Ask the Author: Joel Comiskey
Answered Questions (10)
Joel Comiskey
Great question, but it's a hard one for me because I don't write fiction. I'm a 100 % non-fiction writer. I read some fiction but don't think about fiction enough to answer your question. However, I"m going to mull over this one and if a couple comes to my mind, I'll be back.
Joel Comiskey
HI Rosemarie, I've written 29 books. One of those is on the quiet time (spending time each day with Jesus in personal devotions). The other 28 are about small groups connected to the local church. When Jesus first started the chuch 2000 years ago, the believers met in homes and then came together to celebrate when possible. That's what I write about. Thanks for asking!
Joel Comiskey
As a missionary for 11 years in Ecuador, I always felt the priority to get my books in Spanish. Although I can speak in Spanish, I could never write from my heart in Spanish (e.g., idioms). So I decided to mainly write in English but to make sure my books were immediately translated in Spanish and now Portuguese. How? In 1998 I made contact with CLIE (large Spanish publisher) and even found a translator for them. Now as an Indie publisher, I have found my own translator and make sure there is a Spanish version within 2 months of my English version. The Portuguese version normally takes about one year (Robert Lay's ministry in Brazil has a time schedule). Other languages like Korean are more "hit and miss." It also helps to speak in other countries and have a theme that is relevant. With regard to profit, no doubt about it. Last year, I sold more Portuguese books than English. Spanish was #3.
Joel Comiskey
Mike, thanks for asking! I was always interested in small groups, but as a missionary in Ecuador, I saw a lot of fruit. I became the "go to person" for small groups. When needing to pick a Ph.D. topic at Fuller in 1995, I floated a small group / church growth theme to various potential mentors and Peter Wagner signaled an interest in topic and took me on. I have to admit that I became biased in what I researched and have not stopped writing on related topics.
Joel Comiskey
My niche is small groups and small group churches. How a church deals with children is an ongoing issue in small group based churches. Pastors and leaders want to know what to do with children. So I wrote my latest book "Children in Cell Ministry" to fulfill a need. Thanks for asking!
Joel Comiskey
My first answer is Jesus. As I seek him each day in my devotions, he reminds me of my calling. He fills me with his Spirit. I can be down and struggling, but in my devotional time each day, Jesus renews my passion. Second, by practicing my calling. Writing each day and then finishing a book stirs me to want to do it again. It's so rewarding. Third, by reading about writing and connecting with writer groups via the internet (I subscribe to 4 writing groups and I receive daily email from these groups)
Joel Comiskey
I've been working on my new book "children in cell ministry." It's about making disciples of children in both the small group and the large group. I just finished a few weeks ago, so now I'm marketing this book. In a week or so I'll start my new 2016 book called "Thriving Small Groups." You'll notice that my theme is small groups. It's important for writers to establish a niche, and this is my niche--at least for now.
Joel Comiskey
You can do it! Start small. Write a little bit each day. Can you give one hour per day? Do it. Remember BIC: butt in chair. Just do it.
Joel Comiskey
The sense of accomplishment after writing a book. The realization that the book will be available for a long, long time. Speaking in front of people is just for a moment. But writing produces a legacy.
Joel Comiskey
I try a variety of things to deal with writer's block. Sometimes I fast and pray. Other times I need a strong cup of coffee. At times, I might switch the place of writing--outside in the sun instead of inside. Or it might help to go write while around others in a Starbucks (although I don't do this very much). The short answer is persistence until breaking through; it's seeing writing as a job, and not as a hobby.
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