You Are Not Alone by Natasha Woodcraft

You Are Not Alone

Growing up in the 90s, I always felt like the odd one out among my siblings and peers. I remember spending emotional evenings with oversized headphones on, curled up in a ball on the bed, as the dulcet tones of Michael Jackson assured me I was “not alone.”

Despite his promises, MJ never turned up at my door to hold my hand (probably just as well.) 

A Lonely Calling

Some things don’t change. Writing can be a lonely calling. Late nights staring at a blinking cursor. The self-doubt that creeps in. The rejection emails that sting no matter how many times you receive them.

Christian authors face additional challenges. We wonder if our message will resonate. We question if we're qualified to speak truth. We worry about getting the theology right while still creating engaging content that reaches hearts.

I've been there, asking myself:

• Is anyone going to read this?
• Does what I'm writing even matter?
• Am I wasting my time?

(If you are reading this, leaving a comment on this blog will really help quell some of the existential crises…! TIA)

A Divine Collaboration

Here's what I've discovered: Christian writing doesn’t need to be a solo act. When we share God's truth through story, devotional or teaching, we're engaging in a divine collaboration.

Jesus promised, “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). This isn't just a comforting verse – it’s a practical reality for Christian writers seeking to further the Kingdom that Jesus commissioned us into. The Holy Spirit guides our thoughts, inspires our creativity, and helps us find words when we feel empty.

The Creator of language Himself holds your hand through the writing process.

When I embraced this, my life transformed. Writing wasn’t just about me. It was a Kingdom thing to do. I began each session with prayer, inviting God into my creativity. Moments of writers’ block became an opportunity to pause and listen.

From Manuscript to Published Book

This needn’t stop once you type “The End” (does anyone still do that?) The steps to publication can look like an impossible, overwhelming mountain:

• Should you pursue traditional publishing or self-publish?
• If self-publishing, which platforms should you use?
• How do you format your book professionally?
• What about cover design?
• ISBN numbers, copyright pages, book descriptions…?

But they don’t have to be mountains. For, one of the joys I’ve discovered in the past year is not publishing alone.

To explore some of the questions above, ACW ran a helpful Zoom Writer’s Day on Saturday titled, “How to get your book published”. I shared on Saturday how, when I was starting out, I discovered ACW, and certain members (Thanks, Wendy H. Jones) pointed me in the right direction to get my first book critiqued, edited, print ready and out there. 

My debut novel was Biblical fiction, so I had little choice when it came to publishing (it’s not a genre generally accepted by UK publishers.) Despite the incredible help I received, I had to self-publish – alone. Being a chronic perfectionist, every time I messed up (as I do, frequently) it lead to many a sleepless night. (I’d like to say the pressure to produce perfection lifted when I realised that God works through my weaknesses as much as my strengths. But I can’t, even now, with six books under my belt.)

Walking Together

But the loneliness did lift. Just over a year ago, Joy Vee and I set up Broad Place Publishing, a brand new publishing adventure focused on producing quality, Jesus-centred books and distributing them as widely as possible. We operate on a partnership model, inviting the Holy Spirit to influence every step of the publishing process, from submission to marketing. Each author that comes to us partners with us for the process, and is encouraged to partner with others by raising financial and prayer support for the project. We’re looking for Kingdom stories, and those always face opposition. So, each release has a 6 month pre-launch period where the focus is not on getting the book publication ready (that’s already happened) but on prayer. We then work together to share about and support each other’s books.

So, I am now helping our authors in a similar way to the way I was helped. This all happened very quickly! But I’ve studied for (and am working as) an editor and publisher because I’m increasingly convinced that if we ask him, God will not just hold our hands, he’ll provide others to do the same. 

Do I feel woefully inadequate? Often. Does that mean I shouldn’t do it? No. Because God has given me a task, and he’ll equip me for it. Just as he’ll equip you.

In Summary

Whether you're working on your first devotional or a Christian fiction series, you can have companions on this journey. Most importantly, you can have the Master Writer holding your hand through every word, every page, every chapter, and every flipping social media post.

Christian Writers, you are not alone. 

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P.S. Last month it was my turn to release a book again. Here I am in front of our beautiful banner:

Natasha Woodcraft lives in slightly crumbling farmhouse in Lincolnshire with her family of boys and animals. She believes stories have power to communicate deep truth and transform lives. Her published novels explore God’s redemptive purposes for ordinary, messy people living in biblical times. Natasha is on the team at Broad Place Publishing, a new, exciting enterprise offering publishing and self-publishing services to those who write for the Kingdom of God.