One Small Yes Changed Her Writing Career - The Call to Write Guest Post

Bestselling author Chris Maday Schmidt shares how a single act of obedience changed everything.

My love of story began early. As a little girl, I filled notebooks with fairytales, and narrated dramatic plotlines with my Barbies. One of my earliest “award-winning” stories was told from the perspective of a kitchen table.

Then came my first attempt at romance writing: an ambitious sixth grade play about Susie Sunshine and Hercules in the Garden of Eden. Not surprisingly, Broadway never came knocking.

But even then, there was something about hopeful stories that captured my heart. Especially love stories. Maybe that’s because I grew up watching one. My parents met in tenth-grade homeroom, and their love story lasted more than sixty years. As a teenager, I discovered my mom’s stash of Harlequin novels and began quietly dreaming that maybe one day I could write stories like that too.

Life took me in a different direction for more than three decades. I spent those years building a career in publishing and editorial work—which really became part of God’s preparation—while writing remained tucked quietly into the corners of my life. Part of me believed I’d missed my chance.

And if I’m being honest, fear played a role too.

Fear of not being good enough. Fear of starting and failing. Fear of discovering I’d spent years longing for something I could never actually do.

Over time, I discovered I wasn’t the only writer who felt that way. Many of us wrestle with those same insecurities. We compare ourselves to people further along in the journey and convince ourselves everyone else is more talented or qualified. For me, there were times when I called my hesitation “waiting on God,” when really I was just afraid to take the first step.

But while I was working for a commercial trade publisher, the Lord began leading me back to the dream I’d set aside. Little by little, He nudged me toward writing stories of hope, redemption, and second chances. I realized writing those stories wasn’t simply about entertaining readers. It was part of my calling to “publish His glorious deeds...and tell everyone about the amazing things He does.”

Not long afterward, a workshop popped up at a local library about writing short romance. I almost talked myself out of going. I had every excuse ready.

But I went anyway.

At that workshop, I met a seasoned author who unknowingly became both mentor and friend. From there, I began devouring craft books, attending conferences and workshops, and binge-watching enough romantic comedies that my husband can now identify tropes and “all is lost” moments with alarming accuracy.

During the pandemic, I worked with a writing coach and finished my first full-length manuscript. That book will never see the light of day, and that’s okay. Finishing it mattered because it gave me confidence that maybe I could actually do this.

Eventually I started submitting short stories and essays. Then in early 2022, I learned about the Great Love Inspired Author Search. At the time, it felt like an answer to prayer.

I planned to revise that earlier manuscript. Only the story—and one particularly stubborn supporting character—had other plans. No matter how hard I tried to force the original setup to work, this secondary character kept demanding center stage.

When I finally stopped fighting it and rewrote the story with him as the hero, the manuscript received a request for the full.

There was only one tiny problem.

I hadn’t actually written the rest of the book yet.

Cue mild panic.

Thankfully, my mentor offered the simple but priceless advice I still repeat to myself regularly: “Write the book.”

So I did.

And by God’s grace, that step of faith eventually led to a phone call offering to buy my book for Love Inspired. Even now, it feels surreal.

These days, obedience looks less like giant leaps and more like daily faithfulness. Showing up at the keyboard when the words feel hard—even after three books. Trusting God in seasons of doubt. Continuing to write stories that encourage readers, even when the publishing industry feels uncertain or discouraging.

It also means remembering where that calling came from.

Publication was never the finish line. Success isn’t ultimately measured by contracts, rankings or reviews. Those things can come and go. What matters most to me now is writing the stories God places on my heart and trusting Him with the outcome.

This summer, I’m celebrating the release of my newest Love Inspired novel, A Mother’s Prayer, set in the fictional small town of Sweetwater, Arizona. The story follows a pregnant single mother and a gruff mechanic who discover God specializes in restoration. In many ways, the book reflects the themes that resonate most deeply with me as both a writer and a believer: hope for new beginnings, humor in the messy middle, and heart for happy endings.

And if I could encourage newer writers with anything, it would be this:

Don’t despise the small beginnings.

Read widely. Write often. Learn the craft. Find community. Write imperfectly. And most importantly, remember that obedience and outcome are not the same thing.

Sometimes faith looks like attending the workshop.

Sometimes it looks like opening the blank document.

Sometimes it looks like writing the book before you know whether anyone will ever read it.

But God has a beautiful way of meeting us in those small acts of faithfulness.

After all, that’s often where He does some of His best work—in what look like the smallest beginnings.

And whenever my limiting beliefs speak louder than the characters’ voices in my head, I try to remember the words of Hockey Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky—

“You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.”

I’m grateful I finally took mine—and even more grateful that God met me there.

Visit Chris Maday Schmidt here.