Am I a Writer if I Don’t Have a Book?

True or False? The Best Writers Have the MOST Published Books

Am I a writer if I don’t have a book? Yes!

How do you know the singers in your church? Because they have recording contracts? No. Because they sing.

How do you know the golfers in your neighborhood? Because they’re in the PGA? No. Because they golf.

If you write, you’re a writer.

My father was a volunteer fire chief for many years until it became a paid position. Was he always a fire chief? Yes. Was he always professional? Yes. Was he finally paid? Yes.

I once thought books were what writing was all about. That was my entire goal. I wanted to be one of those writers whose biography touted an ever growing list of new titles. I am undeniably impressed when an author is introduced as having written 20, 50, or even 200+ books. That’s a respectable body of work!

However, now I understand, it’s not the only way to be a writer.

Am I a writer if I don’t have a book? Absolutely!

For those writers who have long book lists, volume was never their goal. Excellence, faithfulness, obedience, and craft motivated them to write well and continue writing. Writers write.

Still, there are excellent writers with one book. Excellent writers with NO books, even.

Are the best writers the most prolific? Are the best writers those with many traditionally published books?

There is room in God’s kingdom for every type of writer, including those who labor for years and produce only one book.

Even those who never produce a book at all but use their gift of writing for His glory.

Biblical Writers:

Consider those writers God chose to write the Bible.

1. Moses, David, Isaiah, Luke, John, and Paul wrote prolifically.
2. Amos, Joel, Hosea, James, Jude, and Mark contributed one short volume each, but are they any less necessary to God’s Word?

Each writer did as they were called and each book is significant in the context of the greater work.

So it is with us.

We are writers of blogs, poems, sermons, devotions, articles, blurbs, how-to’s, tracts, TV shows, movies, songs, novels, Bible studies, skits, children’s books, Christian living books, and more.

Some will have great volumes of work read by thousands. Others will have no published material but their sermon, Christmas play, or Sunday school curriculum will bless their local congregation and impact lives.

Writers of encouraging notes to weary moms, cards to struggling teens, or letters to lonely prisoners discover their words do the work God intends.

Who are we to elevate one form of writing above another or to ignore those we deem less prestigious, hoarding our words for only that goal we imagine is best?

One Body with Many Parts

Just as the Body of Christ is one with many parts, each with a different function, so a writing ministry can take many forms.

I have traditionally published books and for that, I am glad.

But one single blog post I wrote was read over 2 million times, 1.5 million of those in a single week! It’s not likely I’ll ever have a book that reaches that many people with a vital message. Other posts I’ve written were shared many times on Facebook, some over 87,000 times!

My best work may be notes of encouragement to other writers who then don’t give up and go on to bless the kingdom with powerful words! Or the prayers I posted to Facebook during the COVID lockdown that helped express what many were feeling and united hundreds of people.

Who knows? It’s not mine to determine. I am a servant of the King and pleasing Him is my goal, not racking up new volumes for my bio.

Am I a writer if I don’t have a book? Do you write?

Focus on what fuels. 

“We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers,  remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 1:3

Is your writing a work of faith? A labor of love? A steadfastness of hope?

Dear writer, your heart, obedience, perseverance and faithfulness matter more than format and number of words.

Write on in faith. If your current focus drains your energy and zeal for the work, it could be the wrong focus. Books aren’t the goal. Volume isn’t the goal. Using our gifts for His glory and to share His truth-now that’s the goal.

Focus on what fuels the work. Leave the rest to the one writing the greater story!

I respond to every comment and reply to every email! Need a listening ear and solid feedback on your writing journey? Schedule a Brainstorming Session with me TODAY!