Wondering if God is really calling you to write a book? Here are five signs you can actually check, not five feelings to wait on.

Most of us are waiting for something unmistakable. A voice. A dream. Someone walking up to us with a word that settles it once and for all.

And while we wait for that, we walk right past the ways He has been confirming it for years.

The signs God is calling you to write a book are usually already in your house. They are in your journals, your notes app, the talks you gave at church, the same conversation people keep starting with you. You did not count them because they did not look like what you were expecting.

CJ and I have been walking alongside Kingdom Writers since 2010, and we have helped over 1,000 of them finish and publish the book God put on their hearts. We have had this conversation hundreds of times. By the time somebody asks us the question, the answer is usually sitting right there.

So here are five signs. Not five feelings. Five things you can go look at today.

You do not need a seminary degree. You do not need a platform. And it does not matter one bit whether you were good at English in high school.

Stay with me for the fifth one. It is the one most people already have and dismiss, and it is usually the clearest confirmation of all.

Sign 1: The idea will not leave you

The most common sign is the one people trust the least. An idea that keeps returning over years, without you feeding it, is worth taking seriously as a calling rather than a passing interest.

It comes back in the shower. At two in the morning. In the middle of a sermon that had nothing to do with it. You have tried to set it down. You told yourself you were too busy, or that someone else already wrote it better.

But here is where discernment matters. Not every idea you cannot shake is from God. Some things stick around because they are from Him. Other things stick around because we want them.

The check is this: did you keep this alive, or did it keep itself alive?

There is a real difference between an idea you have been feeding and an idea that survived on its own while you were busy raising a family, working, caring for people, and serving in ministry.

If it kept itself alive through a season when you had nothing left to give it, pay attention to that.

Sign 2: You already have the material

Look at what is already in your house. Journals, notes on your phone, blog posts, talks you have given at church, devotionals you wrote for your family. Most writers who ask whether they are called have been quietly collecting for years without calling it that.

CJ calls this the kindling for your writing fire.

Rosemary, one of the writers we have worked with, set out to write a simple lead magnet with ten tips in it. When she finished, she realized it was the start of a book, because she already had a story for every single tip.

Another writer, Roberta, had been writing poems and testimonies for thirty-three years before she saw the book sitting inside them.

Neither one was collecting on purpose. They just kept writing about the same thing.

God usually gives you the material before He gives you the assignment.

That pile is not nothing. That pile is the sign.

If you write fiction, this works the same way. It is the story you keep starting. The same character who will not go away. The same question you keep writing your way around. If writing time is what you are short on, here is how to find time to write a book in a full season.

Sign 3: Your story lines up with the message

This sign gets missed because it involves the part of your life you would rather not talk about. The thing you walked through. The years you would take back if you could. Very often that is exactly what the book is about.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 says God comforts us in our troubles so that we can comfort others with the comfort we ourselves have received.

Notice that the comfort has a direction. It came to you, and it was never meant to stop with you.

If the message you want to write is the message you needed and did not have, pay attention to that.

This is where a lot of writers get stuck on whether they are qualified. You are thinking about credentials. Many times God is talking about experience.

My best selling book, Broken Crayons Still Color, came out of the stories I would rather not tell. My deepest, darkest seasons. That book is the reason we are now on YouVersion, where we have 24 devotional plans.

I was a math and science person with a degree in physical therapy. English was my worst subject in high school. I have still written and published over 50 books, and together CJ and I have published over 70.

God uses our weaknesses for His strength.

Sign 4: Other people keep confirming it

People who do not know each other keep telling you the same thing. That pattern, not any single compliment, is the sign worth weighing.

The words are usually some version of “you should write this down” or “have you ever thought about writing a book?”

Be careful here too. Encouragement is not always a calling. Kind people say kind things.

What matters is the pattern, not the compliment.

Not one person being nice. The same specific thing, coming from people who have never met each other. They did not get in a room and coordinate. They have never met, and you keep hearing the same thing.

Pay attention to what they are actually pointing at. Usually it is not “you are a good writer.” It is “the way you explained that is what helped me.”

Listen for that one.

Wise counsel has always been one of the ways God confirms direction. We just expect it to show up looking more official than it does.

Think back to the people who have said something to you. Did they actually know each other?

Sign 5: You care more about the reader than the book

Here is the one almost nobody counts, and we think it is the clearest sign of all. When you picture the book finished, what do you actually see?

It is not wrong to want to be a published author. That is a good goal. But which one speaks louder?

Are you picturing the bestseller list and the book contract? Or are you picturing the person reading it, and their life changing?

CJ and I were on our virtual writing retreat kick-off call recently, talking about the Ray Boltz song “Thank You for Giving to the Lord.” I started weeping on that call. That song is about a life that was changed.

The Kingdom Writers we watch actually finish are almost always the ones who can name the reader.

I recommend putting one person’s name or picture on your writing desk. Maybe it is your daughter. Your grandkids. The woman in your church who is right now where you were 20 years ago and does not know that anybody made it through.

A calling to write is really a calling to serve someone. I think of it as a form of discipleship. How many of us have been discipled by a book we read?

This is the sign that will still be there on the hard days. Wanting to be an author will not get you through those. Wanting someone to be impacted for eternity will.

What if you have known for years and still have not started?

Knowing you are called and actually beginning are two different problems, and the second one is solvable. If you have seen yourself in these signs for years without writing, the issue is not discernment anymore.

That is worth naming plainly, because a lot of writers keep re-asking the calling question when the calling was settled long ago. The real obstacle is a starting problem, or a stalling problem, and those have practical fixes. Here is more on how to find the motivation to finish your book.

Come write with us

If you saw yourself in any of these five signs, that is not you talking yourself into something. That is a confirmation you already had and never counted.

Every month I host a free live Zoom session called the Writing Restart. It is for writers who know God gave them the book but have not started yet, or who got stuck along the way. The next one is Wednesday, October 7 at 11am Eastern, and you get a free toolkit when you sign up for the free Writing Restart.

And if you want the roadmap, the community, and people who notice when you go quiet, that is what CJ and I built Christian Book Academy for. It is our $49/month membership for Kingdom Writers, with the Kingdom Writers Path, monthly virtual retreats, Progress Pods, and a Next Steps coaching call every month.

Barbara Robbins is writing hers there right now. Her Tiny Testimony Book is about how the Lord brought her family through a tornado that virtually destroyed their home, without a single injury. Her story lines up with her message. That is sign three, lived out. If you have a testimony like that in you, the Tiny Testimony Book Workshop walks you through getting the first story down.

Final thoughts

You probably did not need all five signs. Most people know by two or three whether they are called to write that book.

The signs were never meant to be a test you pass. They are confirmations God has been giving you, some of them for years, while you waited for something louder.

Your book is not a project with a person attached. You are a person with a calling attached. And the God who gave you the material before He gave you the assignment is not going to abandon you in the middle of it.

Go look at what you already have. Then write for 15 minutes today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Knowing You Are Called to Write a Book

You're reading 5 Signs God Is Calling You to Write a Book, originally posted on Training Authors with CJ and Shelley Hitz - We help Christian writers take a step of faith and finally finish your book! and copyrighted by TrainingAuthors.com.

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Subscribe to the Podcast here.

Click here to leave a review and subscribe to the show.  Read my step-by-step tutorial and find out all the details here.

Notes from this episode:

Together

As authors with a message to share, the questions we ask often start with, “God how do I…”. His response is, “Together!” When you become stressed, worried about the outcome, or get stuck, remember God is near and wants more than anything to give you comfort, confidence, strength and wisdom to complete the mission He’s placed before you. Like the Good Shepherd He is, God will provide everything you need to succeed, that includes togetherness in a community like what you have here in Christian Book Academy.

Author Bio

Dak Frederick is a Legacy and Life Story Coach and has spent hundreds of hours helping writers reach their goals. His clients describe him as patient, humble, and deeply invested in their success.

Beyond writing, Dak is a singer and musician who enjoys playing the piano. He’s been joyfully married for fifteen years and is a proud father to two girls.

Dak is a Retired U.S. Marine Gunnery Sergeant. He holds a Master’s in Counseling from Liberty University, a Bachelor’s in Communication, a Bachelor’s in Ministry, as well as Digital Marketing Certificates from eCornell University. You can connect with him at: http://www.empoweredtopublish.com/.

Resources:

If you’re ready to take a step of faith and finally finish your book, we have a few ways we can help you. 

Free Writing Week Challenge: Create a Writing Habit in 15 Minutes a Day

Even if you feel overwhelmed or stuck in procrastination, sitting down to write for just 15 minutes a day is the best way to finally reach your writing goals. Most writers think they need hours of uninterrupted time to make progress in their writing. However, in this free challenge, we will show you how much you can accomplish in just 15 minutes of focused writing.

Click here to create a consistent writing habit this week.

Book Writing Lab Workshop – Map Out Your Book in Just 90 Minutes

If over the last year, you’ve struggled to get your book written, this workshop is for you. Choose your book topic, write an outline, and create a writing plan in just 90 minutes! Finally, feel confident that you will actually finish your book.

Get started now for just $27

Want More Support? Join Christian Book Academy

Most writers stay stuck and never finish their first draft. Inside Christian Book Academy, we help you partner with God to write your book so you can become a published author. Finally, ditch your self-doubt and take a step of faith so you can finish your book.

Join Christian Book Academy (coupon code PODCAST)

Get 50% off your first month by using the coupon code PODCAST at checkout.

You're reading Together, originally posted on Training Authors with CJ and Shelley Hitz - We help Christian writers take a step of faith and finally finish your book! and copyrighted by TrainingAuthors.com.

Connect With Us Online:

Google + (Shelley)  | Google +  (Heather)  | Twitter  | Facebook | Pinterest

Listen Below:

Subscribe to the Podcast here.

Click here to leave a review and subscribe to the show.  Read my step-by-step tutorial and find out all the details here.

Notes from this episode:

Little by Little

Exodus 23:27-30

Here we have the Israelites moving through the wilderness and received the hopeful promise of a land they would possess. 

But it would not come at the snap of God’s fingers. It wouldn’t even come in a year. It would be a gradual process. Little by little. 

There are very practical reasons for this:

• If the land were cleared of its inhabitants immediately, the lack of human maintenance would cause crops to fail and the land to quickly revert to wilderness…oh great, more wilderness! 
• With vast, uninhabited, and uncultivated territories, predators and wild beasts would multiply and pose a severe physical threat to the Israelites and their livestock.
• The phrase “little by little” highlights God’s method of preparing His people. He gives them time to increase in numbers, become organized, and learn how to manage and care for their new inheritance. 

For you mothers and fathers out there, think about the preparation and planning that takes place in those 9 months of pregnancy. Not only buying and receiving baby items but the preparation of your hearts and a 9-month course in maturity as you wait for this gift from the Lord. 

As each of us prepares to give birth to our book babies, there is a process God takes us through. Little by little He molds and shapes us. We grow as Kingdom Writers one hard-earned sentence at a time. 

Yes, there are moments when we wish we could snap our fingers and have the book published. But we would miss out on so much and wouldn’t be prepared if put in that position so quickly. 

Just as the Israelites wanted to possess the land immediately, people often desire instant answers, success, or perfection. These verses remind us that “little by little” growth protects us from being overwhelmed by blessings or situations they are not yet equipped to handle. 

What are some examples of “wild animals” that could become too numerous in our lives if not for the little by little process God takes us through in life and with our books? 

(Pride, self-sufficiency, overwhelm with new responsibilities, lack of structure in place, worshiping success, etc). 

I see one other glaring reason I think the Lord gives His people this “little by little” strategy: He wants us to rely upon Him every step of the way. If we got everything we wanted in an instant, we would be so prone to living our lives as if to say, “Ok God, I’m good to go! I’ll let you know if I need anything else.” 

Maybe the Lord has given you a vision of a promised land to come. If so, embrace the “little by little” process He has for you. It will be worth the wait.

Resources:

If you’re ready to take a step of faith and finally finish your book, we have a few ways we can help you. 

Free Writing Week Challenge: Create a Writing Habit in 15-Minutes a Day

Even if you feel overwhelmed or stuck in procrastination, sitting down to write for just 15 minutes a day is the best way to finally reach your writing goals. Most writers think they need hours of uninterrupted time to make progress in their writing. However, in this free challenge, we will show you how much you can accomplish in just 15 minutes of focused writing.

Click here to create a consistent writing habit this week.

Book Writing Lab Workshop – Map Out Your Book in Just 90 Minutes

If over the last year, you’ve struggled to get your book written, this workshop is for you. Choose your book topic, write an outline, and create a writing plan in just 90 minutes! Finally, feel confident that you will actually finish your book.

Get started now for just $27

Want More Support? Join Christian Book Academy

Most writers stay stuck and never finish their first draft. Inside Christian Book Academy, we help you partner with God to write your book so you can become a published author. Finally, ditch your self-doubt and take a step of faith so you can finish your book.

Join Christian Book Academy (coupon code PODCAST)

Get 50% off your first month by using the coupon code PODCAST at checkout.

You're reading Little By Little, originally posted on Training Authors with CJ and Shelley Hitz - We help Christian writers take a step of faith and finally finish your book! and copyrighted by TrainingAuthors.com.

Connect With Us Online:

Google + (Shelley)  | Google +  (Heather)  | Twitter  | Facebook | Pinterest

Listen Below:

Subscribe to the Podcast here.

Click here to leave a review and subscribe to the show.  Read my step-by-step tutorial and find out all the details here.

Notes from this episode:

Ask, Seek, Knock

As independent authors, we wear a lot of different hats. Writer, marketer, business owner, bookkeeper, book designer. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed at times. And because we’re Kingdom writers, we also face the obstacles the enemy throws at us. 

God provided all the answers we need in His Word. 

Let’s look specifically at Matt. 7:7 NKJV, “Ask and it shall be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”

How many of you find it hard to ask for help, to seek for what you need, or to knock on the necessary doors? 

Yet, as Luke 18:17 tells us we are to approach the kingdom of God like a child.

They are innocent, trusting, and act without hesitation or fear. Kids have no problem asking for what they want! Somewhere in our growing up years, we lost those qualities, but we need to recover them.

Without fear or hesitation and coupled with belief and faith, God wants us to…

Ask for his message, his words to put onto the page. 

Seek him and his wisdom for how to do what he’s called us to do.

Knock on the doors God leads us to. But also realize our books are like knocking on someone’s door. Those who buy them have opened their door to our words. Our marketing is a knock on someone’s door.

We are God’s children, and he delights in us. He isn’t going to hesitate to give us what we ask, seek, and knock for.  

About Debra:

Debra L. Butterfield is the author of eleven books, a freelance editor, writing coach, former editorial director of CrossRiver Media Group, and a former copywriter for Focus on the Family.

Resources:

If you’re ready to take a step of faith and finally finish your book, we have a few ways we can help you. 

Free Writing Week Challenge: Create a Writing Habit in 15-Minutes a Day

Even if you feel overwhelmed or stuck in procrastination, sitting down to write for just 15 minutes a day is the best way to finally reach your writing goals. Most writers think they need hours of uninterrupted time to make progress in their writing. However, in this free challenge, we will show you how much you can accomplish in just 15 minutes of focused writing.

Click here to create a consistent writing habit this week.

Book Writing Lab Workshop – Map Out Your Book in Just 90 Minutes

If over the last year, you’ve struggled to get your book written, this workshop is for you. Choose your book topic, write an outline, and create a writing plan in just 90 minutes! Finally, feel confident that you will actually finish your book.

Get started now for just $27

Want More Support? Join Christian Book Academy

Most writers stay stuck and never finish their first draft. Inside Christian Book Academy, we help you partner with God to write your book so you can become a published author. Finally, ditch your self-doubt and take a step of faith so you can finish your book.

Join Christian Book Academy (coupon code PODCAST)

Get 50% off your first month by using the coupon code PODCAST at checkout.

You're reading Ask, Seek, Knock, originally posted on Training Authors with CJ and Shelley Hitz - We help Christian writers take a step of faith and finally finish your book! and copyrighted by TrainingAuthors.com.

Connect With Us Online:

Google + (Shelley)  | Google +  (Heather)  | Twitter  | Facebook | Pinterest

Listen Below:

Subscribe to the Podcast here.

Click here to leave a review and subscribe to the show.  Read my step-by-step tutorial and find out all the details here.

Notes from this episode:

Rooted

“This is what the Lord says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land. “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭17‬:‭5‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Why plants & trees need water.

Practice:

• Cultivate silence – creating quiet spaces for prayer, listening, stillness, meditation on God’s Word is vital for deepening our roots, perhaps even more in our day and age than at any other time in history, due to the amount of sheer noise. 

• Gratitude – a deeply rooted life overflows with thanksgiving. “Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

As Kingdom Writers, these practices are nonnegotiable if the words we write are to be fruitful and life-giving. As our roots go down deep into the Living Water of Jesus, we will overflow with words that impact and refresh others.

Resources:

If you’re ready to take a step of faith and finally finish your book, we have a few ways we can help you. 

Free Writing Week Challenge: Create a Writing Habit in 15-Minutes a Day

Even if you feel overwhelmed or stuck in procrastination, sitting down to write for just 15 minutes a day is the best way to finally reach your writing goals. Most writers think they need hours of uninterrupted time to make progress in their writing. However, in this free challenge, we will show you how much you can accomplish in just 15 minutes of focused writing.

Click here to create a consistent writing habit this week.

Book Writing Lab Workshop – Map Out Your Book in Just 90 Minutes

If over the last year, you’ve struggled to get your book written, this workshop is for you. Choose your book topic, write an outline, and create a writing plan in just 90 minutes! Finally, feel confident that you will actually finish your book.

Get started now for just $27

Want More Support? Join Christian Book Academy

Most writers stay stuck and never finish their first draft. Inside Christian Book Academy, we help you partner with God to write your book so you can become a published author. Finally, ditch your self-doubt and take a step of faith so you can finish your book.

Join Christian Book Academy (coupon code PODCAST)

Get 50% off your first month by using the coupon code PODCAST at checkout.

You're reading Rooted, originally posted on Training Authors with CJ and Shelley Hitz - We help Christian writers take a step of faith and finally finish your book! and copyrighted by TrainingAuthors.com.

Connect With Us Online:

Google + (Shelley)  | Google +  (Heather)  | Twitter  | Facebook | Pinterest

Listen Below:

Subscribe to the Podcast here.

Click here to leave a review and subscribe to the show.  Read my step-by-step tutorial and find out all the details here.

Notes from this episode:

Permission To Turn Up The Volume

Read Luke 19:28-40

It is more likely that inanimate objects like rocks would cry out to Jesus in worship than for the King of kings to enter his capital city without honor. 

Jesus encouraged the joyful praise of the people, He didn’t suppress it. But how quickly things would change in less than a week, as many of these same people would yell, “Crucify!”

Human beings created in God’s image make much better worshippers than mere rocks. 

Line in the movie Troy by Achilles when fighting Hector. 

A few other instances of inanimate objects crying out in praise:

“Why, mountains, did you skip like rams? Why, hills, like lambs? Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob. He turned the rock into a pool of water; yes, a spring of water flowed from solid rock.” – Psalms‬ ‭114‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands!” – Isaiah‬ ‭55‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT

“Praise him, sun and moon! Praise him, all you twinkling stars! Praise him, skies above! Praise him, vapors high above the clouds!” – Psalms‬ ‭148‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all livestock, small scurrying animals and birds, kings of the earth and all people, rulers and judges of the earth, young men and young women, old men and children. Let them all praise the name of the Lord. For his name is very great; his glory towers over the earth and heaven! He has made his people strong, honoring his faithful ones— the people of Israel who are close to him. Praise the Lord!” – Psalms‬ ‭148‬:‭9‬-‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

As Kingdom Writers, may our written words give others permission to turn up the volume and burst into cheers with the joyful praise that our King Jesus is due. Let’s not give rocks any reason to cry out. 

Our joyful praise and worship now is practice for the future coronation of our King in that same city of Jerusalem

Resources:

If you’re ready to take a step of faith and finally finish your book, we have a few ways we can help you. 

Free Writing Week Challenge: Create a Writing Habit in 15-Minutes a Day

Even if you feel overwhelmed or stuck in procrastination, sitting down to write for just 15 minutes a day is the best way to finally reach your writing goals. Most writers think they need hours of uninterrupted time to make progress in their writing. However, in this free challenge, we will show you how much you can accomplish in just 15 minutes of focused writing.

Click here to create a consistent writing habit this week.

Book Writing Lab Workshop – Map Out Your Book in Just 90 Minutes

If over the last year, you’ve struggled to get your book written, this workshop is for you. Choose your book topic, write an outline, and create a writing plan in just 90 minutes! Finally, feel confident that you will actually finish your book.

Get started now for just $27

Want More Support? Join Christian Book Academy

Most writers stay stuck and never finish their first draft. Inside Christian Book Academy, we help you partner with God to write your book so you can become a published author. Finally, ditch your self-doubt and take a step of faith so you can finish your book.

Join Christian Book Academy (coupon code PODCAST)

Get 50% off your first month by using the coupon code PODCAST at checkout.

You're reading Permission To Turn Up The Volume, originally posted on Training Authors with CJ and Shelley Hitz - We help Christian writers take a step of faith and finally finish your book! and copyrighted by TrainingAuthors.com.

Connect With Us Online:

Google + (Shelley)  | Google +  (Heather)  | Twitter  | Facebook | Pinterest

Listen Below:

Subscribe to the Podcast here.

Click here to leave a review and subscribe to the show.  Read my step-by-step tutorial and find out all the details here.

Notes from this episode:

Light for my path

Psalm 119 is divided into 22 sections, which represent the 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet. 

“Nun” = 14th of 22 Hebrew letters. It signifies a “fish” (representing life/continuation) or a “faithful/bent-over servant,” symbolizing humility and submission. (Joshua son of Nun)

“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭105‬ ‭

“A Lamp for the next sentence”

As Kingdom writers, we often want God to show us the whole story at once—the full outline, the perfect ending, the flawless draft. But this little verse reminds us that God usually gives light for the next step, not the entire road.

A lamp doesn’t flood the path with daylight. It reveals just enough to move forward safely. In the same way, God’s Word may not reveal your entire book, message, or calling today—but it will illuminate your next paragraph, your next idea, your next faithful act of obedience.

“For their command is a lamp and their instruction a light; their corrective discipline is the way to life.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭6‬:‭23‬ ‭

“Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts. Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.”

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭19‬-‭21‬ ‭

If we give God’s Word daily attention, it will provide us with the direction, correction, and wisdom we need to be the best Kingdom writers we can be. 

We are humbling ourselves and acknowledging our need when we open God’s Word. We won’t find anything in the world that matches its substance and guidance. 

It’s ‘alive and active’ as Hebrews 4:12 says, because the same God who spoke creation into being by His word is the same God who spoke the words in our Bibles. He’s the same God who will empower our own written words that point to Him. 

Closing:

God is not asking you to see the whole journey. He is asking you to trust Him with the next line.

Resources:

If you’re ready to take a step of faith and finally finish your book, we have a few ways we can help you. 

Free Writing Week Challenge: Create a Writing Habit in 15-Minutes a Day

Even if you feel overwhelmed or stuck in procrastination, sitting down to write for just 15 minutes a day is the best way to finally reach your writing goals. Most writers think they need hours of uninterrupted time to make progress in their writing. However, in this free challenge, we will show you how much you can accomplish in just 15 minutes of focused writing.

Click here to create a consistent writing habit this week.

Book Writing Lab Workshop – Map Out Your Book in Just 90 Minutes

If over the last year, you’ve struggled to get your book written, this workshop is for you. Choose your book topic, write an outline, and create a writing plan in just 90 minutes! Finally, feel confident that you will actually finish your book.

Get started now for just $27

Want More Support? Join Christian Book Academy

Most writers stay stuck and never finish their first draft. Inside Christian Book Academy, we help you partner with God to write your book so you can become a published author. Finally, ditch your self-doubt and take a step of faith so you can finish your book.

Join Christian Book Academy (coupon code PODCAST)

Get 50% off your first month by using the coupon code PODCAST at checkout.

You're reading Lighted Path, originally posted on Training Authors with CJ and Shelley Hitz - We help Christian writers take a step of faith and finally finish your book! and copyrighted by TrainingAuthors.com.

Connect With Us Online:

Google + (Shelley)  | Google +  (Heather)  | Twitter  | Facebook | Pinterest

Listen Below:

Subscribe to the Podcast here.

Click here to leave a review and subscribe to the show.  Read my step-by-step tutorial and find out all the details here.

Notes from this episode:

A Posture of Stillness 

“Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.” – ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37‬:‭7‬ 

“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” – ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭46‬:‭10‬ ‭

The Hebrew word “raphah” in Psalm 46:10 implies letting go, letting your hands hang down, or ceasing to fight on your own.

“As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord,” – ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭14‬:‭10‬ ‭

“But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”” – ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭14‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭

“On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, BUT WAIT for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.” – ‭‭Acts‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Refers to Luke 24:49…

“I am going to send you what my Father has promised; BUT STAY in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” – ‭‭Luke‬ ‭24‬:‭49‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Have you ever run out the door forgetting something important like car keys or a wallet? Maybe a son or daughter running out the door without their coat, lunch box or backpack of books. 

“Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.” – ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭14‬ ‭NLT

“Stand your ground” = Greek word “histemi” which means “to stop, stand still, to stand immovable, stand firm.”

• Also, like the foundation of a building.

Resources:

If you’re ready to take a step of faith and finally finish your book, we have a few ways we can help you. 

Free Writing Week Challenge: Create a Writing Habit in 15-Minutes a Day

Even if you feel overwhelmed or stuck in procrastination, sitting down to write for just 15 minutes a day is the best way to finally reach your writing goals. Most writers think they need hours of uninterrupted time to make progress in their writing. However, in this free challenge, we will show you how much you can accomplish in just 15 minutes of focused writing.

Click here to create a consistent writing habit this week.

Book Writing Lab Workshop – Map Out Your Book in Just 90 Minutes

If over the last year, you’ve struggled to get your book written, this workshop is for you. Choose your book topic, write an outline, and create a writing plan in just 90 minutes! Finally, feel confident that you will actually finish your book.

Get started now for just $27

Want More Support? Join Christian Book Academy

Most writers stay stuck and never finish their first draft. Inside Christian Book Academy, we help you partner with God to write your book so you can become a published author. Finally, ditch your self-doubt and take a step of faith so you can finish your book.

Join Christian Book Academy (coupon code PODCAST)

Get 50% off your first month by using the coupon code PODCAST at checkout.

You're reading Stillness, originally posted on Training Authors with CJ and Shelley Hitz - We help Christian writers take a step of faith and finally finish your book! and copyrighted by TrainingAuthors.com.

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Is becoming a published author your New Year’s aspiration? Merriam-Webster defines aspirations as a strong desire to achieve something high or great. Writing a book and publishing it in a year is obtainable if you have the facts you need to do it.

And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. Habakkuk 2:2 (KJV)

Pre-2023, I knew I was called to be a writer, but I didn’t know how to get started. On January 1, 2023, I discovered Christian Book Academy. In September 2024, Shelley Hitz held a workshop, Procrastination to Publication, which helped me to publish my first book, A Case of Mistaken Identity. I tell people that this workshop was the best investment I ever made. It was a 90-day, weekly, step-by-step plan starting with an idea and ending with a published book. This workshop gave me the knowledge of how to become a published author.

Three-Step Approach 

• Ask …Ye have not, because you ask not. James 4:2 b
• Believe… Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. Mark 9:23 
• Work on your business…and that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your hands, as we commanded you. I Thessalonians 4:11

This three-step approach will help you succeed from idea to publication of your book. The first step – Ask. It is never a good idea to start a venture without asking God what He thinks. I remember one time I really wanted to join this one MLM, and I asked God reluctantly if it was okay. “That is all you will have,” he replied. Nevermind! I will pass on that. Trust me on this when I say you don’t want to start a book to find that God isn’t backing you. We need Him. You don’t want to do anything alone. 

The second step- believe. We need to believe if God is for us, who or what can be against us. If he is with us, then it is possible with his help to come up with an idea, and write and publish a book. 

Third Step

The third step- work on your business. This one is important. Don’t focus on how many books someone else has written, or how much time they have to write, or what their book sales look like, etc. Focus on what God has placed before you and work with the resources he has given you. He will see you through from start to finish. 

Before we move on, take a moment and think of a situation where God saw you through from start to finish, and believe that he will do it again.

What Should I Write?

What should I write about? Let’s look at it in a different way- what is the message you want to share with the world? What is the legacy you want to leave behind? Is there a hobby that you love so much that you are bursting inside to tell someone about it? Is there a skill you are good at, like crocheting? Your testimony of what your life was like before Christ?

Write down some ideas and then ask God to show you which one he thinks you should write on. Once you have that in place, write down everything you can think of on that book idea. If you find that you have a lot to work on, then move on to creating an outline. 

How to Get Started Writing a Book? 

How to start a book? Once you have your idea and an outline, you will need to arrange your content in order. Break down your idea into a step format. For example, if you are writing a book on crocheting, you could start with the history behind crocheting and how you got started in crocheting. Expand on who taught you how to crochet, types of crocheting, and the benefits of crocheting. I think you get the jist.

Don’t worry about where to start. Just start. Set realistic goals for yourself. How much time do you have to spare daily to write? Once you have that time slot, write it on your calendar. Then, do your best to stick with it. Remember the verse I mentioned at the beginning of this post? 

And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. Habakkuk 2:2 KJV

Make a plan and then work it. Give yourself some grace, though, because as a writer, as with anything life will happen, and you will have to adjust to accommodate the changes. The important thing is to keep at it. 

Where Should I Publish?

Have you considered publishing your book on Amazon? I have published all my books through KDP, Kindle Direct Publishing, Amazon’s self-publishing platform. What is KDP? A service for authors and publishers to upload, format, and sell books without a traditional publisher. Amazon is a highly trafficked site with many advantages for self-publishers. 

Just yesterday, I learned about A+ Content through customer service. A+ Content will give me the ability to add more content to my detail page. By having that feature, I can show more of my book, connect with my readers, and share my story behind that book. This will be a great way to bring My ABCs & God more out. I publish all of my books through KDP. 

You will have your own store on Amazon, free, and the process you follow to list your books is pretty simple. You also have control of what categories to list your book under, and you get to choose your price. What is there not to love about that? I highly recommend publishing your book through KDP.

There you have it. I hope this has given you some insight into how to become a published author.

Author Bio 

EO Writes is an Author and an Illustrator. A Case of Mistaken Identity was her first book. You can reach her at https://www.eowrites.com. While there, you can get to know her, see what she is currently working on, and sign up for her monthly newsletter, The Pen of a Ready Writer, for updates on new releases and her weekly musings. She is currently working on another children’s book, which will be the first in a series, with the first book being Luna Goes Exploring. She hopes to launch her podcast, “A Writer’s Call,” in March. When she is not writing, she and her husband enjoy traveling throughout the United States on their Harley.

“Never judge a book by its cover. What you find inside the pages might surprise you.”

You're reading New Year’s Aspiration, originally posted on Training Authors with CJ and Shelley Hitz - We help Christian writers take a step of faith and finally finish your book! and copyrighted by TrainingAuthors.com.

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Notes from this episode:

Giving Birth to God’s Promises

Mother Teresa said, “I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world.”

Zechariah 

“Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old.” – Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭

“He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.” – Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬ ‭

“Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.” – Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬ ‭

Maybe some of you have said, “I’m too old to write a book now.” Maybe you doubt the Lord’s ability to birth a powerful message in and through you. Like John the Baptist, our books can help prepare people for the second coming of the Lord and also help turn the hearts of fathers to their children along with causing the rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly. 

“He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s surprise he wrote, “His name is John.” Instantly Zechariah could speak again, and he began praising God.” – Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭63‬-‭64‬ ‭

As we come to believe what God wants to do in and through us, it could be that our words, like Zechariah’s, are finally free to be released again through our pens. 

Mary

“Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.” – Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭38‬ ‭

Like Mary, in her “messy middle”, we can say “Emmanuel, meet us where we are — in the messy middle, the doubt, and the longing. Teach us to trust like Mary and say YES even when we can’t see the whole story.”

Resources:

If you’re ready to take a step of faith and finally finish your book, we have a few ways we can help you. 

Free Writing Week Challenge: Create a Writing Habit in 15-Minutes a Day

Even if you feel overwhelmed or stuck in procrastination, sitting down to write for just 15 minutes a day is the best way to finally reach your writing goals. Most writers think they need hours of uninterrupted time to make progress in their writing. However, in this free challenge, we will show you how much you can accomplish in just 15 minutes of focused writing.

Click here to create a consistent writing habit this week.

Book Writing Lab Workshop – Map Out Your Book in Just 90 Minutes

If over the last year, you’ve struggled to get your book written, this workshop is for you. Choose your book topic, write an outline, and create a writing plan in just 90 minutes! Finally, feel confident that you will actually finish your book.

Get started now for just $27

Want More Support? Join Christian Book Academy

Most writers stay stuck and never finish their first draft. Inside Christian Book Academy, we help you partner with God to write your book so you can become a published author. Finally, ditch your self-doubt and take a step of faith so you can finish your book.

Join Christian Book Academy (coupon code PODCAST)

Get 50% off your first month by using the coupon code PODCAST at checkout.

Last Updated: February 13, 2026

You're reading Giving Birth to God’s Promises, originally posted on Training Authors with CJ and Shelley Hitz - We help Christian writers take a step of faith and finally finish your book! and copyrighted by TrainingAuthors.com.

Connect With Us Online:

Google + (Shelley)  | Google +  (Heather)  | Twitter  | Facebook | Pinterest