"Ms. Stokes, your manuscript has been received."

This is the message I received today after submitting my manuscript to a publisher who requested to review it for possible publication. I can't begin to explain the many feelings I experienced after I hit the submit button. The feelings of  joy and happiness knowing I had finally sent my manuscript to a publisher. The feelings of elation and excitement knowing a publisher would now read my manuscript and let me know if it would be accepted for publication. The feeling of relief knowing my manuscript was finally submitted after months of writing, editing  and rewriting, and the feeling of satisfaction knowing I had given it my all.

But I also have to share the feelings I experienced before I pressed the submit button. The feelings of anxiety and fear that kept getting in the way of my pressing the button because I didn't know if the response would be good or bad, and the feelings of perfectionism that caused me to edit my manuscript several times, rather than submitting it sooner than I did.

Author Joanna Penn states in her book, The Successful Mind Set  that  " at some point you have to stop listening to your inner critic , do your best and let your book out into the world."  I realized she was right when I finally pressed the submit button and sent my manuscript to the publisher, for my manuscript would never be as perfect as I desired it to be, but the time had come to get my book out into the world.

Is it also time for you to get your book out into the world? Then let it go!

Sharing the journey,

Jeaninne

And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samara, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8b

After Jesus’ Resurrection and before he ascended into heaven, he commissioned his twelve disciples to share the good news about him with the world. But instead of commissioning them to share the good news first at the end of the earth, he told them to start in Jerusalem.

It’s important to follow the same strategy Jesus gave his disciples when you begin writing for  ministry and  publication. As a new writer, rather than submitting your work to a national publication, start with a local one. For example, submit an article you've written to a local magazine; submit a poem or a devotional  to your church's newsletter; write your own blog and send it to family and friends, or write an opinion-editorial piece and submit it to your local newspaper. As your writings are accepted for publication in the smaller markets and your credibility and confidence increases, the time will come when you’ll be ready to submit your writings to the larger ones.

Are you ready to make an impact on the world today using your Christian writings? Then start first in your Jerusalem.

Sharing the journey,

Jeaninne

Responding to God’s call to write for ministry:  Think of one place you can begin submitting your writings for publication locally?  Post your comments on my blog. I enjoy hearing from you.

Seven times Elijah told him to go and look out toward the sea, and seven times he went. I King 18:43

After a long drought in Israel God told Elijah he would send rain. But when Elijah told his servant to look out towards the sea for a rain cloud, his servant came back and told Elijah he didn’t see one. So Elijah sent him again and again until his servant finally came back with a good report.

How many times have you submitted a poem, article, short story or manuscript to a magazine or publisher to only receive a discouraging report? Are you almost ready to give up on your dream to write for publication? 

Even if writing for publication takes longer than expected in your life, don’t give up on your dream to become a Christian author. No matter how long it takes, keep being persistent in your submission efforts, until you finally see a raincloud.

Sharing the journey,

Jeaninne

Responding to God’s call to write or publish:

If you’ve been rejected for publication, how will you continue to persist in submitting your writings until they are accepted for publication?