I am not a confident person. However, I’m the daughter of an Army Ranger and I have always respected and appreciated strength and courage. Because I consider my personal lack of confidence as a weakness, I’ve always stood up to it and done things anyway with strength and courage, even though the entire time I am nervous and apprehensive and certain that failure is in front of me.
My mission statement as a writer is: To prayerfully craft stories as modern-day parables to uplift fellow believers and minister to seekers in our fallen world.
Writing is a terrifying career. I spend weeks or months crafting and creating, writing with my mission statement in the forefront of my mind. I pray before every writing/editing session. I take long walks every day communing with God and letting my mind empty so that I can be still and hear God’s direction in my stories. And then it’s time to take that creation that was pulled from my very soul and lay it out there for readers to consume and, often, critique.
I’ve published 32 books, and, still, on release day, I’m a wreck. I’m certain it’s the worst thing that’s ever been published, that the reviews will pour in and be filled with condemnation and criticism. It’s never happened, but there’s still time (heh).
The super duper cool thing is, though, that whenever I get overwhelmed with doubt in a way that paralyzes my writing (which is more often than I’m willing to admit), every single time I will get an email from a reader. In that moment. I’m not kidding. I have gotten so many emails over the years from readers that specifically address the way one of my books has encouraged her faith walk, her marriage, her relationship with Christ, her relationship with family. They come when I start stressing about what I’m doing and why I’m doing it and what if I can’t do it anymore — then I’ll get an email with words like this one:
I just wanted to say “thank you” for providing me with reading that is a positive use of my time and allowed for additional thought and reflection in my own spiritual life (through your characters).
I say all this to say — as readers, if we ever feel the compulsion to reach out to our authors and send them a note of encouragement, we might possibly be getting a nudge from the Holy Spirit to lift up and encourage a writer who is struggling with doubt. I want to encourage you to go ahead and send that email or that card. It’s entirely possible that the words you have are exactly what that authors needs in that moment.
If you have done it, on behalf of authors writing with God in the center of their mission statements, thank you. You have no idea what an impact you have.
How do you garner encouragement? One commenter will receive an autographed paperback of my latest release, Alexandra’s Appeal.
Alexandra Fisher and Jonathan Dixon meet in a honky-tonk outside of Nashville and instantly share a mutual attraction. That night, Alex decides to take control of her life while, simultaneously, a horrific news story sends Jon back into a tailspin. They both make bad decisions that result in permanent consequences. Back home, Alex stands up to her father and finds herself alone, pregnant, and cut off. She journeys to Atlanta, hoping Jon can help. Arriving at a mutual understanding of faith while looking through very different worldviews, they cling to each other, uniting as one, and learn to connect with God. But will family strife and all their baggage destroy their marriage before it even gets off the ground?
With over half a million sales, Hallee Bridgeman is a best-selling Christian author who writes action-packed romantic suspense focusing on realistic characters who face real-world problems. Her work has been described as everything from refreshing to heart-stopping exciting and edgy. Hallee loves coffee, campy action movies, and regular date nights with her husband. Above all else, she loves God with all of her heart, soul, mind, and strength; has been redeemed by the blood of Christ; and relies on the presence of the Holy Spirit to guide her. Subscribers to Hallee's newsletter get her bestselling contemporary romance COURTING CALLA for free! Sign up by clicking the newsletter icon below or going here: http://www.halleebridgeman.com/newsletter
Can I ask what exactly you mean by how do you garner encouragement?
I can then answer cos I am not quite sure what it means
A long time I have said that I want to be maybe an author in the future. But when I said to people how much time I spend to write, they say: you will be definitely an author in the future! So, when I’m feeling not good about writing itself, I tell my best friends and they say: you got this! So that makes me happier. Thank you for this post!
I just want you to know that you have definitely touched me through your writing, every time!
I’ve loved your books since I read the Jewel series, and I LOVED Alexandra’s Appeal!!! I pray for CF authors just about every day, and you’re one of the ones, all of the Inspy authors are! I try to encourage authors through reviews, too!
I have truly been blessed by every one of your books that I have read. I love the Jewel series and all of the books of yours that I have read. God has gifted you and you inspire us with your stories. I am touched by your words. We all struggle with insecurities in different was or not being good enough but need to remember that God is always there and with us even when we don’t think or feel Him. That is what helps me keep going, the Bible, and the wonderful and uplifting stories for authors like yourself. Thank you for continuing to do what God has called you to.
I think its so nice to offer encouragement to others, and I’m so glad that authors are encouraged by notes from readers. I’m not much for writing reviews, but lately I’ve been trying to be better at that as a way to help authors and may brighten their days if/when they see my reviews.
I was hooked on your writing from the very 1st time I read 1 of your books – Sapphire Ice.
Your characters are always so real and the way you highlight there spiritual struggles and triumphs is endearing.
This was a great post, reminding me to thank the authors that I read! As a reader, I want to encourage authors to keep on writing.
I enjoyed this post and I Truly appreciate All authors who share their God-given gift of writing so that us readers can enjoy and reflect about things by reading their books that are so good. A Great Big Thank you to All the Authors, God Bless you all !
“For you are timeless and part of a puzzle.
You are winsome and young as a lad,
And there is no disease or no struggle
That can pull you from God,
Be Ye Glad!”
You have more than got what it takes, my sister. Tell any voice that says otherwise to either leave or start helping! You are a daughter of the King and no one has the right to speak to you that way. Even you. :)
I have emailed authors on occasion (or sent a Facebook message) if a book touched me in some way. I know they love to hear that, it encourages them just as much as it did me :-)
I have a circle of friends to lean on when I need support, encouragement, or to be uplifted.
Hallee says ; Writing is a terrifying career.
I couldn’t agree more, Hallee. I have always, always loved reading, but I found writing the most intimating effort. I can remember so often writing what I thought was an amazing paper, article, story, review, etc. and having a teacher say ‘What is this?’ – Scary indeed, and that is the reason why I read and don’t write. To all you authors out there, God bless you for putting your best self out there into books. Keep writing and I’ll keep reading.
I encourage by writing emails or messages. I get on an Author team and promote their books. I try to always write a review for every book I read.
That is awesome:”To prayerfully craft stories as modern-day parables to uplift fellow believers and minister to seekers in our fallen world.”
thank you!
Reviews are so encouraging! So is knowing that a reader wants to promote.
Thank you for reading! :-)
That’s wonderful! I have really great friends that offer amazing encouragement, too.
That’s wonderful, Trixi!
Thank you! (That’s similar to what my husband says to me. ‘No one talks about my wife that way.’) LOL
Thank you, Alicia! God bless you!
I’m so happy it provided a reminder to you! Thank you!
This makes me very happy. Thank you!
Thank you so much, Paula. I love your support!
I love that your friends encourage you! Yay!
Garner means to get – to gather.
I guess I am still a little confused as to how to answer the question. As I am not sure how I gather encouragement. When I read a book I like or can’t put down I like to let the author know how much I enjoyed the book. Or if they mention something that I relate to or in the case of Cheryl Wyatt mentioning cricket I let them know that too.
For myself when I turned 50 I thought I wouldn’t be able to do much so I made a 50th album with notes from people about little stories about our friendship and notes of encouragement (Thought I would be recovering from surgery but it happened a month earlier) Its nice to look at when I need that pick me up.
I have reached out with positive comments on posts the author may have on Facebook or respond to an email. I try to spread encouragement to other’s everyday. You never know when the person in front of you had someone tell them that they are doing a great job. Right now during the pandemic, a great amount of people working in grocery stores have been working long hours. I thank them for all their hard work. I can see their eyes brighten that someone cared enough to thank them.
I like let people know when they have made a difference in my life. For authors if I have access then I like to leave reviews when I am able to. I am on a number of author mailing lists and when I have a feeling I will reply and often as you say it is something that they appreciated. On a personal note Hallee, I understand you think you aren’t confident, your work is beautifully crafted and something enduring for you to be very proud of.