Q&A with the author, Kristen Wetherell (B&H Publishing)
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I always loved writing. (I was that weird student who enjoyed writing research papers.) But I never considered it as a vocation. After earning my BFA in Music Theater in college, I spent one year living in New York City, trying to work as an actress and singer. None of these pursuits worked out, and my body started suffering from serious chronic pains. So, I decided to start a blog in response to the stress around me and inside of me. I decided I would enjoy God’s Word each morning and write about what I was learning. That was it. I truly just wanted an outlet during a difficult season and a means of relishing my God, who I needed to cling to in that time. Not long after, I moved home to seek medical help for my mysterious pains. A website that published content for Christian women contacted me, asking to submit an article for compensation. I had no idea you could be paid for writing, so I said yes. Well, that experienced opened a perfect can of worms, and I discovered how much I loved writing longer-form articles about God and his Word.
How long does it take you to write a book?
Usually about five to six months. However, since I have two young children, I write in the cracks of my day, which means it takes me longer than some other writers.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I thrive on short spurts of writing. I actually don’t do well with long, extended work times, partially because my arms and hands can’t sustain that (I have some ongoing chronic pain there) and partially because I’ve now officially been trained in a journalistic style of work and writing! My sweet spot is a one-hour stretch. But I can work in the shortest of time frames because I must!
Do you have any fears or doubts as a writer that creep in from time to time?
Ummm, do you mean all the time? Yes. I actually wrote two blog articles on this because I think every human being struggles with insecurities, especially in vocation. The reality is, I’m not sufficient for these things, but God is (2 Cor. 3:5). He calls me to fear him, not men, not the future, not failure, not inadequacy, not the task he has called me to do. “In fear of the Lord, one has strong confidence” (Prov. 14:26).
Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
I believe that if I’m not writing for myself first, it’s not coming from the heart and is in vain. So all my ideas have come from my own sense of need before the Lord, questions I have, sins I’m fighting, or struggles I’m walking through. So every book has started from a place of humility and weakness.
How did you go about publishing Hope When It Hurts?
I met Sarah Walton at church. We became close friends and found we had a lot in common, especially health challenges. I also found out she loved writing, as I did. So after attending a conference and hearing a sermon on Romans 8, I had the idea to create a devotional for suffering people, something biblical, accessible, and deeply encouraging. We initially wanted to write it for our church. But God opened the door to a publisher, and Hope When It Hurts was born!
How would you encourage other Christian writers who desire to get their story published?
I would ask myself, “Why do I want to write this? Is it simply to be published? Or do I personally need these truths applied to my heart?” I think publishers (and even readers) can discern when a writer wants to gain a platform more than heart-transformation. So keep your eyes first and foremost on the Lord; do what he wants you to do. Be faithful in the small things. And if he opens the door to traditional publishing, you will know to walk through it. That’s not to say we can’t pursue the open door, but that we pursue it for the right reasons.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
It’s hard work. We have this idyllic picture of a writer’s life: an author steals away to a lake house, brews coffee, and gets to work with a smile on her face for a month straight. Easy peasy. But no—writing is like any other form of work. It takes commitment in every circumstance (even unideal ones), diligence when you’re tired and weary, and a humble attitude before God, who alone gets to decide how he uses the finished product. This surprised me, and it continues to! The fall has affected every form of work on this earth, so even writing can feel toilsome at times. Yet we press on because we know God created all forms of work, and it’s all good.
What was the hardest thing in submitting your manuscript to a Christian publisher?
Every time, it feels vulnerable, like wearing my heart on my sleeve and giving someone full freedom to critique it. Usually, I work with my editor along the way to know I’m on the right track; even still, submitting a manuscript is nerve-racking because you hope it exceeds the publisher’s expectations. Mostly, you pray it’s honoring to God and pleases him! But once I receive the first round of edits back, it’s like a weight gets lifted. “They liked it! Good!” And I take their edits and feedback as a gift from God to make the writing better and most helpful to readers.
Do you have any suggestions to help someone become a better writer? If so, what are they?
Two things come to mind. (1) Read a lot: Without curiosity and input, there will be little output. I consider seasons when I’m not writing a manuscript “reading seasons” when I invest my time enjoying books of many genres. Usually, ideas arise from these seasons, so I’m more equipped to explore them in writing. (2) Gladly submit yourself to editors: Take their skillful editing as God’s gift to you! Don’t resist it, but welcome it. Don’t be so proud or hold so tightly to your writing that you refuse to listen to someone whose job is to help you grow. Learn from them, and thank God for them! I worked as an editor for five years, and my favorite writers to work with were those who humbled themselves under my direction, wanted help, and loved to learn. Submit yourself to editors, and you’ll also find you’re a better writer who can self-edit! And editors value this skill set.
As the editor of Calla Press, I am humbled and thrilled to have connected with Kristen. As a busy mama myself, I know it takes a certain dedication to answer questions about the publishing journey, so I am grateful for her time. Kristen Wetherell writes regularly for digital publications and enjoys teaching the Bible to women at conferences and retreats. Read Kristen’s writing on her website and connect with her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.