Step Two – “Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore our writing to sanity”
We have talked about following the call of God as he inspires us to write stories or articles to promote the faith. But how do we keep ourselves and our writing sane when everything we do seems to fail? How do we remain sane when the publishers reject us? Do we fake the smile of joy when our heart is crying? How do we follow this lonely path when the form letters that come in the mail tell us nothing but no? How do we keep writing when people pass our book display without even looking and no one comes to our book signings? I once spent an entire day (as promised to the store owner) sitting at an overlooked table as people walked past my display. I was crushed. No one stopped to look at my books or even talk. Finally, after a few hours of being disregarded, a woman stopped and smiled. My heart fluttered with expectation as I smiled with friendliness and anticipation. She then asked me if I knew where the little girls’ room was. She was the only one who spoke to me that day. I later found out that the store owner never advertised the book signing. She never even put up a poster. That is how I learned to always take care of publicity myself. But how do you handle the crushing pain of being ignored. At times like this we are able to connect to the rejection that Jesus felt. The crushing rejection of the very people He came to save. If we can connect our suffering to His perhaps we can ride out the rejection of secular publishers, readers and writers. It isn’t easy to be a writer. It is even harder to be a spiritual writer in a secular world.
We have talked about presenting ourselves as professionals who treat others with respect and kindness. What do we do when we feel as if we are being ignored, and not respected by other spiritual writers, religious publishers and Catholic critics? How do we handle that twinge of jealousy when we see others succeed as we flounder? How do we keep the faith when we are passed by and our writings are rejected? It is easy to be kind and full of joy when everything is going great. When the publishers are interested and the sales are rolling along, we can smile and feel sure that we are following a sane path. But when no one encourages us and our work is dismissed, how do we hold on to the belief that we are following God’s Will?
There are times that our direction needs to be reexamined. Maybe we are meant to write apologetic or Biblical guides instead of becoming the famous novelist we dreamed of being. Perhaps we are meant to be journalists not poets. This may seem like a small thing but when hopes and ideas have been carefully guarded and protected, it is not easy to change them. We invest so much in our dreams but can be wrong in the details of God’s Will. I have learned over the years, that I must follow God’s Light to find my way. If the children’s books I write delight and entertain children while leading them to Jesus’ Love, who am I to question His desire. I may dream of being the next Tolkien or Lewis. Perhaps He just wants me to make His beloved children laugh. I have to have enough knowledge of God’s ways to know that is enough. No, not just enough, but a joyful gift that He has given me and planned since the beginning of eternity. The difference between insane and sane is the grace to find and accept His Will.
Being a Spiritual Writer is not easy. Neither is following Christ. But the very struggle to follow our faith is the strengthening that helps us find our path. We can find our way through the darkness because we know the Light. How difficult it must be for a secular writer without faith. How devastating the rejection and painful the effort must be. I know I am being led. I know that my lifetime and gift is a part, although a small part, of His Master Plan. It is this that keeps me sane. It is this that keeps my writing sane. How about you? Once you find who He created you to be and accept it you will be sane. Once you find what it is He wants you to write and accept it, your writing will be sane.
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
I have a telephone pole in my yard, and during the summer a mockingbird will perch itself at the top and sing the most beautiful array of songs. Now, no one else except my wife and I, and perhaps another mockingbird, can hear this. Fortunately, it does not stop him from singing, for he continues to do what God has given him to do, and in doing so, gives his maker praise.
I love this! Thanks for the encouragement and keep writing!