Drew, I came across your page this morning “accidentally” and I’m so glad I did. I recently deleted my entire, “hard-earned”, aesthetically pleasing Instagram account (and it wasn’t even hard for me to do, which told me all I needed to know). It has become the place where I volleyed for digital attention and straddled the line between what I share, how much I share and how I share it. All in order to get a book deal for a faith centric book I started when I was 26. I’m now 36 and have been wondering many of the same things you wrote here and have come to many of the same conclusions.
Thanks for this.
The metrics of the kingdom far outlast those of the algorithm and swipes of a finger ready for the next hit.
Wow, Rachel, we have strikingly parallel stories! I began my book at 23 and am now 30 and have spent years chasing after the coveted "10,000 follower" metric for a book deal. Eventually I just had to let go of the chase because it wasn't worth my own health and relationship with God and others in my life.
I am often reminded of the feeding of the 5,000. All I have is five loaves and two fish, but I believe God is able to multiply it if God decides to. Or maybe not--maybe my writing will be good nourishment to like five people. And I'm praying (on my good days ha) that that is enough.
I really loved these sentiments, Drew. They were honest and helpful. I particularly related to the idea of your writing being rather quiet. I feel the same way about my own modest writing endeavors, and have had to get comfortable with the truth that my voice and life and place from which I write is not in demand or of interest to many people. And that's okay! But it also stings a bit, to work so hard on something and have people, even the ones who are close to you, to not see the value in it unless virality is associated with it. "I always knew not to sell my soul to gain the world. But what if I’m selling God to gain the world?" ... That's a question that I think was/is stirring within me as well. Thanks for sharing your reflection with others!
Grace wow thank you so much for your kind words, and it is SO wonderful to know there are others wrestling through this weird middle place of wanting to share our writing but not necessarily being "viral" writers. I have recently realized that no one will ever know the amount of time I spend writing and thinking and processing, but I'm learning (or trying to learn) that is okay. God wants me to write, and perhaps it's more for my own growth than anyone else's.
I just subscribed to your substack and am stoked to read along to your own journey with writing!
Right there with you, Drew. It's a weird time to be an adult that really enjoys being creative, but also lives in an age where creativity is viewed as important only if it's got commercial value. But then ya gotta be honest with yourself in the process of unearthing why it is we really write, as you are...
And yes, Food & Stuff is my humorous hobby newsletter! I write more "serious" stuff on the Mockingbird blog sometimes, too! Though that stuff is not that serious either; I've written essays about being sweaty, or sucking at softball. https://mbird.com/author/grace-leuenberger/
Your Wendell Berry background really interests me! I feel like quotes from his stuff makes its way into my writing a lot! Thanks, Drew, again, for your honest voice! Glad to follow along.
The publishing industry is brutal out there for sure, and influencer culture doesn't help either. My forthcoming book racked up 76 rejections before finding a publisher after 9 years of working on it.
I've had to find my writing motivation outside of publication. Kurt Vonnegut said, "the practicing of any art--be it painting, music, dance, literature, or whatever--is not a way to make money or become famous. It's a way to make your soul grow."
I write to grow my soul, so it becomes tangled in my spirituality (in a good way), and I have lots of private scribbled notebooks and sometimes, stuff in those notebooks sees public light, but the more I do this writing thing, the more careful I am about what remains private, what goes public, and why.
YES. You just put into words what I am discovering with my writing. It's funny because most of my writing used to be totally for public consumption. Now I'm realizing boundaries might not be a bad thing with writing; there will always be a piece of me that wants to share what I write, but I'm learning to be discerning about what is shared and the way it's shared. Very grateful for your example and kindness in sharing the time it took to find a landing place for your book!
Thank you for sharing these thoughts, Drew. I am about to begin a Master of Divinity program, seeking to learn more about the Word of God so I can help others understand its richness through my writing, but I have no desire for a platform. I have wondered if it’s worth it to pursue a degree when my acquired knowledge will likely only be shared with members of local church, and this newsletter was a beautiful reminder that we don’t need the fame or the money to justify the words, the ministry, or the time that the Lord has given us to steward. Knowing Him more is enough of a reward. I look forward to reading your book, even if only in newsletter form for now!
Alexis! Wow thank you! What you shared reminds me of something I just read in from Eugene Peterson in his "Run With the Horses." He writes about his first ministry job in a big church and being asked by congregants to start a Bible study. There were about nine attendees, but after a little bit the head pastor asked him to shut it down because it was a waste of their resources--there weren't enough people attending. Peterson was appalled and left that position as soon as he could. I am so glad there are people like you in the world, pursuing what the Lord is calling you to with faithfulness and a desire to serve those around you :)
Drew, I came across your page this morning “accidentally” and I’m so glad I did. I recently deleted my entire, “hard-earned”, aesthetically pleasing Instagram account (and it wasn’t even hard for me to do, which told me all I needed to know). It has become the place where I volleyed for digital attention and straddled the line between what I share, how much I share and how I share it. All in order to get a book deal for a faith centric book I started when I was 26. I’m now 36 and have been wondering many of the same things you wrote here and have come to many of the same conclusions.
Thanks for this.
The metrics of the kingdom far outlast those of the algorithm and swipes of a finger ready for the next hit.
Wow, Rachel, we have strikingly parallel stories! I began my book at 23 and am now 30 and have spent years chasing after the coveted "10,000 follower" metric for a book deal. Eventually I just had to let go of the chase because it wasn't worth my own health and relationship with God and others in my life.
I am often reminded of the feeding of the 5,000. All I have is five loaves and two fish, but I believe God is able to multiply it if God decides to. Or maybe not--maybe my writing will be good nourishment to like five people. And I'm praying (on my good days ha) that that is enough.
So grateful for writers like you. Thank you for the encouragement and the affirmation that quietness has value and merit, too.
Paige! Thank you so much--I am a big fan of your writing and your work!
I really loved these sentiments, Drew. They were honest and helpful. I particularly related to the idea of your writing being rather quiet. I feel the same way about my own modest writing endeavors, and have had to get comfortable with the truth that my voice and life and place from which I write is not in demand or of interest to many people. And that's okay! But it also stings a bit, to work so hard on something and have people, even the ones who are close to you, to not see the value in it unless virality is associated with it. "I always knew not to sell my soul to gain the world. But what if I’m selling God to gain the world?" ... That's a question that I think was/is stirring within me as well. Thanks for sharing your reflection with others!
Grace wow thank you so much for your kind words, and it is SO wonderful to know there are others wrestling through this weird middle place of wanting to share our writing but not necessarily being "viral" writers. I have recently realized that no one will ever know the amount of time I spend writing and thinking and processing, but I'm learning (or trying to learn) that is okay. God wants me to write, and perhaps it's more for my own growth than anyone else's.
I just subscribed to your substack and am stoked to read along to your own journey with writing!
Right there with you, Drew. It's a weird time to be an adult that really enjoys being creative, but also lives in an age where creativity is viewed as important only if it's got commercial value. But then ya gotta be honest with yourself in the process of unearthing why it is we really write, as you are...
And yes, Food & Stuff is my humorous hobby newsletter! I write more "serious" stuff on the Mockingbird blog sometimes, too! Though that stuff is not that serious either; I've written essays about being sweaty, or sucking at softball. https://mbird.com/author/grace-leuenberger/
Your Wendell Berry background really interests me! I feel like quotes from his stuff makes its way into my writing a lot! Thanks, Drew, again, for your honest voice! Glad to follow along.
Oh boy Grace wow I feel like we have a LOT of common interests! Emailing you now and stoked to follow along to your newsletter and written pieces!
The publishing industry is brutal out there for sure, and influencer culture doesn't help either. My forthcoming book racked up 76 rejections before finding a publisher after 9 years of working on it.
I've had to find my writing motivation outside of publication. Kurt Vonnegut said, "the practicing of any art--be it painting, music, dance, literature, or whatever--is not a way to make money or become famous. It's a way to make your soul grow."
I write to grow my soul, so it becomes tangled in my spirituality (in a good way), and I have lots of private scribbled notebooks and sometimes, stuff in those notebooks sees public light, but the more I do this writing thing, the more careful I am about what remains private, what goes public, and why.
Thanks, Drew, sharing your experience.
Sarah,
YES. You just put into words what I am discovering with my writing. It's funny because most of my writing used to be totally for public consumption. Now I'm realizing boundaries might not be a bad thing with writing; there will always be a piece of me that wants to share what I write, but I'm learning to be discerning about what is shared and the way it's shared. Very grateful for your example and kindness in sharing the time it took to find a landing place for your book!
-drew
Thank you for sharing these thoughts, Drew. I am about to begin a Master of Divinity program, seeking to learn more about the Word of God so I can help others understand its richness through my writing, but I have no desire for a platform. I have wondered if it’s worth it to pursue a degree when my acquired knowledge will likely only be shared with members of local church, and this newsletter was a beautiful reminder that we don’t need the fame or the money to justify the words, the ministry, or the time that the Lord has given us to steward. Knowing Him more is enough of a reward. I look forward to reading your book, even if only in newsletter form for now!
Alexis! Wow thank you! What you shared reminds me of something I just read in from Eugene Peterson in his "Run With the Horses." He writes about his first ministry job in a big church and being asked by congregants to start a Bible study. There were about nine attendees, but after a little bit the head pastor asked him to shut it down because it was a waste of their resources--there weren't enough people attending. Peterson was appalled and left that position as soon as he could. I am so glad there are people like you in the world, pursuing what the Lord is calling you to with faithfulness and a desire to serve those around you :)