Don’t Hold Back

By Chandra Lynn Smith

This past weekend I did something new. And I was more than a little bit nervous about the endeavor. I don’t know about all writers, but I have a feeling many—maybe even most—of us are introverts. I recently learned a new personality type: extroverted introvert. People who are basically introverted but can adapt extroverted traits when necessary. Another typical trait is that after the event or situation, the person is exhausted and needs some serious downtime with no ‘peopling.’ Does that sound familiar to some of you?

So, what did I do last weekend? I had my first-ever book event. Our town has a festival every August called “Good Ole Days.” It is three days of small-town parades, celebrations, an outdoor movie night, yard sales, and a craft/vendor event on Saturday. I had a table to sell my books. That is what I have never done before.

The past couple of months, I have been designing and purchasing business cards, table posters, a large banner, a conference-style tablecloth, and a good supply of my books. I also gathered up my various knick-knacks that have had varying roles in the inspiration of my manuscripts. By Friday, as we loaded up the car with all of my supplies, I felt excited and only a little nervous.

Then Saturday came. I got my table set up and was quite pleased with the way it looked, rather professional if I do say so myself! But I was quite nervous. We said a prayer that God would make sure my stories got to the right people. And as we ended our prayer, the first group that was to sing that morning was a worship band. They opened with an invocation and then sang the National Anthem. Every single vendor setting up displays stopped, stood, and either saluted or placed hands over their hearts. It was a beautiful moment which God used to calm all my nerves and let me know He was there.

Years ago, Allen Arnold taught me to write with God and also asked me to consider writing the stories He gives me even if He is the only One who ever reads them. And, in that moment, after the prayer and the anthem, I knew God was with me and would see His plans for my books to fruition.

I write this post for those of you who hold back. You hold back from writing the story because you’re not good enough, or it’s not good enough, or …you might have to actually do your own marketing and talk to people. For some of us, it’s not as much the writing and publishing that frightens us as it is talking about it to real people. The thing is, when you write with God, the stories He’s placed in your heart, you can have faith He will see it gets into the very hands He planned all along—even if the hands He wants to hold the book are yours. Just stop holding back and allow yourself the sheer joy of writing the story.

When the first lady walked to my table, I had a moment of panic. I had no idea what to say. So I asked her if she was a reader. And then I asked her what she liked to read. My friends, it flowed naturally from there. I answered questions about my books, my characters, my stories, the significance of my knick-knacks, and the inspiration for my books. They told me stories too. I sold some books, but honestly, that was not the blessing nearly as much as talking with people about books and stories.

Don’t hold back. Write your stories. Talk to people about them. Go to conferences. Join critique groups. Trust God gave you the stories for His reasons and He will see them through.

And, at the end of the day when introverted you has had as much peopling as you can take, go home, snuggle up with a good book and read; because good writers also need to be good readers.

Chandra Lynn Smith is a professional dog trainer and award-winning author of inspirational romance and suspense featuring beloved canine characters, blending heartwarming relationships with engaging mystery and emotional depth. She lives on a small farm in Pennsylvania with her husband, Don, and their Labrador, where she enjoys rural life. Learn more about Chandra and her books on her website.