A carpenter learns his trade over many years. He will have begun as a novice, with little or no practical skills but a desire to create and craft and build with wood. He will quickly learn that there are essential tools he'll need for virtually every project and highly specialized tools needed when an elaborate, customized creation is underway.
As Christian writers, we will each assemble our own toolbox to aid and assist us in our craft. The basic tools will likely prove to be the most useful and relied upon in the whole kit. Just like a saw, hammer, screwdriver, level, and measuring tape, my personal writing toolbox consists of these primary tools: Mentors, Training Programs, Reference Material, Continuing Education, and Passion.
Mentors
Over the years, I have followed a number of Christian writers, artists, and personalities. Though, as I have matured in my faith, grown in my spirituality, and developed and improved my writing skills, many names have been added and then removed from my list of favourites. Just like when we meet someone new, it takes time to learn about them and to link their personality, writing style, belief system, etc., with our own.
Some have, what to me feels like, an enduring presence that shares their personal walk with the Lord in ways that help me strengthen my own. My tendency to embrace a more traditional teaching style leads me to the writings of such revered teachers as Chuck Swindoll, Henri Nouwen, and Jen Wilkin, to name a few. Naturally the writings of prolific men of God such as Charles Spurgeon, C.S. Lewis, and A.W. Tozer have filled my nightstand for years.
Training Programs
Depending on the direction our writing is leading, there are training programs available to gain practical experience in the craft. Online webinars and various workshops and courses, both free and paid, are abundantly available. One can become overwhelmed with the offerings available so it's wise to go slowly and choose carefully. My favourites include Kingdom Writers (C.J. & Shelley Hitz) and Becky Kopitzke.
In years past, in an effort to develop and improve my writing skills I enrolled in the Compel Pro Writers Training offered by Proverbs 31 Ministries (Lysa TerKeurst). When I realized I wasn't gaining the kind of practical training I had hoped, I found Flourish Writers Academy created and hosted by Mindy Kiker and Jenny Kochert. There I enjoyed a special online community of like-minded Christian women and gained practical knowledge and training in the craft of writing that helped me in my publishing journey.
Reference Material
In the 21st century, we can count it a blessing that there is an endless stream to reference material available at our very fingertips. This comes with a caution however, since we must carefully discern the source and validity of material we obtain. And now, even more urgently, it's critical to use extreme vigilance where AI is involved. I personally avoid AI whenever possible (although we all know it's embedded in and controls so much of what we do these days.)
The Bible will always be my most important reference tool; this goes without saying. But, my shelves are lined with other books including The Christian Writer's Manual of Style (4th Edition), The MacArthur Study Bible, The Chronological Study Bible, as well as several other writers' guidebooks and manuals. My trusted 40-year-old paper thesaurus has been replaced by Google, and I refer often to websites such as Bible Study Tools, Blue Letter Bible, and Bible Gateway.
Continuing Education
As Christians, we are perpetual students, as we study God's Word. Depending on the scope of your writing, further theological training may be desired. I have enrolled and participated in several online courses offered by the Dallas Theological Seminary. I've also found theology focused courses created by Jen Wilkin on the Lifeway Christian Resources website.
Passion
Without this incredibly essential tool, we are unlikely to touch the hearts and minds of our readers and even less likely to point them to God. It's imperative that we find ways to refresh and enliven our faith on a daily basis so we can share God's Word with others.
Beyond the Basic Tools
As we become skilled in our craft of writing, we may wish to specialize in certain genres and areas of Christian life. From non-fiction writing such as writing devotionals, bible studies, or other life resources to the world of fiction, we'll need additional tools to help us achieve success.
Others' Books
Reading is a lifeline for writers. It's imperative that to become a good writer we need to be a great reader. Choosing books that are part of the genre we wish to pursue, reading and deconstructing them to really understand the technical aspects of the writing will help guide us to improvement. Take care though, to avoid being a "copycat" and remain true to your own "style".
Community
Regardless of what genre we write, connections with our community will inspire us in ways we can't imagine. Taking time to just sit and write what pops to mind after a social event, a shopping excursion, a dentist appointment can be the seeds of some wonderful, heartfelt, and realistic writing.
Our church family can be of immense support in our writing careers. Having trusted friends to bounce writing ideas off, or folks to help promote your writing, or even personalities on which to base fictional characters can be invaluable. But, we must always take care to nurture our relationships in a way that doesn't take advantage of our friends and families.
Music
Listening to music, for me at least, is a multi-layered experience. Having lived to half way through my 6th decade, I have listened to—rough guess here—likely millions of tunes. Coming from a musical family, I have learned (but not mastered) five instruments and own a collection of hundreds of albums, CDs, and cassette tapes. But, the point here is that music has a way of speaking to a listener in ways we cannot understand. It will invoke memories and emotions and can even kick-start our imaginations. Using music to inspire our writing can be rewarding in so many ways.
Lived Experience
It's no secret that our writing can be inspired and/or influenced by the experiences we've lived through. I found that I had to eliminate a certain Christian writer from my bookshelf because her whole collection was based on her husband's betrayal. And, I left her writing group specifically because I felt that they focused on tragic life circumstances as a way to become a good Christian writer. Coming from a loving family upbringing, I began to feel I was "too blessed" to be the kind of writer they were training.
ALL of our experiences, good and bad, play a role in how and what we write. We get to choose what our focus will be. But, no matter what blessings or difficulties God has placed in our lives, if we can craft them into stories that benefit others and point to Him, our writing will truly be considered a success.
"Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15 NLT)
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Thank you, Peggianne, for sharing your varied selection of resources with InScribe writers today. I especially relate to your thought that "music has a way of speaking to a listener in ways we cannot understand."
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your comparison of a carpenter's toolbox with the toolbox writers might use to "store" their own tools for writing. You've curated quite an impressive set of necessary tools for our writing 'trade'.
ReplyDeleteI noted your comment about leaving a certain writing group because their focus of writing was on their tragic life circumstances. Like you, I had a loving family upbringing, and I didn't experience those terrible tragic life events to write about. Having often felt "too blessed" myself, I eventually came to see that God uses all our stories--the good and beautiful along with the tragic, bad, and the ugly.
Thank you, Peggianne, for your well laid out and thoughtful post.