The Parable

A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.

Luke 8:5-8 (NIV)

People were coming in droves to hear Jesus preach. Some stories were puzzling, like this one. The disciples quizzed their Master and Luke 8:11-15 says the seed represented how the word of God is received in our hearts. Will we be unhearing, unrooted, immature, or quit?

Exercise:

A writer went out to sow his words. As he was submitting his work, some got lost in email; they were irretrievably lost in the world wide web. Some fell on the slush pile, and when it came up, the stories withered because they had no hook. Other WIPs fell among hard times when pub houses closed and took down unsuspecting authors. Still other articles fell to editors. They came to be published, shared, and reached a wide audience.

How will an author get noticed when so much can affect our work? C. Hope Clark says the secret is to “keep 13 in play.” When you keep thirteen submissions out at any time, you will be more prolific in producing and publishing your words.

Thirteen? Where will I come up with that many ideas? Have you bought a Market Guide yet, or asked your reference librarian to help you find one? Writer’s Digest produces an annual Writer’s Market. Steve Laube has The Christian Writers’ Market Guide. There’s soil for fiction, non-fiction, children, and every imaginable genre. Use it to spark ideas and pursue new venues.

How to sow the seed:

• Compilations. A call out for submissions will alert you to themed books. This genre will get your name in print and give you discounts on copies to sell to your friends.
• Online opportunities. Most are not paid but provide writing credits for your resume.
• Blogging. Exchange blog posts with another and expand the audience reach for both.
• Paid gigs. Search the Market Guide for publications that pay for your words.
• Books. Do you have a passion for a subject? Maybe it’s time to prime it!

Where will you sow your words?

Over 140 of Sally Ferguson’s devotionals have been published in Pathways to God (Warner Press). She’s also written for Light From The Word, Chautauqua Mirror, Just Between Us, Adult Span Curriculum, Thriving Family, Upgrade with Dawn and ezinearticles.com. Prose Contest Winner at 2017 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference.

Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.

Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.

Visit Sally’s blog at sallyferguson.net