Hello, fellow campaigners of the writing world! Today, the topic is quite obvious from the title: it’s about the book proposal I sent out earlier this year.
So, backing up a little, with my book, The Hope of Hattie Phelan, I was just going to self-publish it. But, my parents made a good point in asking if I wanted to at least try to get it traditionally published (since it was a dream from childhood and I only didn’t try cuz I was scared of rejection). So, I sent one book proposal in to the place I felt most comfortable with.
Let me just say it, but God was all over the process. I felt His peace and rest and joy even at the thought of rejection. I told myself “God has me whether I get this or not.”
When it was on the desk (I got a notification that it was shipped (yes, I did an old-school, snail-mail proposal)), I went to church and someone I never met, a guest speaker, walked up to me and said: “You have the pen of a ready writer.”
Anytime I’ve been at a crossroads with writing, God has confirmed to me that I am called to write. A couple years ago, I was about to give up since I felt useless and selfish with my writing. I asked God to give me a sign because I was at my end. But God. By the end of the day, I was messaged to write an article (by someone I never met) about how God was using my writing.
There have been other instances of how my writing, though not shown to many people, has touched their lives or “changed their perspectives”. Like, how can I do that?
I don’t take credit.
It’s all God. All the parts that people say changed them were talking about Him, how He was moving on the life of the character, or what He has done. God is good.
Now, I bet you’re all like: WHAT ABOUT THE BOOK PROPOSAL???
Well, I didn’t get it.
I don’t mean to be dramatic (for the most part), but I don’t know how else to word it. They were kind, gave me closure, and gave recommendations for me to read. Anytime I tell people that my book got “rejected”, people are sad for me or upset like “how could they!”
But I’m perfectly fine, ya’ll. I’m sorta relieved.
I kinda wanted to self-publish because I get control over the outcome. I’m not too much of a controlling person, but I do like my creations to tell a story I want them to tell, or look the way I want them to look. I think I would know best what I want to do with my books…
Also, building a community with other self-published authors is sorta what I’ve already started. Most authors I talk to on Instagram or whatever are self-published, and I love to support them. And this creates a wonderful community of people who love their creations. I just think it is so beautiful.
So, all in all, I’ve learned a lot. But what I want to make clear is my testimony through this: the rejection truly didn’t affect me. I didn’t cry, and I wasn’t dejected–in fact, I was happy/relieved! Why? Because God had shown me time and time again that I’m supposed to write. It’s what I’m called to. I trust that God will direct me and show me where to go (he has in some ways already), but all I gotta do is be faithful and write the stories that glorify Him and show His mercies and goodness.
Thank you so much for reading!
Salutations, fellow adventurers!
Respectfully,
A. F. Kopp Author 