Write Now Editing

Can Your Work Become an Idol? by Barbara Britton

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Recently my church was doing a study on Tim Keller’s book Every Good Endeavor. The book is about work and how a Christian should view their profession. I was asked to speak in the adult education class about being an author and how I handled the idols in my work.

Idols? Does a writer have idols? After I thought about the publishing industry and how it has changed in the past twelve years since I began writing, I did discover some idols. When I began my publishing journey, there was no internet sales or social media. The rise of Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, and a whole host of new inventions have brought some “watch outs” into the writing life.

I am a Christian and a child of God. What is a child of God? John 1:12 puts it this way:

“Yet to all who received him (Jesus), to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (NIV)

Since I believe in Jesus, I write my stories from a Christian worldview. I hope people like my stories, feel better after reading my stories, and in the case of my Biblical fiction, learn something new about God and the Bible. When people praise my novels or think I am somehow on a higher plane since I write novels, I have to set my idol warning to high.

I believe God has given me the talent to write stories. It’s a gift. Just like some people have gifts of singing and painting and business and athletics. The list is endless. One gift is not better than the other in God’s eyes. When readers say nice things about me, I thank them, enjoy the moment, but see their praise in the bigger picture of God’s gifts. God wouldn’t be please with diva moments.

I Peter 4:10 says, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in various forms.”

I pray that I am administering well, but people have different ideas about what “well” means. I have heard from readers who weren’t impressed with my stories. Sometimes the review of my work overflows onto my being. My relationship with God is attacked and less than nice things are said. Ouch! When that happens (and it can be in a book review or through e-mail), I have to remember who I am in Christ. I remember the John 1:12 verse above and realize that I am a child of God. No two Christians are the same and not every piece of art is for every reader or for every patron of the arts.

The idols of doubt and discouragement can sink into my core if I let them. Social media allows words to soar through the internet without the typist realizing there is a beating heart on the other side of the screen. If I’m okay with my story, and I believe God is okay with my story, then I have to let a bad review sink into oblivion.

So, are there idols in writing? Are there incidents that can take our eyes off of God? Definitely.

Enjoy the good times of your profession but keep walking in humility. Ask God to help you when a discouraging remark zaps your enthusiasm. The Holy Spirit is the best comforter when we are hurting. And remember, the giver of good gifts does not make mistakes.

Do you see any idols creeping into your work?

Barbara M. Britton lives in Southeast, Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. She writes Christian Fiction for teens and adults. Barb brings little-known Bible stories to light in her Tribes of Israel series. Barb is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Romance Writers of America and Wisconsin Romance Writers of America. She is published by Harbourlight Books an imprint of Pelican Book Group. Barb has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. Find out more about Barb and her books at www.barbarambritton.com.

Follow Barb on Twitter, Facebook or BookBub.

Professionalism: Offensive Posts (and Other Mistakes)

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Bill O’Reilly. Rachel Maddow. Howard Stern.

These folks make a living by unapologetically giving their opinions – the louder they are and the more people they offend, the better their ratings and the more attention they attract.

That’s a great strategy for political analysts and shock jocks. It’s probably not the most effective technique for lawyers, electricians, and other small business owners. When it comes to your online presence, remember this simple truth: what you say, do, and post online will reflect your business! You want to make sure you’re sending the right message, so consider these things:

  1. If you wouldn’t say it face-to-face, don’t post it online. You never know who’s going to see your social media accounts. If you wouldn’t call someone an ignorant putz to his/her face, don’t put it online – you never know who’s going to see it (and just because you take it down doesn’t mean people won’t see it).
  2. If you wouldn’t hang it in your office or lobby, don’t post it. Yes, you look amazing in the bikini, or with those bikini-clad girls clinging to you and licking your face, but is that the professional image you want people to envision? If not, then safe that photo for your personal account.
  3. If you don’t want it published in the New York Times, don’t send it. In case you’ve been living under a rock, here’s the scoop – emails are no longer personal. It doesn’t matter that you sent it from one work address to another work address, people around the world are snapping pictures of emails and letters and posting them online. If you work in the public sector, your emails are fair game (just look at what’s happened politically in the past 10 years). It may seem innocent to you, but not everyone thinks the same way you do.

Does this mean you can’t ever share personal pictures and stories? Of course not, but know where you’re sharing them – if you keep your work and personal life separate IRL (in real life), then do the same online.

Not sure if you’re content is biased or not? Contact me now and I can help you review your posts to see what kind of message you’re sending.

Professionalism: Communicate Like a Pro

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If you own a business, you have to communicate with people. Whether you’re talking to customers, employees, or fellow business owners, at some point you’ll have to interact with others. When that happens, you want to make a good impression. That means knowing how to communicate. These days there are lots of ways to connect with people, so make sure you know how.

By Phone. First and foremost, make sure you set up an informative voicemail message. Make sure people know who they’ve reached and what you want them to do (leave a message, call another number, etc.). On the flip side, when you call someone:

  • Introduce yourself.
  • State the nature of your call.
  • Speak slowly and clearly (especially when leaving a message).
  • Use your manners (please and thank you go a long way).

By Text. Whether you like it or not, the majority of the world sends text messages, even in the business world. It’s okay to communicate via text, just remember that it’s still a professional correspondence.

  • Avoid slang and text abbreviations.
  • Use proper grammar and punctuation.
  • Include a greeting and farewell (don’t assume people will recognize your number).

By Email. The same rules for texting apply to emails; grammar and content matter. There are a few other items you may want to include to give your email the professional look you want.

  • Use a professional name: bigplumber487@aol.com screams amateur. You can easily create your own email domain and use brad@plumbingpros.com.
  • Add a signature with your name, company name, and other contact information.
  • Keep your signature brief: more than 4-6 lines is overkill.
  • Let the other person make the first move: at some point you’ll be comfortable sending quick, more personal emails, but let your client/customer make the first move. This ensures that he/she is comfortable in the relationship. Even then, keep the content work-related and well-written.

By Social Media. This is a great way to meet new people and stay in touch. Make the most of social media with these suggestions.

  • Keep your posts relevant to your business and the social media outlet: LinkedIn is more professional; Facebook can be more personal. Know the audience and post accordingly.
  • Respond quickly: when people comment or respond to your posts, make sure you respond. Let them know that you’re listening.
  • Be polite. I cannot stress this enough – it’s tempting to vent, spew, and rant, but don’t. Manners always matter, even on social media.

Knowing how to communicate professionally will help you send the right message to your clients, co-workers, and peers.

How do you communicate at work? What do you do to make the right impression?

ABOUT ME

Editor. Teacher. Novelist.
A passionate lover of fiction, Karin doesn't just write novels, she helps others write their best stories! A certified substantive editor with the Christian Editor Connection, her goal is to help authors to put her out of business by equipping them with the tools they need to become better writers.

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Copywriting

Karin understood my advertising and marketing writing needs and accomplished the project in record time. She asked all the right questions up front to equip herself with enough … [more]

Editing

Substantive Fiction Editing: A substantive edit looks at the big picture. Start here to tackle the big issues before moving on to the nit-picky details. Substantive edits not only point out … [more]

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Lover of all things fiction, I also love University of Michigan football, the Detroit Lions, Tigers, and Red Wings, kayaking, gluten-free cupcakes, and my husband.

Resources

Fiction Editing Classes (via the PEN Institute) Substantive Editing for Fiction 101 In Substantive Fiction Editing 101, we’ll look at the basics of a well-written novel and learn how to … [more]