Comments on: Walking the Tightrope

By: Andrew A. Sailer

Andrew A. Sailer — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 15:40:50 +0000

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By: Clara W

Clara W — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:26:54 +0000

>For me, it´s as if riding a kite actually. Keep your focus in the sky but the feet on the ground.

Cheers!

By: Caleb

Caleb — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 02:08:46 +0000

>Don't dream so big, they say. You'll be disappointed. Ha! What do they know? Disappointment, I can take. Not dreaming big? Now that would kill me.

By: Kathryn Magendie

Kathryn Magendie — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:51:16 +0000

>My naivety soon gave way to reality *smiling* – but, I am still willing to take some risks; however, it's difficult for my publishers to take risks – risks can spell: money. And as hard as it is for us to internalize, this is also about Business.

I have learned to enjoy all the little moments and know that no matter if my novel(s) are considered a success by some, they ARE a success to me, because I did it… 🙂

By: D J Futers

D J Futers — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:20:38 +0000

>This is a 'discussion' that my wife and I have all the time. It is a tricky tightrope to walk. My wife is a great woman of faith and believes wholeheartedly in God's ability to 'bless our socks off' if we risk big and trust Him. I believe that too, but I am a calculated risk taker. I like to know what the risks are, think things through, count the cost, yada, yada, yada.

Somtimes though, I think that my approach can be just as 'risky' as the one on the other end of the spectrum. I am a busy pastor who has always had it in my heart to write, and yet I can always come up with a lot of reasons why I don't have the time to write, why it's taking me so long to finish my book, why I might just forget the whole thing...I am starting to believe that I have been self-sabotaging all this time. My issue won't be dreaming too big. It will be being too realistic, if that's possible. This could be why I've never been published, along with the fact that I've never submitted anything.

Maybe I need to just trust God and go for it. I need to take the risk...to get out of the boat...to step out in faith. I preach this stuff all the time. So why can't I do it?

By: katdish

katdish — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:39:36 +0000

>I tend to agree with your client.

By: Glenn Sasscer

Glenn Sasscer — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:04:23 +0000

>Hi Rachelle;

The underlying question to your question is are we doing what God wants us to do? Are we acting within His purpose for us? If this is the case, walking the tightrope is easy when He is our balance. If He is truly guiding us, then He is in control of the project results, no matter how big (or little).

Glenn
glenn@sasscer.com

By: wendy

wendy — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 07:45:00 +0000

>I like to think I'm talking to God in my imagination. Imagination, I think as I can't claim any more reality to these conversations than my own wishful thinking.
Anyway, in my imagination God suggests that I self-publish the work I've lovingly written and fine-tuned for the last ten years as an ebook over the internet. So even my imagination, or God, doesn't have big dreams for this project...although I always hoped for more. However if the story can bring joy to just a few, then it would be great.

By: Mechelle Fogelsong

Mechelle Fogelsong — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:19:44 +0000

>I paid off my house last month. So now getting published is about making a positive impact before I visit the great publishing house in the sky. It's not about getting rich.

By: Mary Hampton

Mary Hampton — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 04:34:00 +0000

>I was at a writer's conference this weekend and had the chance to catch up with several well-published friends. I listened to their realities and then to the hopes and dreams of the aspiring writers there. My fear is we do a disservice to a number of aspiring writers by not giving them a dose of reality to temper the dreams and give them a shot of coming close to their expectations.

I don't see a conflict between being realistic and 'dreaming big dreams.' I don't at all believe that dwelling in reality is putting limits on what God may do.

From beginning to end, every project belongs to Him to begin with. Whether/when it sells, to whom, how 'big' it is after that is all in His hands. My job is to do the very best I can with my part. I trust my agent to do his best with with his part. And God will use it all together to His glory as He's planned. (That's a lesson learned the hard way, btw.)

I hope that doesn't sound hyper-spiritual, because it isn't at all intended to be. Dreams are good, but I've seen too many writers burnt-out, discouraged and 'done' because their expectations didn't line up with reality.

I think it's a shame when people can't appreciate a God-given, genuinely blessed reality because their 'dreams' weren't what He had planned. I think satisfaction comes when our reality lands close to our expectations. (And I don't think an agent would be doing the best job for his/her client if they didn't encourage the dreams while offering a reality check at the same time--whether we want to hear it or not!)

By: Clarissa Yip

Clarissa Yip — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 04:09:20 +0000

>I think it's all on perspective and how far along you are on your journey to being where you are. Some people write small, dream small, some people write big and dream big. It's what you want out of writing and whether or not it's meant to be a career or a hobby.

I want to be a lot of things: a writer, a business owner, a counselor and even maybe the next president.

Writing to me is a release of expression, the chance to share what's in my head and craft stories of different places that I want to go to. My biggest dream is to be one day internationally known, but it's not for the money. I just take joy in the idea of seeing my work published in different languages. I'm a big linguist in the sense that I specialize in Asian languages. Cultures impact whether or not a book will fit in with their people.

I think the big thing about if you dream big, then you should know there are ups and downs. It's how you handle them as a writer and grow with everything.

Great blog. It made me remember why I started writing in the first place.

By: patriciazell

patriciazell — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 02:42:30 +0000

>I also am writing a book that has a unique perspective. I've realized that no one will contract it without it being written and without some proven interest in my content. So, I'm writing my book on my blog. So, in a sense, I've already fulfilled part of my dream–by the time I finish my book in early summer, I will have accomplished something I have never done before. Whether the book goes on to print form, only God knows.

By: laura_josephsen

laura_josephsen — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 01:27:35 +0000

>My co-author and I have two books under publishing contract, and I still ask myself this question sometimes. I've been thinking about it a lot recently as I've begun seeking an agent to represent my latest novel. The thing I remind myself of is that I don't write for the big bucks. I don't write to become the next big author. I write because I believe in a story. I write because the characters claw at the inside of my brain until I have to tell their tales. I write because I have something to tell, and because I believe that something in my books might touch the lives of someone who reads them. Maybe someone who is experiencing something similar will be able to relate and find some light or hope in their own life. If something I write can help or touch someone that way, then that's what I consider hitting it big.

Ultimately, there are realistic expectations. I realize that publication is a business, and that maybe in this business, there will be no merit seen in my book. Or maybe there will be one person who reads it and says 'yes, I think this book is worth publishing.' Either way, I believe in the story, and in the end, I know I couldn't have kept it quiet. The characters were far too demanding to get out onto the page. That's how I take every story I write. Whether I'm doing it with the goal of getting it published or not, I write what's in my heart.

It's good for authors to write what they need to write, what they dream of writing. Without dreaming, we'd have no stories to tell in the first place. However, as authors, we also need to realize that there are realistic expectations in the business world of publishing. And for me, I have faith that if God has a place for my next book, it will get into the right hands at the right time. In the meantime, I'll keep working on my next novel and preparing for the publication of my co-written books.

As someone else mentioned, I imagine it must be hard as an agent to sort through the stacks of potential stories and decide what to take on at that moment. I remember reading an interview with one agent who said that the thing she hated most was having to reject authors. I can only imagine how hard that would be. As the author, it really doesn't bother me when I get a rejection letter, because I know then that it's just not the right agent/publisher for that story, so I shrug and move onto whatever is next. I don't think I'd make it as the agent, though. ;)

Very interesting discussion topic! It's been great to read other thoughts on it.

By: Journaling Woman

Journaling Woman — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:54:02 +0000

>I try to stay opened minded without compromising myself. That's all.