tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post6338329578270828846..comments2024-02-17T17:59:25.010+10:00Comments on Christian Writers Downunder: Writing: A Ministry or a Business?Jeanette O'Haganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-59951076883810154572012-06-14T16:52:31.553+10:002012-06-14T16:52:31.553+10:00Thank you to everyone who has commented on my post...Thank you to everyone who has commented on my post. Your thoughts have been very helpful and I've been blessed by our discussions :)Narellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07665380446283721576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-81305498329838442722012-06-14T16:50:11.149+10:002012-06-14T16:50:11.149+10:00Hi Paula, yes, I know what you mean and this was a...Hi Paula, yes, I know what you mean and this was a large part of my decision to self publish rather than seek traditional publishing opportunities because my focus wasn't primarily on selling the Bible study eBooks.Narellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07665380446283721576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-16121315932038346442012-06-14T16:41:39.675+10:002012-06-14T16:41:39.675+10:00Hi Penny, I agree and stewardship is important as ...Hi Penny, I agree and stewardship is important as we try to discern how best to use our time, money and resources for His glory.Narellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07665380446283721576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-55475146017006039652012-06-12T15:02:53.409+10:002012-06-12T15:02:53.409+10:00Hi Narelle,
This post made me think. I started off...Hi Narelle,<br />This post made me think. I started off years ago trying to think of my writing as a business, then decided it fitted more into the category of hobby/ministry but what you said about publishers taking us on is true so I've tried to begin thinking business-type thoughts over the last few years so she doesn't have to carry it all :)Paula Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02079952414990463270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-51626295205178959872012-06-12T12:32:32.217+10:002012-06-12T12:32:32.217+10:00Thanks Narelle for this post, and I appreciated th...Thanks Narelle for this post, and I appreciated the comments above too that point to the fact that everything we do can be ministry if done for God's glory. <br />I used to see my writing as just a hobby - but as it's grown I've had to build up a working framework from which to promote, maintain and generally be a good steward of my writing (time, income, promotion etc). So my writing has a more 'business' feel to them. <br />It doesn't matter to me which label I put on my writing work; I need to be doing it to the best of my abilities, not wasting what I've been given (this includes time and opportunities). And if my writing ever takes me out of the bounds of Micah 6:8, for whatever authorly excuse I may give it, then I believe I've missed the mark completely.Penny Reevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17673959533876970193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-41311447323827843592012-06-11T20:35:33.538+10:002012-06-11T20:35:33.538+10:00Hi Anusha, I'm glad to hear your Ecclesiastes ...Hi Anusha, I'm glad to hear your Ecclesiastes studies have tied in with my post. We writers are blessed because, for the most part, we enjoy our work :)Narellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07665380446283721576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-60891699730207899092012-06-11T20:29:03.074+10:002012-06-11T20:29:03.074+10:00Hi Rita, I agree that our Christian worldview will...Hi Rita, I agree that our Christian worldview will show through in our writing, as long as we don't compromise our values. And preachiness can definitely be a problem at the other end of the spectrum!Narellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07665380446283721576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-78817267475642673472012-06-11T20:21:31.750+10:002012-06-11T20:21:31.750+10:00Hi Laura, I agree it's good to remember that t...Hi Laura, I agree it's good to remember that the Lord will use our writing to bless others in more ways than we can imagine :)Narellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07665380446283721576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-42899473528361515472012-06-11T20:14:12.436+10:002012-06-11T20:14:12.436+10:00Hi Rose, I agree and I'm sure we'd all lik...Hi Rose, I agree and I'm sure we'd all like to be the writer who does get paid well for our work. Some of us will receive monetary payments for our writing endeavours and for others the blessings we receive from writing for His glory may come to us in non-monetary forms. In our own unique ways we can all further the work of the Kingdom through our writing.Narellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07665380446283721576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-21186781225827673992012-06-11T20:01:33.593+10:002012-06-11T20:01:33.593+10:00Hi Jo-Anne, thanks for sharing your insightful per...Hi Jo-Anne, thanks for sharing your insightful perceptions on how you view your writing and speaking ministries. It sounds like you've found the perfect balance :)Narellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07665380446283721576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-2017978713879422272012-06-11T19:50:10.576+10:002012-06-11T19:50:10.576+10:00Hi Adam, I also started out thinking of my writing...Hi Adam, I also started out thinking of my writing as a hobby and I didn't really consider my writing in 'business' terms until I joined professional writing organisations like RWA and ACFW.Narellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07665380446283721576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-33598084410994827862012-06-11T19:43:25.640+10:002012-06-11T19:43:25.640+10:00Hi Michelle, it's good to remember that minist...Hi Michelle, it's good to remember that ministry opportunities can arise during our ordinary everyday lives. And I totally agree that we can't just sit back and expect everything to happen for us.Narellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07665380446283721576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-89378135924700584972012-06-11T19:36:34.518+10:002012-06-11T19:36:34.518+10:00Hi Peter, I agree that there isn't necessarily...Hi Peter, I agree that there isn't necessarily a conflict and I suspect ministers would earn more on a 'per hour' basis than most writers. <br /><br />I do think there are writers who could identify with the polar ends - my Bible studies started out as a ministry with no thought of business goals or making money from them. And I've heard of writers who talk about being called to write a book for 'an audience of one', as an offering to the Lord with no thought to whether or not it's a commercially viable venture.Narellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07665380446283721576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-15778172613283225152012-06-11T13:06:57.317+10:002012-06-11T13:06:57.317+10:00Thanks Narelle for those interesting thoughts. I&#...Thanks Narelle for those interesting thoughts. I've been studying Ecclesiastes these days for my QT and found it interesting that part of today's study was about how God gives us the power to enjoy the work that we do.<br /><br />I agree with everyone else that ALL we do is ministry - be it mopping the floors or preaching a sermon or writing a book. All our lives are worship and ministry I think - and even writing a secular book (if led by God) would be part of the 'Kingdom work'.<br /><br /><br />Thanks for sharing Narelle and may God's kingdom continue to be built through all your writing.<br />AnushaAnusha Atukoralahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00859837228901127984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-72797741401947445222012-06-11T12:02:58.857+10:002012-06-11T12:02:58.857+10:00Thanks Narelle. It's wise to think about our w...Thanks Narelle. It's wise to think about our writing in these terms. I agree with the previous comments and I'd add this: "Whatever we do, do it heartily as unto the Lord."<br />Our Christian values are always going to come through, as I'm sure we'd feel uncomfortable writing anything but moral stories. By that I'm not referring to being "preachy" either.<br /><br />The Lord's blessings on those 30 minute Bible Studies.Rita Galiehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14586506137798711397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-62245784204721190782012-06-11T12:00:12.140+10:002012-06-11T12:00:12.140+10:00Great post, Narelle. My writing is a business and ...Great post, Narelle. My writing is a business and the Lord will use my work to minister to others in ways I may never realise.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-34245837448752740972012-06-11T10:24:49.606+10:002012-06-11T10:24:49.606+10:00I feel this way too, Jo-Anne. The worker should ge...I feel this way too, Jo-Anne. The worker should get their pay, but there are times when you do give with no pay. My writing does not earn me a living, so I still have a day job. But I work towards the goal that one day it will earn me a living, because it is what I love to do.Rose Deehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00916783669139743112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-29604608065836164302012-06-11T09:58:06.465+10:002012-06-11T09:58:06.465+10:00I agree with you, Michelle, about the concept of &...I agree with you, Michelle, about the concept of 'Kingdom business' and also the concept that with Jesus at the centre, there is a flow of ministry in everything we write and do. I still feel I am very much 'ministering' when I speak in secular venues in connection with my writing. God is there and hopefully working through me as I engage with people. And I agree with Peter, too, in that we need not see it so much in terms of ministry v business. I guess I had to overcome that though when I was paid as a pastor on a ministry team. Having said all that though, I find I happily give my books away at times in order to minister to someone who would not buy one otherwise!Jo-Anne Berthelsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09775045057529728396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-14873335078427369772012-06-11T09:47:31.529+10:002012-06-11T09:47:31.529+10:00Interesting question. I have historically seen my ...Interesting question. I have historically seen my writing as a hobby, but now that I am actively working toward publication I know that it needs to be much more than that. <br /><br />I agree with Peter and Michelle in that whenever we are using the gifts that God has given us, it is a form of ministry.Adam David Collingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18072000680990534407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-86716897431293272622012-06-11T08:05:48.687+10:002012-06-11T08:05:48.687+10:00I'm with Peter. Everything we do is ministry. ...I'm with Peter. Everything we do is ministry. My husband is in real estate. Yes it is a business - but it's a Kingdom business. That is his ministry. I am an author. Is everything I write Christian - no - but through my writing comes ministry. If we keep Jesus at the centre there is a flow of ministry through everything we do.<br />But in saying that - we can't be slack and expect God to do everything for us - we need to treat writing like a business and get good at marketing and improving our skill. <br />Great post - thought provoking. <br />xxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-41014562323843851792012-06-11T07:19:37.569+10:002012-06-11T07:19:37.569+10:00For me, it's both. I don't actually see an...For me, it's both. I don't actually see any conflict: even ministers get paid (admittedly not much, but more than most writers!). There are Bible verses that support this view, but I'm too lazy to look them up at the moment. :)Peter McLennanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07446729346706052416noreply@blogger.com