The Power of Knowing Your Why
For Writers: The Power of Knowing your Why
Any goal worth achieving takes persistence and focus, and any dream worth dreaming takes resilience and hard work. This is why it is so important to know your “Why.”
When I stepped out to publish my first Christian book in 2017, I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but I had no clue just how much would be required. I self published a 21-day wellness focused devotional and quickly became overwhelmed with all the things I read and heard I should do to market and promote the book. You could say I was a little naive, thinking that once it released the ‘hard’ work was over. So what did I do? Very little, actually. I didn’t market it online, and I didn’t even spread the word much.
Fast forward to 2020 and I decided to step out in faith and submit my children’s book manuscript to a small press publisher. Six months later I signed a contract with Ambassador International, and now the third book in my Questions for Kids picture book series recently released, with a fourth one coming soon. What a wild ride! I’ve learned a lot, I’ve grown a lot, and I’ve prayed a lot.
This brings me to the Power of your Why. If my ‘why’ in writing was to achieve easy fame and fortune, then I would have given up long ago. Because let’s face it, any important goal won’t be easy or happen overnight. It will require resources of time and money, focus, persistence, and stepping out in bold faith. Which is why it’s important to know your ‘why’ as a writer and author.
Here’s my Why:
I write because words matter and impact lives. I write because God has made it clear it is an act of obedience to Him. I write because my desire has never gone away.
Why do I write children’s books? I can narrow it down to one word: influence.
Picture books help children learn about the world around them and are often the beginning point for a lifelong love of books. Books teach kids about important character qualities and help them form an understanding of right and wrong. Some books help prepare kids for new stages, ages, and opportunities. I write children’s books because I want to make a difference in the lives of children through colorful, creative books that point them to Jesus!
So, what is your why?
If you’ve never done this before, now would be a great time. It’s a fantastic way to get quiet with God and focused for the future. If it’s been awhile since you’ve re-visited (and perhaps revised) your ‘why’ now would be a great time for that, too.
Here are some prompts to get you going and some Bible verses to cheer you on in your own writing goals and dreams. I want to encourage you to remember on those days when your to-do list is long and your focus a little blurred that your big goal is in the hands of a loving God. The Father loves you and has only good plans for you, and that includes your writing dream. Will it be easy? Will you enjoy fame and fortune? Not necessarily, but you will grow in your faith and trust in God as you continue to surrender your dreams and sense of control to Him. God sees the big picture. When we walk in alignment with His Word and in His way, continually committing our writing to Him, He will empower us with grace and strength. He will open the right doors at the right time. For Christians, the writing dream is about much more than personal ambition and human effort. It’s about relying on God, investing in His Kingdom, and planting seeds for eternity.
Prompts to get you started:
What do you like to write about? What topics and themes excite you?
Where do you find inspiration? What people, places, or ideas grab a hold of you?
What motivates you to write? Do you enjoy writing on serious or lighthearted topics? Do you write from your testimony or from fantasy? Do you write as a way to understand or just to delight readers?
Who do you share your writing with? Who is the one person or group that needs your writing?
What is God speaking to you? Ask God what He desires for your writing. Seek Him for writing ideas that align with His best.
Bible verses to keep you going:
Psalm 37:4-5 “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this.”
Proverbs 3:6 “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.”
Hebrews 10:35-36 “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”
2 Chronicles 15:7 “But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”
A prayer for writers:
Heavenly Father, you see the desires of our hearts. You promise to give us the desires of our hearts if we delight ourselves in you. So help us do that God. Let Your Presence be more important to us than any dream or goal. Let time spent with you be our favorite time of day. And Lord God, help us to write in a way that pleases you and brings you Glory. Holy Spirit, inspire us to write and pursue paths that are part of your good plans for us. With you all things are possible, so we commit our writing and our ways to you, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Karen Ferguson is a writer and children’s author with a background in K-8 education and a passion for pointing young readers to God’s unchangeable truths, and His unchanging love. Her picture book series, Questions for Kids, takes young readers on exciting adventures into the Bible where they discover unique periods in Bible history and learn important life lessons right alongside the main characters, curious young Lucy and her trusted advisor Papa Joe. She also hosts the 5-Minute Parenting podcast, a resource for parents who want to raise competent and God-confident kids.
When not writing or exploring new places, Karen enjoys eating dark chocolate, spending time with family, and volunteering in her community of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. You can connect with Karen on Facebook and Instagram and sign up for her free newsletterto be the first to know about book updates, giveaways, and more.
