In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day
I'm pretty fired up. I finished my second manuscript, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, last night. It took about three months which is longer than I anticipated, but it feels so good to be able to put the last period on the page. It's sort of like the last day of finals or first day of vacation. It just plain feels good. The funny thing is that I've got another book in the hopper. But I think I'll take the weekend off :)
A man probably shouldn't use this analogy, but I feel like I gave birth to this book. I still remember coming home from the office in December and telling Lora, "I'm pregnant again." The Lord put this book into my spirit fifteen years ago after listening to a single message by an evangelist named Sam Farina. It took fifteen years from conception to birth. That's a long gestation period.
I was reading John 16:21 yesterday and it really resonated with me. "A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world." That's how I feel. My time has come. It took me ten years to write my first book and three months to write my second book. I'm hoping to write my third book in two months time. I think the gestation period will get shorter for each book. Let me carry the analogy a little further. It was a labor of love. Lots of "morning sickness" but lots of joy! My 5:30 AM alarm paid off. I love praying and writing in the early AM. I feel like I get more accomplished in those first three hours than I do the rest of the day.
It's ironic how similar physical birth and spiritual birth are the same. One of the toughest things for Lora and I was naming our kids. There are so many options, but you want the perfect name. Eventually you just have to decide. That's how it was with this book. It went through several derivations and multiple titles. I finally landed on In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy: How God uses Past Experiences to prepare us for Future Opportunities. It's long, but the title itself requires an explanation.
The next step is selling the proposal to publishers. The funny thing is that I'm not wasting an ounce of worry on that. I don't write for extrinsic reasons. I write because I love to write. It's what I'm called to do so I find fulfillment in the act not just in the product. I'm praying for favor with the right publisher, but I feel like it's out of my hands at this point. But it's in the Lord's hands.
A man probably shouldn't use this analogy, but I feel like I gave birth to this book. I still remember coming home from the office in December and telling Lora, "I'm pregnant again." The Lord put this book into my spirit fifteen years ago after listening to a single message by an evangelist named Sam Farina. It took fifteen years from conception to birth. That's a long gestation period.
I was reading John 16:21 yesterday and it really resonated with me. "A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world." That's how I feel. My time has come. It took me ten years to write my first book and three months to write my second book. I'm hoping to write my third book in two months time. I think the gestation period will get shorter for each book. Let me carry the analogy a little further. It was a labor of love. Lots of "morning sickness" but lots of joy! My 5:30 AM alarm paid off. I love praying and writing in the early AM. I feel like I get more accomplished in those first three hours than I do the rest of the day.
It's ironic how similar physical birth and spiritual birth are the same. One of the toughest things for Lora and I was naming our kids. There are so many options, but you want the perfect name. Eventually you just have to decide. That's how it was with this book. It went through several derivations and multiple titles. I finally landed on In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy: How God uses Past Experiences to prepare us for Future Opportunities. It's long, but the title itself requires an explanation.
The next step is selling the proposal to publishers. The funny thing is that I'm not wasting an ounce of worry on that. I don't write for extrinsic reasons. I write because I love to write. It's what I'm called to do so I find fulfillment in the act not just in the product. I'm praying for favor with the right publisher, but I feel like it's out of my hands at this point. But it's in the Lord's hands.
1 Comments:
Hi, My coolest Pastor,
My name is Soomin Lee and I was attending your service while I was in Georgetown Law. I am working in NY now and I am so delighted to find your blog! I read your on- line sermon every week even though I am in NY now. Your writing is such a joy, comfort and strength to my soul. Thank you from deep in my heart for your service of Love for us!
Love, Soomin Lee in NYC
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