What Is Your Writing Dream?

Yvonne Lehman

Your answer will vary according to your gifts, experience, expertise, and God’s leading. Christian writers generally want to glorify God, make a difference in the lives of readers, and use our talents and opportunities for good.

After I attended my first writers conference, my dream became to change the world, humbly accept the inevitable fame and fortune, and cheerfully give God 10 percent.

Motivation

I was young and inexperienced, but that dream motivated me. When my first book was rejected, I wondered what had happened to God’s leading. Eventually, I realized I wasn’t accomplished, but I had potential. I returned to school and took every writing, English, and literature course available, one at a time.

Writing for the Soul

Get the tools you need to pursue your dream and receive spiritual enrichment at the Writing for the Soul conference. Enroll today.

After my first two books were published, others were rejected. I knew I needed more training. The only writers conferences I knew of were Mt. Hermon in California and the Billy Graham School in Minneapolis. I couldn’t afford to travel, so for two and a half years I tried to get someone to start a conference in North Carolina. I had no idea God would choose me to lead the conference when I was the least capable. But He shows His strength in the weakest of us when we are willing to let Him lead.

Surrendering

It’s easy to praise God and proclaim His goodness when my books are published; but I’ve questioned my dream when manuscripts were rejected. My faith seems smaller than a grain of mustard seed when things look bleak. Yet, surrendering my dream to God never fails to bring a blessing. He has allowed me to be published and for more than 25 years to be a part of other writers’ lives through my conferences.

Pursue your goals and dreams. But surrender them to God and His leading. God’s dream for me was so much bigger and better than I could have imagined.

Yvonne Lehman has written short stories, articles, and 48 historical and contemporary novels in the categories of mainstream, biblical, romance, young adult, mystery, and women’s fiction. Her collection of three historical Hawaiian novels, Aloha Brides, will release in April 2011.