Marketing Tips From Cheri Cowell

The Star of Bethlehem, sometimes referred to as the Christmas North Star, revealed the birth of Jesus. The star appears only in the Gospel of Matthew, where astrologers from the east are led to the Christ child. As writers we, too, have a North Star–perhaps several North Stars–that lead us on our journey. Christmas is a perfect time to examine our various North Stars and reaffirm our dependency on our True North Star..

Perhaps you can add to this list, but here is my list of North Stars, which guide me on my writing journey. I am deeply grateful for all of them.

1. My Greatest and Brightest North Star is Jesus Christ. I want every decision and move I make be one that is guided by the Holy Spirit. I desire to glorify Him by aligning my life with this North Star.
2. Closely related to the first North Star is another one I call Character. In all I do and say and write, I pray my character shines through and that that character reflects the character of Christ.
3. Another North Star that guides me is what I call My Mother’s Voice. You probably hear it, too. It is the one who reminds you to treat others as you want to be treated, to listen twice as much as you speak (because you have two ears and one mouth), and to always remember that someone is following you so be worthy of following. Thanks, Mom!
4. Finally, a North Star that I am learning to follow more closely is the Needs of My Readers. Where my reader’s needs and my gifts and experience intersect is where I am called to serve. This North Star leads me in choosing my next writing projects. It helps me to reject those that sound good, but may not be the best for me.

When researching information about the North Star, I learned a few things. First, the North Star does not rise of set, but remains very nearly the same spot above the northern horizon year-round while the other stars circle around it.

Which North Stars guide you in your writing journey? Think about it, because if you don’t know which star you are intentionally following, you may end up following a moving star. Our True North Star is unchanging. He is the same today, yesterday, and tomorrow. You can set your course by looking to Him, for all other stars–for Christians–circle around this North Star.

Merry Christmas, everyone! May you be guided this next year by the True North Star.

Cheri Cowell is the author of a new devotional book, 365 Devotions for Peace, released from Zondervan. Her Bible study  Parables and Word Pictures in the AMG Following God Bible study series is a favorite in bookstores everywhere. Her new Bible study One Story, One Mission, One God released in June. Check out her website to learn more www.CheriCowell.com

Connect with Cheri Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and you can read her blogs on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month Cheri’s Blog