You have a creative idea. You feel inspired to pursue it, but your head is filled with doubt. What if I can’t make it work? What if no one wants to buy this book? What if I can’t provide for my family? What if my work isn’t good enough?
Have you struggled with any of these questions? What if people think my creation, my writing, is stupid?
I asked author David Lee Marting how he has overcome those roadblocks, and how he can encourage you to pursue your creative dreams. David is an author, speaker, and digital shepherd. He helps Christian authors, artists, and entrepreneurs transform their ideas into online publications, courses, and digital products.
His passion for helping creatives recognize their work and share it with the world is evident to anyone who knows him. In his newest book, Faithful Creative, he shares how Christian authors can take the first steps to transform their God-given ideas to impact the Kingdom.
Why are creativity and fear so connected?
David: The man in the mirror is usually the best person to examine when digging deeper. When we express creativity and put ourselves out into the world, it touches the heart. As the scriptures say, the issues of life flow from the heart.
Some jobs let us disconnect from the outcome. You do the work, get paid, and go home. But creative work comes from deep within. That stirs up questions and insecurities we often wrestle with.
Thomas: Where do those insecurities come from?
David: Often, it’s the fear of being rejected. We tie so much of ourselves to our work that if someone doesn’t embrace what we create, it feels like they’re rejecting us personally, not just the work.
That’s the tension of the creative life. I try to help Christian creatives overcome the roadblocks between the invisible idea and a visible result. That bridge can be emotionally treacherous, especially when we’re just starting out, because we’re so attached to the work.
Thomas: That attachment is key. When we’re starting out, rejection feels personal. Much of it stems from selfish motives for writing.
Many people write because they feel insignificant. They’re not known or appreciated, sometimes not even at home. “My husband doesn’t appreciate me. My children don’t respect me. So I’ll write a book, and they’ll finally value me.”
But that’s a toxic motivation. It doesn’t work. Your family won’t suddenly respect you because you published a book. They might even resent the time and energy you’re spending on it. If they’re not on your team now, success won’t change that.
On the other hand, if your motivation is to serve others by helping people in pain or need, rejection stings far less. If you’re running a taco stand and someone drives by without stopping, you don’t take it personally. You assume they’re not hungry. That’s a safer way to engage the world than saying, “This is me, please don’t reject me,” where every “no” feels like a slap in the face.
David: Exactly. Writing and publishing a book is an act of service. Whether it’s fiction that entertains or nonfiction that solves problems, it’s meant to help others.
I talk about this in my book as the triple-A guarantee: audience, audience, audience.
First, find your audience. Know who you can help. Know who your message, your stories, will speak to and benefit.
Second, write for your audience. Your book isn’t for you or your ego. It’s for others. Some say that writing to market is selling out, but unless a book is read, it hasn’t fulfilled its purpose. You can write the greatest novel ever, but if no one reads it, it’s underperforming.
Third, reach your audience. You’ve found them and written for them. Now you have to connect with them, and that’s where marketing comes in. As modern authors and creatives, we have to wear two hats. We can’t stay in artist mode all the time. Marketing requires a different mindset and skill set.
There’s no sin in selling when it’s ethical and authentic. It’s just exchanging value. If we deliver more value than we take in payment, everyone wins. It’s a win-win.
What if you’re not called to sell your book?
Thomas: Often, authors who don’t want to “sell out” by writing to their audience and only want to write the book that’s “on their heart” without thinking about the reader are often the same authors who later wonder why their books aren’t selling. I want to answer them, “Well, you didn’t want to sell. You wanted to write a book for yourself.”
Maybe God called you to write a book, but not because it was meant to be published or sold. If he didn’t give you a heart to sell your book, maybe you’re not meant to sell it. Maybe you’re writing this book because he wanted to do a work in your life or teach you some skills that you’ll use to help someone else. Perhaps your book isn’t meant for publication. That’s a hard word that some people don’t want to hear.
It’s important to ask yourself, “Did God call me to write a book? Did he also call me to sell that book and get it out to people?”
If he didn’t, maybe you need to write a different book that is written for an audience and written to bless others. That constraint helps fill the creativity with life. A blank page is really intimidating. Should I draw on it? Should I paint a picture? Write a poem? A story? The more constraints you add, the more creativity can thrive. It’s the constraints that give it focus.
There’s a powerful scene in Apollo 13 where the crew must fit a square air filter from the lander into a round opening from the module, using only the materials onboard before anyone dies of carbon monoxide poisoning. They’re in space, on a tight deadline, and no one can send more supplies. The constraints force creativity, and they solve the problem.
In the same way, the challenge of taking your passion and communicating it in a way that blesses and serves your reader will make your book stronger. But it requires humility. You have to set aside your ego and love your reader as much as you love your book.
Certainly! Here’s the rewritten version of the transcript with improved clarity, reduced redundancy, and no em dashes. I’ve maintained the conversational tone and flow while using standard punctuation.
How does writing serve your reader?
David: As writers, our job is to communicate—to take something from our heart and find a way to place it in someone else’s. The words we write become a bridge from one heart to another.
We bring value from within and carry it across that bridge, whether on a digital page or a printed one. A common mistake I see, and have made myself, is writing the book first and only then trying to find an audience. It’s much easier and more effective to start by asking, “Who can I help? Who will benefit from what I have to share?”
Take time to think about your reader before you start writing. That clarity sharpens your words. Like Scripture says, a dull ax requires more strength, but a sharpened one gets the job done more effectively. The same is true for writing. If we want to make an impact, we need to sharpen our vision first.
How does an audience sharpen your writing?
Thomas: You’re right. Writing for an audience makes your words sharper. I saw this firsthand in college. My school had just started using a learning management system to digitize classrooms, and professors were being encouraged to use it.
Midway through my freshman rhetoric class, the professor said, “Your next assignment will be posted online for the entire class to read.” Each of us had a slightly different prompt to prevent copying, and we all uploaded our essays to the portal.
The professor walked into class afterward, stunned. He said, “I don’t even know how to grade these. They’re all so much better than anything you’ve written before.” So he gave everyone A’s.
It wasn’t the software. It was the audience. Knowing other students would read our work changed how we wrote. It sharpened our focus. Without an audience, you miss that refining process. Writing becomes harder and scarier without it.
How do you find your writing voice?
David: That’s a great example. For anyone wondering, “Can I really write a book? Do I have anything to say?”—I often tell them, you’ll only find your voice by using it.
We sometimes wait for a lightning bolt from heaven before we start. And sure, miracles happen. But most of the time, we discover our voice by stepping out and writing—even if it’s imperfect.
For me, blogging has been one of the best ways to develop my voice. I know you’ve done a lot of blogging, too, Thomas. There’s something powerful about writing to an immediate audience. That directness and rawness often come through more clearly in a blog post than in a book.
When I sit down to write a book, I have to remind myself to keep that same sense of connection. Sometimes I slip into the mindset of, “Now I shall write a book,” and everything grinds to a halt. But when I remember that I’m here to help and bless someone else with what God has given me, the words begin to flow.
If you’re stuck, blogging might help you unlock the voice and ideas that will shape your book.
How do warmups and drills help you find your creative voice?
Thomas: When I was in high school, I sang in the choir all four years. My director was excellent at helping us find our voices and learn to sing well. Surprisingly, we spent more time on vocal warmups than on actual songs.
In a one-hour practice, the first 20 minutes were vocal drills. We’d start low, move higher, sing “la” sounds to open up, and then “mee-nee-mee-nee” to find resonance. It wasn’t pleasant to listen to, but it worked. Those exercises help open the vocal passages and unlock power. One-on-one coaching involves the same exercises, just without the group. That’s where real strength develops.
Learning to sing isn’t just about hitting the right notes. It’s about projecting your voice without strain and getting out of your own way. When you tap into that ability, one voice can carry over an entire orchestra or choir without a microphone. And yes, there’s a scientific explanation for how that works.
That kind of focused practice is essential. The same principle applies in sports. On the swim team, we often spent entire practices doing drills. Sometimes we swam with just one arm or focused only on kicking to strengthen specific techniques.
Writing works the same way. Blogging is great practice for nonfiction, and short stories are effective for fiction. If you approach them with intention, they become writing drills. For example, you might write a blog post designed to rank on Google. You could watch some SEO videos, then apply what you learned. That’s deliberate practice.
Or you might write a short story to work on character voices. My brother did this by writing from the perspective of a sentient AI, just to stretch himself creatively. You could also try switching points of view. For instance, you might try writing from a female perspective if your other work is male-centered, or the reverse.
Deliberate creative exercises like these are often more beneficial than writing another chapter of your novel. Many writers jump straight into writing a book without mastering the basics. They haven’t written a single blog post or short story.
If you’re willing to pause the book, read some craft books, and apply what you learn through writing short stories, you’ll improve much faster. That’s actually a better path to writing a best-selling book than simply jumping in.
How does serialized fiction offer a training ground?
David: We don’t have Kindle Vella in the UK yet, but the concept is really interesting. The idea of writing shorter, serialized content that reaches an audience and earns income is something I’d love to explore once it’s available.
Thomas: You don’t have to wait. Platforms like Wattpad—and several others—are already doing this. Kindle Vella may seem new, but serialized fiction has been around for a while, and many platforms are more popular and more global.
So don’t feel tied to Amazon. Serialized fiction is accessible now, but it’s a different skill from writing a novel. It’s more like writing for television than for film. Each episode needs to be satisfying, with enough tension or unanswered questions to keep readers coming back.
It’s not a magic bullet for making money. Some people think, “If I get on Kindle Vella, I’ll start earning,” but few are actually making much there. Still, writing short-form and getting faster feedback is a great way to grow as a writer.
David: Absolutely. Our fiction business was built on short books—about 10,000 words each. When I started, that felt like a manageable goal. It allowed us to publish more often and build momentum.
It varies by genre, but short-form fiction is more accepted now than it used to be. People consume content differently, and we’ve built an entire business around simple, focused stories in specific subgenres.
Thomas: Short stories have always had a place. Think of comic books or anthologies. Even Dickens wrote serialized fiction. He published weekly in the newspaper and got paid by the word, which is probably why his books are so long.
How does loving the Lord your God impact your creativity, and what is the Holy Spirit’s role in writing?
David: I talk about something called the Five Stone Framework. It’s based on the idea that creativity touches deep places in us, which is why it’s often accompanied by fear. You mentioned this earlier, Thomas, and I’ve faced it too. I call them the terrible twins: perfectionism and procrastination. These are the giants that push us back into the crowd, leaving us stuck instead of stepping onto the battlefield.
Like David picking up five smooth stones to face Goliath—possibly preparing for his four brothers too—we also need to be prepared. After years of working with Christian creatives through pastoring, conferences, art, writing, and more, I’ve found five key elements that help us partner effectively with the Holy Spirit.
The First Stone: Faith
If we’re stepping into the marketplace as kingdom writers or entrepreneurs, it must begin with Jesus. Seek first the Kingdom, and everything else will be added. There’s pressure to conform to worldly strategies, but God’s plan is better. Faith gives us a lasting foundation, not just a temporary spark.
The Second Stone: Inspiration
Inspiration literally means “God-breathed.” The Holy Spirit—the Creator Himself—is both with us and within us. He’s not confined to the “religious” parts of our lives. He wants to be involved in everything: writing a book, launching a course, building a business.
Years ago, He told me, “Quit hustling and start hearing.” That moment changed how I approached everything. The Holy Spirit isn’t just our helper on Sunday mornings. He wants to guide our creative lives.
I once asked Him, “What do I need to do next?” and He replied, “You tell me, David. What do we need to do?” That turned my writing from monologue into dialogue. It built trust in God’s leading and in my growing clarity. It became a true partnership. He’s the senior partner, of course, but walking with Him is a beautiful collaboration.
The Third Stone: Education
This is where many creatives hesitate. They feel inspired but think, “I don’t know how.” That’s where learning comes in. Thankfully, resources are more available than ever. You don’t need a degree to start learning new skills or tools.
The Fourth Stone: Application
Learning is important, but knowledge alone doesn’t create impact. It’s what you do with what you know that matters. An ounce of application is worth far more than a ton of information. Many people consume endlessly but never act. Real growth comes through action.
The Fifth Stone: Celebration
Once you’ve created something, take time to recognize it as good. Like God in Genesis, look at what you’ve made and say, “This is good.” Be humble, but also confident enough to acknowledge its value.
Your work is worth sharing. It’s worth selling. And marketing it well is just as much an act of service as writing the book itself.
Should Christians charge for their work?
Thomas: The worker is worthy of his hire. That’s true for a tentmaker stitching animal skins and for a pastor or missionary. This is literally what Paul said and did. He made tents and did ministry, and both were worthy of pay.
Writing can be church work or tentmaking. Maybe you’re writing a book on how to file your taxes. There’s no uniquely Christian way to file taxes, but it still helps people, and you can get paid for that.
If you say, “This is righteous work, so I won’t accept money for it,” you’re dishonoring every pastor who’s ever taken a paycheck. That mindset says, “I’m more righteous because I don’t get paid,” which is a dangerous and arrogant place to be. When people want to bless you, let them. That’s how the body of Christ works. We bless one another. Don’t set yourself above others.
David: I came out of pastoring after 20-plus years with no business experience. I didn’t feel comfortable talking about money. I told myself I didn’t want to dilute my ministry by doing business. I thought it would distract me. But looking back, I wish I’d broadened my perspective. I could have accomplished much more if I hadn’t kept my thinking so boxed in.
When I stepped into the creative business space, I still wrestled with the money conversation. Then I realized it’s simply an exchange of value. If you bring value to the table, the right thing to do is allow that exchange to happen. That’s how the Kingdom works.
It’s not just about giving. Without receiving, we quickly lose the abundance we need to keep serving others.
Thomas: If you want to breathe out, you have to also breathe in. You can’t say one is better than the other—they’re both essential. Giving and receiving are both vital.
Here in Texas, if someone doesn’t want to accept your help, we say, “Don’t steal my blessing.” Let me bless you. In blessing you, I’m blessed too. Don’t insist on not needing help.
We’re almost out of time, but before we go, I want to talk briefly about your book Faithful Creative. Tell us about the book and where people can get it, since it’s not on Amazon.
What is Faithful Creative about?
David: I wrote Faithful Creative to help and encourage Christians, whether artists, authors, or early-stage entrepreneurs, to step out of the procrastination and perfectionism trap.
It’s about equipping people to step into their field of favor and share their worth and work with the world. The book covers much of what we’ve talked about today. It’s rooted in our creative identity as children of God and seeks to equip the saints for their work of ministry.
And by ministry, I mean Kingdom work, not just church work. God is a Kingdom builder. You can serve the world by writing recipe books or helping others market theirs.
Check out David’s Faithful Creative encouragement.
What final encouragement would you give to creative Christians?
David: The biggest tip I can give is to build creative habits into your daily routine. Give yourself the gift of creating something every day. Even a small habit, like writing 500 words a day, makes a big difference.
Don’t wait for a lightning bolt of inspiration. You’ll be amazed at what’s inside you if you just make space for it to come out and develop habits to support it.
Thomas: Well said. Your days make your life, and your hours make your days. Those habits are critical.
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