’t we just love to be considering which movie production company we should sign a contract with as they scramble to secure the title of our work? Surprise! There is nothing wrong with this dream. There is nothing wrong at all if the dream comes true. However, when we let the dream or desire overtake our faith, we run into a problem. We run into the danger of becoming prideful – thinking we are better than those who are lesser known and even thinking we are more worthy of fame than those who are. Wrong thinking like that can lead us into sin as we push and step on others to achieve our goals.

When all our ambition doesn’t work, we may become resentful – not understanding why others are well known and why we seem to be ignored. We see Stephen King on the late night shows and feel a twinge of jealousy. We watch another writer receive a top prize, and we wonder why it isn’t us. The danger is not in the fame. It is in the jealousy, comparison and loss of mission.

How do we control this temptation? I was taught as a young child in Catholic school that the solution to jealousy was simple. Pray for the success of those who make you jealous. Pray for them to win that fame you always longed for. Say a rosary for that other author to win the prize. Go to Mass and offer up for that writer who is your competition. You cannot sustain jealousy of someone whom you are praying for. You cannot help but be joyful when someone you have fasted for wins that prize. It is the Way of Christ. It lifts the burden. It doesn’t allow the devil into your dreams or emotions.

How do we, as Christians, deal with the desire for wealth? First, let’s establish that being wealthy is not a sin. It is not a sin to make money! And if you do make money from your writing, that is surely a gift from God. There is nothing wrong with using advertising or any other means to sell books, short stories, etc. In fact, if you don’t you are not doing what God wants you to do. It is like buying a gift for someone and not giving it to them. When God gives us a gift, like the gift of writing, it is not for us. It is for us to use for others. If you ‘hide your lamp under a bushel basket’ we all remain in darkness. Your gift was given to you to reach others. What good is a talented singer who only sings in the shower. How about an artist who paints magnificent works of art only to keep them hung in his own home. No, a gift is meant to be given. And what about your own family. Isn’t it important to support them and doesn’t our work give us the means to help our children, parents and spouses? No, trying to make a living from your writing is not only normal, it is generous to those people that God gave you to care for.

Again the problem is what can happen to us when the desire overwhelms our need to be generous. We know in our hearts that everything we have, and everything on earth, is a gift from God. We know that the early Christians lived a communal life where all goods were equally shared. It is not that they were of a socialist or communistic bent. It was that they knew that greed could kill faith faster than most character defects. What to do about it? Again, try to go through the narrow door.

Rejoice in the success of others. And if you should happen to write that next best seller, rejoice in the gift that God has given you. After you have taken care of your family’s needs – give something back. However, there is no need to wait until or if you become wealthy to give. Give little things back – buy a package of paper for that young writer. Lend that great book to another writer who is struggling – or even better – give a portion of your royalties to others. It doesn’t matter if it is five dollars or five thousand dollars, give it back to God by giving it to someone else. If you can, do it secretly, so God gets all the credit. When you desire money so you can help God’s children it becomes a virtue, not a fault.

Now, what about power? Power is an illusion – it doesn’t really exist because the future is only known to God and the mighty fall harder because they tumble from a higher height. However, people long for control and for what they think they can manage in life. You want to manage your writing career. You want to plan and execute your path to success. Knock yourself out! It isn’t a sin. It is just a waste of time. Do what you need to do to promote and market your work. And know this: God alone has the Power. He is the Power. The only power we have is to choose Him and follow his teachings and even that is all gift. I watched Nixon resign and Bernie Madoff in handcuffs. I have seen pictures of Hitler hiding in a bunker in the ground. The power to love God and others is the only power that counts.

Go ahead and dream of fame, wealth and power because the dream is not a sin. The sin is in the lie. The Pharisees liked to look holy and played at being humble. The worst kind of dishonesty is not lying to others but in the lies we tell ourselves. We can’t be healed of our out of control longing and the bad habits they may have produced unless we are honest with ourselves. Don’t just pretend to be humble because that is the behavior that is expected in Christian circles. That’s what the Pharisees did and they were deceiving themselves.

Admit that you want to be famous, wealthy and powerful. It’s okay to be human and have human desires. But also know that Jesus has given us the means to overcome our human tendencies.  Live in truth and actually be the person and spiritual writer God created you to be. Write that review for someone else, donate some of your royalties, teach some children how to write and share your time and your platform to promote others. God will pour his grace on those you touch. And grace is a funny thing – it always splashes back. Next post let’s explore the second step of being a spiritual writer.

Karen Kelly Boyce is a mother of two and grandmother of two who lives on a farm in N.J. with her retired husband. She and her husband love to camp and take ‘road trips’ around the country. She has published four novels and three children’s books. Her website is www.karenkellyboyce.com

Karen Boyce

Karen Kelly Boyce lives on a farm in N.J. with her retired husband. She is a mother and grandmother. She is the author of “The Sisters of the Last Straw” series published by Tan Books. You can see her work and learn more about her on her website: www,kkboyce.com