“Why would I want to do that, or even consider it?” I asked.
“Because this book needs as much recognition as possible,” my friend said. We were supposed to be discussing his book that was in the process of being created. As Christian authors, we would meet several times a month to read each other’s manuscripts. My book, The Long Road Home: A Family’s Journey through Addiction, was recently released. Out there, unfiltered, raw, and honest about my daughter’s thirty-plus years of addiction.
“You have told the story from victim to victor, and there are people who would benefit from reading it. People who see the credibility in an award-winning book.”
The more we talked, the more I saw the reasoning behind going for an award. Just entering the contest would create publicity for the book. The award nomination affirmed the effort my daughter and I invested. Hours of discussing her addiction, overdose, desperate need to “dull the hurt” as she would say. Maybe it was an idea. If entering the contest would help affirm her self-worth and give her a more positive self-image, that was something to consider.
We continued to discuss his manuscript, but the suggestion of entering the contest kept nagging me. The more I thought about the idea, the more intimidating the thought became. What if they did not accept the book? How would my daughter and I feel if it did not receive recognition? All negative thoughts created by Satan. I recalled all the roadblocks in writing the book that were placed in our way. Missed times to write and emotional times when I could not write because of the devastating subject we were addressing. (One chapter took so many rewrites, we almost left it out. And that is the chapter that speaks to more women than any other.)
Blockage after blockage, tears of joy, and tears of deep sorrow all occur in the effort to connect the pen to the reader’s purpose. I thought, “Why not enter the contest? You are not doing it for ego, for status, but to call attention to a story that needs to be told.”
The Decision
I submitted my work to the Christian Indie Awards contest in the relationships/family category. Life for writers is about taking chances. As an author, you are placing your work, emotions, and thoughts out there for others to read. Some will criticize you; others will support what you wrote. You are sharing your feelings—raw, honest, scary—with the public. So, with prayer and the support of my daughter and family, I entered the contest. And the waiting began.
I could now state that a writing contest accepted the book, a fact that generated interest among people who wanted to know the book had reached that level. When I spoke about the book at author events, I would mention that it was being considered for an award. Many times, that statement would be the reason a person purchased the book.
If God wanted the book to receive an award, so be it; if not, the same thing. After all, the purpose of writing the book was to glorify Him, not my daughter or myself. The greatest struggle was complete: publishing the book. Now the challenge was to create reader recognition. To tell the story—and CIPA was the perfect venue to help achieve that goal.
The Process
Now the wait begins, and you will find out soon enough if your book got accepted. However, for the panel of judges, reviewing all the books submitted takes several months. You need to be patient. One lesson I learned during the process is that you must be willing to trust. Trust that whatever happens is precisely what needs to happen. I also learned that the more critical readers you have before publication, the better. I thought about having the manuscript read by a critical reader and decided not to do that. Would that have made a difference between second and first place? I do not know; it does not matter now.
The Results
I won second place, and that is an honor to me. Congratulations to the author who took first place. I am in the winner’s circle, and I can take a victory lap because of the award. I have the award logo on the cover of the book; I can soundly state that the book is an award winner. What does that mean for sales? That is up to God; it is His book, not my daughter’s or mine.
The Benefits
The publicity that the Christian Indie Awards provided for the winners was incredible. Announcements were made on loads of social media platforms, blogs were posted, an email was sent to over 400 media, press releases were sent to Publishers Weekly and other establishments.
Having a one-sheet stating that the book is an award winner gets the attention of bookstores, marketing firms, and readers, and that is a bonus. Podcasters consider you for interviews. Bookstores love award-winning writers to hold events in their building.
Winning an award from a recognized organization gives me, personally, as a writer, the motivation to continue with the craft that God has blessed me with. Writing is a lonely process; however, seeing that other writers recognize your purpose is an emotional boost.
The Faith Required
In Isaiah 40, there is a verse that talks about flying, running, and walking. The verse seems backwards to me. You learn to crawl, walk, run, fly, not the opposite. However, God asks us to take a step at a time. Just one step. One-word, one sentence, and that word, that sentence turns into a paragraph, and a paragraph into a chapter. Chapters become a manuscript, and God willing, the manuscript turns into a book.
One word at a time, one award, one reader—that is the process. I learned that taking a chance, being willing to put personal challenges to paper, is worth the effort. The CIPA award prompted me to share our journey and tell the unvarnished story of victim to saving victory. Readers have reached out in reviews and correspondence. One person stated, “You told my story.”
Tell your story, enter your work, and see where God leads. After all, we write with His gift.
So, the final question—consider four of the disciples: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. If they were reluctant to tell us about Jesus, where would we be today?
About the Author
Robert Ruesch was first published by Bethany Press in the mid-1960s. He has written for local and national newspapers, including several articles in medical magazines. Robert has published three other books. Two of his books are about the YMCA of the Rockies (a world-class resort), and his other is a book for advent. Robert’s website is www.robertnruesch.com.