Small Things, Slow Beginnings

by Jeanette O'Hagan

From small seeds, mighty Bunya Pines grow

Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” Zechariah 4:10, NLV*

There is something exciting about the beginning, the start of something new, the very first moments pregnant with vision and hope. Perhaps that's why we celebrate them - engagements, weddings, births, first day at school, openings and launches. Those very first words on the blank page, the first time we type THE END, the first contract, the first time we hold our book in our hands, the first launch.

But often our high hopes are tested when things don't happen as fast or as big as we imagined. When our hopes begin to strain and things take longer than we expect or we face more obstacles or set backs than we believed possible. When it is easy to give up.

A few years ago, Australian marine scientist and multi-published novelist,  Ian Irvine, said: 

"Here’s the sad truth: most people who write a book will never get it published, half the writers who are published won’t see a second book in print, and most books published are never reprinted. What’s more, half the titles in any given bookshop won’t sell a single copy there, and most published writers won’t earn anything from their book apart from the advance."

In fact many people who start writing a novel never complete it.

That is rather depressing thought, though it doesn't discount the successes. Determination, hard work, adaptability, stick-ability and exploring new options all help.

It's not easy to find readers in a saturated and sometimes cynical market.

A couple of Saturdays ago, Omega Writers held it's second Book Fair in Brisbane - great venue with a wonderful and diverse range of authors, publishers, booksellers and editors including Rhiza Press/Wombat Books, Breath of Fresh Air Press, Gary Clark of Swamp cartoons, Kathy Hoopmann (All Cats have Asperger Syndrome) and our own award-winning authors such as Lynne Stringer, Adele Jones, David Bennett, Catriona McKeown, Ruth Bonetti, Hazel Barker, Anne Hamilton and more. As in the previous Book Fair - many of the authors read excepts of their works to an appreciative audience. It was good day with a small, steady trickle of readers and sales.

This year we pulled out the stops with advertising & we'd had positive feedback from some schools and organisations, so to be honest, I was hoping for a greater attendance of readers. A mob would have been just about right.

A wise person said to me, 'Do not despise the day of small things.'

In looking for the big and the grand, for the crowds and the accolades, we often miss 'the small things' that matter to God.

Over the next few days, various people mentioned how they had enjoyed the day and got special something out of it.

“Didn’t know what to expect. Thought it would be a small bunch of middle-aged authors. Surprised by the range and quality.’ One of new authors.  (Authors ranged from teen or twenties to 70plus, non-fiction & fiction for all ages.)

“This is so needed. It is becoming harder to find appropriate material for my children” Homeschooling Dad

“Treasure trove of great books from the Omega Book Writer's Fair last Saturday. I can't adequately express how much I enjoyed meeting authors and looking at books. ...  I was most excited to put books in my son's hands that are written FOR him, from his perspective and exploring the Asperger's world with positivity and humour! Love it!!” Mum whose son has Asperger's

"Wonderful event. Pity not more people came. Their Loss. Looking forward to Next year's event."

 In Sydney last weekend, I noticed a big hole in the ground - where a huge skyscraper were under construction. I was reminded of how long it takes to build the foundations.  Things worth doing, take time.

And I'm tickled that 'the Lord rejoices to see the work begin' Zechariah 4:10

As always, we come back to these questions. Why do we write? Why do we seek publication? Why do we look for readers of our scribblings, stories, books?

Called to serve

Just as God calls his anointed among the returned exiles (Zech 4:12) to serve Him, so we as Christians are called to serve in the church and in the world. For me, writing and encouraging other writers is part of that calling.

In line with God's character.

The one called does the work in line with God's plumbline (Zech 4:12). For Zerubabbel, this meant rebuilding the temple in line with God's purposes. 

For us, it means building in line with God's will and character. Which surely means doing the best work we can, being willing to learn, not cutting corners, and not becoming proud or slanted by wrong motives.

Not by might, but by God's Spirit 

While we labour --- learning, crafting, plotting, writing, connecting, promoting --- the impact of our work is ultimately in God's hands. He says, '“not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit said the Lord’ (Zech 4:6)'.  His timing is not always our timing, His objectives are not always our objectives.

He says to us, 'Do not despise the day of small beginnings.'

Do not be disheartened if things are not happening as fast or as big as we hope.  Good things take time to grow.

On the other hand, if we have success, if we are going well, do not despise others because nothing seems to be happening, or their sales are low. We don't know what impact another's work (or our own) might  have.  After all, Van Gogh only sold one painting in his lifetime, and that was to his brother (or so I believe).

So whether Ian Irvine is right or not, is not the point. The returnees Zechariah addressed were a small, motley group facing an impossible situation, an overwhelming task, huge opposition, and yet God was at work among them. 

We have the same God at work in our midst. I can't wait to see what He will do.

* New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved

All images © Jeanette O'Hagan 2018

Jeanette recently published a collection of fantasy and sci-fi Nardvan stories, Ruhanna's Flight and other stories. She started spinning tales in the world of Nardva at the age of eight or nine. She enjoys writing secondary world fiction, poetry, blogging and editing. Her Nardvan stories span continents, time and cultures. They involve a mixture of courtly intrigue, adventure, romance and/or shapeshifters and magic users. She has published numerous short stories, poems, two novellas and her debut novel, Akrad's Children. Find her on Facebook or at her webpages Jeanette O'Hagan Writes or Jenny's Thread.

Keep on Writing

I was getting ready to leave for the Omega Writer’s Conference in October when I saw it—a call for submissions for a Children’s Picture Book Writing Competition. They were looking for “creative, winsome charming picture books that help parents instill an open-hearted, transformational, lifelong Christian faith in their children”. I did like the sound of that. Better still, the first prize was $5000.00. Whew! Not an amount to be sneezed at. There were no entrance fees either. I knew I must give it a go when I returned from conference.

Would it herald my big writing moment?

A week later, I came back refreshed and revitalised after a fabulous time in Sydney, having caught up with those of like minds, learning an abundance of writerly wisdom, being inspired by people and places and best of all, filled with God’s joy. Unfortunately, as it often occurs, a week of intense fibro pain and weariness followed my energetic week away, so it was only a few days before that all important deadline that I had sufficient energy to sit down to create my story.

My dear friend Melissa popped in on the Friday before and spotted our family's pet giraffe (yes, he’s alive …or so we like to think). She suggested I write a story about Raffy - what a brilliant idea! The day before the story had to be submitted, I sat at my computer, concentrating hard. It took hours to craft and refine my award winning picture book. The next day was a busy one. My body felt weak and weary but I persevered, working also on my author bio and the story’s synopsis. Finally, close to midnight and exhausted, I was ready to send in my three documents. Just before I pressed the submit button though, the competition’s terms and conditions popped up.

It was then my dream was shattered - a crystal vase smashed into a million shards.

The very first clause had my mouth open, while my jaw dropped a few kilometres downwards. Apparently, the competition was open only to US residents. I could have cried. I’d read the competition details many times over—but for some reason this vital fact had not been publicised. I could hardly believe it. How foolish I'd been!

I wonder what your writing year has been like. Was it filled with instant success, millions of books sold, a plethora of fan mail, TV appearances, a bulging bank balance and a celebrity lifestyle? If you are like most of us Christian writers, you are presently plodding away on your current story, a few drops of hope glistening in your heart, but perhaps also a little discouraged as to the number of writing dreams yet to be fulfilled.

In a few weeks, the curtain will fall on 2016 and we will be left with our memories of the past year. Whatever it brought you in your writing sphere and whatever the future holds for you, let me ask you three questions:

1. Has God called you to write for Him?
2. Have you strived to walk with Him?
3. Have you sought to be obedient to His call?

If you answered ‘yes’ to all three questions, let me shake your hand. Let me celebrate with you. Success for us comes not from the world’s yardstick of accomplishment. It’s simply getting up each morning and doing all that God calls us to do. Persevering. Learning from failure. Not giving up. Perhaps like me you've made a few blunders? No matter - God can redeem them all. He's good at that! So permit discouragement to fly out of your window like a captive pigeon set free. Congratulate yourself for all the writing you’ve done these past 12 months. Celebrate your conquests with a smile. And let your heart be quick to hear the sound of God’s ‘Well done’.

And now ... put on your writer’s shimmering cloak of joy.
And Keep On Writing.

“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:13-14


Anusha Atukorala is a writer and speaker with music in her heart and a message to proclaim. The abundant love of a faithful God is her theme song. God’s call to writing in 2007 led Anusha on a Grand Adventure which continues to surprise and thrill her. Anusha loves to build the body of Christ and to encourage others through the written and spoken word. Her first book ‘Enjoying the Journey’ is comprised of 75 little God stories. She has twelve short stories published in Anthologies and plenty more books in the pipeline. Do drop in to say G’day at her website Dancing in the Rain. She’d love to meet you.