Mary, I have to believe that these three things will matter in the long run: perseverance in one's calling, a message that matters, and beautiful writing. I'll continue to work hard as I daily give myself over to Jesus.
Oh my gosh, I LOVE this!!!! Thank you! I too have heard that platform matters less in the secular publishing world. Something is definitely wrong here. And we wonder why the modern church seems a bit infantile...
Mary! Thank you for being brave enough to say what I’ve been wrestling with for years. I think we are going to miss the greatest writers of our time because the industry is looking for influencers.
As a Christian author (who chose to be indie), I have wrestled with the same things from the Christian publishing industry. We have done a great disservice to ourselves by giving book contracts to the people with the followers and not those who have something valuable and meaningful to say. The more I see of the Christian publishing world, the less I want to do with it, honestly, and it makes me think, if Christian publishing is like this then what is Christian music like? Very much the same.
Sorry- first sent too soon! ;) Writers are spending less time on formation, reflection and prayer to become full-time marketing experts.
In my experience- most of these great writers are more introverted and the drain of living life online isn’t sustainable. I understand it’s an industry but many talented, anointed writers are walking away in discouragement.
I have felt my career coming to a cross road- either stop marketing and lose my career/ or keep plowing through with something that frustrates me so deeply as a means to an end. I’m actively praying for a better way. Gods way.
I have really loved Substack as a retreat though. The return to long form writing and the de-emphasis on images is really refreshing.
Mary, this is such a much needed reflection. I especially resonate with your observation about Eugene Peterson—I've often wondered how he would approach ministry in today's climate. As a writer and church planter in New York, I constantly find myself having to navigate the tension between faithful obscurity in my neighborhood and the pull to share stories with financial supporters afar. The pressure to build a "platform" so often distracts from the quiet work of obedience and deep formation. It seems as though the practice of obscurity and quiet faithfulness may be the antidote to a culture obsessed with follower counts. Your line about Jesus editing His crowd rather than building it is unforgettable. Thank you for your vulnerability and for reminding us that God calls us to faithfulness, not to developing a follower count!
Agreed, and I wonder what Jesus would do? Seriously. I don't think he ever sought a platform. People did come to him because of the miracles, but he seems to have been more concerned with pointing them to God's love. In the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible too, kings said they sought to be shepherds, not superstars.
For me, the wrestle is internal. Can I be humble and true to my calling, and vulnerable and there for people on the margins, and ignore all the stuff that I'm not called to? Only with the help of community, in my case. But I do love the people at the margins, where there's so much creativity. That's where I see God at work most powerfully.
Its’nt it crazy that after all this time, this conversation on Platform still exists. I meet students often who ask me how they can become like a “so and so author” and when I ask them for a sample of their writing, they have none to share. So if the basic work of writing for the sake of the joy of writing and creativity does not exist and if that is not really an area where God wants to use one- why chase that pipe dream and platform? when we learnt to write and create for an audience of 1 then perhaps we will learn the more important lesson of being formed into something for the sake of Christ!
That line, “He didn’t build his platform, he edited it,” stopped me cold. Jesus certainly had an interesting marketing strategy: tell the truth, watch the follower count drop, and continue anyway. 🤣
I also loved “A platform is simply a place to kneel.” Somewhere along the way, parts of Christianity seem to have borrowed the world’s scoreboard and slapped a Bible verse on it: followers, sales, stages, influence. Yet Scripture keeps returning to that far less glamorous measurement: faithfulness. “Well done, good and faithful servant” has no mention whatsoever of engagement statistics. Thank God, because apparently heaven does not have an algorithm. 💜✨
I think that great writers speak the truth, as you have done here.
I've become convinced that the way to peace is for our motivation to be intrinsic (I'm working on it). If a) we truly create for God's purposes, something which is the best, most exquisite quality that we can manage, and b) we stand on the rock of God's truth that we are precious in his sight and honoured, and he loves what we do. Then that is enough.
We know our worth and do not need to compare ourselves to others.
And who knows, maybe one or two of the unknown writers on Substack will become like Mother Julian of Norwich, a solitary who wrote the first published book by a woman. In her lifetime, no one saw it, but now it is a classic that has helped millions of people on their journey of faith.
But even if it didn't, the work would still have been beautiful and faithful and precious in God's sight.
Sorry, I think this might have been a well-meaning rant; I feel quite passionate about this.
As a former VP/Marketing for a major Christian publisher (smile) and as a literary agent myself for the past six years, I say a HEARTY AMEN to this:
"I have to remind myself that God doesn’t waste our work. He sees it. But he measures it differently than the world’s system. He doesn’t look at follower count. He looks at faithfulness. And that is what I want to strive for.
Word after word. Obedience in the small places. Trusting that heaven’s economy is wholly different."
thanks for all that you do to advance the Kingdom of God
I’m in the weeds with this. New to publishing and decided to finally write after my kids were out of the house. Published my first book last fall!
I volunteered in so many ways and left a career behind to make sure we raised our children well. I’m exhausted trying to navigate this publishing nightmare, so I just do what I can and remain faithful just like I did as a volunteer. What God brings is His. I’ll shepherd what He has given to me. Thanks for your sweet reminder that we matter to God in “smaller-called” spaces.
Which is weird to me. Especially in Christian spaces. I listen to podcasts (and radio shows—haha!) of people being interviewed about their books all the time!
I’m on a podcast “tour” and I really love doing the ones that I don’t have to make my book the biggest topic of the conversation. Its been good for me to know that I know what I’m talking about when I just have a conversation —without book sales in mind.
Mary, I have to believe that these three things will matter in the long run: perseverance in one's calling, a message that matters, and beautiful writing. I'll continue to work hard as I daily give myself over to Jesus.
I'm with you.
Oh my gosh, I LOVE this!!!! Thank you! I too have heard that platform matters less in the secular publishing world. Something is definitely wrong here. And we wonder why the modern church seems a bit infantile...
I wonder the same thing.
Mary! Thank you for being brave enough to say what I’ve been wrestling with for years. I think we are going to miss the greatest writers of our time because the industry is looking for influencers.
Truly, God won't miss them, though, and if we pray and support each other, more of the good fruit will be seen.
It's sadly true.
As a Christian author (who chose to be indie), I have wrestled with the same things from the Christian publishing industry. We have done a great disservice to ourselves by giving book contracts to the people with the followers and not those who have something valuable and meaningful to say. The more I see of the Christian publishing world, the less I want to do with it, honestly, and it makes me think, if Christian publishing is like this then what is Christian music like? Very much the same.
Yes, there are so many similarities in Christian music.
Sorry- first sent too soon! ;) Writers are spending less time on formation, reflection and prayer to become full-time marketing experts.
In my experience- most of these great writers are more introverted and the drain of living life online isn’t sustainable. I understand it’s an industry but many talented, anointed writers are walking away in discouragement.
I have felt my career coming to a cross road- either stop marketing and lose my career/ or keep plowing through with something that frustrates me so deeply as a means to an end. I’m actively praying for a better way. Gods way.
I have really loved Substack as a retreat though. The return to long form writing and the de-emphasis on images is really refreshing.
I agree about substack. It's a writer's place.
Yes! 🙌
Mary, this is such a much needed reflection. I especially resonate with your observation about Eugene Peterson—I've often wondered how he would approach ministry in today's climate. As a writer and church planter in New York, I constantly find myself having to navigate the tension between faithful obscurity in my neighborhood and the pull to share stories with financial supporters afar. The pressure to build a "platform" so often distracts from the quiet work of obedience and deep formation. It seems as though the practice of obscurity and quiet faithfulness may be the antidote to a culture obsessed with follower counts. Your line about Jesus editing His crowd rather than building it is unforgettable. Thank you for your vulnerability and for reminding us that God calls us to faithfulness, not to developing a follower count!
Faithful Obscurity would be a great book title.
I've literally had that on my short list for something I've been developing—hopefully someone doesn't take it!
Agreed, and I wonder what Jesus would do? Seriously. I don't think he ever sought a platform. People did come to him because of the miracles, but he seems to have been more concerned with pointing them to God's love. In the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible too, kings said they sought to be shepherds, not superstars.
For me, the wrestle is internal. Can I be humble and true to my calling, and vulnerable and there for people on the margins, and ignore all the stuff that I'm not called to? Only with the help of community, in my case. But I do love the people at the margins, where there's so much creativity. That's where I see God at work most powerfully.
Shepherds not Superstars. That will preach.
Its’nt it crazy that after all this time, this conversation on Platform still exists. I meet students often who ask me how they can become like a “so and so author” and when I ask them for a sample of their writing, they have none to share. So if the basic work of writing for the sake of the joy of writing and creativity does not exist and if that is not really an area where God wants to use one- why chase that pipe dream and platform? when we learnt to write and create for an audience of 1 then perhaps we will learn the more important lesson of being formed into something for the sake of Christ!
Yeah: to be a writer, you have to write.
That line, “He didn’t build his platform, he edited it,” stopped me cold. Jesus certainly had an interesting marketing strategy: tell the truth, watch the follower count drop, and continue anyway. 🤣
I also loved “A platform is simply a place to kneel.” Somewhere along the way, parts of Christianity seem to have borrowed the world’s scoreboard and slapped a Bible verse on it: followers, sales, stages, influence. Yet Scripture keeps returning to that far less glamorous measurement: faithfulness. “Well done, good and faithful servant” has no mention whatsoever of engagement statistics. Thank God, because apparently heaven does not have an algorithm. 💜✨
Well said: the world's scorecard
I think that great writers speak the truth, as you have done here.
I've become convinced that the way to peace is for our motivation to be intrinsic (I'm working on it). If a) we truly create for God's purposes, something which is the best, most exquisite quality that we can manage, and b) we stand on the rock of God's truth that we are precious in his sight and honoured, and he loves what we do. Then that is enough.
We know our worth and do not need to compare ourselves to others.
And who knows, maybe one or two of the unknown writers on Substack will become like Mother Julian of Norwich, a solitary who wrote the first published book by a woman. In her lifetime, no one saw it, but now it is a classic that has helped millions of people on their journey of faith.
But even if it didn't, the work would still have been beautiful and faithful and precious in God's sight.
Sorry, I think this might have been a well-meaning rant; I feel quite passionate about this.
Yes, this is the kernel for a well written post!
This worries me too. Charisma sells more than quiet faithfulness.
well said
Thank you, Mary. Your voice is needed and valued! Thank you.
Ah thanks!
Wow, just wow! I love how God speaks to me through the words of others.
Grateful
Hi Mary!
As a former VP/Marketing for a major Christian publisher (smile) and as a literary agent myself for the past six years, I say a HEARTY AMEN to this:
"I have to remind myself that God doesn’t waste our work. He sees it. But he measures it differently than the world’s system. He doesn’t look at follower count. He looks at faithfulness. And that is what I want to strive for.
Word after word. Obedience in the small places. Trusting that heaven’s economy is wholly different."
thanks for all that you do to advance the Kingdom of God
warmly,
Tom
Nice to have a fellow agent here, Tom! And thanks for the kind words.
Trusting that heaven’s economy is wholly different.
Oh yes. Thank you for this precious reminder, Mary.
You are welcome.
Thank you for this reminder to focus on what God focuses on - faithfulness. Lord, help us all.
yes, so important.
I’m in the weeds with this. New to publishing and decided to finally write after my kids were out of the house. Published my first book last fall!
I volunteered in so many ways and left a career behind to make sure we raised our children well. I’m exhausted trying to navigate this publishing nightmare, so I just do what I can and remain faithful just like I did as a volunteer. What God brings is His. I’ll shepherd what He has given to me. Thanks for your sweet reminder that we matter to God in “smaller-called” spaces.
Sadly, most new authors are blindsided by the expectations. And it's actually very hard to sell books in today's climate.
Which is weird to me. Especially in Christian spaces. I listen to podcasts (and radio shows—haha!) of people being interviewed about their books all the time!
I’m on a podcast “tour” and I really love doing the ones that I don’t have to make my book the biggest topic of the conversation. Its been good for me to know that I know what I’m talking about when I just have a conversation —without book sales in mind.
Yes, I try to think about podcast opportunities as ways to help people grow and heal. That gives me a more holistic approach.