Whose (by)line is it, anyway?
It was mine. All mine.
As a ghost writer, I don’t get the byline in the publication. And I’m okay with that: I do the writing, but the client is the subject-matter expert without whom I couldn’t write the article. Last week, however, I had been offered the byline for an article to be published in a nationally recognized magazine whose publication reaches 40,000 people. This is an uncommon honor for a ghost writer, and I was tickled pink.
The editor asked for my headshot; I sent it. My bio was requested; I submitted it. The writing was done, shipped off for publication.
Then the email came: the byline was being reassigned to the subject matter expert. It was the reason for the change that wounded me most. The client had searched for my name online and found my website. This website. She deemed the subject matter contained in all these posts ‘controversial’ (her words, not mine) and pulled the byline back.
My purpose in writing this isn’t to condemn her decision; she’s entitled to it as the client/expert who supplies the article’s content. Sigh. Apparently I had something to learn here.
While I hardly count this as suffering compared to those of Christian martyrs, I do believe the principle of 1 Peter 3 bears out in this circumstance:
Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
— 1 Peter 3:13-17 ESV
At first, I was indignant, offended that she was offended. I felt disappointed, maligned and unjustly deprived. I mentally plotted my argument to retain the byline. And then God brought last year’s post on being a ghost writer hurtling back into my mind. For whom was I writing? Specifically, I was reminded that my (paid) job was to make the client look good, not myself. And that the writing I do here is meant to bring glory to God, not me.
If both were true, then the only rightful response was to confess my ambition to God, to graciously defer to the client’s wish, and to be consoled by the knowledge that when I write about the reason for my hope, it may bring offense.
Just as any glory is rightfully His, I can entrust my ‘suffering’ for His sake into His care as well.
Have you suffered for your faith? Share with us how God met you in that circumstance in the comment section.
Consider sharing this post to encourage someone else!
Hi Kirsten,
I don’t find you the least bit controversial and I hate that this happened to you. I’d be angry too. I had a little taste of this myself this past spring. I was uninvited to speak at a women’s retreat two weeks before the event. I’d been planning with their team for months, and one of them saw something on my site they found controversial. They contacted their elder board, who advised them to uninvite me.
So yes, I know the sting. But He is sufficient, and His opinion is the only One that matters. Keep up the GREAT work you do here.
Hugs from VA,
Susan
Ouch, Susan. That must have hurt! Indeed, He is sufficient and I appreciate your encouragement.
Hi Kirsten,
I don’t find you the least bit controversial and I hate that this happened to you. I’d be angry too. I had a little taste of this myself this past spring. I was uninvited to speak at a women’s retreat two weeks before the event. I’d been planning with their team for months, and one of them saw something on my site they found controversial. They contacted their elder board, who advised them to uninvite me.
So yes, I know the sting. But He is sufficient, and His opinion is the only One that matters. Keep up the GREAT work you do here.
Hugs from VA,
Susan
Ouch, Susan. That must have hurt! Indeed, He is sufficient and I appreciate your encouragement.
That is sad. But perhaps. . . . .we would all do the same thing. . . .if the shoe were reversed. We would also search out our ghost writer and if their website was offensive to us (meaning offensive to God) we wouldn’t want our name associated with them. We were warned in the scripture this is what it would be like in the last days. But we still knows who wins in the end and we are on His side. Never give up. . .always speak up for Christ.
Fair point, Ellen.
That is sad. But perhaps. . . . .we would all do the same thing. . . .if the shoe were reversed. We would also search out our ghost writer and if their website was offensive to us (meaning offensive to God) we wouldn’t want our name associated with them. We were warned in the scripture this is what it would be like in the last days. But we still knows who wins in the end and we are on His side. Never give up. . .always speak up for Christ.
Fair point, Ellen.
Unfortunately I don’t have much time to read blogs, but Kirsten, when I get to read your blog, you always inspire me. Thank you for your example and commitment to serve Christ above all else. A lesson I am currently learning through different circumstances.
Unfortunately I don’t have much time to read blogs, but Kirsten, when I get to read your blog, you always inspire me. Thank you for your example and commitment to serve Christ above all else. A lesson I am currently learning through different circumstances.
Janea, I so appreciate your affirmation — it encourages me (and any blogger!) so much to hear their words for the Lord meant something to someone. Thanks for stopping by!
Unfortunately I don’t have much time to read blogs, but Kirsten, when I get to read your blog, you always inspire me. Thank you for your example and commitment to serve Christ above all else. A lesson I am currently learning through different circumstances.
Janea, I so appreciate your affirmation — it encourages me (and any blogger!) so much to hear their words for the Lord meant something to someone. Thanks for stopping by!
Great post (as usual!!), Kirsten. As your friend, I wanted to quickly jump to your defense (How DARE they?!), but I love your thinking and processing, as well as your honesty, as you settled on a wise and humble (and better!) response. For me, I often find myself completely justified in doling judgment or taking offense to that which I deem controversial, but inwardly cry “foul!” if I am found as such. In the world of social media, it’s “ok” in my eyes to un-friend someone whose posts I continually find distasteful, inappropriate, etc., but have felt wronged when I have been un-friended by someone who finds my posts offensive. Instead, perhaps I should be glad, in some way, that my words, particularly those about my faith, occasionally “bring offence.”
Good analogy, Jenni! Thanks for the response because you’ve made me think about it in another context, too.
Great post (as usual!!), Kirsten. As your friend, I wanted to quickly jump to your defense (How DARE they?!), but I love your thinking and processing, as well as your honesty, as you settled on a wise and humble (and better!) response. For me, I often find myself completely justified in doling judgment or taking offense to that which I deem controversial, but inwardly cry “foul!” if I am found as such. In the world of social media, it’s “ok” in my eyes to un-friend someone whose posts I continually find distasteful, inappropriate, etc., but have felt wronged when I have been un-friended by someone who finds my posts offensive. Instead, perhaps I should be glad, in some way, that my words, particularly those about my faith, occasionally “bring offence.”
Good analogy, Jenni! Thanks for the response because you’ve made me think about it in another context, too.
Great post (as usual!!), Kirsten. As your friend, I wanted to quickly jump to your defense (How DARE they?!), but I love your thinking and processing, as well as your honesty, as you settled on a wise and humble (and better!) response. For me, I often find myself completely justified in doling judgment or taking offense to that which I deem controversial, but inwardly cry “foul!” if I am found as such. In the world of social media, it’s “ok” in my eyes to un-friend someone whose posts I continually find distasteful, inappropriate, etc., but have felt wronged when I have been un-friended by someone who finds my posts offensive. Instead, perhaps I should be glad, in some way, that my words, particularly those about my faith, occasionally “bring offence.”
Good analogy, Jenni! Thanks for the response because you’ve made me think about it in another context, too.