The Balance Between Marketing and Craft

This CAN marketing blog is about marketing. But sometimes God brings a little correction to me as I market and write. Today's post is that correction. I pray it blesses you.

The balance between marketing and writing great prose is a hard one to find. I’ll admit to going a bit nutty from time to time, trying-trying-trying to “get my name out there.” But, truly, do I want to be remembered as that girl who operated her writing ministry like a multi-level marketing gig? Where I leverage every relationship in light of the almighty dollar?

I’m tired of that cycle.

I’ll do my best. I’ll write my blogs, update my profiles, write my newsletters, but even so, I’m learning once again the beauty of God’s sovereignty in it all.

I could spend a lifetime worrying about my stature in the world. But what would that get me? If I succeeded, I could point to all the cool things I did to finagle my way to success. But if I do what I can (in order to be a good co-laborer with my publishing house) and leave the rest in God’s sovereign hands, He gets the glory.

It’s taken me a year of humbling to see that God might not call me to worldly success. But He does call me to be faithful, humble, teachable, and hard working. And I believe He’s asking me to delve deeper to improve my prose with each book and article.

That’s such hard work. To find that balance between refining craft and getting my message out there has not been easy. But maybe that’s the rub. I can’t figure this whole writing gig out. Nor can I corner the market on marketing. There are no linear equations. If I do A, it doesn’t always mean that B will follow. It’s a mystery. We do what we can with professionalism and a heart bent toward eternity and leave the rest in God’s hands.

www.marydemuth.com 

Comments

[David Todd]

Good post, Mary.

[Marla Alupoaicei]

Mary, Thanks so much for this reminder. It's tough to strike a proper balance between writing and marketing. It always feels to me like marketing is something we shouldn't HAVE to do, but that just isn't the case. God has been reminding me lately to just focus on the relationships of those around me. Be good to people. Let them know how much they mean to you. Let God do the rest. Blessings on your writing.