It isn’t easy to achieve success as an author. Being an Australasian Christian author is even tougher, because it’s a relatively unknown niche market. At a time when mainstream authors are struggling to make a living, how can our tiny niche expect to gain ground?
As Australasian authors, we are known within our small circle, but how do we expand our work to a world that is already crowded with better-known international names? And what about the endless supply of self-published releases, and ebooks for sale at a fraction of the price of our paperbacks? The competition is steep.
I don’t know how many readers I have here in Australia, but it often frustrates me when I think of the small market share we must have, even here in our own country.
So what more can we do? The prospect of marketing ourselves and our books is daunting, even overwhelming at times. I know there are some ways we can help ourselves. There are avenues of advice and direction that we, as individuals, can tap into. The internet is full of “how to’s” when it comes to advertising and promotion.
I appreciate that a lot of these ideas can be effective, but today, as I contemplate how successful breakthroughs could be made, it occurred to me that there was one vital and ultimately far more powerful tool we could be underutilising—the power of prayer.
I hope we all pray about our own work, and I know many of my fellow authors support and lift up my work in prayer, in the same way as I support them. After all, our writing is our ministry, our service to God. What would happen if we all came together in prayer for our industry as a whole? It’s a fledgling industry—ministry—worth praying for, and I believe that the Lord has wonderful things waiting for all of us.
So, I am asking that we all pray the Lord will open His doors for our Australasian Christian Writing community this year, 2015. And that He will bring His help and blessing to our industry as we seek to serve Him in obedience and love.
I don’t know how many readers I have here in Australia, but it often frustrates me when I think of the small market share we must have, even here in our own country.
So what more can we do? The prospect of marketing ourselves and our books is daunting, even overwhelming at times. I know there are some ways we can help ourselves. There are avenues of advice and direction that we, as individuals, can tap into. The internet is full of “how to’s” when it comes to advertising and promotion.
I appreciate that a lot of these ideas can be effective, but today, as I contemplate how successful breakthroughs could be made, it occurred to me that there was one vital and ultimately far more powerful tool we could be underutilising—the power of prayer.
I hope we all pray about our own work, and I know many of my fellow authors support and lift up my work in prayer, in the same way as I support them. After all, our writing is our ministry, our service to God. What would happen if we all came together in prayer for our industry as a whole? It’s a fledgling industry—ministry—worth praying for, and I believe that the Lord has wonderful things waiting for all of us.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
1 Peter 5:6 (NIV)
So, I am asking that we all pray the Lord will open His doors for our Australasian Christian Writing community this year, 2015. And that He will bring His help and blessing to our industry as we seek to serve Him in obedience and love.
Rose Dee
Rose, who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree, was born in North Queensland, Australia. Her childhood experiences growing up in a small beach community would later provide inspiration for her first novel, Back to Resolution.
Her novels are inspired by the love of her coastal home and desire to produce exciting and contemporary stories of faith for women.
Her novels are inspired by the love of her coastal home and desire to produce exciting and contemporary stories of faith for women.
Beyond Resolution and A New Resolution are the second and third books in the Resolution series.
Rose’s debut novel Back to Resolution won the Bookseller’s Choice award at the 2012 CALEB Awards, while A New Resolution won the 2013 CALEB Prize for Fiction.
She has also released The Greenfield Legacy, a collaborative novel, written in conjunction with three other outstanding Australian authors. Rose resides in Mackay, North Queensland with her husband, young son, and mischievous pup, Noodle.
Visit Rose at: www.rosedee.com
Photo from www.lightstock.com
Thank you, Rose. Right behind you in this challenge to pray for our writing community as a whole. I wouldn't be without my little prayer team of nine women who pray for me wherever I speak and promote my books and also as I write.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jo-Anne.
DeleteIt was just a thought that if we all pray for our industry as a whole, then it paves the way for the Lord to open door and bless us all.
Thank you for supporting this post.
Xx
Hi Rose,
ReplyDeleteI am with you on this too. Those are the big questions I've so often asked, and like you, I've gone inside my own head, trying to figure out possible solutions in the face of all that you've said is true. Thank you for this reminder to remember the power of prayer.
It was recently driven home to me that prayer is the only and best plan of attack. So, it was in that renewed knowledge and awareness, that l thought about our industry and what more we could do. :-)
DeleteSimple, but vital. Xo
Yes, it's a challenge all right. What are the solutions? God knows the best ones.
ReplyDeleteThat's right, Lynne - solutions and ideas go round and round in my head, but at the end of the day it's the Lord's solutions that will work the best for us all. :-)
DeleteRose, I am an American, but I, too, will be praying for your Christian authors. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kay.
DeleteI always tell my son that the most loving thing you can do for someone is to pray for them.
You give me hope.
Xx Rose
We can never underestimate the power of prayer. Thanks for the reminder Rose.
ReplyDeleteI know we all do pray, but I felt to share the solution I found to our next steps forward as a group. It was certainly a reminder for me. :-)
DeleteXx
Prayer, yes - our God is the God of the impossible :) Thanks for the reminder that we need to pray not only for success but also that He lead the way we should go. Thanks Rose.
ReplyDeleteHe sure is, Jeanette, and as much as a reminder to pray is vital, so is the reminder in your words - that God is the God of the impossible. Prayer and faith are a hand in hand link.
DeleteRose, I agree, prayer is essential and its value can't be underestimated. One of my prayers for our Australasian writing community is that we'll be open to exploring the new opportunities provided by the changing world of publishing. What worked well 2 or 3 years ago may not be the best way forward for 2015. Embracing change can be hard, but we can draw on His strength as we prayerfully consider our options and look at the different ways we can reach our readers.
ReplyDeleteI agree completely, Natalie. Sometimes it's hard to explore other avenues, but we need to go where the Lord is leading us. Not always easy, but forever worth it.
DeleteAn excellent suggestion to implement if not happening already.
ReplyDeleteI think that we all pray already, for sure. I just thought to share where a recent bout of my 'what more can we do's? ' had taken me. The first step is always prayer.
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