Write Your Story: Overcoming Fear and Embracing God's Call with Wendy Melrose
Feeling called to write a book but overwhelmed by fear or uncertainty? Join us as we explore the inspiring journey of Wendy Melrose, a self-publishing facilitator dedicated to helping Christians answer God's call to share their stories. Wendy shares her transition from the insurance industry to publishing and emphasizes the importance of obedience to God’s call in creative ventures. Throughout the conversation, she offers valuable insights on overcoming fear and reclaiming self-worth through faith, while also dispelling common myths in the publishing industry. Discover how Wendy empowers authors to go from concept to completion, honoring their God-given gifts along the way.
Wendy Melrose's transition from the insurance sector to self-publishing serves as a remarkable testament to the power of faith and divine calling in pursuing one's passions. As she recounts her journey, listeners are invited to witness how a simple moment of inspiration during a prayer and worship revival catalyzed a profound change in her life. With a heartfelt dedication to helping fellow Christians navigate the often overwhelming world of publishing, Wendy's mission is to empower writers to embrace their stories and fulfill their calling. Her approach centers on equipping authors to overcome their fears and self-doubt, illustrating the importance of obedience to God's guidance in creative endeavors.
In a candid discussion, Wendy unravels the complexities of the publishing industry, shedding light on the misconceptions that can discourage aspiring authors. She boldly critiques the high costs associated with traditional publishing, advocating for a more accessible and supportive process that honors the writer’s vision. By sharing her experiences in self-publishing, including the creation of children's books, Wendy provides practical advice on taking a manuscript from concept to completion. Her insights encourage listeners to prioritize their heart’s message over commercial expectations, reaffirming that each story has the potential to inspire and impact lives.
The episode culminates in a powerful reflection on the true purpose of writing. Wendy emphasizes that the value of a book transcends sales figures; it lies in its ability to connect with readers and foster change. This insight serves as a rallying cry for anyone who feels called to write but is held back by doubts or fears. By sharing her journey and the lessons learned, Wendy inspires a new generation of authors to trust in their gifts and take the leap into their writing journey. This episode encourages listeners to honor their stories and fosters a community where faith and creativity can flourish hand in hand.
Takeaways:
- Obeying God's call in writing can lead to fulfilling creative ventures and personal growth.
- Fear often keeps us from pursuing our true calling in writing and storytelling.
- Wendy Melrose emphasizes the empowerment of Christian authors to reclaim their narratives and self-worth.
- The publishing industry has myths that need dispelling to support aspiring authors effectively.
- A journey through self-doubt can lead to a stronger relationship with God and personal discovery.
- Wendy encourages writers to focus on their books' impact rather than financial gain.
Wendy Melrose
Wendy Melrose is the founder of In The Zone, a faith-based writing community dedicated to helping aspiring authors turn their ideas into published works. With over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience and six books published in the last year, Wendy guides writers through the self-publishing process with authenticity, warmth, and a deep commitment to their success. Rooted in her faith and passion for storytelling, Wendy empowers authors to transform their pain into promise, creating books that inspire and make a lasting impact.
Copyright 2024 Jim Burgoon
Transcript
Welcome to Grace in the Grind, the podcast where we dive deep into the journeys of heart centered and purpose driven leaders and entrepreneurs. We're here to equip and encourage you on your journey. So let's get started and find the grace within the grind. This is Grace in the Grind.
And now your host, Jim Bergoon.
Host:Welcome to Grace in the Grind where we're here to empower, to equip and to encourage Christians in business or as you may be considered, Christian entrepreneurs. And we're here to do that so that you can do all that God has called you to do. And today we have a very good friend of the show that's coming on.
Wendy Melrose. Welcome to the show.
So we want you to Describe and take 60 to 90 seconds and let us know who you are and what you do since you're the best expert of you.
Wendy Melrose:So I am Wendy Melrose. I am the facilitator and steward of in the Zone. Yes, I own it, but I like to make sure God is in charge so I try not to take that ownership back.
And so I help people. Right. And self publish as a facilitator.
I not a publisher because I don't want to use my ISBN, I don't want to take the rights, I want to leave the power in your hands so I can help someone anywhere from concept to completion. So if God's and you're not being obedient in that writing, I can help you get that done.
Or if you have the book, you've not done anything with it because of fear, we can get you across that finish line.
Host:Awesome.
I love how you started that with if you God told you to write a book and you've not done it yet, like that is a great opening because how many of us actually have that? I am is I is one who is guilty of that which we were rectifying. So thank you for coming on the show.
Look forward to having a great conversation around your life as a self publisher and how you got into it and things along those lines. So with that being said, let's just start there. How did you get into self publishing?
Wendy Melrose: ncy owner for four years from:And you know, we always know when God is calling us to pivot, when he makes us very uncomfortable with where we are. And some people will be just like, you know, push through it. It's just fear.
But when you want to be obedient to the calling of what God has on your life, you want to press into what he's trying to tell you. Sometimes it can be fearful to push you into your next level where you're at. Or sometimes he's going to tell you to pivot and go to somewhere else.
In the fall of:I trust in you holy, that my thoughts would be agreeable to your will, that these places plan to be established and succeed. And that's in the Amplified Classic edition translation. And when I started to really, it really, it was almost like a big wake up moment. Aha.
Started to meditate down that daily and like I started to notice, like my life started to shift. I knew my agency, what it was going to sell, but I wasn't sure when. Like I thought it was going to be later that year.
But instead God had to use hearts and fixed pieces of my life and get me ready to what he had next for me. And In January of 23, I went to a prayer and worship revival service by Jennifer Martin. And I saw a book and it was a poetry book.
And guys, I completely forgot about this event even happening in my life until I picked up that poetry book and out my mouth says I used to write poetry.
But I literally threw my binder of all my work from when I was a child to in high school to early young adult and threw it into the dumpster at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale when a guy I was dating told me he didn't like my work. And the minister looked at me and said, never throw away a gift God gave you. And I didn't even know that's what I had done 26 years prior.
But this was going to be the moment that the Lord changed my life. I sat at the foot of the Father and just worship and received whatever it was he wanted to give me. And a couple days later a poem came to my mind.
Creative writing started to come back to me. A bear from the St. Louis Zoo kept escaping his habitat in February of 23.
And I just felt moved and motivated to write and illustrated a children's book called Ben's Great Escape. And I did that in a day. Then he moved him to I literally.
Host:I wrote it incredible.
Wendy Melrose:And I was like so excited. Then they moved him to Brownsville, Texas. And so then I was encouraged and motivated to write. And it took me a little bit longer.
It took Me like a week to write and illustrate Ben's big move. And like, what do I do with this? And that's when I remembered a friend of mine helped with self publishing or help with publishing. And I called him.
He's, I can charge you a thousand dollars or I can use or I can teach you how to do it. So he told me the steps on how to format my book, how where to put it on Amazon.
I found a local printer that I was in a networking group with and I wanted some local copies. And God taught me through this friend and through, like, just doing the action. So I went from concept to completion of two children's books.
th of:I'm like, was it like, I don't know, how long did these normally take? And so now longer than that, apparently. I got connected with a friend who wanted to write his own book. And so he.
About the concept of using peanut butter and jelly. So we co authored and someone else illustrated it, the Peanut Butter and Jesus book, which then this is all in May and June.
This one took from May to October because we had someone else illustrating it and all these different things. But I get a phone call in June and it's, hey, you want to sell your agency? And I like, give me your number. And it was a number I couldn't refuse.
And I'm just like. And I kept applying for these jobs, like, thinking this is what God wanted me to do.
And God's just like, why do you keep applying for jobs in an industry you no longer like or have a desire to work within? Do you want to do this full time? And I'm like, I'll do whatever you want.
You're just going to have to tell me how it's going to provide for the family. So I sold the business that normally takes six months. It took. It got a. I got the offer in June, it was approved in July, it was sold end of August.
I'm like, wow, oh my gosh. God's acceleration has been like, on my life Since January of 23, when I'm just like, restored. My gifts taught me how.
So I wrote, illustrated and self published six books. And now God's teaching me how to help others. And I just helped the fifth person this year from April till now, months or whatever that is.
Host:So then this comes into a couple, two lines of questions which I think One you glassed over that I want to go back to because you said it so fast. And one that really comes into what the process is. So let's do process first.
Okay, so what was causing you to try to go back and apply for other agencies and things like that when clearly God had shown you over and over, like book one, book two, and then almost the third book, and then agency sells. Like you were seeing the process played out, but yet you were running back to something you already knew was going to sell.
Wendy Melrose:I can understand how it looks that way, but I think it was more in the middle because the time, a timeline isn't really what I laid out there. So I'm writing the books in February and March.
And in March I go to this like big territory meeting and they announce this insurance commercial underwriting job. And I just really felt like the word said apply to that. So I'm like, okay. So I applied to it.
They completely stopped the position and restructured the company. I reapplied for it like a month later.
And then there was somebody that reached out to me on LinkedIn, said, hey, how about this big commercial job of selling big commercial insurance to like large companies? And I was, I went through three different interviews and it wasn't that I was supposed to switch.
God was teaching me how to listen to his voice and take action. It didn't mean to change. So that's what I've learned. It's amazing what we can learn. Hindsight.
So sometimes God asks you to do things and it's not going to pan out. And it's not because he didn't. He wants you to listen to his voice and take action and get used to listening to his voice and taking action.
It doesn't necessarily mean you're supposed to go that way. That makes sense.
Host:So unpack that because I'm sure the listeners are going, huh?
Wendy Melrose:So he tells me to apply for this job. I applied for it, it falls through, I they re list it, I apply for it, I interview, I don't get the job, another job, the big commercial job.
I apply, they reach out to me, I schedule the interviews. I go to three, realizing it's going to be high pay, but also very dedicated for five years. And I just had a check in my spirit.
and:I had to figure out what was important to Me, was that money or was it being present with my kids? Was it building something that I could use to retire later? Or was it being present with my kids and my husband?
So God, I think, was trying to help me realize what is important. Not that he would have been mad if I would have went that way, but he was trying to help me realize what was my true heart's desire.
Sometimes he asks those questions based on. Because when. Okay, so let me unpack a minute. The whole Proverbs 16:3.
Commit my works to you, Lord, trust in you fully that my thoughts would be agreeable to your will, that these plans would be established and succeed. Sometimes we the people are like, yeah, but God gave us free will. He did. I could have went that way. And would he have been mad at me?
No, he gives us free will. But what was it that I wanted?
e enemy successfully stole in: Host:And that's powerful. Processing you through the process to learn how to depend on them. Like, I think that's powerful. Now you've mentioned it.
You mentioned the binder again. So we're gonna go to the glassed over thing. Okay. So I thought this was like, it went so fast that maybe the listeners even missed it.
You said I threw my binder away based on him not liking it. Yeah, like I threw it away based on others opinions. Okay, we have to talk about that for a minute.
Wendy Melrose:Okay.
Host:Because you gave up your entire creative flair of someone's opinion. What was going through you? What were you. What was your biggest challenge that caused those feelings and how did you get through Those?
Wendy Melrose: So in:But my point is, at the summer we had just started dating, I was so proud of all of my work and guys, I even forgot. But I used to get awards from my writing.
do things by hand back in the:And so I found these certificates of my writing. And so that. That was more recently, but rewind in 97. I wasn't really equipped to understand red flags.
To know that, hey, somebody doesn't like something that you're really good at, that that means you are. That's a red flag. That means that is not someone you want to spend your life with. Didn't know this. I wasn't equipped for it. So I.
People had asked me like, hey, are you mad about that? How can I be mad at something that he probably didn't even realize he did either? He didn't tell me to throw my book, a binder of stuff away.
I did that on my own accord. And how God restored that was just as I shared that it was something I never really realized. I didn't.
That I didn't even know I did that in a way where I threw God's gift away until he restored it.
Host:But even in that, like you're saying I threw God's gift away, but that was a product of a. Of a lack of self worth.
Wendy Melrose:Oh, totally. I'm 47. I'm starting to figure this out.
Host:So what is. Because you're a business owner.
This podcast is for business owners and I'm sure a lot of them deal with the shame, the self worth and the issues while trying to grow a successful business. And a lot of them are trying to do it according to what God wants them.
How did God restore you to a place of at least in a process of healing your self worth?
Wendy Melrose:It took time. It wasn't. I screwed everything up in my 20s and I necessarily in a super dramatic trauma way that some people have experienced experience.
I'm not trying to say I something that happened to me that didn't.
But when you no longer enjoy who you are as a human and you start to realize what it's like to have a true relationship with Jesus Christ at 30 years old, I'm like, lord, I have had enough of this. I, I doing this all on my own because I'm. I'm a very much a control freak. I want to do what I want to do.
And since two years old, I've been saying I do it right. If anybody has children, they want to do things. And I'm like, lord, please don't let me wake up at 40 feeling the same way. I surrender.
Do whatever you want. I want to do whatever you want. My decade of my 30s did not go according to how I wanted. But he did do, he did answer that prayer. I had two children.
I ended up going through a divorce, I, I don't know, held on between the ages of 16 and 47. Guys I've done like 40 different things for to provide income for my family. So I've always done whatever God wants me to do to provide at that time.
go. And I had said to him in:So listen, I haven't gotten it completely right.
But that he, you know, the redemption, the restoration, it takes time, it takes surrender, it takes practice, it takes getting into God's word, it is learned. One of the best books I ever read was a friend of mine. She took me under her wing.
She taught me about the true love of the Father, of the Heavenly Father for us and how to really understand that.
So it just, it takes going through the pain of life, going through the self esteem issues and realizing who we are in Christ by the love of the Father and just I guess I'm not really answering the question, but it just take. It's an individual journey for each person. Some people, it might not take 10 years.
And I believe the quicker you surrender the Lord and what he wants to do, the faster it happens.
Host:I don't think there's a right or wrong way to answer this question. And that's the thing is I don't think there's a right or wrong question.
It's the more the fact is that we have to address the question because I think there's so many times so much people out there, and myself included that deal with this level of stuff. So I think it's less about what's right and what the right way to answer about it and more about what is the process.
And you've been doing great with the process. I appreciate your answer because of course. Good.
Wendy Melrose:I said that's good. I said that's good. Keep going.
Host:Yeah, everybody's process is different. Okay.
So I wrote this down because I take active notes while we talk because I'm always listening and this is how I listen so my ADHD brain doesn't fly all over the place. Architecture, insurance agency, publisher.
That is not the line of if I was going from one direction to another that would not, I would not pass through those to go to publishing. How did you land? Like I we've got to the publishing.
Like I know you were publishing books, but how did you land so much on the publishing coming from your background instead of just being like God wants you to write a bunch of books.
Wendy Melrose: e in December of last year of: is whole process the early of:I didn't have a following, I didn't have an audience and I spent a lot of money to have two attendees plus five speakers. I was super upset about it. It wasn't until September of this year that someone had taught me in another group, I'm a part of that.
Do not focus on the result, focus on showing up and having great impact. So then I was able to go back in time and realize I did show up and I had big impact. And had I not gone that route, I would not have learned that.
The corruption in the publishing world is extensive and people. And God has told me my people are being stolen from. Help them, do not steal from them.
And he wasn't really telling me to not steal from them because he knows I'm not going to. But the point is that people are charging 15, 25, 30, 40, $50,000 to get a book published is completely unnecessary.
Yes, it takes time and I'm not saying people shouldn't be compensated for the time it takes to help someone go from concept to completion, but it shouldn't be 15,000, 25,000. Do not promise them crap. It's not real. The New York experience, it's going to bring a bunch of book sales. It doesn't. Don't promise a 50 state tour.
It means nothing. It means you're paying for the publisher to do all these things and you still have to pay your own way. You still have to do the marketing people.
But I'm never going to pay to have my book published. I am. Someone's going to pay me that. Not a thing. Unless you are a big name already and they have a sure win opportunity that you're going to kill it.
So unless you massive audience, you're a big influencer, you're famous in Hollywood or in politics or pick a category, it's just not going to happen. I'm not saying that God isn't going to do big things in your life.
But that's one of the things that God has taught me is one to feel the dreams is a lie. You build, it will come, you write it doesn't mean it's going to sell.
But also know that the number one bestseller said it's a bunch of crap too because it just means you've hacked the categories you told everybody to buy on that day. Woo. You hit, you know, number one bestseller. Get your stupid term.
Host:It's a joke now. Yeah, it's a joke now.
Wendy Melrose:It is completely stupid. And I hate it when people are like I've always wanted to be a number one bestseller. I'm not the person for you.
And if you want to make a bunch of money on your books, then find somebody else. Because that's not the purpose why God has told me that you're supposed to write your book. If God's told you that the more thing is the impact.
If we can save the life of one human, that book was worth it.
Host:That's it.
Wendy Melrose:Not about the $3 royalty. It's about the impact and the changing of lives.
Host:That's it. And just for the audience that are listening, she's not saying that she's not, it's. You're not book isn't going to make money.
What she's saying is hire her to get it out of you so that it's in the world and it starts doing what God told you it was going to do and leave the rest.
Wendy Melrose:Up to God and think bigger than the $3 a buck.
Host:Yeah, I agree with you.
Wendy Melrose:That's to me it's use it to grow your ministry, to grow your business, to help others or to use it as a fundraiser. I'm not saying God can do anything he wants and then through all of us who are willing to be obedient. But don't focus on the $2.
Host:I know $2 ain't gonna get you nowhere. And what's funny is you bring up.
Wendy Melrose:A lot of you gotta tell to pay a mortgage.
Host:Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I, yeah, about a thousand at least. If your mortgage is about $2,000 anyway.
But you talk about a lot of things interesting enough I think recently, last January I actually was told because I'm writing, I have several books in the process and you're helping me going to be publishing some of them.
And I actually pitched one of my books to a, a pretty mid level, pretty successful mid level company and they came back to me, they love the book, thinks I'm a great writer. But then he goes, but I want you to pay to hire a coach to be a better writer.
And then you got to pay for the studio time to do the audio books of it. And the total price came to $23,500. And I'm sitting there, no. And there's we offer payment plans. And I was like, no.
So you are definitely a godsend in the industry because prices are very high and not everybody can just write a check for that. So I want to just honor you and your gift and all that.
First and foremost, as we start closing down this episode, I want to first and foremost, let's talk about how people can find you and work with you.
Wendy Melrose:So you can go to in the Zone live as you see right here. If you want to do everything all on your own either if you're on your desktop, there's a big area says get my information.
my event this past April, in:You can figure out how to write your book, how to use it for coaching, speaking, podcasting, all the things free. If you're like, oh, what I do about your by yourself, you can learn how to connect with me.
We can work one to one or we can put you in a community and you can be. There's a way to do that way too awesome.
Host:And then how so in the Zone, how do they find you on socials?
Wendy Melrose:Oh, Wendy Melrose on Facebook, on LinkedIn, on Instagram, you can also go to future authors Facebook group and that's a free group where you can ask questions or whatever. So just Google me, you'll find me. You'll probably find some other information about my insurance life.
Host:That's awesome.
And so guys for you guys are listening, we will put those all in the show notes because we want to make this accessible and quick clickable and very quick access because you do need to connect with Wendy. She's like I said, she's. I'm working with her on my book. So you should see that coming out at some point on the podcast.
It's been a long time in the running, but as we close the show out, we do the segment hashtag wisdom bomb.
And for the longtime listeners of the show, that is for if you're a first time listener, it's just a portable cruise where the guest gives a truth that you can take home and apply. So if you were to give a wisdom bomb, what would you say to the audience?
Wendy Melrose:So I just got off of a webinar with Famous. I don't know if he's famous or not. His name is Jeff Barnes and he knows everything about Disneyland and Walt Disney.
And he had said how Tomorrowland was a big flop. Like even Walt didn't even like it. But one of his biggest takeaways was is Tomorrowland is not your friend. Tomorrow.
Quit leaving everything off for tomorrow.
If God has called you to do it today, he will either give you, he'll keep nagging you until you do it, or he'll find someone else to fulfill his purpose.
So do you want to be the one that says well done, good and faithful servant, or do you want to be the one that finds out that God chose you but you chose not to be obedient?
Host:That's powerful. And that's also one of those ouch moments.
Wendy Melrose:I like to do that to people.
Host:So I like the hard truth. So you're in the good company with that all being said, guys, like I said, everything will be in the show.
Notes make sure that you follow and review the podcast, whether it be on Apple, Spotify, soon to be iheartradio and things like that. And then also you can go ahead follow me on any of the socials at Lead with Jim, particularly this video will be up on YouTube.
With that being said, guys, you have been listening to Grace in the Grind. We are so appreciated here and as always, we're here to equip to a power and to encourage you to do all that God has called you to do.
And Wendy, thank you for hanging out with us on the show today. And with that being said, we'll see you on the next episode, a future episode or a past one.
Either way, we love you, we're praying for you and we hope to see you soon.
Jim Bergoon:This has been Grace in the Grind. Whether you're a Christian leader looking for guidance or an entrepreneur seeking inspiration, it's Jim's passion to equip and encourage you.
Make sure to check out Jim solo episodes where he shares practical leadership insights grounded in a biblical perspective. We hope you've enjoyed the show. If you did, make sure to like, rate and review and we'll be back soon.
But in the meantime, find us on social media at LeadWithJim and you can also hit the website at www.leadwithjim.com. take care of yourself and we'll see you next time on Grace in the Grind.
