Catholic Writing and Publishing – Page 16

Five New Marketing Ideas To Try

June 28, 2022/0 Comments/in Catholic Writing and Publishing, Marketing Your Work/by Karina Fabian

Once you have a book, most authors need to do some of their own marketing. The typical means are usually websites, blogs, social media and ads. The world is constantly changing, though, and new ways to market books and writing are coming all the time. Here are some “newer” ideas you might want to try.

Use a Cricut

Are there any items you could make that go well with your book? Mugs? Bookmarks? T-shirts? Bags? While you don’t necessarily need a Cricut to make items that complement your book, it can make it much easier. I was at a book fair and noticed other authors had bookmarks, coloring pages, t-shirts and bags for sale in addition to their books. I decided to make mugs, bookmarks, and a coffee sugar scrub to go along with my books when I sell them at a market or fair. It catches people’s eyes, gives them something to buy if they’re not a big reader, and gives you the option to sell packages of items.

Think about the Homeschoolers

Homeschooling has increased substantially over the past two years. If your book is for children or young adults, can you develop worksheets that can go along with the book? You could sell them with or without the book or even offer one or two freebies to get parents interested in using your book at home with their children. If your book is for adults, look at creating discussion questions that could be used with a book club. You could even offer to show up via Zoom.

Offer to do a School Workshop

Schools are opening back up to pre-Covid activities and they are often looking for enrichment opportunities to catch kids up who have fallen behind. Offer to teach a writing workshop and have a flyer the children can take home that lists your Web site and how to buy your books. You can also do these writing workshops at a library. Some schools and libraries pay the author a small fee and some don’t.

Podcasts

There are a plethora of podcasts out there now, but that also means there are many looking for guests to talk to on their shows. Going into a podcast platform and searching for key words related to your book or writing style should give you a long list of podcast hosts to contact about going on their show. If this is something you are highly interested in doing, it might be worth investing in a microphone or headset to increase the quality of your audio. Some podcasters also do video and post it on YouTube or other channels. If that’s the case, check your camera and lighting, too.

Substack/Patreon

Substack and Patreon are two new platforms where people can offer content for different pay levels. I honestly haven’t used either much yet (I just signed up for Substack), but I’ve heard them talked about on writing podcasts and they sound promising. You can use it as a blogging platform or put new content on it, like the serials in old newspapers. You could tease new chapters or books, too. (I’ll probably do a blog post on Substack after I use it more.) They sound like they’re worth checking out, though.

Have you come across any newer ways for an author to market their writing? Share them in the comments!

Do Catholic Authors Need Literary Agents?

June 16, 2022/0 Comments/in Catholic Writing and Publishing, Marketing Your Work, Writing Tips and Tricks/by Karina Fabian

The publishing world is constantly changing. It responds to new technologies (ebooks, print-on-demand), new cultural norms (demands for equal representation, trendy subject matter), and new opportunities for growth (higher literacy rates, more affluent readers, more authors to choose from). The status quo is never static for very long.

The role of literary agents continues to flex and change as well, and most writers are aware that, in some cases, agents are left out of the publishing process altogether. However, when you attend larger writing conferences or read writing advice, it might sound like a foregone conclusion that all authors desire or even require an agent to be traditionally published. What about Catholic authors? Is this true in our little corner of publishing?

What Literary Agents Do

Let’s begin by clarifying the role of a literary agent. Simply stated, a literary agent is an advocate for authors who assists them in securing advantageous publishing deals for their books in exchange for a percentage (usually 15%) of the profits. An author who is “represented” by an agent can expect to receive support in the form of career coaching, developmental editing, a foot in the door at publishing houses they plan to pitch to, help with contract negotiations, and management of financial and legal issues related to publishing.

Literary agents are go-between support, not affiliated with a particular publishing house. They are not paid up-front for their services but rather on commission. (Some agents have side jobs in other areas of publishing, and just recently, the industry rules changed to make it easier for them to make money as freelance editors and the like, but you should never pay for representation.)

Catholic Publishing

In the publishing world, the majority of titles that come out each year are considered “general market.” Publishers in this category have fairly standard expectations and procedures that include the use of literary agents. There are smaller niches within the larger market with slightly different needs and rules.

Religious publishing is a niche that runs the gamut from “Big Four” deals for titles that make it to the shelves at every Barnes & Noble to tiny presses marketing only to clergy. Catholic publishers are on the smaller end of the spectrum and, like many small presses, have a wide variety of acquisition methods that are not always aligned with the standards of the rest of the industry.

Who Needs an Agent?

These days, all but the smallest imprints of Big Four publishing houses require agent representation for their authors. Publishing houses like Simon & Schuster, Little Brown, St. Martin’s Press, and even Tor Books do not allow authors to pitch them directly. They would receive so many manuscripts that they’d never see the bottom of their pile if they didn’t use agents.

Editors at these big houses value literary agents as scouts who send them only quality manuscripts that fit their brand and who will help with communication and managing expectations with their authors so that everything runs smoothly. Catholic authors who write (fiction or non-fiction) for a general audience may very well find that getting a literary agent on your side is a necessary first step.

However, many independent publishers and most religious publishers, including all the Catholic publishers that I’m aware of, accept unsolicited and unagented manuscripts. Their submission load is small enough that they do not need agents to filter the flow, and they publish only a few titles per year so that contract negotiations aren’t a huge burden.

So does that mean anyone publishing with a Catholic publisher should keep their 15% and do away with literary agents?

Not a Need, but Maybe a Want

When I decided to pursue a career in literary representation, it wasn’t because the pay is lucrative (did I mention agents aren’t paid until after the book sells?) or because I’m power-hungry and want to decide who gets published. Agenting appeals to me because I love the process of book creation. I love seeing ideas fly out into the world and seeing readers and authors find the soul-deep connections that books magically facilitate. And, I know books.

All of the literary agents I have met are quintessential “book people.” Like editors and almost everyone else in this business, agents absolutely love coming alongside authors and helping them get polished manuscripts into the perfect reader’s hands. They are also serious about standing up for the rights and benefits of their authors. This service isn’t necessarily needed because publishing houses are exploitative (though there are some bad apples out there) but more so because publishers have their bottom line to consider and may not always offer their best deals to authors without some back-and-forth. Having an agent handle the gritty details spares the editor and author from uncomfortable conversations and helps ensure everyone is happy at the end of the day.

And even if having an agent doesn’t end up meaning a better deal (some smaller houses may not have the resources to compete for a title but might still be the perfect fit), it does mean having a partner. In a vocation that can feel isolating, having someone rooting for you can be priceless.

How We Learned About the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

June 7, 2022/0 Comments/in Catholic Writing and Publishing/by Larry Peterson

Jesus gave St. Margaret Mary His Sacred Heart; St. Claude gave St. Margaret Mary to the world

Claude de la Colombiere was born in 1641 in the old province of Dauphine, in France. He was the third child of Bertrand Colombiere and Margaret Coindat. Soon after Claude was born, the family moved to the town of Vienne, where the young boy began his education. It was during this time period that Claude began feeling the call to the Jesuit priesthood.

Claude began his secondary studies at the Jesuit school in Lyon. He was now seventeen and, wrote in his journal, that he had “a terrible aversion for the life embraced.” Later on, those who knew him attributed those comments to his being away from home and missing his family, to who. he was very close. Plus, he loved the arts, literature, and an active social life. But the selfless side of Claude won out, and he entered the Jesuit novitiate at Avignon. Here he finished his studies in rhetoric and philosophy.

In 1666 he went to the College of Clermont in Paris to study theology. He took his first vows and completed his studies in philosophy. He became a professor of grammar and literature and stayed in that position for the next five years. Well known for his tact, poise, and devotion to the humanities, his superiors appointed him the tutor for the children of France’s Minister of Finance, Jean Baptiste Colbert. Unknown to Claude, God had bigger plans for him.

Claude, now a priest, returned to Lyon. Here he taught in the college and became a full-time preacher and also the moderator of several Marian congregations. After 15 years as a Jesuit, Father Colombiere began his probation in the Jesuits’ final spiritual formation. This is known as the Tertianship, and it would be the final pathway for the priest to his still-unknown destiny.

Upon Father Colombiere’s profession of solemn vows, he was named rector of the College at Paray-le-Monial. Most people who knew of Father Colombiere wondered why such a talented priest would be sent to such an unknown and obscure place. The answer was well known to the superiors’ who sent him.

He was sent there to see a simple, humble nun at the Monastery of the Visitation. Her name was Margaret Mary Alacoque. The reports were that she told her superiors that Jesus was appearing to her and revealing the secrets of His Most Sacred Heart.

Sister Margaret Mary was being spurned by the other sisters and ridiculed. She tormented over and was uncertain of what was actually happening. Jesus had told Sister Margaret Mary that He would send her the “faithful servant and perfect friend.”

Sister Margaret Mary had endured much because of the disbelief of the other nuns at the monastery. She felt isolated and alone, even though she had been chosen by Christ Himself to spread devotion to His Sacred Heart. When Father Colombiere arrived at the monastery and began hearing the confessions of all the nuns, Sister Mary Margaret knew the “faithful servant and perfect friend” whom Jesus had promised her had finally come.

She willingly confided in Father Colombiere and opened her heart to him. After speaking and meeting with her a number of times, Father Colombiere was convinced of the truthfulness and the validity of her visions. He became her most ardent supporter, and an apostle for the devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Father Colombiere left Paray in 1676 and headed for London. He kept in touch with Sister Margaret Mary by letter. He had been assigned to be the preacher to the Duchess of York, and later to the Queen of Great Britain. He even took up residence in St. James Palace.

Colombiere’s belief and loyalty to his Catholic faith never wavered, even under the intense pressure against the Catholic faith in England. In 1678 he was accused and arrested as one of those involved in the fictional “popish plot” designed to overthrow King Charles II. He spent over three weeks in squalid prison conditions weakening his frail health to the point of no return.

After his release in 1679, he was sent back to Paray. Father Colombiere died on February 15, 1682, from severe hemorrhage. He was 41 years old.

Jesus had appeared to St. Margaret Mary revealing His wishes for devotion to His Sacred Heart. But it was St. Colombiere who helped the quiet, humble visionary announce it to the world. Father Claude de la Colombiere was canonized a saint on May 31, 1992, by St. John Paul II. His feast day is February 15.

St. Colombiere, please pray for us.

Sacred Energy

June 4, 2022/0 Comments/in Catholic Writing and Publishing/by Margaret Zacharias

“…When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled,
they were all in one place together.
And suddenly there came from the sky
a noise like a strong driving wind,
and it filled the entire house in which they were.
Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,
which parted and came to rest on each one of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak in different tongues…

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven
staying in Jerusalem.
At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd,
but they were confused
because each one heard them speaking in his own language…”

From United States Conference of Catholic Bishops – Readings for the Pentecost Sunday
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/060522-day.cfm

Who is the Holy Spirit? For that matter, what does the word “spirit,” even in its generic sense, really mean?

The author of Acts provides some vivid images that can help us discern a few hints about the domain of “spirit” — sound, wind, fire, and language.

Each of these symbols represents a different type of energy. All of them are energy with the power to transform.

Noise is a sound, and so is oral speech. Sound travels through the air in waves. It has been demonstrated by science to be a form of energy. Those sound waves can carry the musical notes of a Bach cantata praising God; or the horrific shock of sudden gunfire.

Wind is also a form of energy, a force of moving air that can engender metamorphosis.

Autumn gales blow colorful foliage from trees, revealing their skeleton structure and announcing a time of dormancy in the fertile underground. Windmills spin on plateaus and hillsides to provide the electricity that sustains our domestic appliances and technology. Yet a spring tornado or derecho can level thousands of crop acres. It can destroy entire villages, towns and cities.

Fire transforms matter into energy. The ancient images of a candle flame or a fire in the hearth evoke comfort, light in the darkness and warmth from the cold. But uncontrolled fire can consume and destroy everything in its path – forests, homes, and lives.

These images from the Pentecost readings suggest that the Holy Spirit is a vital new wave of divine energy. It was provided for Christ’s apostles and their listeners with preparation, direction, and purpose.

Its purpose is reflected in the apostle’s words of proclamation, a message that could be understood by each visitor to Jerusalem, “in their own language.”

The Holy Spirit, like the sounds, winds, and fire of natural creation, flows from the Godhead. On this occasion, its force erases artificial divisions and misunderstandings among human beings who speak in different tongues.

But note that everyone here is “gathered” in one place and described as “devout.”

The apostles have already been prepared by Jesus to receive this miraculous energy pouring forth from the Holy Spirit. They have been transformed and made ready to transmit it to others. The people in the crowd have also made themselves ready to receive it.

The energy carried by the Paraclete is graceful, intentional, and generative.

But we are all acquainted with other expressions of energy, and other kinds of “spirits.” In today’s electronic world, we are constantly bombarded by them.

So, as Catholic writers this June, we might want to contemplate:

What kind of energy seems to be most prominent in our daily lives?

How well are we focusing and directing our own energies?

How are we making time to receive the energy of the Holy Spirit?

How can we best communicate it to others?

Veni Sancte Spiritus.

Sometimes There Are No Words …

May 24, 2022/2 Comments/in Catholic Writing and Publishing, Encouragement for Writers, The Writing Life/by Karina Fabian

There are some days when the words won’t come—and that’s okay.

It can be because of hard times. It can be because of good times. It can just be.

The best cure when the words won’t come is rest.

This life we live calls us to daily find a balance of the 24 hours we are given. A writer who is committed to writing 500 words daily may find days where it doesn’t happen—and that’s okay.

I’m one of those writers and the words haven’t come for about a week now. I’m writing this a week before you’ll read it and by then, I know I will be back to getting words written in my novel.

Tomorrow, though, my friend will bury her 11-year-old who died suddenly and tragically. My focus has been on that tragedy—dealing with the heartbreak and helping where we can. Tomorrow there will be no words— written or spoken—and that will be okay.

It doesn’t take a tragedy to take away words. It can be a bad headache, a terrible cold, a financial burden that must be solved.

It can even be wonderful things that take away words. It can be a day at the beach, a family member’s birthday or a day-long hike.

While writers make commitments and need to write, we also need to find rest and balance. (I know my last blog post was on writing consistently, but bear with me.)

Being a Catholic writer gives a purpose—a higher calling. Knowing that and resting on that gives a writer the leeway to be okay on the days when words won’t come. That day can still be used for God’s glory and good, but perhaps the writer is needed to be used in other ways than with words.

If a day comes with no words, take time to rest. Take time to be present. Mull over your story in your mind. Pray. Spend time outside. God made us more than to be just a writer—first we are His children.

Don’t make up the words the next day or beat yourself up because you’re “behind.” You are right where God wants you to be that day. He knows that awful or wonderful or just plain day is a day where the words won’t come.

After the days when words won’t come, there will be days when they do.

If you’re stuck, here’s a prayer from St. Frances de Sales on writing:

Ah, sweet Jesus, my Lord, my Savior, and my God, behold me here prostrate before your Majesty as I pledge and consecrate this writing to your glory. By your blessing give life to its words so that the souls for whom it has been written may receive from it the sacred inspirations I desire for them, in particular that of imploring your infinite mercy in my behalf to the end that while I point out to others the way of devotion in this world I myself may not be rejected and eternally condemned in the other, but that with them I may forever sing as a canticle of triumph words that with my whole heart I utter in witness of fidelity amid the hazards of this mortal life: Live, Jesus! Live, Jesus! Yes, Lord Jesus, live and reign in our hearts forever and ever. Amen.

What do you do when you have no words?

Tending The Garden of Your Heart

May 20, 2022/0 Comments/in Blogging, Catholic Writing and Publishing, Faith, Family Life, Holidays, Inspirational/by Kimberly Novak

Kimberly Novak shares heartfelt lessons she learned through the blooming of a Christmas Cactus.

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched; they must be felt within the heart.” Helen Keller

Many instances in our lives make a good argument for Helen Keller’s quote. Take, for example, a baby’s first smile and the soft touch of their little hand in yours. If we go deeper into those connections, we will find that the most intimate emotions are within the heart. In an unexpected example, I considered the many ways we can tend to the garden of our heart and produce a thriving relationship with God.

My mom texted me recently, celebrating that her Christmas Cactus had bloomed. After more than a year with no emerging flowers. Taking notice that the plant was not thriving in its environment, Mom moved it to a different room. “It is happy,” she shared. I wondered why a Christmas plant would be blooming now in May. The weather is warmer though not quite yet spring-like. Also, this is a “Christmas Plant,” and we are in Easter Season. Intrigued, I powered up the laptop and searched all there was to know about the Christmas Cactus.

There’s no shortage of information about this unique plant; for example, it is known for endurance and loyalty. Also, I read a Christmas Cactus Legend which goes deeper into what the plant represents. After all of this research, I still couldn’t find out why an adjustment in its environment made the plant happy.

The event and the beautiful change the cactus experienced gave me pause to look at how this relates to a nurturing relationship with God. Plants need specific growing environments, soil consistencies, and various levels of sunlight to achieve their full potential. As children of God, we can relate. There are multiple ways to measure the growing conditions of our spiritual life, all leading to happiness of the heart.

Temperature plays a significant role in our walk with God. When we are consistent in prayer and our spiritual practices, our longing for God runs hot! Spirituality thrives in this environment. The rising passion for God then needs to be watered frequently. It is important not to get to a point where we are dry or overwatered in prayer life. One can never pray too much; however, it is possible to pray without a feeling of genuine love for God in our hearts. Praying with sincerity from the heart will safeguard your level of spiritual hydration.

Life throws a lot our way, and there will come a day when you don’t feel like spending time with God. Much like a plant with halted growth, this is considered dormancy. A great way to combat this is through spiritual stillness. Prayer, without conscious words, yet in the presence of God. Eucharistic adoration is a beautiful place for worship of this nature and is an excellent preparatory phase for the next step on this journey, making conditions ripe for growth.

Recognizing your prayerful habits and patterns will keep your prayer life lush and abundant. Also, journaling is a great way to chart changes and emotions during your prayerful encounters. Find a way to highlight or mark days of consolation and go back to them when something has you down. These moments will act as nourishment for your spirit.

Now, it is time for the light to shine! With plants, indirect or direct sunlight plays a prominent role in the plant’s growth, texture, and lifespan. It is not much different in our relationship with God when considering God’s light and love as our source. Living in a way that glorifies our Lord allows His light to shine outwardly from us and onto others. It is in God’s light and love where the happiness in our hearts takes hold. Loving God and feeding on His love is a true expression of Helen Keller’s quote. When we nurture our spirituality before, during, and after blooming, it results in feeling the best and most beautiful things God is offering.

Spring is here, and soon, all will be shopping for the prettiest flowers, blooming plants, and preparing the soil for planting. I might suggest that in this time, we also consider where we can allow for spiritual growth and how God is calling us to plant the seeds He has given us to share.

The Writing Charism, and Finding Your Writing Niche

May 19, 2022/0 Comments/in Catholic Writing and Publishing, Inspirational/by Karina Fabian

I’ve been a writer for forever, but I’ve only been Catholic since 2018. Writing in the Protestant world for decades was a blessing, and I had no trouble finding community and support. Still, a bit of grieving needed to happen when I recognized that becoming Catholic meant that my presence in some areas of my previous social sphere would now be awkward.

As an extrovert, I knew I needed to be assertive and find new friends while continuing to cherish my Protestant Christian friendships, and the first two places I searched were among mothers and writers. Obviously, I found the Catholic Writers Guild, praise God. And I also found a group of bookish moms at my parish!

My writing and mothering worlds converged in a fateful and providential way when I mentioned a podcast episode to my mom’s group. The podcast recommended some books I thought we could read together and introduced me to a Catholic word I was unfamiliar with – charism.

Because I come from a Protestant tradition that loves to study Scripture, I knew that charis was Greek for grace (or The Graces in classical mythology). And of course, I could see that it was the root of words like charisma and charismatic, but I had yet to encounter the concept of charism as Catholics use it.

The podcast episode (Fountains of Carrots Episode 86: Living Out Your Creative Dreams to Love Your Family, with Jen Fulwiler) talked about finding the special way God has called and gifted you to make a difference in the world—your charism. The way He created you to be a more whole, fulfilled person and family/community member. They also recommended a workshop from The Catherine of Siena Institute.

I had no interest in taking the workshop and really just wanted to read one of Jen Fulwiler’s books with the group. Still, one of my friends took the initiative and organized a group to go through the Called and Gifted Workshop, and I felt obligated to join since I was the person who brought it up in the first place. Since I’d taken oodles of personality profiles and spiritual gift assessments, I resisted. I felt like I knew myself pretty well, and I thought this would be a boring waste of time.

Something is compelling about looking at not just the way God has molded your personality or your talents but how He has specially equipped you to do good in the world. It goes beyond “what am I good at?” and asks, “what am I here for?”

This distinction is huge. And it proved to be life-changing for me.

I was not surprised to find that writing was at the very top of my list of charisms when I took the inventory. I already knew I was meant to be a writer. What I found the most useful in the workshop experience was learning about my other complementary charisms, and second, the six-month discernment process that the workshop recommends.

In addition to writing, I scored high in Teaching, Knowledge, and Helps, among others. I came to understand how valuable it is for me to know these things about myself when considering what to write. Technically, I can write decently regardless of subject or format, but that does not mean that all of my writing will be equally impactful.

To test this, I spent six months trying new things. I volunteered on the editorial board for our diocesan newspaper. I wrote (bad) poetry. I published a book of short stories. And I tried my hand at developmental editing, essays, and long-form fiction.

I discovered that while God can use me however He wants to, left on my own, I often try to swim against the stream and use my energy in ways that do not offer a great return on the investment. I can muddle through in some areas of writing, but I really shine in others. There’s a place that is an intersection of all of my charisms that is both personally fulfilling and evangelistically impactful.

Consider how a Writing charism paired with an Encouragement charism looks completely different than Writing and Leadership. Or Music. Or Administration. Or Prophecy.

I’m now working in publishing at a literary agency. I would never have even known to look in that direction for a job that utilizes my charisms if I had not gone through this discernment process, and every day it feels like a more and more perfect fit.

Whether you take an inventory like Called and Gifted, or maybe walk through the Clifton Strengths Assessment with Guild member Lisa Mladinich at Wonderfully Made, take some time to think and pray about the other charisms God has given you and how they impact your writing. Which kinds of writing will allow the graces God has bestowed on to you reach their perfect audience? Maybe it will be a new way to help you think about your niche.

Cath-Lit Live: The City Mother

May 18, 2022/0 Comments/in Catholic Fiction, Catholic Theme, Catholic Writing and Publishing, Fiction/by Amy Cattapan

“Cath-Lit Live!” features brief interviews with Catholic authors who are releasing new books. Hosted by Catholic author and speaker Amy J. Cattapan, “Cath-Lit Live!” gives viewers a glimpse into the latest Catholic books while getting to know a bit about the author as well.

The City Mother cover

The City Mother by Maya Sinha

Fresh out of college, small-town crime reporter Cara Nielsen sees disturbing things that suggest, for the first time in her life, that evil is real. But as the daughter of two secular academics, she pushes that notion aside. When her smart, ambitious boyfriend asks her to marry him and move to a faraway city, it’s a dream come true. (Chrism Press)

author Maya Sinha

About the author: Maya Sinha grew up in New Mexico and wrote for the Santa Fe Reporter before attending law school. As a lawyer, she wrote a humor column for the local newspaper. In 2019, she became a columnist for The Saturday Evening Post. Her work has appeared in The Lamp Magazine, Dappled Things, Book & Film Globe, and many other publications. The City Mother is her first novel. She lives in Northern California with her family.

You can catch “Cath-Lit Live” live on A.J. Cattapan’s author Facebook page. Recorded versions of the show will also be available to watch later on her YouTube channel and Instagram.

Just a Humble Writer

May 13, 2022/1 Comment/in Catholic Writing and Publishing, Inspirational/by Maria Riley

I have often wondered what Mary felt and thought as the Angel Gabriel proclaimed that she was to bear the Son of God (cf. Luke 1:26-38). In her humility, she gave God her yes, and because of her fiat we have Christianity. Mary became the mother of our Lord, and because of her monumental role in the redemption of the world, she is the best example of humility in our faith. How can she be so important and well known, and yet humble?

In our modern culture, humility is perceived as weakness. Some would even say submissive is a synonym of humility. For most people, to be humble means to put ourselves down and feel unworthy. Our faith, however, gives us a very different understanding of humility. Simply put, humility is truly living in God’s will and not your own.

We have all known people who would benefit from a healthy dose of traditional humility. I’m talking about those who are completely full of themselves and unable to see the world in any way except their own. In those cases, humility might require being brought down a level or two.

But there are those of us, myself included, who need a healthy dose of humility to bring us up to the level that God wants for us. He doesn’t want us all sitting around feeling inept and worthless. True humility is knowing our place: not as a god in our own world, not as a doormat watching life pass by, but as an active participant doing what God wills for us.

For many years I refused to write because I did not feel worthy or equipped. When I thought about being a Catholic writer, I thought that there was no point of even trying because I do not have a formal Catholic education. I thought I was being modest and properly humble, knowing that I could not contribute to the Catholic writing world.

Thankfully, God didn’t give up on me (He never does). I recently dipped my toe in the water and found that while there are many Catholic topics I am not qualified to write about, there are plenty that I am! I have my own unique faith, conversion, and suffering experiences. I have stories that I know God wants me to tell. I have passion and a love of our Catholic faith, and if my writing brings even a single person closer to Christ, then I am doing what I am called to do.

Most importantly, I have learned that humility is not beating myself up or believing that I am unworthy of anything. It is setting aside my own desires and being fully present to give my own fiat to God for whatever He asks of me.

I pray for all aspiring Catholic writers: may you be properly humbled too. We need more good writers. Let it be you!

Confessions of a Journal Writer

May 12, 2022/1 Comment/in Catholic Writing and Publishing, Evangelization, Faith, Inspirational, Prayer, Spiritual Life, The Writing Life/by Allison Gingras

Journal writing entered my life when I received a pastel tie-dye-covered diary for my ninth birthday. The diary came with two dainty little keys, which I guarded with my life, though a sharp pair of shears could have gained anyone entry. That summer, I discovered my aptitude and affection for reflective writing. My first musings revolved around friendships, the unfair punishment imposed by my parents (however, to be fair, each was totally deserved), and I even took a whirl at penning poetry.

I still journal over 40 years later, albeit there is much less personal angst and much more spiritual contemplation. The joy of pen to paper, sorting through the full range of human emotion, connecting random thoughts, and wrestling with questions of theology—continue to bring great satisfaction and moments of remarkable clarity. While some people think out loud, I have learned that I think with a pen. My ideas come to a fuller understanding and bloom to maturity as I scrawl them out.

Muddled ideologies and bumpy spiritual awakenings are smoothed out as they are scratched out in red, purple, or green bold point across the smooth glistening writing surface. As my thoughts come fast and furious, my pen frantically toils to keep up, and there is no longer a need for a key to keep prying eyes from discovering my deepest thoughts. For it would require an expert in hieroglyphics as the words fly across the page, seemingly taking on a language of their own—my grandmother would call what remains chicken scratch.

Yet, I know I can return to these glorious pages and recall every word, every emotion. I decided long ago that the words I can no longer decipher or remember are simply not important or meant for anyone other than me. It is akin to those fleeting thoughts which float in and out of our consciousness, dismissed as inconsequential. The messages God wishes me to relay, I can attest, He repeats and reiterates through various situations and from myriad voices. In the end, I’m confident that what I publish for others to read not only comes from Him but always glorifies Him.

As time progresses, the purpose of my journals has evolved, less of capturing the memories of childhood and more of retaining the highlights of my journey of faith reversion. How the Catholic faith can be lived fully in everyday, ordinary moments of life, which I shared through my non-fiction writing. Between the pages of my collection of journals, one finds contemplation on the Scripture, catechesis on the tenets of the faith, mixed with my own struggle to believe, not lose faith, and cast-off doubts.

Spurred on to share because I’ve recognized, after years of conversations with others, that I am not the only person walking in the same wobbly steps, stumbling on these same rocks.

The journey is humbling, overwhelming, exciting at times, and heartbreaking at others. Yet, I know this is my call: to scribe the spiritual, spending endless hours in prayer, reading the scriptures, and participating in the sacraments. All to stay as close to Him as I can, and I’ll joyfully persist because it is on these pages I feel the closest to my God.