Let's talk vulnerability.

June 9, 2024

I will be honest. After leaving Mend on the Move and spending a year cocooned in my office writing my story, I feel anxious about going back out there speaking and sharing publicly.

Especially now, since I am sharing more about my personal story.

I recently received an email from the editor who is reviewing my book proposal which took months to write and refine (just FYI, the book proposal, which is an average 50 or more pages is like writing another book – it’s basically selling yourself and your book idea). The editor wasn’t done with my proposal yet, but she wanted to share this.

"Joanne, I just wanted to say that it is a holy privilege to be with your proposal. I’m only in the chapter summaries and it’s clear that you have so much to offer the reader."

Tears welled up as I read this.

That very morning I’d read a verse referring to “the God of all comfort.” And, in that moment, reading the email, that’s what I felt. 

Comforted. Reassured.

That God’s got me in this vulnerable time and place, and I’m heading in the right direction with this whole book venture. This has been one of many comforting moments that have kept me going. Often when I’m at my lowest.

But a day later came the finalized edit, and while there was plenty of positives, she stated clearly that at this point she couldn’t see a publisher saying “yes” to this proposal. There was more work to be done. Disappointment set in. But I would not allow it to shake me. I still held that sense of comfort.

All along I’ve been saying that my goal is to make my story the best possible finished product so it can be as helpful as possible to those reading it. I’m not interested in just putting something out there, just to get published. The editor’s comments were actually helpful nuggets to guide my book proposal, and ultimately my manuscript, to a better place.

As I live this new and vulnerable, repurposed life as a writer who is striving to become a published author, I’m learning the publishing world is not for the faint of heart.

It takes a miracle these days for an unknown author to get published. The statistics are against me, not for me.

BUT, of this I can be certain, my God is for me. He’s made that perfectly clear. Which is why I’m on this new journey. If this book is ordained to be published, it will be published. But, at this point it’s a mystery.

I have done and will continue to do the work.

Then I will rest in the arms of the God of comfort who feels so near today that I can almost feel his hug.

Joanne’s short version … I am comforted by God and will go out into the world and try to comfort others in the same way He has comforted me.