The third and final part of studying this amazing manifesto!

If you don’t know, this is a part of a series where I take a closer look at each resolution in Story Embers’ Christian Storytellers Manifesto and give my thoughts on it.

We’ve come to the final post of this three-part series. I’ve really enjoyed reading over this manifesto again and giving you my comments on the resolutions. I really think this is a meaningful manifesto for all Christian storytellers, so if you want to find out more and join so many great Christian writers in signing it, click here.

We resolve to let our work shine before others in an effort to reach, encourage, and challenge them.

My thoughts:

Our work should always be a light to the darkness of the world, pointing readers toward God. We have an opportunity to use our art to impact people and challenge the way they think and the norms of society. Art can be a powerful thing.

We resolve to exhibit Christlikeness by nurturing authentic connections with readers that transcend their potential as customers, building a rapport with fellow authors, and responding to critics with patience and grace.

My thoughts:

For business-minded authors, it can be easy to slip into the thinking of readers just being customers. But for all writers who are pursuing publishing, it is essential that we remember that readers are real, authentic people too and we have a great opportunity to reach out to them and show that we care. And yes COMMUNITY! Connecting with fellow authors is so important too. 

We resolve to base our confidence in God and not the opinions of others, to rely on God by praying over our writing, and to bury ourselves in Scripture, for we can only exemplify truth when we are immersed in it ourselves.

My thoughts:

I LOVE THIS ONE! I used to never pray about my writing, even though I claimed to write for God’s glory. But since then I’ve learned that God really and truly wants to be a part of my creative process, and if I claim to write for Him then I need to ask Him to guide me. And I need to soak up scripture so that I can better impart biblical truths in my stories.

We resolve to be teachable, weighing the advice of others because we always have room to grow, and to be humble, acknowledging that we are not writing the greatest story but merely pointing readers to it.

My thoughts:

This one is SO GOOD. Writers, you cannot grow in your craft unless you are willing to be teachable and take criticism. Don’t inhibit your growth and put a damper on the story you want to tell. Even though it feels like it a lot, writing is not a solo job. We need help from others to refine our skill.

My thoughts:

This is such an awesome conclusion to this manifesto. Sometimes, when we’re experiencing self-doubt during editing, get some negative feedback on a story, or comparing ourselves to others, we are putting our identity in our writing. I don’t know about you, but I never want to be identified by something I can do. I’m human and imperfect. I fail. But I don’t have to feel crushed because I struggle. Because God is a constant thing in my life no matter how many times I fall. God knows you as His child first…the writer part came later. 😉

And that concludes our three part series studying Story Embers’ Christian Storytellers Manifesto! I hope you enjoyed this short series and maybe learned something about Christian writing from it too. Again, if you want to learn more about Story Embers, then click here. And click here to learn more about the manifesto.

Have a wonderful day, friends!

What’s your favorite resolution from today’s post?