JULY 2005 This Issue of the Report contains:

1. SEVEN QUESTIONS EVERY WRITER SHOULD ASK AND ANSWER

2. FROM THE MAILBAG

3. CHRISTIAN BOOKSTORE? WHERE ARE THE BOOKS?

4. NEW BOOKS BY MEMBERS

Is the writing craft for you? Maybe you are doubting that. Or maybe you should. It's better to move ahead with understanding than to stumble blindly forward (if, indeed, it is forward). Here are seven questions--probably not the ones you'd expect--that can help you evaluate yourself as a writer.

1. Can you work in obscurity?
The world will little notice or care what you write. Admittedly, this may be an overstatement, but it's likely to be your perception as you go along. Apart from your immediate circle of friends and (maybe) relatives, you will seldom hear from readers.
Sometimes a message in a bottle is picked up far from where it was released and the writer hears from the person who found it. That's exciting. It's also rare enough to make the news. Your chances of hearing from a distant reader are, for all practical purposes, almost as remote. It's wonderful when you do hear, but if you depend on that for emotional sustenance you will starve.

2. Does your patience rival Job's?
Writing requires both short-term and long-term patience. In the short term, you must put up with the demands of the publishing industry. Even to have your work considered often requires repeated submissions and slow response times. Then an editor may give you a conditional go ahead only to finally reject the work after you have rewritten to her specifications. Or, if it is published, you may have to swallow editorial changes that, in your view, mar or even ruin your piece.
Long-term patience is also required for most books and many magazine articles. That's because there is such a long lead time between acceptance of your manuscript and its actual publication. James talks about the patience of Job. He also cites the example of a farmer, who must wait a long time between seedtime and harvest (see James 5:7-11). He could as well have cited a writer; few crops take as long to ripen or involve as much risk of failure as a major manuscript.

3. Are you able to accept criticism?
If you find criticism unpleasant or even painful, join the club. So do I, along with everyone else I know. Without it, however, you are unlikely to become the quality writer you could be. If you can accept the unpleasant discipline of criticism with the right attitude, not only will your writing greatly benefit but so will your soul.
Some people talk about negative versus positive criticism, and the distinction is valid. However, all criticism is likely to be negative in terms of its effect on your feelings. As a writer, you must not let your feelings determine your attitude. Hostility, resentment, self-pity, and defensiveness are wrong attitudes and can make all criticism negative in its effect on you. At the opposite extreme, you can also err by servile acquiescence to everything a critic says. He or she is not God.
Prefer to avoid criticism? Solicit some anyway. That's right. You learn by doing. Join a critique group where you can regularly receive criticism of your work, as well as offer the same service to others.

4. Can you balance writing with other duties and activities?
A question often addressed at writer conferences is, "How do you find time to write?" Too often the suggested answer, in effect, is to bag other duties: "You can't have a spotless house. You can't be a soccer mom. You can't say yes to requests to work in your church."
Well, we need balance in everything. We do need to be able to say no sometimes. But a desire to write is not a license to neglect other duties. Furthermore, the person who withdraws from legitimate demands of daily living soon forfeits the firsthand experience a writer needs in order to communicate with ordinary people.

5. Can you handle great success in the unlikely event it comes?
Your writing could make you rich and famous. It's not likely but it is possible. If that should happen, then what? Will you remain humble? Can you keep the common touch? Will you treat others as equals? Can you resist throwing your weight around in the publishing world, becoming a nightmare for editors who must work with you?
The snares that accompany success are many and real. Jerry Jenkins commented that he is not sure he could have handled his success if it had come any earlier in his long writing career.
You may wonder how you can possibly answer such a question before the fact. A clue lies in what your priorities are now. One thing that will help you, with or without great success, is to keep in mind that your greatest "work" is not the book or article or poem you write but the person you are becoming. It won't be success if your writing is acclaimed but you yourself are mediocre or worse.

6. Are you on an ego trip?
To see your name in print on the byline of an article is gratifying to the ego. To see it written large on the cover of a book is even more so. Some have criticized the whole "celebrity" system in Christian publishing (and music and pastoring). The Christian system is just like the world's, they say.
I am not among those critics and do not fault Christian celebrities for their high profile ministries. Fame is much like money in that it can be helpful or harmful, depending on what we do with it. And depending on what it does with us.
The operative word in the question here discussed is trip. Our ego is involved in everything we do. We are self-conscious beings and we are influenced by self-interest. But as Christians our ego must be secondary to our devotion to Christ. This is the standard.

7. Do you have to write?
You know you should be a writer when you can't stop writing. By that, I do not mean you must write all the time, to the neglect of other duties or activities, as already stated. A writer ought not to be obsessed with his writing or one-dimensional in his interests. But a writer must write in the sense that he never truly gets away from it. Writing is his means both to express himself and to communicate with others.
Adele Hooker is an 84-year-old firebrand in a critique group that meets in our home. I had written about the fact that writing is unlikely to make one rich or famous. She commented. "A hearty amen to that. I have been writing for 50 years and I'd have little butter on my bread if I depended on my writing paychecks. But write I will and write I must. I have a story to tell, a message to give, and a passion burns within me to get it on paper for other hearts to embrace."
Now, that's a writer.

FROM THE MAILBAG:

Great report, as always! Congrats to Stan and Malsawmi Jacob--good job!
I truly understand Mr. Bagley's thoughts on outlining vs. not outlining ( a formal outline is unnecessary). Most writers would probably agree with him. And yet, noted authors, including Sol Stein, have insisted that outlining is the writer's road map. A vital discipline--whether we trek with it or take side-trips (which I frequently do).
Rich writing & blessings to you all.

FROM Cross-Cultural trainer and writer CLYDE COWAN:

Dear Stan,
Delighted to hear your book has gone to second printing already! I have finally received the long lost copy of your book that you originally sent. There is no indication where it has been on its odyssey.
I sold my first paid online article the other day, a new medium for me. I started a letter to the editor regarding an article I'd read on a kayak web site that I sometimes read. The article was OK but left out so much that it gave a misleading impression. Part way through I realized that my letter was virtually an article so I finished it that way, then queried the editor. Things move quickly in the electronic submission world. He asked to see the piece, then offered me $100 which I accepted, thinking not bad for essentially a letter.
I'm off to Liberia day after tomorrow. My perception is that the Lord wants me to go. The Liberians asked me to help them set up an ongoing mission training program, somewhat like the one I used to direct in Canada. But to my queries about who, when, how and where I will train I have gotten one sentence: Just share with us anything you can about how to train our missionaries. I asked them to pick some who will be leading their training program and have them live, eat and travel with me during my three weeks.
In Christ, fortunately,
Clyde

FROM MARY WARREN (author of 23 books):

Dear Stan:
Lindsay and I were delighted to be able to attend your writers' workshop last Thursday. Thank you ever so much for letting us visit. We enjoyed the orderly way you conducted it, and of course we also enjoyed hearing the work of each person there.
The best moment was when we heard that your latest book has gone back into a second printing in such a short time. I'm sure it is a book that will go into many more printings. When I read it I felt as if you were writing about us.

Lindsay keeps at least three books going at once and he reads slowly and digests what he reads. Your book is at our bedside, and he has just a few more pages to go.
I feel a little more sure of myself now that I've shared with your group one of the essays I am working on. I've had a hard time knowing if these essays are too private or will reach out to others , and the comments made me feel I am on the right track.
I have yet to find a way to keep what I am working on in some kind of order. I'm hoping the way will appear as I continue to write. When I do find the way, I hope these essays will be connected enough to become short chapters.

I am enjoying going back into bits of historical background, and also the memories of what happened during the World War II days when the fathers of our chums went off to serve in very difficult places. We used to gather at my aunt's home and, after having watermelon, we'd sit around and listen to the latest letters of the men who had gone off to fight.
The latest ICW newsletter was waiting for me this morning. I'm glad to have the address of your church because I've reached a point where I can send a small check now and then. I hope it will be monthly.

FROM JEANNE HALSEY (e-Jeanne Newsletter):
Dear Stan,
I trust you're feeling well. You know how it is: Holy Spirit brings certain people's names or faces to your remembrance, so you just up and pray for them. I pray often for you.

Everyone who has read your new book around my house has really enjoyed it. However, when I've asked at the local Family Christian Bookstores, they don't seem to have it in yet. Are you getting decent advertising and promotion? Or is it word-of-mouth? I hope it does well for you. (For my response see next article).

CHRISTIAN BOOKSTORE? WHERE ARE THE BOOKS?
The Christian book marketplace has changed drastically over recent years. Though my new book, A Funny Thing Happened On My Way To Old Age is from a major publisher, InterVarsity Press, and I have previous best-sellers to my credit, many stores do not carry it. I have been getting similar reports from other established authors. Some of us feel we are hardly getting even a decent reply when we approach bookstores about carrying our books.
Christian Supply in Portland refers inquiring authors to their book buyer. He uses a machine to tell you to send in your book for consideration but it will not be returned or acknowledged and the author will hear nothing unless it is selected.

I have two comments about this inhospitable treatment.
First, Christian "bookstores" seem to be everything but that these days. Books no longer represent their principal product or, one assumes, their principal source of revenue. With less and less shelf space for books, naturally there is much greater selectivity in what occupies that space.
Second, secular booksellers and online booksellers are often better choices for consumers, and therefore for Christian publishers and authors as well. While unable to get even the courtesy of a response from Christian Supply, I was assured by Barnes and Noble, Borders, and Powell's that they do indeed carry my book. Online sellers such as Amazon and CBD not only carry the book but sell it at a discount. Many other booksellers also use Amazon as their vehicle to sell my book-again at a discount.
Incidentally, the CBA convention has changed as well. Personality booths for authors are no longer a feature, and many publishers see little point in their authors even being present.

NEW BOOKS BY MEMBERS:
Congratulations to Jerry Jenkins for the new release by Crossway of Hedges, a book first issued 15 years ago under the title, Loving Your Marriage Enough To Protect It. This new edition also includes a DVD message from the author, as well as a study guide. Jerry was a guest July 13 and 14 talking about the message of the book on Focus on the Family. (Hardcover, 208 pages, $17, more information at www.hedgesbook.com)
Congratulations to Sam and Adele Hooker on release of the CD version of their book Prayer and Other God Stuff.
Until next month, keep writing,
Stanley Baldwin, Director

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