How do I connect with individuals and the “community” I seek to reach with my writing?
As we approach this key question, it is imperative that we keep this question nestled securely in the context of the role of a missionary writer. It may be tempting to rely on conventional ways of attracting people to the your writing (such as mass emailings, spam emailings, or begging people who have a platform to help you). Experience shows that this has limited success and limited penetration into new readers.
Missionaries have relied upon a Scriptural approach to evangelism and making disciples for years. It is often referred to as a “person of peace.” This method of penetrating a people provides many benefits in the process of establishing communities for your writing. The primary passage of Scripture for the person of peace is Luke 10:1-7. “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not it will return to you” (Luke 10:5-6).
The practice of discovering and developing a receptive person that has “made it” in the writing, publishing or social media world is key.
This person may be a blogger, a fellow writer, a celebrity, an agent or several other occupations I could list. The only way for this happen is I believe through prayer and through working your personal network. Whatever you do, be professional and maintain your Christian testimony.
This person possesses a reputation (good or bad) to gain attention for the message among family and community.
This person is able to gather a group either online or in person. He or she is the person of reference or referral who will go to bat for you with agents, publishers, reviewers, and bloggers.
Every writer dreams of finding a Receptive Reader that will help them launch their writing career forward and be a catalyst to open doors. The reality is that this person is not cultivated overnight. It may take months or sometimes even years to build this relationship with the person we are describing. Be smart, don’t stalk people who well recognized in the publishing field.
