I wonder how many of you, authors or otherwise, struggle with this whole area of looking for praise for what we produce? I have been thinking about this in connection with the recent release of my fifth novel Heléna’s Legacy. Of course I want people to like this book. And of course I want it to impact and encourage as many people as possible. After all, I believe in this novel – and I believe it was something God wanted me to write. So I’m happy to get out there and promote it for all it’s worth. And I’m very pleased (and relieved!) when people respond positively – when they congratulate me, when they say they love the cover, when they warm to what I’ve written.
In one sense, I have to ‘pursue’ praise. By that I mean I have to listen to my readers – there is no point in continuing to produce novels no one likes and no one buys. And that includes taking on board praise as well as criticism. But in my uncertainty as to whether my book is ‘good enough’, I find myself on occasions seeking so desperately for that reassuring praise that may never come. I look too eagerly for people’s responses. My wellbeing begins to depend on it. I analyse their words too closely and, if face to face, try to discern if they mean what they’re saying. Perhaps they’re merely trying to be nice and not hurt me. Or perhaps while they compliment me on some aspect of the novel, they’re secretly glad they can find at least something positive to say about it!
So where is the point where I begin to seek praise for praise’s sake only – to make me feel good or to boost my ego – rather than look for it to show me I have written something that will be well-received and hopefully used by God? Where do I step over into self-centredness, caring more about my own honour rather than God’s? Where is the dividing line between humbly and thankfully accepting people’s praise and letting it go to my head?
I guess the real question in my heart is this: Whose praise am I seeking the most – men’s (and women’s!) or God’s? Recently I read the account in John 5 of how Jesus heals a disabled man, telling him to pick up his mat and walk, but is persecuted for this because it is the Sabbath. The persecution then gets worse when Jesus calls God Father, yet this doesn’t deter him from confronting his opponents even more strongly. ‘I know you,’ he tells them (v 42). ‘I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts.’ Then he asks a question that pulled me up short: ‘How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?’ (v 44)
Yes, I know and am so thankful for the fact that I am fully accepted by God and saved by grace – that none of my works, written or otherwise, will ever ‘earn’ me eternal life. But here Jesus clearly shows the importance of taking God’s opinion of us into account over that of mere mortals, of living in a way that please God above all else. And I’m sure you too look forward to the day when, like the faithful servant in Matthew 25, we ourselves hear our Master’s ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’ (v 21)
Now that’s definitely some praise worth pursuing, don’t you agree?
Jo-Anne Berthelsen's Blog 
Wow, I know just what you’re talking about. This very thing is the cause of so much angst at times. When praise like this is forthcoming, I sometimes get such a ‘fix’ I wonder if I have too much riding on human feedback. And when people don’t give feedback, or don’t even bother to read my books, I get more downcast than I believe I should.
Being aware of this is a good sign, anyway. And your conclusion to this post is spot on, of course.
Thanks,
Paula
Thanks so much, Paula, for sharing how you feel about all this too. And that’s such a good point you made about the fact that our being aware of the issue is a good sign – hadn’t thought of that! I guess for me it’s a matter of continuing to walk close to God, asking him what he’s saying to me in it all and just continuing to get his perspective on it all. That’s one reason I think we are so blessed as Christian authors to be able to do that. By the way, great too that you’re going to ‘blog’ for ICFW as well. Look forward to reading what you write. God bless
Thank you Jo-anne. That message was for me today, for sure.
God bless, Carol! I’m so glad the blog has helped you today.
This is so timely for Ray & I too, Jo-Anne. We seem to be existing at the moment in this “promotion” world authors have to walk through when I am longing to have the time to write that next manuscript! We had the book launch in Melbourne, now tying up “ends” for Launceston one this Sunday and also book-signings, media interviews, etc, etc. We should be doing this for two main reasons: If we believe our books are what God has wanted us to “do” then we want to also obey Him in doing all we can to reach readers so He can use our writings however He wants to in their lives. The other main reason of course is because our publisher expects us to, as part of our contract, do all we can to promote the books so they don’t go broke! Thank you for the reminder of what happened to Jesus when HE obeyed! That makes it so much easier to accept not only praise but any adverse reactions to our books as well! A really great post and thank you so much. A great reminder too that our “times are in HIS loving hands.”
Thanks for your thoughtful comments, Mary. I totally agree with the first reason you’ve expressed above – but I hadn’t honestly thought of the second! Oops! God bless you both in this very busy time – but you have to be focused on that right now so I hope you can both be at peace in the midst of it all. Well done to you both – sounds like you have some great opportunities in all this.
It’s something I struggle with too Jo-anne. I love to receive feedback about the latest issue of Footprints – especially specific comments about how an article has touched or helped somebody. But there is a fine line between feedback, and craving praise and compliments!!!! As a writer and editor, I constantly have to check my heart motivation.
In a funny way, it’s quite reassuring to hear other writers struggle with this issue! I think you’ve put it really well though, Janet – that’ ‘fine line between feedback and craving praise and compliments’ was exactly what I was trying to grapple with in this blog. And I agree that checking our real heart motivation is the thing to do.
[…] (I know I’m not alone … check out this blog post by Aussie Christian author Jo-Anne Berthelsen). It’s a continual effort to keep my heart and my motives pure – to ensure that I […]
Hi Jo-Anne, I have linked back to this post from my own latest blog post – check it out at http://footprintsaustralia.com/blog/?p=1046.
Thanks so much for doing that, Janet – and also for letting me know. The blog looks great – and my goodness, the list of what NOT to do there sure is quite daunting! I will keep your blog in mind as I work further on the workshop I’m down to take at the Word Writers’ Fair in Nov on ‘Keeping God in the Writing Journey’. God bless!