tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post2553989956136274022..comments2024-02-17T17:59:25.010+10:00Comments on Christian Writers Downunder: Like Waiting for Rain in a DroughtJeanette O'Haganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-76742541411069566672020-06-15T14:33:07.942+10:002020-06-15T14:33:07.942+10:00Hi Sue, so true. I often hear people say that if o...Hi Sue, so true. I often hear people say that if one person's life is changed by our writing, then it's done its job. But it makes sense to think that hundreds of readers could yield hundreds of similar results. As for fame, if you get there, please let us know what it's like :) And we'll do likewise! Paula Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02079952414990463270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-26168793981382130472020-06-15T10:42:02.462+10:002020-06-15T10:42:02.462+10:00Great post then and now, Paula. I liked how you di...Great post then and now, Paula. I liked how you didn’t say it doesn’t matter how many readers we get. I hear a lot of authors say that and it seems odd to me, if we write to empower and uplift, the more readers the better. But ‘fame’ is different. A tiny percentage of hugely successful authors achieve that status, and as you say, it’s not that good for us when we get there. <br />Susan J Brucehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01020859162801279149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-44751202206541537862017-11-25T09:35:09.027+10:002017-11-25T09:35:09.027+10:00Hi Jo'Anne, I'm sure you'd appreciate ...Hi Jo'Anne, I'm sure you'd appreciate The Artist's Way, as Julia Cameron encourages us with a beneficial habit and mindset in each chapter. I think being grounded with love for God and our work really is the main thing, and the rest is just sugar on top :)Paula Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02079952414990463270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-75635523507722056192017-11-25T09:32:32.458+10:002017-11-25T09:32:32.458+10:00Hi Raelene, yes definitely, the Audience of One is...Hi Raelene, yes definitely, the Audience of One is something to always keep before us for peace of mind. However the balancing act can feel so tricky, for the reasons you say. Impacting hearts and influencing our culture are great ideals, but sometimes there's nothing we can do but leave it to God to determine our reach. Paula Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02079952414990463270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-41865158136963577272017-11-24T08:17:25.093+10:002017-11-24T08:17:25.093+10:00Thanks Paula, Loved 'The Artists Way'. Yo...Thanks Paula, Loved 'The Artists Way'. Your post reminded me about 'the audience of One'. It's a hard line, wanting to influence our culture, striving for those empty calories, and yet we are dealing with so much resistance to our message. Raelene Purtillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09316816228739648286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-88721024574228547462017-11-23T19:15:08.273+10:002017-11-23T19:15:08.273+10:00Hi Jenny, yes definitely, if we can do the work, i...Hi Jenny, yes definitely, if we can do the work, including the promotional side of things, and trust God for any increase instead of getting tied up in knots over it, that's probably a pretty good place to be. It's also good to keep in mind that several people who have achieved fame have reported that it's not all it's cracked up to be for its own sake. Food for thought. Paula Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02079952414990463270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-568133318591425732017-11-23T18:33:56.272+10:002017-11-23T18:33:56.272+10:00Thanks for a great post, Paula. I too loved the an...Thanks for a great post, Paula. I too loved the analogy of looking at the stats. Some good points about fame - and how unfulfilling it can be. I'd love my books to get into the hands and kindles of readers - not so enamoured about the whole fame thing. But in the end, it is God who gives the increase. It's a good reminder to rest in Him more, though never an excuse, I think, to sit idle and do nothing.Jeanette O'Haganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-18296702580190304962017-11-23T14:11:19.591+10:002017-11-23T14:11:19.591+10:00Hi Elizabeth, I love the way you put that. Yes, if...Hi Elizabeth, I love the way you put that. Yes, if we take time to chill and keep our eyes off comparisons and statistics, we might find things flow a lot easier :) I'm glad you enjoyed the post. Paula Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02079952414990463270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-51500877887569080062017-11-23T14:10:01.780+10:002017-11-23T14:10:01.780+10:00Hi Nola, it certainly is a book in which you can t...Hi Nola, it certainly is a book in which you can take breaks to stop and think. I've gleaned a lot from her wise words at different stages, and will probably keep returning. And yes, any little reminder to help us keep being faithful may be all we need.Paula Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02079952414990463270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-13116614663345270822017-11-23T14:07:02.725+10:002017-11-23T14:07:02.725+10:00Hi Hazel, I'm sorry to hear about the small tu...Hi Hazel, I'm sorry to hear about the small turn-out, but agree with what the others have said. Sometimes small turn-outs have been the start of great, although maybe hidden things. I'm sure many of us can relate. I sure can. And I'm glad this blog post encouraged you when you needed it. Paula Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02079952414990463270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-76817792773246710502017-11-23T10:34:40.660+10:002017-11-23T10:34:40.660+10:00I agree with Nola, Hazel. I'm so sorry that on...I agree with Nola, Hazel. I'm so sorry that only a few people turned up for your talk. Always disappointing. And yet - who knows what those who came took away and the ripple effect of that Hazel. God's often reminded me that numbers don't matter in the big scheme of things. Ah.. heaven's perspective is a wonderful thing. :) May your writing continue to bless others. Well done Hazel!Anusha Atukoralahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00859837228901127984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-82695188439156997562017-11-23T09:58:44.912+10:002017-11-23T09:58:44.912+10:00Agree with you Jo. Eyes on God is a good place to ...Agree with you Jo. Eyes on God is a good place to view His love for us.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11198096041441810238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-77638607238244912932017-11-23T09:56:41.732+10:002017-11-23T09:56:41.732+10:00Thanks so much, Paula, for this wonderful article ...Thanks so much, Paula, for this wonderful article wrapped in thoughtful truths and reminders. Loved your analogies and humour. We really do need to chill as authors and not feel gloomy because others are ahead in some way. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11198096041441810238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-50780790660339331322017-11-23T09:45:05.369+10:002017-11-23T09:45:05.369+10:00Sorry to hear you didn't get many people, Haze...Sorry to hear you didn't get many people, Hazel, but you never know how your words may have spoken to the people who were there and hopefully they'll tell their friends. I really enjoyed 'Heaven Tempers the Wind'. Take careNola Passmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08425394685430146759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-70857867982371246112017-11-23T09:43:47.095+10:002017-11-23T09:43:47.095+10:00Great post, Paula. I've read a few chapters of...Great post, Paula. I've read a few chapters of Julia Cameron's book and loved it, but somehow didn't get back to it. I must try to finish it. I think it was just that I got so much out of those first few chapters that I had to ponder it for a while. I love the thought of Elijah's servant saying, 'Yes, there are a couple of new reviews on Goodreads and a slight increase in your Amazon sales ranking.' LOL <br /><br />It's easy to focus on all of those 'successful' people out there, but in God's scheme of things, being faithful to what He's called us to do is the most important thing. Thanks for the reminder :)Nola Passmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08425394685430146759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-25020009819837045042017-11-23T09:34:43.533+10:002017-11-23T09:34:43.533+10:00Thanks Paula. Your writing came along just at the ...Thanks Paula. Your writing came along just at the time I needed it. I was feeling low because so few people turned up for my author talk and the Lord sent me a gentle reminder through you. God Bless!Hazel's bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15130890759088634619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-37860148197811663582017-11-23T09:11:55.579+10:002017-11-23T09:11:55.579+10:00I'm glad you enjoyed it, Anusha. As you say, t...I'm glad you enjoyed it, Anusha. As you say, the Father's 'Well Done' is the main thing, and it can come in many different ways that look nothing like the world's, 'Well Done.' Paula Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02079952414990463270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-74426679642921283652017-11-23T09:09:32.525+10:002017-11-23T09:09:32.525+10:00Thanks Jo. The scary thing is that it's so eas...Thanks Jo. The scary thing is that it's so easy to swept along in the tide, because even Christians so often forget to separate God's priorities from the world's. You're absolutely right.Paula Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02079952414990463270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-78492267905423613542017-11-23T09:06:24.723+10:002017-11-23T09:06:24.723+10:00Thanks Paula. A great reminder to follow our God, ...Thanks Paula. A great reminder to follow our God, not the god of this world. Our culture is growing alarmingly corrupt at speed. We are called to be light in the midst not go with the flow. Great post Jo Wanmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08601438922741057908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-29648342717283496092017-11-23T08:06:03.288+10:002017-11-23T08:06:03.288+10:00Loved your post Paula and so beautifully written. ...Loved your post Paula and so beautifully written. Chuckled over your humour too. So true... success by God's standards are vastly different to what the world thinks is success, that's for sure! It's tempting at times to be swayed by the world's accolades though it's the Father's Well done that should drive us. Love what you say that we need to listen to our Creator than our culture. A definite must if we are to do as God asks and if we are to bring Him glory! Thanks Paula.Anusha Atukoralahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00859837228901127984noreply@blogger.com