by Eddie Jones
On the last day of a recent writers’ conference I mentioned to Ann Tatlock that I should start a new imprint called, Dry Bones Publishing because, as I explained to Ann, “So many books have no chance of surviving in this desert wasteland called book publishing.”
I was kidding, of course. Last thing I need to manage right now is another imprint.
But the trend in book publishing can, at times, appear desolate. Especially when you look at the number of houses that are cutting back, retreating, and pushing authors to self-publish. Okay, enough of the gloom.
What I failed to mention to the conferees on the last day was the word of hope God gave me and that word was: “Go in the strength you have.” The passage comes from Judges 6:14 where the Angle of the Lord seeks to encourage Gideon. In some ways we are like that “mighty” (and trembling) “warrior.”
About the most we can do is respond to God’s call, write our best, and leave the outcome to Him.
If you think of your novel as a mega-church, then your goal should be to find five thousand parishioners who share your book’s vision. Five thousand readers who believe in your book’s message, in you, and the God who comes to the aid of those who go in the strength they have.
None of us can predict where book publishing will be in six weeks, much less next year this time. All we can do is write the story God places on our heart, produce the best books we can, promote in ways that glorify Him, and trust He will send rain and sunshine and keep the pests (negative reviewers) away.
I still believe this is the best time to be a writer.
Go in the strength you have.
Eddie Jones is a North Carolina-based writer and founder of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. He is also an award-winning author with HarperCollins and creator of the Caden Chronicles series and Caribbean Chronicles series. Both are featured at BuyaBoyaBook.com
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“Go in the strength you have.” That’s powerful. Thank you for that word.