Why do you write?

“I just love it.”

“I can’t not write.”

“There’s a story bursting inside of me.”

Those are good answers. But is it enough to guide you through the challenges that stand between you and the writer you want to be?

You’re not alone.

The Company is Melissa and I’s ministry. Our primary intention is to help writers change the world. The biggest factor in our decision making is what will best serve that mission.

But it’s also a business, and it’s my job. I’ve spent seven years building this organization, and I get paid in large part because people use the services that we offer.

I’ll be real with you: if we don’t have members and we don’t have apprentices, I’m going to have a real tough time feeding my kids.

I live in this tension between the good things that God has commissioned us to do, and the very practical need to run a business.

Sometimes I can get so focused on the small stuff of running a business day-to-day, that I can forget about the big “why” behind it.

Being an entrepreneur is hard, no matter what business you’re in. There are so many things that need done, all the time. My task list is always bigger than the time available. Always.

Now multiply that by starting an in-person school for writers in 2020s America that only accepts dedicated Christians. Sometimes it can feel like the cards are stacked against us.

It’s not bad. I really love our community of writers. I want to make sure that we’re providing good, helpful stuff to you. If you’re paying for a membership, I want to make sure that what you receive is worth 10x what you’re paying. I want you to have a great experience and I want you to tell your friends about it.

As a time management strategy, it’s actually pretty smart to just focus on the next task that needs done. It wouldn’t be very smart to walk around with my head in the clouds all day.

When I get into that place of just trying to get the job done, it can be easy to slip into a mindset of just trying not to lose. Please God help me not fail at this. In that place of just trying to get through the next month, it’s easy to forget what a “win” even looks like.

I can’t let myself forget the big reason we’re doing this. It’s not just because I wanted a cool job. I already had a cool job before this. I’d already built a publishing business to the point that I didn’t have to do much of anything I didn’t want to do.

I gave all that up to start again because God called me for a reason.

We’re here to change the American media. That’s why we train writers. The entertainment industry, books included, is a cesspool. We believe that the Earth is the Lord’s and everything in it (Psalm 24:1). That includes the book publishing industry! We believe that God has better plans for this industry, and that we’re part of His plan to redeem it and make it serve His purposes.

I think it’s awesome that Alli Prince graduated from our apprenticeship, and she’s now a bestselling author. That’s incredible. But can we pat ourselves on the back and go home now? By no means! We need a thousand Alli Princes!

But if I’m not careful, I can get distracted. I can get distracted by our struggles to build this ministry, and I can just as easily be distracted by our successes.

I have to be intentional about spending time with the Lord, and revisiting the big mission he has for us.

And it’s exactly the same for you.

Becoming a professional writer is really hard. It’s statistically as challenging as becoming an Olympic medalist.

It can be so easy to just get caught up in the next task, just trying to do the next smart thing, trying anything to just not fail (please God, help me)…that we forget why we’re doing this in the first place.

We can so easily write from a place of: just don’t fail, just don’t embarrass yourself, just put up a good showing.

But that’s not what God called you for.

And maybe that’s not something you’ve even considered before. Maybe writing just sounds like a good job, or you just really like to tell stories so it seemed natural to try to make something of it.

But check this out: if God has gifted you as a writer, He’s given you that gift for a reason.

Writers are leaders in the Church. Like it or not. There’s no way to be a successful writer without thousands of people listening to what you say.

Even if you’re writing fiction, the values, themes, and stories you tell are guiding your readers—for better or worse.

Ephesians 4:12 tells us that God gifts leaders in the Church “to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” 1 Peter 4:10 says, “As each has received a gift, let him use it to serve one another.”

If God has gifted you as a writer, then He has more purpose for you than just a cool job. He has purpose for you that will serve His Kingdom.

And that’s a wonderful thing!

Rejoice! God has purpose for you that will draw you through all of the hard things that stand between you and your dreams of writing.

And it’s not a secret. We don’t always get the full picture all at once, but He’s always faithful to share the next piece of the vision, so that we can walk forward in faith.

Ask God! Why should you write? What purpose does He have for you?

Then keep your ears open. You may hear his voice in your head. You may hear his voice out loud. Something may leap off the page as you read the Bible. A brother or sister in Christ may say something (maybe without even knowing they’ve done it) that sparks something in your heart. God may inspire you with the story of another writer or a missionary.

And God may lead you with compassion. What breaks your heart?

Discerning that purpose can be a big job. At our apprenticeship, we spend a lot of time talking and praying together to dial in the answer to this question.

But I encourage you to begin to seek the Lord for it.

So often, understanding your purpose as a writer is the piece that makes all of the other moving parts finally fit together.

Once you know, once you can raise your vision up above all of the overwhelming tasks in front of you, then your heart will be ready to do whatever it takes to serve Jesus, even unto death.

Your eyes will be looking forward to that big win on the horizon (far as it may be!), rather than just trying desperately to not embarrass yourself.

As we move into the new year, I sense the Lord calling Melissa and I to keep our vision up. We need to be intentional about revisiting the big mission God has called us to, so that we don’t get lost in trying to do the work and make payroll.

And I believe that’s His message for our community as well. Do the work, yes. But keep your eyes up. Let Jesus fill in your vision, and let Jesus provide your big “why”.

Do you already know your big “why”? Share it with us in a comment below.

---

God made community for humans. Let’s do this together.

Sign up for our free newsletter so that you can stay in the loop. We’ll also send you a free copy of our publishing guide to welcome you.