Let Down the Nets

ACFWAdvice, Authors and writing, Encouragement, Faith, Fear/Doubt, Rejection, tips, writing 7 Comments

by Lisa Kelley @LisaKelleyWrite

Writing is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Even so, the quest most of the time is rewarding. But sometimes the doubts mushroom, and I think my efforts are futile. Have you felt this way? Maybe you, like me, have said, “Lord, I’m done. I have nothing more to give.”

Like me, you may have had a mountaintop experience or two. You left a conference or retreat pumped up and ready to take on the world. Then you discovered, after the best time of your life, you’d entered a valley.

We know rejection is part of the process. The quality of our writing may be excellent, but the market is tight, and the stories we have to offer may not be what editors are looking for at the time. But then it may be something editors perceive as deficient. For me, the worst three words are lack of tension.

When my agent said those dreaded words, I felt lost. I didn’t know how to fix the story, and for a short time, I didn’t know if I wanted to try. I’d tumbled into a ravine and I couldn’t see a way out. Then, I went to a half-day spiritual renewal program at my church.

We unpacked Luke 5:4-6, where Jesus tells Peter to “Put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch.” Peter is weary and isn’t thrilled about this request. “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.” Can you relate? I sure can. But Peter didn’t let his unbelief get in the way. “But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

If you believe God is in it, keep letting down the nets. @LisaKelleyWrite #ChristianFiction #writing #writingtips #ACFW Share on X

During the personal reflection time, I sensed I was there to hear “let down the nets” and to give my story another edit. Over the next couple of months, I revised portions of the novel. I liked the changes and was confident I had improved it.

For Peter, the story ended like this: “When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.” I didn’t have that outcome. A lack of tension was still a concern.

Is my novel dead forever? I don’t know. I hope not, but I’ve set the story aside and started writing something new. My heart still hurts. I’m weary. I’m worried because I have no idea how to create the right kind of tension that will satisfy my agent and an editor. Still, I can’t shake these four words, “let down the nets.” So, I’ve embarked on a tension-learning quest. I’m reading craft books and scrutinizing novels to see how other authors create tension. I’m giving it my all and trusting the fish are out there.

When the doubts overtake me and I think I should quit, I focus on this: The enemy wants us to give up. Satan doesn’t want any God-focused stories published, and he doesn’t want us to spend time creating stories with the Lord. People will never hear the good news of how much God loves them if we give up. I believe God wants me to write. He’s placed people in my life to encourage me and teach me things I need to know. I don’t believe that is a coincidence, and I know the doubts don’t come from Him.

If, like me, you think the deep writing waters are scary, focus on how God is bigger than our fears. We can trust Him that the fish will come when the time is right as long as we keep letting down our nets.

Lisa Kelley writes witty, contemporary romances to entertain and to show people how beautiful Jesus is. A 2023 Genesis Award winner, Lisa is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray with the Steve Laube Agency. In her spare time, she loves to travel and relax with her family and friends.

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