God Never Said, "Ok ya'll, I have enough people!" - by Mary Folkerts

 

Sometimes it feels like the world is already so saturated with words that adding mine to the mix is like throwing a bucket of water into the ocean. Who will even see what I write? How can my writing make a difference?

A few years back, I had the opportunity to go to a She Speaks conference for writers and speakers. The whole weekend was full of encouragement and inspiration, but the following are a few pieces of valuable advice that really resonated with me.

1. We all have a place at the table with our different gifts and talents. No two writers are the same, for we all come with unique personalities and stories, which God wants to use for His glory. As one of the presenters expressed, God has never said, “Ok y’all, I have enough people!”

2. Have a right heart before God. Ants can take down big trees! I must not let the little ants inside my soul destroy what God is growing inside of me. I must be humble, remembering that this is God’s doing, not mine.

3. Growing slowly is good. Jennifer Dukes Lee used the illustration of a cornfield. One does not reap the field the same week you plant it!

4. A lamp cannot burn without oil. I can have all the right tools, but if I don’t depend on God’s Spirit to work through my words, they don’t carry His power, no matter how fancy they are.

5. “Walk with a limp and show Jesus as the healer!” Hosanna Wong

Our job is to faithfully use our words to point others to God, even if our audience is only one soul in need of encouragement.

He redeems my brokenness,
redefining my story
as His story,
using my weaknesses
to speak to the one
who feels her weakness
too heavy to bear.
He puts wings to my words,
flying them to
the one
who needs to feel seen.

There’s no need for measuring sticks,
comparing,
competing,
shuffling for position.
There is always more room,
room for every story,
every heart
to reflect His glory.

It’s when my pride rides in
on a high horse
saying it is I
who has done this thing,
that I am felled like a mighty
oak on a windy day.

Oh Father may I be
on my face before you,
humility and awe
the position of my
daily choosing.

 

Mary Folkerts is mom to four kids and wife to a farmer, living on the southern prairies of Alberta, where the skies are large and the sunsets stunning. She is a member of Proverbs 31 Ministries' COMPEL Writers Training, involved in church ministries and music. Mary’s blog aims to encourage and inspire women and advocate for those with Down Syndrome, as their youngest child introduced them to this extraordinary new world. For more inspiration, check out Joy in the Small Things https://maryfolkerts.com/ or connect on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/maryfolkerts/

What would Ann Landers and Abigail Van Buren say? by Sharon Heagy

In our everyday encounters with our fellow humans, we may be bombarded by recommendations and opinions offered by family, friends and neighbours, both solicited and unsolicited. Some of this advice is good and solid, based on experience and knowledge. Wise words build up and encourage, even when they may be tough to hear. Other advice can be hurtful and demeaning and leave us drowning in a discouraging puddle of tears. 

In 1943 columnist and nurse, Ruth Crowley, started writing an advice column for the Chicago Sun-Times under the pseudonym Ann Landers titled, "Ask Ann Landers." She wrote from 1943-47 and from 1952-55 when the column was taken over by Esther "Eppie" Pauline Lederer who composed the column until 2002. 

Not to be outdone, Esther's twin sister, Pauline "Popo" Esther Phillips began writing a rival advice column for the San Francisco Chronicle titled, "Dear Abby" using the pseudonym Abigail Van Buren whose name she derived from the name Abigail from the book of 1Samuel and Van Buren a former U.S. president. She wrote this column until 1987 when her daughter, Jeanne Philips, took over. She continues to pen the feature to this day. 

When "Popo" took up her pen it caused quite a competition and a lengthy estrangement between the sisters. Both women used a "straightforward, tone, practical advice and a firm but modern moral sensibility" as well as "humour, including sarcasm and one-liners, in their responses" according to the Jewish Women's Archive. But from what I remember reading the columns in the daily paper as a kid, their advice wasn't always wise or helpful and sometimes held a mean streak. But what do I know? I was only a kid and was not wise to the ways of the world or the adults in it. It's not like I spent a lot of time reading advice columns. My leanings led more towards the funny pages. Oh boy, that's an antiquated phrase. Perhaps I should say comics. Yet even the word newspaper is almost antique. 

Writing this post posed a challenge as I have received numerous good tips and some great advice from a plethora of sources on the internet, in books and in person. How do you choose the absolute best? Each one suited a particular time in my writing journey. Perhaps what has tickled and inspired my author's brain would be a yawner to you. On the other hand I have gleaned some great stuff this month from the posts of others. See, that's the thing, we all need to seek out great advice.

How do we do that? There are a few places I have found terrific motivation and would urge you to give some a whirl.

1. Attend conferences and workshops and WorDshops. Take a class. Attend events wanting to nourish and excite the writer within!  Be teachable and find out what sparks a fire in your belly. Take LOTS of notes.

2. Read books about writing. Anne Lamott, Annie Dillard, Natalie Goldberg, Stephen King, Julia Cameron & Brenda Ueland have all written inspiring books on writing. Grab one and get food by gnawing on their knowledge of the craft.

3. Don't dismiss anything, even if it seems dry and uninteresting. Dig deeper because there may be a nugget from the Lord that is worth the mining.

4. Read Scripture and let the Lord speak to your heart.  Some of my favourites regarding those called by God to write are:

Colossians 3:23 "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,"

1Samuel 15:22 "But Samuel replied: "Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams."

Psalm 102:18 "Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord."

Psalm 19:14 "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. 

Proverbs 16:3 "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."

And finally, take all those suggestions, throw them in the tub and bathe them with prayer.

Write on, my friends, write on and may God's hand be upon your words.

Sharon Heagy writes from the wonderful town of Rockglen, Saskatchewan where she lives with her husband, a big dog and furry cats. She writes to bring hope and humour to a world that needs both. She can be reached at sharonheagy@gmail.com 

Thanks for taking the time to visit today. God bless.

The Best Writing Advice by Dana-Lyn Phillips

 

What is the best writing advice you have ever received, and why?

I am extremely new to the craft of writing. In fact, it has not even been a year since this new world opened up to me, and I’m not embarrassed to admit that…it’s a lot! It used to be that writers would write for a newspaper, magazine or a book and that was their sole focus. Seems to me it was simpler back then.

Now, with websites, social media outlets, and endless talk of ‘building your platform’, the world of writing seems as though it’s become quite complicated. If that weren’t enough, according to so-called “experts” you now need to add audio to your work, live stream Q&A periods, reply to every comment, and post notes five times a day in order to even hope to be successful.

Don’t get me wrong, there are many writers out there who are managing all these different avenues – and doing it well, but that’s not me.

I have received a lot of great writing advice throughout the past year but the message that stands out the most is from an article written on Substack by Grant Herbel. On August 26, 2025, Grant posted an article titled “How to Know if You’re Actually Called to Write: The Relief of Shifting from Seeking Tasks to Receiving Identity”. In Grant’s article there are three sentences that spoke loudly to me.

1. “You’re not a writer who happens to be a Christian. You’re a Christian who may happen to write as one expression of your identity in Christ.”

2. “The goal isn’t to become an influential writer or build a successful platform. The goal is to lift up Christ, who will draw all people to Himself.” (John 12:32)

3. “When success becomes faithfulness rather than follower counts, the metrics anxiety dissolves. You’re free to write from rest rather than striving.”

All three of these quotes describe who I want to be as a writer. I don’t want to be driven by numbers. I don’t want strangers telling me what hoops I need to jump through to be successful in this industry. I’m here only because God orchestrated a big change in my life and He led me here – to the world of writing. If I’m being completely honest, I still question why I am here, but I know without a shadow of a doubt that this is what He wants me to do right now. So I show up and I seek His guidance as I move forward.

Knowing who I want to be as a writer, and knowing who my co-pilot is in this endeavour, doesn’t rid me of confusion from the things I read and hear. It’s still really difficult to wade through the contradictory advice that comes daily, from every direction.

Somedays I still question if I am making the right choices in my writing, or if I am doing all of the things that I should be doing to move forward, but then I remember who is in control and I trust His leading in my career and in my life.

God led me to writing, God gave me the articles I have written, God helped me to create a space on Substack. And God knows why I am here, at this moment in time, and what His future plans are for me. I want to stop focusing on numbers, as a measure of success, and instead focus on lifting up Christ, who will draw all people to Himself. If I can do that, then I can trust God will do what He wants with the numbers.

 

Dana-Lyn is a wife, and mother to teenage boys as well as a 14-year-old cava-poo named Hockley. She is passionate about encouraging Christian women in their faith and is stepping into her mid-life "calling" as a writer. Her happy place consists of a comfy chair, a great book, a hot cup of coffee and a chocolate…or three! You can read more of her work at https://plansfargreater.substack.com

Do What You Can by Susan Barclay

 

I was hoping to refer back to a previously written post on the best writing advice I’d ever received. Unfortunately, if I wrote one, I wasn’t able to find it. Fortunately, I can still answer the question for this month’s prompt!

First, I agree with much of what’s already been shared by others here over the last two weeks, including (but not limited to) Alan’s, “keep writing,” and much from Brenda’s multi-point post. Carol’s “Do I really need those words?” reminds me of Stephen King’s admonition to “kill your darlings.” And I absolutely love Peggianne’s advice to “pray first.” So essential, though sadly I admit to often forgetting.

The best advice I received recently was in a response to my June 2024 contribution, R is for Retirement, where Alan shared, “I write regularly, but in a way that suits me. I know some of our dear writing friends write for so various hours per day, or every other day. I don't follow this pattern. I write according to my writing energy level on a particular day. There are days I can write for four to six hours, whereas some days only two or three. I am my timekeeper. If I have a deadline, say for our InScribe blog or something else, I make sure I meet the deadline with time to spare. The thing is, I do what I can and what I love in my writing.”

This model meets my needs in this current season as I am still providing 24/7 care to my elderly mom, whose birthday is today. I would tell you how old she is, but then she would have to kill me! I am not ready to stop writing for such a dramatic reason, LOL.

So, I aim to follow Alan's suggestions:

● I write as regularly as I can, “but in a way that suits me…according to my energy level.”
● I aim to meet the deadlines for InScribe Writers Online, with time to spare.
● “I do what I can and what I love in my writing.”

I’m thankful that while God equipped me with the gift and love of writing and wants me to use it, Christianity is not a works-based faith. He knows what’s going on in my life and He knows my heart. He doesn’t want me to beat myself up over something outside of my control (my available time and energy level in these trying days). While I wait for a time when I am free to write more, I trust His good reasons for extending this period of shared suffering. His ways and timing are perfect, even when we do not understand.

If you are going through a hard time where you feel your life is on hold, what advice do you give yourself?

______________________________

 

For more about Susan Barclay and her writing, please visit www.susan-barclay.blogspot.com.

Keep Writing by Alan Anderson

 

The Why to keep writing

The writing prompt for March has been a brain scratcher for me, but I finally settled on how to respond. After being a contributor to our blog for ten years, I have received a lot of encouragement from our group. Welcome advice and counsel from more experienced writers have also accompanied this encouragement. The title of this blog post might seem simple to many of you, but it summarizes my response to our prompt.

We, as writers, receive the words, “keep writing,” as an encouragement to persevere in the craft we all love. We can never underestimate our love for the written word. This love is a powerful motivation for us to continue developing our writing skills.

My personal response to the Why

Lord willing, I hope not only to keep writing, but to write well. I pray the words I write will outlast my life here on earth. With the years seeming to pass at a quick pace, I realize there will be a year that will be my final one on earth.

The past year, and into 2026, has challenged me with health conditions in no hurry to end soon. My writing energy has suffered as well. Concentration to keep writing is now a daily challenge. This is where perseverance becomes part of my writing endeavours.

I keep writing as part of who I am, the way God created me to be. Indeed, I am not everyone’s go-to guy for such things as writing advice. In fact, I shy away from giving advice most times. I would rather listen to a person hoping to help them come to their own decisions.

I keep writing to offer hope to people, and perhaps this is a strength of my words. As writers, we don’t have to go far to find people in need of hope. I write to let them know they matter. I hope to assure people someone cares for them. Hope to remind them God loves them, as do I; therefore, I keep writing. There is no reason to stop.

I keep writing with words wrapped in prayer. This is pleasing to God. He loves us to pray for each other. InScribe Christian Writers' Fellowship has a special place in my life; therefore, I pray our ministry together makes the world a better place. I conclude with a prayer I wrote in a previous post for those who are serious writers and InScribe in particular.

Bless our words, O Lord,

as they make their way into the world.

Help them touch hearts,

Heal minds,

Blanket souls in eternal love.

Allow our words, O Lord,

To speak long after we have gone to our blessed hope.

May they live as seeds of Your love.

  

Alan lives in a small village called Deroche, British Columbia, with his wife, Terry, and their poodle, Charlie. He enjoys walking on the dike near his home, with trees all around and where he finds inspiration to write. He has occasionally written articles for FellowScript Magazine and is a regular contributor to the InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship blog. Alan’s website and blog is https://scarredjoy.ca. He also writes on Substack.

The Best Writing Advice by Steph Beth Nickel

So many writing adages . . .

• Write what you know.
• Show don’t tell.
• Write every day.
• Write to market.
• To be a writer, you have to write.
• Write what you want to read.
• Write what you need to read. And so on and so on and so on.

All these pieces of advice have their place. But do they apply to every writer at all times? Do any of them apply to any writer at all times?

My response: a categorical no.

The most insightful piece of information I’ve ever come across is this: Each writer is unique and must find their own best practices.

Following an A-Z list of How to Become a Successful Writer might be appealing, but there are too many variables that are beyond our control.

Plus . . .

Would any of us like to think there was a guaranteed formula that applies to every writer?

While there are times such a formula might be useful, for many of us, it would eliminate—or at least minimize—our favourite part of the process, creativity.

Likely the most challenging element of accepting ourselves as unique individuals is to commit to trial and error to see what works best for us.

Most of us would agree that writing only what we know has its limits. Using our knowledge and interests as a jumping off spot, however . . . That can be super helpful and may very well get the creative juices flowing.

While showing rather than telling adds depth to both fiction and nonfiction, there are times simply telling our readers a fact is the best option.

Some writers must write every day, if even for a few minutes. Others cannot commit to doing so for a wide variety of reasons.

The idea of writing to market has its upside and its downside. Each of us must weigh the pros and cons of allowing oft-changing market trends to determine what we write.

We are writers when we’re writing—and when we’re not. Writing involves so much more than putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard.

It’s helpful to enjoy what we’re writing. However, most of us can find a plethora of books that we enjoy, that motivate, encourage, and entertain us. So, enjoyment alone is rarely enough reason to write—unless we’re writing for our eyes only.

Writing what we need to read may be a more powerful motivation. Plus, we may very well find holes in the market, whether the information is outdated or missing a unique perspective that we could bring to the subject. 

As I said, all of the above adages have their place, but I would encourage you to embrace your uniqueness and explore what works best for you at this point, knowing that what worked yesterday may need tweaking. And what will work tomorrow? That remains to be seen.

Graphic Credit: Tips Tricks And - Free photo on Pixabay

Steph Beth Nickel is the former Editor of FellowScript and the current InScribe Contest Coordinator. Steph is an editor and author and plans to relocate to Saskatchewan from Ontario to be close to family in this year or next. (Headshot Photo Credit: Jaime Mellor Photography)

Best Writerly Advice by Sandi Somers

I thought long and hard about the question of receiving advice for my writing. I knew there wasn’t one piece that stood out and transformed my thinking. Instead, there have been a number along the way. Here is a selection.


Long before I devoted significant time to writing and publishing, I journaled my experiences in Colombia. Then later when beginning to teach ESL, one teacher recommended I journal; it was the best advice I received at that time. These two cross-cultural experiences were some of the most fulfilling of my life. I have kept my journal from Colombia and have referenced it in writing articles. With my ESL journal, I now have binders full of ideas, experiences, and relationships with my students. Such writing gave me practice in fluency and in capturing many significant details which complement my current memories—or have forgotten.

In 2011, I joined InScribe. One article in the FellowScript magazine, “Running on Empty”, by Loreen Guenther, brought to my attention that our mental, physical, and emotional energies can become depleted as we write. Restoring our creativity can be as simple as going for a walk or doing the laundry. I’ve found that once my mind relaxes, ideas often spring to mind. Also, leaving a work for days, weeks, even months or longer, (when possible), gives me a fresh perspective when I return to the work, viewing it with new eyes. (Thank you, Laureen!)

In one particular writers’ workshop, the speaker recommended planning in 12-week segments. While yearly planning helps with longer range goals, so many things can come in to interrupt the process, for example illness, family emergencies, or an unexpected trip. With a shorter timeline, I notice I focus more on what I can reasonably accomplish. I can more easily plan my work and then work my plan.

Valuable advice came from Grace Fox in an InScribe Fall Conference one year. These days, a lot of emphasis is on marketing, more so as we write for independent publishers. Yet the Lord reminded her—and us—that our writing responsibility is to “Feed my sheep”, as Jesus told Peter to do. I learned that as I concentrate on writing messages the Lord gives me, He will direct me to marketing strategies as my writing expands.

In regards to praying for our writing and our readers, I’m often drawn to what Janette Oke said, that she saturates her writing with prayer. She challenged me to pray for the overall purposes of my works-in-progress, and for my daily needs, such as solving a particular issue in what I’m working on. And to pray for my readers. Just yesterday the Lord asked me to envision and pray for as-yet-unknown readers to respond to specific articles.

This brings me to the best advisor of all: The Lord Himself. He gives me specific ideas, ways to develop my writing, time to write, and even nudges when I’m procrastinating. Then there are Scriptures, such as His advice to me to “Launch out into the deep,” which is my verse for the year. He's encouraging me to be bold and expand my horizons in new ways.

Listening and following advice from significant others and the Lord will guide me in fulfilling His purposes for my life and writing. This is my best advice to you, too. Make it yours.

Sandi Somers’ writing passion is to help readers grow their faith in Jesus, including their vision of what God wants them to be and do. She writes in several genres—devotionals, personal essays, and Biblical fiction. Sandi lives in Calgary, Alberta, the delightful city between the Rocky Mountains and the Prairies.

(My apologies for no photos--after my computer returned from being off-line, many of my other features were scrambled or not available. I've been travelling and so haven't been to Best Buy to get things sorted out.)

The Writing Advice I Needed by Brenda Leyland

 

Photo by Ylanite Koppens from pexels.com

Hard-pressed to choose the one best piece of writing advice I've ever received, I finally gave up trying. Instead, I created this short list of sage words that inspired and shaped my early writing life. Each piece was the best at the time it came to me.

1. For the unsure writer...

Listen to the call within to write. If God has asked you to write, he has also equipped you with everything to get the job done. These words dropped into my heart as I sat listening to Kathleen Gibson during the 2002 Spring WorDshop—my first-ever InScribe event. I recently found them jotted in an old journal and remembered how I drank in the stories Kathleen shared of her own early writing experiences. I had already begun to sense stirrings in my own heart to write. I felt the tug. That's why I signed up for the event. Though for someone who'd never forgotten her aversion to essay writing in school, this almost yearning came as a considerable surprise to me in adulthood. At first I wondered, "Are you sure you're talking to the right person, dear Lord?" 

2. You don't need permission...

You have the right to write. Really? I didn't quite believe it. Surely I needed someone wiser to encourage me along this path. I always thought 'real' writers knew since they were five years old that they wanted to write. That certainly wasn't true in my case. I was glad, therefore, for two fine books I believe providentially crossed my path (the first was suggested to me by my husband's aunt) that addressed the issue: The Right to Write by Julia Cameron and If You Want to Write by Brenda Ueland. Both books became well-thumbed staples in my own library. With many statements starred and underlined, and margins filled with notations, I soon considered the authors my writing mentors. Their words reached down from the bookshelf to steady the faltering steps of one timid, aspiring writer.

3. On giving up the habit to put it off...

Stop not writing. No one cares if you write or not, so you’d better. Sit down at your desk and keep your butt in the chair. Write one passage, conversation, and let yourself do it badly. Oh, I loved these words attributed to Anne Lamott (another cherished writing mentor). I loved the twist of that first sentence, the phrase 'stop not writing'. It made me sit up and take notice... made me listen to what she was saying.

4. On getting down the first draft...

Anne Lamott notes that almost all good writing begins with 'sh*tty first drafts'. And believes these dreadful first attempts are necessary to produce quality work. Her cheeky advice released me from the unrealistic tension to get it right the first time. I could, in fact, scribble down those barely formed first thoughts, finally understanding that the Editor/Critic peering over my shoulder should go wait her turn somewhere else. Author Jodie Picoult's sound advice made that clear to me: You can always edit a bad page but you can't edit a blank page.

5.  Creativity begets creativity...

"I learned . . . that inspiration does not come like a bolt, nor is it kinetic, energetic striving, but it comes into us slowly and quietly and all the time, though we must regularly and every day give it a little chance to start flowing, prime it with a little solitude and idleness." Brenda Ueland, If You Want to Write, p. 42-43

These words connected at some level and helped me to recognize that, through my own experiences as a young Sunday School teacher years earlier, I didn't have to work up the inspiration or rack my brain for ideas. The more I used my creative juices to make the lessons come alive for my students the more the creative ideas bubbled up. Creativity begets creativity. Use the idea you have and it will call forth the reserves for the next step. What a great reminder for my writing.

6. On establishing your work standard...

Aim to write your best work every time. Although I no longer recall who shared this advice, the words really struck a chord. And they still shape my writing to this day. Whenever I sit down to write I am compelled from within to give it my best effort. No 'sloughing off ' and no saying, well, this is just a blog post or a little article or there's no remuneration for this, so it doesn't really matter if I slapdash this together. No, no, no....

We've all been forewarned that whatever we send out into the world, particularly in cyberspace, is out there. Forever. Ever giving readers a glimpse of who we are and to Whom we belong. And me being a person who longs to reflect heaven's light and beauty in all I do and say, hoping to create little patches of heaven on earth in my corner of the world, this is specially true in my writing.

7. On giving yourself some slack...

Alongside #6 above, this is my own advice to myself: There will be days when I know it isn't my best work, but it's the best I have to give today. Life happens around us, and sometimes we don't have time or energy or we aren't skilled enough at this point to shape our work into something more polished—and sometimes we have deadlines to honour. Although I still don't want to be slipshod about anything I write, I know there will be days 'when good enough is good enough'. And on those days, when I can't quite find the best words to say it, I can at least spell them correctly and with proper grammar in place.

To wind up, here is one more bit of advice that gives me self-confidence to keep writing, whether or not someone leaves a comment (wink): "Confidence is knowing you [or your writing] are not everyone's cup of tea and being okay with it." as shared by @wiseconnector on X

Brenda writes from her desk by the window that overlooks her garden, the sky, and the birds. You can find her 'slice of life' writing on her blog It's (Still) A Beautiful Life. She is also on Facebook and Instagram (under Bren Leyland).

 

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.