“Growing Influence by Cultivating Connection”
Dear writer, I hope you enjoyed your week as you considered your publishing path! This week, we’ll wrap up our jaunt through the world of publishing by looking at the big one: traditional publishing.
Traditional publishing is a good option for those who want their book to have a wide impact across many platforms, including on the store shelves of large retailers. One big benefit of the traditional route is that you will be working with a competent and experienced team to make sure your book ready for a large audience.
On the other hand, while a traditional publisher opens unique doors and opportunities often not afforded by different paths, authors can expect to lose a bit of creative control when it comes to things like revisions, cover design, and distribution. Most large publishing houses, before they will consider the manuscript for publication, also expect authors to have built a sizeable platform for their book, and after the book releases, to spearhead much of their own marketing.
But here’s the thing, writer. If you have a message that you know is meant to reach a broad audience, and you know you need help to get there, you may want to seriously consider pursuing a traditional publishing path. The systems of traditional publishing are a journey and a process, but they can be richly rewarding ones for those willing to persevere.
Engaging Systems in History
Mother Cabrini, an Italian Catholic nun of the 1800’s, is a beautiful example of a woman who leveraged a system to reach the world. Mother Cabrini had a burning vision to build an empire of hope for orphans, beginning with the abandoned children of China. Though her requests to her superiors were repeatedly denied, she appealed to the Pope himself, who sent her instead to begin her work in the Italians slums of New York City. Obeying, Mother Cabrini patiently and persistently worked through the channels of the Roman Catholic Church, though they thought women were unfit to lead overseas missions, as well as through the corrupt halls government influences that controlled New York City itself. Though both often challenged and blatantly undermined her efforts, she persevered and established a thriving orphanage and hospital that restored the dignity of Italian immigrants. Taking all that she had learned in stride, she went on to establish the empire of hope for orphans that she had dreamed of with outreaches that spanned the globe and did, in fact, reach China.
It’s the same with us, writer. As you pursue a traditional publishing path, there are many hoops it will seem you need to jump through. But if your vision is clear, and you persistently and proactively engage the process, God will use that process to strengthen and prepare you and your work as He did with Mother Cabrini.
Engaging Systems in the Bible
Esther is another wonderful example of someone who worked patiently within a system to grow influence and then powerfully use their influence. When Esther was taken by the king’s officials in search of the next queen, she willingly submitted to the process of preparation that the King’s specialized team of eunuchs prescribed for the women. After two years of their beauty regiments and care, Esther also took their advice in preparation for her visit with the king. As a result, she won great favor in his eyes. As queen, she continued to grow that relationship, until the threat of Jewish extermination brought her to a point of crisis. In that moment, she boldly risked breaking kingly policy in order to gain an audience with the king and use her influence to rescue the Jewish people.
Here’s the interesting thing, writer. As you go through the traditional publishing process, you will need to stay close to the Lord. There may still come a time when you need to break with tradition in order to best serve the Lord’s purposes for your book and for your readers. But here’s the thing: your ability to do so will rest heavily on the favor of God and on the relationships you’ve built with your publishing team previously. Though it may seem paradoxical, traditional publishing is a highly relational industry. Often it is who we know—and who we get to know and who knows us—that God uses to open doors and reach our publishing goals.
Engaging Systems in Life
I worked through a process and a system that opened doors for me, when I encountered a difficult manager in the ministry I served. Though I knew he didn’t have the best interests of the ministry at heart, no one else recognized that fact. And I knew I was being challenged to submit and work through the processes this manager was asking of me…or be terminated. So I obeyed. To my surprise, not only did this action open remarkable doors of favor with this manager, but when the Lord changed the situation, the door was also open for me to serve the ministry overseas. A door that would have been shut if I’d not walked through the difficult part of the process as the Lord was leading me to.
Here’s the thing, writer. As you engage with the world of traditional publishing, there will be times when you will be asked to do things that you’d rather not. It’s in those moments that you must have a strong sense of God’s timing and of what He’s trying to accomplish through your work, so that you know when to bend and when to stand firm.
Engaging Systems in Your Life
Now, writer, you will notice that Cabrini, Esther, and myself all had a strong and solid sense of identity and purpose as we worked through the systems that challenged us. That sense of identity and purpose will be critical for you as well as you navigate the systems of traditional publishing. You will have to be very clear on what is not a core issue (though you may feel strongly about it!) and what is. And you will need to know where God is leading you to hang tight and let the system stretch you. There are few things that will be key in this process as you do. Your connection to the Lord, your connection to others who can pray of ran counsel you as you go, and your ability to communicate your vision. Let me show you.
- • Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. – Proverbs 3:5-6
• And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. – Habakkuk 2:2-3
• Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety. – Proverbs 11:14
You see, writer, Cabrini had a clear enough grasp of her call and purpose that she as ready to communicate it to the Pope himself! And then to Italian Senators and American politicians. Esther was prepared to do the same, and so was I, when it was time to speak overseas. But here’s the key. None of these women were prepared overnight or alone. Cabrini, Esther and myself were each prepare for our process and moments of emergence by prayer—by our ongoing conversation with the Lord who gave us the vision—and also by others around us who were able to speak crucial words of wisdom at pivotal moments. Like Mordecai with Esther and the Pope to Cabrini. It is with this kind of connection and clarity in place that amazing things can begin to happen.
Where to Begin in Engaging the Traditional Publishing Systems
Are you feeling a pull to traditional publishing and wondering where to get started? Here are f few things to consider as you explore the world of traditional publishing.
- Be Able to Clearly Articulate Your “Why.” As you enter the world of traditional publishing you will begin by seeking an agent to represent you. This is why it is critical that you are able to clearly communicate yourself and the heart, purpose, and uniqueness of your book. If you find you aren’t able to do that just now, never fear! There are many writers workshops and conferences geared to help you learn how to do just that.
- Begin to Build Relationships. As you move forward in traditional publishing, be ready to build relationships with agents, acquisition editors, and more, because here’s the thing. If you give into the temptation to look at each agent or editor or publishing representative as a ticket to your book deal, you will miss the true currency of influence: Relationship. Make sure you are intentional to grow relationships at every opportunity. Even if some (or many) amount to nothing, the reputation you build in the industry will be invaluable.
- Be Rooted in Your Purpose. Sometimes, the traditional publishing route is a process that includes a long journey with many rejections and detours, and just like Mother Cabrini or myself, you will need to have a firm grasp of your call in order to weather these storms. I strongly recommend you write down the call you feel you’ve received from God along with scriptures that speak to it and then pray over it regularly. The quickest way to lose strength is to lose track of our purpose. And it is amazing how quickly we can forget our purpose if we do not keep it continually before our eyes.
- Remain Connected. Remain connected to God and to others. You see, writer, when we work through such immense systems, there can be a great amount of pressure involved. If we try to go it alone, even with our best efforts to maintain our focus, it can become easy to become overwhelmed and lose ourselves, our purpose, and our story. Remember to share your goals and progress and challenges with those who are praying for you. Staying connected with the Lord and to those He’s given to walk with you will be key in helping you maintain your strength and focus.
Because here’s the final thing. The traditional publishing world can be an amazing way to lose or to launch your story. The success of your launch will depend entirely on the strength of your connection to God , to the vision and people He’s given you, and to those you meet in the industry. Without hat strength of connection, you will easily go astray, pushed by the strong winds of current culture. But as you maintain your focus, you will see how the Lord can use these challenges to develop and prepare the story He’s given you to make an impact beyond anything you had imagined.
Because here the beautiful thing, writer. Without friction and resistance, we would never grow stronger. Part of the journey is learning to rise to meet the challenges we face.
So, if you feel the Lord leading you toward the path of traditional publishing, don’t fear. Embrace Him and embrace the process and His people as you allow Him to guide you through. And as you willingly engage the challenges, you and your story have the potential grow in ways you never conceived to reach people you never imagined.
#writing #traditionalpublishing #courage #focus #EveryWriterWriting
