Fabulous Friday Feature-Melissa Tagg

Today I welcome 

Melissa Tagg,

a sweet friend who knows how to brighten a group gathering. 

I can't even remember when I met Melissa. We've engaged in conversations through the Writers Alley, My Book Therapy, ACFW, and she is a regular visitor here on my website. She's encouraged, supported, laughed, and prayed with both my friends and I. What a kindred spirit. I recently asked Melissa to share how God has led her on her writing journey. This is what she said:

Trust- Not Snazzy Time Lines

When Mary asked me to write a guest post about my writing journey, my first thought was, “Sure, I can do that. No prob.”

Then I sat down to write it.

And it wasn’t so easy.

Because I feel like my writing journey has been chalk full of cool moments, spiritual tugs and open doors that I can only attribute to God’s sweet timing.

And, sure, there have been down moments too. Times when my writing felt stale. When I wondered if I’d ever actually see words in print. When I felt like I was playing turtle to others’ hare of a publication journey.

So how does one tie all the ups and downs together into a tidy bow of a post called “My Writing Journey.” Um, maybe one doesn’t. :) But in an effort to keep this post from turning knotty, here’s the basic overview of my journey to publication:

2009: Start writing seriously

2010: Final in a contest, win another contest, start pursuing publication

2011: Crickets (not my most fun year ever)

2012: Several doors all open at once culminating with signing with my agent, finding out my book was going to the pub board at Bethany House and being offered a two-book contract—all within a four-week period

What that snazzy little timeline doesn’t depict is all the emotion that’s been a part of these past few years—the questions, the learning, the growth (I hope), the crazy swirl of stuff probably only other writers understand.

So, sidestep with me for a moment, if you don’t mind. I was reading in the Psalms the other day. I love that book of the Bible…mostly because I love David. He’s just this no holds barred kind of guy. A little crazy at times, yes. I mean, he wasn’t all-perfect, that’s for sure. But I love that he bares his heart in words. From the gut-wrenching to the glorious, the hurt to the hope…it’s all there.

What gets me about David’s psalms every time is that every time he comes back to the same place: trust.

Seriously, the guy always eventually gets back to declaring his trust in God. And I love that.

And when I think about my own writing journey, when I clump all the ups and downs and awesome and not-so-awesome moments together, I realize what I really want my journey to be about—what I hope I’m getting better at—is simply trusting God.

Trusting His timing.

Trusting His guidance.

Trusting He doesn’t give a person a love of stories and natural bent toward writing for no reason.

Trusting that He’s present in all the ups and downs to come.

Trusting that He’s got me on this path to transform me.

That last one is something I picked up in Jim Rubart and Allen Arnold’s awesome “Live Free. Write Free.” class at the recent ACFW Conference—the writing life is less about crafting a good story than it is seeing God transform us. And transformation starts with trust, doesn’t it?

Learning to trust.

Yeah, I think that sums up my writing journey. :)

Melissa Tagg is a former newspaper reporter and total Iowa girl. Her first novel, Made to Last, releases from Bethany House in September 2013. In addition to her homeless ministry day job, Melissa is also the marketing/events coordinator for My Book Therapy, a craft and coaching community for writers. When she’s not writing, she can be found hanging out with the coolest family ever, watching old movies and daydreaming about her next book. Melissa blogs regularly and loves connecting with readers at www.melissatagg.com.

During her reporting days, Melissa interviewed presidential candidates and llama farmers, rode a hot air balloon and flew a plane, and once came face to face with a buffualo. But today she gets her kicks by letting her characters have their own fun. She’s passionate about humor, grace, and happy endings.

How to connect with Melissa Tagg:

Website/blog: www.melissatagg.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMelissaTagg

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Melissa_Tagg

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/melissatagg

                                                            Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/MelissaTagg

A debut author has many commitments for the books given to them from the publisher. I'm not sure we all understand the pull to provide book giveaways by many sources.When those books are gone, the author must pay for the books. 

Let's show our understanding and leave Melissa a word of encouragement to press forward in the writing career God has blessed her in the comment section.

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Thank you, Melissa, for Joining us This Weekend!

Friend, sometimes our impressive schedule doesn't bring all the joy we hope. Share something that has sparked a joy so exciting your blurted out the story to the first person you saw.