Do I Really Need Those Words? by Carol Harrison

  

Some of the best advice I have received came at the beginning of my writing journey. When I began writing, I soon got bogged down in trying to make the words flow. I finally became brave enough to share that first chapter with more seasoned writers.

One published author asked me if the memoir was for family or to go beyond to a wider audience. If it was meant to go to more readers than just family, she told me to cut this and this and this and start here. The chopped sentences could be woven in if I thought I really needed those words but at a later point in the manuscript.

After realizing I’d asked for help, I began a new word document, cutting extraneous sentences and began where the writer suggested. If I didn’t like the new start, I still had the first file to return to and see if I could muddle through. The story began to flow as I cut those sentences from it. I found I didn’t need them to reappear at a later point.

Later I took Marcia Laycock’s devotional writing online workshop. It taught me, among other things, to remove unnecessary words or even whole sentences to say what I meant in the least number of words. In one exercise she had us write a devotional and gave us 1500 words. But part B of the exercise was to cut it by half without taking away any meaning. Part C, should we choose to accept it, was to cut it in half again but still retain the full meaning. It meant asking myself, “Do I really need really need this word or that one?”

It taught me how to write tight. I’ve received that advice from others along my journey as a writer, sometimes at a workshop and at other times in one-on-one conversations with more experienced writers. I think the question, “Do I need these words?” is one we should ask ourselves often as writers. It helps us avoid being too wordy and slowing down the flow of the story.

Along with choosing our words carefully, we can also avoid filler words or words we overuse. Do I really need these words to add to the meaning of the piece or help the flow of the story? Maybe I do and maybe I don’t. It all depends on whether it enhances the piece or distracts the readers’ attention.

I think this is some of the very good advice I have received over the years in my writing journey. But I am still a work in progress at following it all the time.

 

Carol Harrison believes there is always more to learn about this craft of writing. But putting the advice into practice doesn't always go as smoothly as she wants it to. She writes from her home in Saskatoon, SK.

Pray First by Peggianne Wright

 

As a lifelong writer it's not uncommon for thousands of words to be continually swirling in my head. In turn, those oodles of words begin to mesh together into a plethora of ideas. And that gaggle of ideas quickly becomes overwhelming. Sound familiar?

It's a struggle we all face as our creative juices flow. As Christian writers, we have been blessed with a gift from God and that special assignment will lead us on numerous exciting journeys, though at times, may also derail us. When faced with too many possibilities, too many ideas, and too many potential projects, we will soon begin to feel overwhelmed. We'll lose our focus, and may even feel the passion for our craft wane ever so slightly.

Pray First.

The temptation to dip our pen into the ink pot and venture off in multiple directions can be exciting at the beginning, when all those fresh ideas are oozing onto the paper. But, in reality, we may just be missing the real purpose God had in mind for creating us as scribes. 

Pray First.

God's laid a unique focus on my writing that centers around all things K9. As my writing career has gathered momentum, I have also faced the particular dilemma that I know is not only my own. The trap the enemy throws in my path (and many of yours too, I'm certain) calling into question my ability, my qualifications, my credibility; often pressing me into self-doubt and insecurity. Known as "imposter’s syndrome", this issue can be a powerful negative force in a calling that is God's wish for us.

Pray First.

Over the years, I have participated in countless workshops, seminars, and Christian writing academies with the deep desire to learn, grow, and maybe even excel in this pursuit. Highly respected facilitators and leaders have shared their personal experiences and imparted wisdom they found to be beneficial in their own personal writing journeys. Volumes of notes are stashed away in binders now collecting dust on my bookshelves, rarely to see the light of day.

However, over time, I have come to follow my own one piece of advice faithfully each and every time I sit down to write. PRAY FIRST. In fact, I have a special prayer that I have written on my glass top desk that is visible to me while I work.

Lord,
Lead me in the right direction.
Grant me guidance.
Give me purpose.
Make me productive.
Let me be a blessing to someone today.

When we first and foremost invite the Holy Spirit to sit down with us, we can be sure that what forms on our computer screens are the words and thoughts God wants us to share with others. We can be confident that when we PRAY FIRST, our Heavenly Father is guiding us through our writing journey in the direction the He has chosen for us.

Peggianne Wright is a published author and is the founder of the pet parent ministry Paws To Pray, blending her passion for the Lord and all-things-K9 to form this unique, faith-based community. Peggianne is an ardent Bible study student, devoted dog mom, wife of 44 years, and lover of music. Her blogs Spiritual Scribbles and Fur-Kid Fanatics can be found on her website www.PawsToPray.ca 

You can follow her on Facebook

www.Facebook.com/PawsToPray/ and on Instagram www.instagram.com/sister_in_prayer/

The Best Unedited Advice About Editing by Bob Jones

"The writer who breeds more words than he needs,

is making a chore for the reader who reads.” Dr Seuss

"The best writing is rewriting." Anne Lamott

“Embrace the shitty first draft."

That’s the unedited version of the best advice I’ve received on editing, courtesy of Anne Lamott. The sanitized version is, “Give yourself permission to write poorly in your first draft.”

And I’m glad I get to go first with this prompt because I imagine there will be a few more Inscribe writers who would say the same thing.

When I first started blogging, a friend suggested reading Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott. And ever since then, Anne has become a friend. She’s launching her next book this month and I’ve pre-ordered my copy so I could get a sneak peek. (Spoiler alert: more unsanitized words.)

Initial Drafts

Anne emphasized the importance of getting ideas down on paper without the paralyzing pressure of perfection. This initial draft, she argues, is just the beginning—a necessary step to be taken before the real work of writing begins. The first draft is just to get the story down; it does not need to be good, or even coherent.

Writing without editing is a discipline I‘ve struggled with for two decades. However, I fight the good fight with perfectionism.

My name is Bob and I'm a perfectionist.

“Perfectionism will ruin your writing, blocking inventiveness and playfulness and life force. Perfectionism means that you try desperately not to leave so much mess to clean up. But clutter and mess show us that life is being lived. Clutter is wonderfully fertile ground— you can still discover new treasures under all those piles, clean things up, edit things out, fix things, get a grip.” Bird by Bird, Anne Lamott

The genius of an unedited first draft is it will free up more time to edit.

I don’t have superior thoughts or extraordinary talent. I have a great commitment to rewriting. Perhaps you don’t rewrite enough in part, because you don’t have enough time. But if you can cut your writing time in half and reallocate it to editing, you’ll be making a good start.

 

As always, thank you for reading. Looking forward to reading what you write about editing.

 

Writing Advice by Lorrie Orr

 

March Prompt: What is the best writing advice you’ve ever received, and why? Was it given in person or through another format?

I sit at the kitchen table trying to pull together all the thoughts and notes I've had this month. While my mind wanders this way and that, I idly watch a pair of House Finches flit about in my neighbour's plum tree. The male's bright red breast is a stark contrast to the neutral browns of the female's plumage. My mind suddenly snapped out of neutral as I watched and a thought suitable for this prompt came to me. I'll include it later in my post.

Don't you wish you could discover the absolute best advice on writing that would galvanize your writing into perfection? Alas, such advice does not exist. But there are many good tips on writing, as illustrated by the photo above, a small sampling of the plethora of books on the topic. Every writer offers their own advice, gleaned through experience over time. I couldn't come up with one succinct piece of writing advice, so I'm including five of my own, gathered through the years.

Number One

Commit your writing to the Lord.

Ask yourself the question, "what is the desire of my heart?" I know that there are many things I want in this world - health and happiness for myself and those I love, work that satisfies me, good relationships, beautiful blooms on my rosebushes in a few months, to lose a few pounds, and so on. Desire is deeper than want, and ultimately, my desire and my delight is to please Jesus who loves me, saves me, and transforms me. And so, I commit my days and my plans to him, asking him for guidance and wisdom along the way. 

"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. 

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him..."

Psalm 37:4-5a

Number Two

Write down thoughts as they occur.

When my husband retired a couple of years ago, it became important to have a coordinated calendar. I prefer to use a paper calendar and write things down. I love a day planner where I can see everything at a glance. He, on the other hand, prefers a digital calendar because that's what he was used to in his career. We decided to use a joint digital calendar, accessible on our phones and computers. In the early days, before I got used to the habit, he would say, "If it's not in the calendar, it doesn't exist." (note: I still keep my own paper calendar.)

That pithy statement of Tim's applies to writing, too. How many stories have I written in my head? How many wonderful lines were lost because I didn't write them down? Too many to count. If the words are not recorded on paper or digitally, they don't really exist. I will now open the Notes app on my phone and stop in the middle of a walk to quickly type something that has come to me. If I don't, I'm likely to forget it when I walk in the door and become busy with another task. If it's not recorded somewhere, your writing doesn't exist no matter how vivid the pictures in your mind.

Number Three

Take time to read.

Remember the enchantment of losing yourself in a story. Each story you read deepens the vast creative pool in your brain, where life's experiences swirl to provide you with a unique perspective on the world. 

Read for enjoyment. Read to learn. Read widely. Read deeply. Just read!

Number Four

Be observant.

Here's where the thought from the House Finches came in. Observe the world around you. People and nature provide infinite entertainment and ideas for writing. Sometimes you can let your mind go into neutral while gazing outside and you find your thoughts untangle or ideas come to you. Airports, waiting rooms, ferries, and parties are good places to sit and watch the world go by. Personal interactions can be wonderfully amusing or heart-wrenching.

Number Five

Never lose the wonder.

Where will my imagination take me today?

 What would happen if...?

I wonder how...? 

These are questions that can lead to creative solutions and innovative plot twists. Cultivate your imagination. Keep those synapses firing. 

Most of all, keep on writing. Your desire to write is a gift from God. Honour the Giver by paying attention to the gift. 

Lorrie Orr writes from her home on Vancouver Island. More of her writing can be

found at her slice of life blog Fabric Paper Thread

and

Excerpts from her memoir Life is Short but Wide on Substack