In Pursuit of the Writer’s Holy Grail

by DiAnn Mills

Are you in pursuit of a writer’s holy grail? A holy grail can be defined as a sought-after prize of great significance that brings happiness and accolades and can even provide special powers. It’s often termed elusive—just beyond reach but dangling, teasing, urging the person to keep moving forward.
A writer’s holy grail is different for each of us, and the vague definition makes it difficult for us to comprehend. The concept is personal. Sometimes we aren’t sure what the individual achievement is or how to attain it. Or if we’re supposed to pursue it.
Our quest begins by describing what the writer’s holy grail means to each of us. Examine the whole picture: professional, personal, physical, spiritual, and mental. Be honest with ourselves. A well-grounded writer understands that challenges promote change and growth in every aspect of our lives.
Do one or more of these seven items reflect our list of goals?
1.        Publication by one of the Big Five publishers2.        NYT bestseller status3.        Receiving a distinguished award4.        Winning an incredible international contest5.        Movie contract with a large studio6.        Interviews on all the big TV networks7.        A six-figure advance
Are we doing all we can to make our holy grail a reality? Do we search for methods and study tips guaranteed to help us climb the rungs to a bestseller? Are we actively involved in establishing relationships through social media, not to sell books but to offer our experience and expertise? Are we participating in a writers’ group and helping other serious writers learn the craft? Do we attend workshops and conferences? All of these are solid practices. Are we raising the bar on our craft and growing as respected writers whose work can be trusted?
What if we’re doing all the things the experts claim will bring our desires on a golden platter, and nothing’s happening except discouragement? What could be a few reasons our quest hasn’t been realized?
•     Writer expectations are too high•     Novel or book project is not a high concept •     Market is saturated by the same genre or topic•     No one knows about the book•     The quest is all about us•     We forgot to pray and give all the glory to Him
Perhaps the last point should be our first. . . .
Where does God fit into our plans? Has he purposed our holy grail of writing? Has our crusade taken the place of God, who gave us our gift? Are we ignoring the guidance of respected professionals in the industry? These are tough questions to ask ourselves, and the answers require prayerful reflection. Read this paragraph first, then review the entire post top to bottom. Does the rest of the information make more sense when we establish God as our priority?


What does the holy grail of writing mean to you?  
(Comment below for your chance to win a copy of DiAnn's latest release, Fatal Strike, courtesy of Tyndale House Publishers.)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She creates action-packed, suspense-filled novels to thrill readers. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne du Maurier, Inspirational Reader's Choice, and Carol Award contests. Firewall, the first book in her Houston: FBI series, was listed by Library Journal as one of the best Christian fiction books of 2014. Connect with DiAnn here: www.diannmills.com.





There’s a killer on the loose in Galveston, targeting law enforcement officials and using a fatal injection of snake venom to take them down. Authorities have reasons to believe the Veneno gang is behind the hits, and FBI Agents Leah Riesel and Jon Colbert team up to track down those responsible. Their best lead is an eyewitness who identifies a young man dumping the third body on a church doorstep. But their suspect has gone into hiding, and those closest to him are reluctant to reveal anything that might help investigators find him.

As Leah and Jon check connections among the victims and dig deeper into motives, they discover appearances may be deceiving. Someone is desperate to keep their secrets hidden, and Leah and Jon must face their greatest fears in order to stop the next fatal strike.