I was challenged to answer this question by one of the bookstores that is hosting a book signing for me. My first reaction was, “where do I start?” It is a journey that is hard to describe if you haven’t published. There’s the discipline of sitting down to write (and not be distracted by everything around you, like laundry, dishes, new posts on social media, etc.) Second, there’s the brainstorming that has to happen before that to have an idea of what you want to write. This includes having some sort of outline of what points you want to make. How I broke down my first book made it easier to work on one chapter at a time, without much concern for what came before and after, unlike a fiction piece.

Next, there’s a LOT of editing and re-reading of a part or whole chapter to make sure it all connects. My editor had so many sentences highlighted with a comment of “this doesn’t make sense”. Most of the time, I took it out and it was just fine. So, accepting that certain parts may be cut or re-worked is a must. What you see as a final product is hours and hours of editing and refining and cutting the unnecessary words. Like, for me, it was the word “that”. At some point, you do have to feel it is complete the way it is or you could edit forever and never get your product out there.

Then comes the actual launch of your book. For me, I self-published, so I not only am an author, I am now in charge of marketing. Now, I had jobs where I had to do marketing, and I wasn’t too thrilled about it. This is one place where I think God stepped in. I did learn a few things in those jobs, but the most important is that you believe in the product. I know my book has encouraged people because I am reminded of it at least weekly for myself. Yes, my book encourages me and helps me to feel more connected to God. I know many times as I was writing, God was guiding my words. When I would look back at a sentence, I know it wasn’t just me. That’s why I am driven to do the marketing so hopefully God will speak through my writing to others too.

I am thankful I was asked this question because it may help people see “behind the scenes” and appreciate these works of God’s art a little more. Whether it’s a book or a painting or other craft, it’s a work of love from the artist to the buyer. For me, God showed me that I can share His love through my writing. How do you share God’s love with others?