Yes! Your words really resonate with me. I think it's helpful to get really honest with ourselves with the ultimate goal of our writing/speaking. Is it to make a living? Is it to gain fame and influence? Is to validate our skills or our message? There may be nothing wrong with these goals, but then we need to reflect on whether we are willing to play the game to win (and count the potential costs in doing so).
For me, I stopped pursuing traditional publishing because I wasn't willing to play the game and suffer the costs anymore AND because I realized I already have what I thought a book deal would give me. The answer will be different for everyone!
"The answer will be different for everyone." Yes! My goal for this post is to present the problem and hopefully promote conversation around this issue. I want content creators to consider the "cost" as you say. Thank you for your post yesterday.
So good. While it is nice to get the likes and the reposts and recognition, I am learning it is so much more important to write to encourage others and especially important to write to give God glory. God will make sure the person who needs to read us will, even if it only touches one life. Thank you and God bless your day!
I will be thinking over this piece for a while. I am struggling with the ever growing “paywalls”, speaking fees, and the fact Christian anything is for sale.
Music-billion dollar industry. Every pastor writing a book,self publishing, and selling their book at their church. The tagline “ free but not free for me to create”. Churches with stores inside their walls.
Seems what the early church gave freely we want money.
Your words resonate! One sentence jumped off the page because I have thought it a million times: "I think it’s in the hustle that creativity and imagination get strangled." I can either create social media content daily, or create meaningful work that takes much longer than a day to create. I can't do both. And unfortunately the latter takes longer to build a solid "platform" Thanks for writing these words.
Good stuff. Your opening paragraph cracked me up. All the hustle, none of the side income. Yep, me too. Trying to find the balance between writing to increase an audience and writing FOR an audience. Blah. This is hard.
Sherry, it is SO HARD. It's hard because it's fun, isn't it? I would have given up on my Facebook page had I not had a good time doing it. It is a joy to create and write. I love it. Also, I can't believe it took me so long to get on Substack; I love it over here...so far.
Looking forward to reading some of your newsletters.
I loved your post. And how it spotlights what should matter most as a Christian content creator: responding to Him, and glorifying Him. Thank you for writing this and setting up your substack. Love your publication name.
Thank you for jumping into this conversation. More and more I am convinced that Christian writers need to leave traditional social media platforms altogether and Christian publishers need to stop weighing their numbers in their consideration of platform. They are not a neutral or amoral medium. They are designed to drain creators and divide consumers. I believe that it is possible to do my work with excellence and integrity if I put aside a mindset of scarcity and recognize that if my dreams require playing “a game” then they may not be the dreams God has for me.
Tabitha, I totally agree. Your point on “dividing consumers” is interesting. Many of us who have a following on Facebook “share” followers. It’s an over saturation and stimulation. It reduces creativity, and I believe divides the consumer because each of them has to decide which book to but or which post to share that day. Such a strange dynamic. Your point on it may not be God’s dream for you is EXACTLY where I landed with speaking. However, it was in his plans for me to speak in the secular world, just not teach the Bible. 💁🏽♀️
I’ve heard that “fitting in is the opposite of belonging.” I recognize that I’m not going to fit into the mold of Christian women’s publishing - it seems inaccessible to those in the throes of real life, which is where I’d rather make an impact. I hope we see a swing of the pendulum towards quality of content, not just popularity of creator.
It’s tough. But if you’re doing something you love to the glory of God, I’d say it’s not wasted 😊
Katie, Yes! I never felt belonging. It’s lonely on the other side of the screen when you are so desperate… and I was. After I settled and just followed the Lords leading, things fell into place in my heart.
Poet and MacArthur fellow Lewis Hyde is not, to my knowledge, a Christian, but his book The Gift (first edition 1982, various subtitles over the years) crucially helped to form my thinking about how our creative work belongs fundamentally to a gift economy and how those gifts may (or may not) be fitted into our contemporary exchange-economic culture. Spoiler alert: if you read this, you'll also understand the Bible a lot better, since it mostly references gift-economic life. Including our life with God. I'd go as far as to say that it's not possible to understand the relationship God wants with us without understanding a gift economy. Read it!
Thanks for sharing. I could almost feel the fresh air filling the room as I read your piece. Thanks for the reminder that the message and the content are the point.
Thanks for this article - interesting to hear the hustle culture you've experienced. I'm in the UK and we don't have the same level of Christian Ministry push that seems to be prevalent in the US. I've been on social media for my business (Emotion and Positive Psychology coaching and business mentoring) for a while and only last year pivoted it to a 100% Christian focus, including starting an online Christian community. I do have a strong pastoral and church leadership background as well. For me, I've always focused on writing for the one. I pray for my subscribers, I'm interested when they sign up. I don't see people as numbers or my community as a platform. What I am doing though, is creating my own "lane". Thinking deeply about how God wants me to do this and listening to my small, but growing community number of paid members. We're growing together. And I think that's what's important. For me, t's about relationship and speaking to the one heart. Large social media counts are like smoke and mirrors - we see that in Instagram - but there's not often heartfelt connection in that. Who are the people you write for Mel, and what journey is God taking them on?
Andrea, I appreciate this comment. Thank you for the challenging question at the end. I primarily speak to a Christian audience because my love for Jesus comes out. It is who I am. On the other hand, I do not want my writing to be solely focused on that audience. I am interested and want everyone to take part. I want people to feel like they can participate in my writing even if they are not Christian. I do need to think about this more. I appreciate you.
I haven’t posted in my 5-month-old Substack for presuming the burden of “managing” it all. Thank you for your cautionary tale and grounding guidance. So helpful!
Yes! Your words really resonate with me. I think it's helpful to get really honest with ourselves with the ultimate goal of our writing/speaking. Is it to make a living? Is it to gain fame and influence? Is to validate our skills or our message? There may be nothing wrong with these goals, but then we need to reflect on whether we are willing to play the game to win (and count the potential costs in doing so).
For me, I stopped pursuing traditional publishing because I wasn't willing to play the game and suffer the costs anymore AND because I realized I already have what I thought a book deal would give me. The answer will be different for everyone!
"The answer will be different for everyone." Yes! My goal for this post is to present the problem and hopefully promote conversation around this issue. I want content creators to consider the "cost" as you say. Thank you for your post yesterday.
Thank you for sharing it!
So good. While it is nice to get the likes and the reposts and recognition, I am learning it is so much more important to write to encourage others and especially important to write to give God glory. God will make sure the person who needs to read us will, even if it only touches one life. Thank you and God bless your day!
God bless you, Mary, and you are right; to God be the glory.
I will be thinking over this piece for a while. I am struggling with the ever growing “paywalls”, speaking fees, and the fact Christian anything is for sale.
Music-billion dollar industry. Every pastor writing a book,self publishing, and selling their book at their church. The tagline “ free but not free for me to create”. Churches with stores inside their walls.
Seems what the early church gave freely we want money.
Drachmas, Dinars and Shekels.... 🙋🏻♂️🤦🏼♀️🤷🏻❤️🩹😣
Your words resonate! One sentence jumped off the page because I have thought it a million times: "I think it’s in the hustle that creativity and imagination get strangled." I can either create social media content daily, or create meaningful work that takes much longer than a day to create. I can't do both. And unfortunately the latter takes longer to build a solid "platform" Thanks for writing these words.
Yes, the latter does! Thank you for commenting. Your voice is needed.
Good stuff. Your opening paragraph cracked me up. All the hustle, none of the side income. Yep, me too. Trying to find the balance between writing to increase an audience and writing FOR an audience. Blah. This is hard.
Sherry, it is SO HARD. It's hard because it's fun, isn't it? I would have given up on my Facebook page had I not had a good time doing it. It is a joy to create and write. I love it. Also, I can't believe it took me so long to get on Substack; I love it over here...so far.
Looking forward to reading some of your newsletters.
I loved your post. And how it spotlights what should matter most as a Christian content creator: responding to Him, and glorifying Him. Thank you for writing this and setting up your substack. Love your publication name.
Thank you. You made me smile today.
This is so good! I'm with you!
The struggle is REAL.
Grace and Peace to you! ⛲ ☦️🕯️🌹🌙🌴 📯 ♥️ ⚓ 📖
Thank you Robert!
Yes Trisha, all bothersome.
Thank you for jumping into this conversation. More and more I am convinced that Christian writers need to leave traditional social media platforms altogether and Christian publishers need to stop weighing their numbers in their consideration of platform. They are not a neutral or amoral medium. They are designed to drain creators and divide consumers. I believe that it is possible to do my work with excellence and integrity if I put aside a mindset of scarcity and recognize that if my dreams require playing “a game” then they may not be the dreams God has for me.
Tabitha, I totally agree. Your point on “dividing consumers” is interesting. Many of us who have a following on Facebook “share” followers. It’s an over saturation and stimulation. It reduces creativity, and I believe divides the consumer because each of them has to decide which book to but or which post to share that day. Such a strange dynamic. Your point on it may not be God’s dream for you is EXACTLY where I landed with speaking. However, it was in his plans for me to speak in the secular world, just not teach the Bible. 💁🏽♀️
I’m so glad you were able to discern your path in the end, even if the journey has had its challenges.
Appreciate these thoughts.
I’ve heard that “fitting in is the opposite of belonging.” I recognize that I’m not going to fit into the mold of Christian women’s publishing - it seems inaccessible to those in the throes of real life, which is where I’d rather make an impact. I hope we see a swing of the pendulum towards quality of content, not just popularity of creator.
It’s tough. But if you’re doing something you love to the glory of God, I’d say it’s not wasted 😊
Katie, Yes! I never felt belonging. It’s lonely on the other side of the screen when you are so desperate… and I was. After I settled and just followed the Lords leading, things fell into place in my heart.
Poet and MacArthur fellow Lewis Hyde is not, to my knowledge, a Christian, but his book The Gift (first edition 1982, various subtitles over the years) crucially helped to form my thinking about how our creative work belongs fundamentally to a gift economy and how those gifts may (or may not) be fitted into our contemporary exchange-economic culture. Spoiler alert: if you read this, you'll also understand the Bible a lot better, since it mostly references gift-economic life. Including our life with God. I'd go as far as to say that it's not possible to understand the relationship God wants with us without understanding a gift economy. Read it!
I really appreciate this suggestion. I have been contemplating this issue A LOT. Thank you. I will read it and write about it 😃.
Thanks for sharing. I could almost feel the fresh air filling the room as I read your piece. Thanks for the reminder that the message and the content are the point.
Millie, I appreciate your words of encouragement. Thank you.
Thank you for speaking these words!!!
Thank you for reading them.
Thanks for this article - interesting to hear the hustle culture you've experienced. I'm in the UK and we don't have the same level of Christian Ministry push that seems to be prevalent in the US. I've been on social media for my business (Emotion and Positive Psychology coaching and business mentoring) for a while and only last year pivoted it to a 100% Christian focus, including starting an online Christian community. I do have a strong pastoral and church leadership background as well. For me, I've always focused on writing for the one. I pray for my subscribers, I'm interested when they sign up. I don't see people as numbers or my community as a platform. What I am doing though, is creating my own "lane". Thinking deeply about how God wants me to do this and listening to my small, but growing community number of paid members. We're growing together. And I think that's what's important. For me, t's about relationship and speaking to the one heart. Large social media counts are like smoke and mirrors - we see that in Instagram - but there's not often heartfelt connection in that. Who are the people you write for Mel, and what journey is God taking them on?
Andrea, I appreciate this comment. Thank you for the challenging question at the end. I primarily speak to a Christian audience because my love for Jesus comes out. It is who I am. On the other hand, I do not want my writing to be solely focused on that audience. I am interested and want everyone to take part. I want people to feel like they can participate in my writing even if they are not Christian. I do need to think about this more. I appreciate you.
I haven’t posted in my 5-month-old Substack for presuming the burden of “managing” it all. Thank you for your cautionary tale and grounding guidance. So helpful!
Thank you for commenting. I have found Substack refreshing, but I am quickly realizing that it can become consuming, too.