Writing for God’s glory and the good of others is a holy endeavor. In his book The Storied Life, Jared Wilson writes, “To see writing as a spiritual act is to look at art itself as a function of the imago Dei. And only human beings bear the image of God.” When we offer something good, true, and beautiful to the world, we reflect something of God’s creative nature. In a small way, we’ve followed the creation mandate and subdued the earth by bringing order out of chaos to the page.
However, arriving at that place of completion, when we can say like God, “It is good,” is no easy task. Writers feel the effects of the fall as we struggle to subdue our insecurities, overcome writer’s block, and gain clarity in our thinking. Like Adam and Eve, we labor to cultivate gardens, raise children, and offer our words as a sacrifice of praise, but not without sweat and pain.
The 5 Ws & 1 H of Christian Writing
Do you remember the 5 W’s and 1 H questions from your essay writing at school? Asking the who, what, when, where, why, and how questions allowed you to organize your thoughts and write better. In talking with and mentoring many writers, I’ve noticed patterns of thinking that make writing unnecessarily overwhelming and discouraging. A Christian writer needs to settle these issues in her heart to improve her process and end product. This is how we work the ground and keep it, subduing our own little corner of creation to glorify God (Gen 2:15).
How would you answer these questions?
Who am I? (Confidence)
The first lie in the garden was, “Did God really say?” The serpent planted doubt about God’s character in Eve’s mind. Suddenly, she doubted his plans (and prohibitions) were for her good. In a way, this was the first identity crisis. Instead of believing truth, Eve believed Satan’s lies, and tragically we’ve all suffered the consequences.
Writers believe lies too–maybe the most common one is, “Who am I to write?” If you are a Christian, your identity is not in your resume; it’s in Christ. His Word and Spirit have provided everything you need to live out your Christian faith.
Imposter syndrome is real, but if Jesus has done the greater work of saving you, will he not do the lesser work of equipping you to share your heart? Part of the curse is reversed when you’re in Christ. You are a new creation (2 Cor 5:17). Live in that truth, and your confidence will be bolstered not in yourself, but in him.
What should I write? (Clarity)
Another area where writers struggle is with their message. They have many ideas and experiences to draw from but are unsure where to focus their writing. This requires careful thought for writers interested in building a long-term, sustainable platform. To determine what you should write, ask yourself what you could talk about for hours on end. What do your Google searches reveal about who you are, and what you’re interested in?
While conventional wisdom says to write what you know, instead consider writing what you want to learn. Write down everything you’re interested in, look for themes and patterns and distill that list into two or three categories. Ask yourself, “Can I write about these topics for the next several years?” What would the next logical stage look like if my subject matter ages out? Clarify your message by considering your knowledge base and your curiosities. If you find your subject matter interesting, readers probably will, too.
When do I write? (Control)
Writing takes a lot more time than you think it should. Someone once asked Ernest Hemingway why his books were so easy to read. He replied, “Because they were so hard to write.” How much time you need to write depends on who you are and your available time. Allow yourself time to get into the flow of writing. Whether words come naturally or you wrestle over each one, putting them on the page takes concentrated effort.
Establishing (and sticking to) a writing routine is always better than waiting for inspiration to strike. Inspiration will come as you show up and put in the time. Whether we devote ourselves to writing full-time or as a hobby, we must protect our writing time. We’ll never have complete control over our time, but putting in manageable writing rhythms helps us better accomplish our goals.
Where to write? (Coffee Shops and Content Platforms)
Where to write could refer to your physical surroundings and where you publish your words digitally. These are equally essential decisions. Do you work better in a quiet room or with the buzz of the coffee shop? It’s tempting to fantasize about the “perfect” writing location, but new places can be more distracting than inspirational. Experiment a little, but find an acceptable place, sit your butt in the chair, and do your work.
Once you’ve written your piece, where to publish is the next big decision. Depending on your goals, you’ll need either a website or blog (which can be fully customizable and owned entirely by you) or an account on an online content platform like Substack or Medium (which is a micro-site that allows you to collect emails and monetize). Each option has pros and cons, but stick with the one you’ve chosen, and growth will come.
Why should I write? (Calling)
Writers often wrestle with whether they are “called” to write or enjoy it as a hobby. John Piper defines calling as “a recurrent, not temporary, long-term, not short-lived, compelling, not merely interesting, benevolent, not selfish, Christ-exalting, not self-exalting desire to write, which proves fruitful in the lives of others.”
Do you feel compelled to keep writing, glorify God, and bless others with your words? If so, you’ve probably been called by God to write. Whether writing is your calling or your hobby, we’re all called to grow in Christlikeness, and writing is an effective tool to shape us more into his image.
How to write? (Community)
Many introverts think being alone is one of the perks of writing. However, there comes a point when being alone hinders our growth. We can’t possibly reach our full potential without other people’s influence. Can you think of one skill you’ve acquired that hasn’t come from listening, asking questions, receiving feedback, and following examples? Who do you ask when you have a question about writing? Google and ChatGPT can only take you so far.
Every student needs a teacher, and good teachers recognize they also need teachers. This puts everyone in the same boat of never arriving and always learning. Writers come from different backgrounds and experience levels, but the ground is level in a community because (hopefully) everyone gives and receives. Our ambitions, energies, and products can all differ, but we can grow together when we share the goal of glorifying God.
I created the Writers’ Bloc for this purpose. The Writers’ Bloc is an online community for Christian women who want to grow in the art and heart of writing.
A Free Christian Writing Community
I want all Christian writers to enjoy the benefits of being in the community, so I’m offering forever-free membership to The Writers’ Bloc. This community has been a labor of love born out of necessity. It’s what I wished I had when I started writing and what I need to keep growing. It’s a safe place to ask questions, give feedback, and help others.
While I offer a paid version with even more value, I’ve recently opened a free space where writers can grow together in the art and heart of writing. The community may be free, but the enrollment period is limited.
Join me now through the end of August 2024 to enjoy this wonderful community. If you miss this enrollment period, you can join the waiting list to be notified for our next enrollment season.
Subdue the blank page with us.
The psalmist wrote, “My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe” (Psalm 45:1). Do you want your ‘verses’ to overflow from your heart, and bless the King? It is a good and holy desire to reflect the imago Dei through your words—but that doesn’t happen without sweat and sometimes pain. Overcome your writer’s block, subdue the earth (starting with your blank page), and join us as we do the same at the Writers’ Bloc.
Cara
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