K is for Know by Susan Barclay

      

This month's post requires little to no introduction: simply put, to be effective as inspirational writers, there are a few things we need to know:

Our audience – for whom are we writing? Adults? Teens? Children? Christians? Non-Christians? Even within these groups, there are variations. Are the adults young, senior, or somewhere in between? Are the teens younger or older? Are the children 0-4, 4-8, or 8-12? Are the Christians mature or new? Are they pastors or lay people? Men or women? Are the non-Christians open, questioning, or hostile? Your target audience determines your writing style, the language you use, your tone, and your content.

Our subject matter – what are we writing about? For that matter, what are we writing? Fiction or non-fiction. Depending on the genre and content of our writing, more or less research is required. When we pick up a book, we want to know that the author knows his or her stuff. When you’re pregnant and you want to know what to expect, you don’t usually choose a book written by someone who only knows cars. The reverse is also true: you don’t typically select a book on auto mechanics that’s been written by a gynecologist. If you’re going to write something, know your subject. The best readers will be able to tell.

 

Our message – what are we trying to say? Everything we write should be an attempt to communicate something, even if it’s just for laughs. Fiction contains themes and ideas; non-fiction has a purpose revealed in the thesis statement (remember those from high school?). Knowing the overarching message of your work provides its guiding light.

 

Ourselves – who are we? Are we the best person to communicate this message, to write about this subject, or to communicate to this particular audience? Do we bring something new to the table, some unique angle or way of thinking about things? Why do we want to write on this topic or this theme? Has God laid it on our hearts, have we noticed a gap in the literature that needs someone to fill it, has an opportunity for publication presented itself? Knowing ourselves helps us to take on those projects that are personally meaningful or suited to us and to let go of those that might sound good but are better left to others.

 

God (last, but certainly not least) – who is He to us? Are we seeking and allowing Him to direct our steps or are we managing our lives and writing in our own strength and wisdom? It’s always best to seek Him first and to follow Him in obedience, since He has good plans and a purpose for our specific lives (ref Jeremiah 29:11), including for our writing. Knowing God requires us to be silent and still, listening for His voice so that He can function as Lord, be our good Father, and our life.

As much as we may want to write, “Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way” (Proverbs 19:2). Let’s step beyond desire this month and think about knowing, growing in our ability to inspire well.

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

What a Funeral Director Taught Me About Writing by Pamela Mytroen

            At a recent interview a funeral director shared five principles for dealing with his clients. They may also work for instilling life into writing:

            1). “Get to know your client,” said the funeral director. Who is a writer’s client? It’s his ideal reader. What issues are your readers facing in their generation?  If you understand their felt needs, you may target your writing more accurately.

            2). Be a good listener.  The funeral director said, “At first let the families talk. Just listen.” This applies well to writing. In fiction, draw up character charts and then have a conversation with your characters. Get to know them. In non-fiction, listen to your interviewees. Find out what makes their heart skip a beat. The more you know them, the better you can represent them on paper.  

            3). It’s all about the details. Certainly in non-fiction this rings true. If you misspell their name or contact info they may never trust you again. If they don’t want certain information in the paper, respect that, even if you think it is less of a story. In fiction the details include a well-drawn character, a fully-realized problem, and a visualized setting. Some novels begin with the details and others start with action. Either way, details are like the clothes on a skeleton: they bring a character to life. (Well, maybe not in the funeral business...)

            4). Acknowledge the heart-beat. The funeral director mentioned that the trend is swinging towards no funeral service. But he feels that everybody, no matter how insignificant or demoralized, deserves acknowledgement that they lived and breathed. In fiction, this rings true for all characters including the villain. If he or she is always portrayed as evil through and through, the common reader can’t relate. All villains have something humane about them and this is what causes us to wonder if they will carry through with their evil plot or not. That seed of humaneness keeps us turning the pages. In non-fiction, it’s that emotion that keeps the reader interested also. Whether the article is about an event or a business interview, it can be boring and dry unless some honest emotion is revealed.  Who wants to read about how to invest and how to build equity? But, if the article highlights one person’s financial journey, their joys, doubts, and victories, the reader is much more likely to stick around. 

     5). "Sometimes you just have to leave the room" The funeral director mentioned that sometimes the family gets distracted with long buried hurt and anger instead of moving ahead with the funeral plans. Do you ever feel that your writing project is stuck and is not moving forward? This funeral director tells his clients that he has some work to do in another room and that he will be back in 15-20 minutes. This is good advice for the writer too. Take a mental or physical break from your writing. When you return to your work you may feel refreshed and see things in a new perspective.

This funeral director seemed to know a lot about infusing life into writing. Try following his advice and people may end up dying to read your stuff.