Words… Everywhere.

I don't know where to write to be considered "successful".

I’m a writer, an author, and I just don’t know where to write. Which is kind of funny, because I literally have words everywhere. 

I’m sitting along the bartop of our kitchen island, with words scattered all around me. I’m creating them on the screen as I type, there’s words on a notepad to my left, words on post it notes to my right, along with a binder and notebook full of words next to me too. And if you open that binder, you’ll find the interior pockets stuffed with words on random scraps of paper, including a tithing envelope from a recent church service. 

I recently read my husband my chapter summaries for my upcoming book that I hope to get published. Holding the thick stack of papers in my hands, I displayed them out in front of him to see. Exhausted and unable to articulate the flood of emotions I have when I'm overwhelmed in my writing, I said, “I just have words… everywhere.”

He looked at me kind of funny and replied, “Well, isn’t that the point?”

Yes, I suppose it is. 

I’m still new to this writing thing, and I have no idea where to share my writing. I have a blog on my website. I have substack. I have endless amounts of word docs and google docs that have bits and pieces of multiple manuscripts. I have Instagram, but Instagram is full of trendy reels and I don’t really know how to make them, nor do I have a clue how the algorithm works. I have Facebook, but again, the algorithm mystifies me as much as physics does (which is a lot).

I don’t have Tik Tok (and will never have it). I don’t have Pinterest (well, I do, but I never use it). I don’t have or read reddit (should I?). Do I need these platforms to have success?

Success. Who, or what, determines the success of my writing? Is it the Amazon “best seller” sticker? Is it being traditionally published? Is it the NYT Bestseller list? Is it thousands of reviews? Is it viral reels that reach millions? Is it becoming a household name? Is it seeing my book on a shelf in a major retailer?

Or maybe, just maybe, is success when my words impact someone? Just someone, not somemany. If one person is positively impacted by the words I write, if one person is drawn closer to Christ because of the words I share, is that enough success for me? For my fellow writers, is that enough success for you? For anyone, doing anything, is bringing one person closer to Christ in your conversations, in your actions, in your job—is that enough success for you?

I’d like to think that I’d boldly say yes without hesitation. But I’m human… so I pause. I come to the same conclusion after internally wrestling with the world’s definition of success and God’s definition of success. The sweat and tears that I put into my words is worth it if just one person is moved by them. And sometimes that person is me. The amount I have learned about obedience, trust, and faith through my writing journey is incredible. If I didn’t write, I’m not sure I would have grown in my faith as much as I have. I learn just as much, if not more, when I fail according to the world’s standard because it forces me to lift my eyes to the One who sets the ultimate standard. 

And at the end, when it’s all said and done, I just hope to hear: “My good and faithful servant, well done.” 

All of that to say: I’m going to keep writing a little bit everywhere, and share a little bit everywhere, too. Social media algorithms are exhausting and where the cool kids hang out on the web is ever changing. I don’t have time to chase after that. I want to be too busy chasing after God… and my toddler. I don’t want to miss God’s plan or a precious moment in motherhood because I’m too distracted with trying to keep up with hustle culture. 

Simply put, I just want to write for His glory, wherever that may be.