Held to a Higher Standard

[Depleted]

Spurgeon got me thinking again. (Nope. Not going to post it this time, but if you're interested, it's his devotional for January 13 -- Morning. And you can google "Spurgeon's Morning and Evening" to find it.) Part of it had to do with Jehoshaphat, another man after God's own heart, but he did something bad. He aligned his business opportunities with an enemy of God. The verse is 1 King 22:48. The reason for that was told in 2 Chronicles 20:37.

Basically, his ships of gold went down because God would not have him do business with Ahaziah.

Jehoshaphat was not abandon by the Lord, he was disciplined by the Lord.

This hit home with me. If you know me, you know I'm looking for representation for a novel I've written from a literary agent. (Not saying I'm literary. Just saying the proper title for agents who represent novels. lol) If my neighbor had written a novel in the same area that I wrote one, (Middle Grade/MG; i.e. "for grade-school kids"), I would advice that neighbor to seek representation from all of the 238 agents who want MG. It's good advice, but I can't do that myself.

I can't because the Lord holds me to a higher standard. Agents want something to represent, so they let people know what they want by having something of an online presence. They do that so someone writing a mystery won't come to them, because they don't have expertise in selling mysteries. They're expertise is in another genre, or another audience level. (Selling Kid Lit is different than selling grownup books. And I use "grownup," so it doesn't get confused with the other meaning of "adult" novels.) And because they want us to know about them first, so we do only ask those who can help us, they also, sometimes, let their opinions and beliefs show up often. (Many Twitter now.)

To my very core, I want this novel published. I'm not playing the "I want to be a writer" game, many of us play. (I played it for decades, so no put down to those still there.) I put in the time and effort to make this story good enough to sell... at least, I've put in all the effort and skill I have, and pray that is enough. I left it all on the field!

The more agents I ask, the more likely it is I will find one who will love this particular strange story. I started with a list of 238 agents who represent MG's. But I have one other thing going on that most writers don't have. I'm a Christian, so I'm held to a higher standard. God's standard.

And in that standard, I know one thing -- the modern-liberalism going on loudly in America right now has another word for it -- anarchy! Not all liberals. Just the ones who want to do away with law, who want us to believe anything -- absolutely anything -- is morally acceptable just as long as people aren't stupid enough to follow the God of the whole Bible. Which means they hate God.

I can align with a liberal agent. They aren't necessarily all that different from me. I cannot align with an anarchist. I had to figure out that difference by searching online for each of those agents, and then my list went down to 93.

73 now that 19 have rejected my novel. (One has asked for a full manuscript, and I'm still waiting to see if she loves it. They don't represent anything unless they truly love it.) A bit frightening considering how much I want this story published, but even more important to me is I want to do the Lord's will.

Recently, on this forum, was a discussion on lying. Some people think it's okay to lie given the right circumstances, and it is. BUT Christians are held to a higher standard. Missing that standard won't stop us from being saved. It will cause the Lord to discipline us, like he disciplined Jehoshaphat.

Ever have to make that choice in your life? Which way did you choose, and how did it work out for you? Because, as of yet, I have no idea how this will work out for me. I just know I'm held to a higher standard.

 

[plainguy]

If the context of your writing isn't compromised, I personally don't see an issue with you choosing any agent that gets you closer to your goal of being published. I would think that all of us use the services of others whose beliefs don't necessarily align with our own. Auto mechanics, barbers/hairdressers, lawyers, doctors etc. etc. I would hold fast to the meaning of my written words. That, I would not compromise. But getting it out there per say ? I still think that you're in a safe zone. I wish you the best of luck and God's blessing on your endeavour

 

[oldethennew]

we commend you Depleted,

and pray that if it is God's Will, that He will lead you to a publisher who truly Loves our Saviour,
and that they will love what you have so passionately written about...

 

[Joidevivre]

I also want the best for you - and that is to see your writings read by lots of people it was meant for.

What happened to me (I think I mentioned it earlier), is that my book actually went to a publisher, and they came back with a "yes", but also required me to write so many more books in the coming years with a contract for this. I discovered it is not one book they want, but they want your "name", so that once your book sells, others will sell easily. Now, this might be something you would love, but it wasn't for me. I only wrote mine because I was led by God to do so (it is a devotional). And I felt no impulse to write others.

What happened is that I published it myself - got it into small Christian book stores - and began giving it out free when I worked as a hospital and hospice chaplain. The orders for more began pouring in, and now are regular. It is also sold on Amazon (private info). It has been reprinted (by me) at least 15 times - costing me each time - but recovering when books are sold.

I hope you do not have to go through the work that I did. I only charge a little more than the printing costs me - but it has never been about the money. It has been about getting it read. God has truly blessed this book, and I know it came from Him. In a way, I'm glad I did not use an agent, but when I began seeking publication, agents were not as important as they are now.

God bless your book, Lynn.

 

[Depleted]

If the context of your writing isn't compromised, I personally don't see an issue with you choosing any agent that gets you closer to your goal of being published. I would think that all of us use the services of others whose beliefs don't necessarily align with our own. Auto mechanics, barbers/hairdressers, lawyers, doctors etc. etc. I would hold fast to the meaning of my written words. That, I would not compromise. But getting it out there per say ? I still think that you're in a safe zone. I wish you the best of luck and God's blessing on your endeavour

Ah, but the agenting job isn't mechanic/barber/lawyer/doctor. Think closer to "business-partner." If all goes right, it's a long-term relationship that does, very much, have to do with beliefs and morals. And partnerships happen for a reason. It's always two (or more) people with different skills brought to the relationship. The agent is the one who understands which publishers would want, but they also know what they have to do to get that publisher. That includes how far the publisher is willing to go on the moral issues, and contracts. It also has everything to do with how far the agent is willing to go, morally, on the business side of this and the contract. And, since I'm looking for an editorial agent too, it has everything to do with what that agent is willing to have me do to sell this book.

I won't take a morally-ambiguous agent. I certainly won't take a hates-God agent. It's a book for kids. Kids are impressionable. It is my duty not to include anything in the book that would teach kids to be morally-bankrupt. And God-haters surely want to bankrupt kids. So, it's not the same as most relationships we have with service businesses.

 

[Depleted]

I also want the best for you - and that is to see your writings read by lots of people it was meant for.

What happened to me (I think I mentioned it earlier), is that my book actually went to a publisher, and they came back with a "yes", but also required me to write so many more books in the coming years with a contract for this. I discovered it is not one book they want, but they want your "name", so that once your book sells, others will sell easily. Now, this might be something you would love, but it wasn't for me. I only wrote mine because I was led by God to do so (it is a devotional). And I felt no impulse to write others.

What happened is that I published it myself - got it into small Christian book stores - and began giving it out free when I worked as a hospital and hospice chaplain. The orders for more began pouring in, and now are regular. It is also sold on Amazon (private info). It has been reprinted (by me) at least 15 times - costing me each time - but recovering when books are sold.

I hope you do not have to go through the work that I did. I only charge a little more than the printing costs me - but it has never been about the money. It has been about getting it read. God has truly blessed this book, and I know it came from Him. In a way, I'm glad I did not use an agent, but when I began seeking publication, agents were not as important as they are now.

God bless your book, Lynn.

It's the first in a series, so, by default, I'm set for the next six books. That's it. One story to tell. Just a really long story. And if an agent doesn't accept that? I figure she's missing the whole, "I'm in my early sixties" thingy. lol

Yeah, I know they're all about the "what else will you be giving us."

It is about this story. On the other hand, I'd be thrilled if it made money too. lol