What to write? Write what you know about, what you've lived and experienced, what you're passionate about, that which can help others as you have been helped.
The economy of the Kingdom of God is about paying it forward...giving to others from what God has given to us. Interestingly, this is also the best way to retain what you've received. It keeps you fresh and grateful, and provides built-in accountability to practice what you are preaching to others. For example, the married couple that struggled in the past to save their marriage is reminded of the heart and skills they need to use to stay healthy as they teach the same to others.
Do you think that you don't have anything new to say; that the story of what God has done in you isn't unique, fresh or compelling? Let Him and others be the judge of that. Even if your story of transformation is similar to the story of others, it is unique because you are unique, and the way you tell it will be unique. And the way others hear it will be unique. Write in faith, dispense what you've written (on this website, on your website, your own blog, a self-published book, etc.) and wait for a grateful reader to surface. Trust that there is at least one person out there that needs to hear your story (i.e., the story of what God has done in your life), to inspire and equip them to cooperate with His plan to transform their life!
Does the mountain look too big to ascend? Does the elephant look to big to eat? You've heard the answer to both: "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" - Confucius. And an elephant is eaten one bite at a time.
Trust that I'm not lauding myself with the following example, but rather making an attempt to bridge you from thinking about writing to writing.
My reluctant journey to accept the identity of writer by actually writing with purpose was two years. It began with motivation to be helpful to others. It began simply as an act of faith that God would call my mind to something helpful when I opened my laptop. Miracle of miracles, He brought things to mind day after day. Eighteen months later I'd logged 5 days/week , writing about 350-700 words per entry. No one was more surprised than me. I didn't know how much I had to say; rather, I didn't have any idea that He wanted to say so much through me.
So there's the challenge. Steward today by sitting down to a blank page to pray, "What would you have me say?" Often He will have already brought a person or a group to mind. He's had me write to married couples in crisis and pain, and so I write as if speaking to them. An effective question that has helped to develop many an outline has been this, "If I have only one opportunity to speak to this person/group, what must be said to inspire and equip them?"
What's your story? Recovery from hopelessness in a relationship? Survival of teen pregnancy? Recovery from drug addiction? Overcoming a debilitating mental or emotional illness? Successful negotiation of extended family conflict? Adjustment to a cross-cultural ministry setting? And on, and on it goes. The content it is possible to write about includes all of life!
What to write about? Write about what you know that might be helpful to people God brings to mind or across your path. And never, never, never underestimate the potency of the uniqueness of your story, and the unique way that He inspires you to tell it.
Ok, now go open a blank Word document, and pray for inspiration.
God bless, Jeff
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
How to Write
How to write? Write passionately, from the heart, as if you are delivering a baby. "Just get that baby out"
David Yeazell gave me the best single piece of advice about writing, "When a woman is giving birth she isn't concerned about the baby being all cleaned up for presentation to the family, right? What is she focused on? Just getting the baby out. That's how it works best when you have something to say, just get it out. Don't worry about cleaning up grammar, punctuation, or even making sure that all of your sentences make sense or paragraphs are tight and succinct...just get the baby out."
The second best piece of advice was also from David, and is related to the first, "Go where your heart is when you write. You might start in the middle of the book, or the end. Go where your focus is and write where there is energy. Don't force yourself to write in sequence from the introduction to the final summary...just get it out. You can organize and fill in later. Trust that what is in your heart and mind has been put there by God, just get it out as it comes to you. Edit, sequence and organize later."
The most common barrier to writing that I've heard is, "I don't know where to start." David's advice answers that question. Start by getting out whatever is in your mind and heart, today. Trust that the rest will come. It's like building a puzzle. If when you look at the pieces scattered on the floor in front of you, there are several that are easy to fit together, go ahead and put them together, and go from there.
How to write? Write with passion, from your heart, with little concern about cleaning your baby up as it comes out. There's time for that later. The most important thing is to get it out. You can clean it up at leisure later, (or better, have someone help you).
Let's review:
Why write? - For others
When? - During "best-energy" times of your day
Where? - Wherever you are when God gives you a download, AND wherever you are comfortable/focused.
How? - With passion, and lack of concern about making it perfect while you are getting it out.
Next week is WHAT to write. "You mean I have something to say that others might want/need to hear?"
Blessings, Jeff
David Yeazell gave me the best single piece of advice about writing, "When a woman is giving birth she isn't concerned about the baby being all cleaned up for presentation to the family, right? What is she focused on? Just getting the baby out. That's how it works best when you have something to say, just get it out. Don't worry about cleaning up grammar, punctuation, or even making sure that all of your sentences make sense or paragraphs are tight and succinct...just get the baby out."
The second best piece of advice was also from David, and is related to the first, "Go where your heart is when you write. You might start in the middle of the book, or the end. Go where your focus is and write where there is energy. Don't force yourself to write in sequence from the introduction to the final summary...just get it out. You can organize and fill in later. Trust that what is in your heart and mind has been put there by God, just get it out as it comes to you. Edit, sequence and organize later."
The most common barrier to writing that I've heard is, "I don't know where to start." David's advice answers that question. Start by getting out whatever is in your mind and heart, today. Trust that the rest will come. It's like building a puzzle. If when you look at the pieces scattered on the floor in front of you, there are several that are easy to fit together, go ahead and put them together, and go from there.
How to write? Write with passion, from your heart, with little concern about cleaning your baby up as it comes out. There's time for that later. The most important thing is to get it out. You can clean it up at leisure later, (or better, have someone help you).
Let's review:
Why write? - For others
When? - During "best-energy" times of your day
Where? - Wherever you are when God gives you a download, AND wherever you are comfortable/focused.
How? - With passion, and lack of concern about making it perfect while you are getting it out.
Next week is WHAT to write. "You mean I have something to say that others might want/need to hear?"
Blessings, Jeff
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Where to Write
"You're getting an idea of something to write about, aren't you? I know that faraway look in your eyes, and the telltale sign is reaching for a scrap of paper, a napkin, etc....now I know what it's like to live with a composer or some other kind of artist", Jill said.
Where to write? Answer #1 is: Wherever you are when you get a divine download about something that needs to be shared with others. Steward what God is giving you by making notes to remind. Sometimes it's a phrase or two, or several bullet points. I've stopped on my bike to pull out my phone to type a note, or to record the thoughts. The idea is to make notes that you can use later to more fully develop your thoughts.
Answer #2 - Wherever you are comfortable and most productive. My two favorite and best places are the love-seat in our piano room or the back porch; laptop on my lap, and feet propped up. No one in the room, as quiet as possible, with a view of woods, trees, or some other natural landscape to ponder while sewing thoughts together into paragraphs and paragraphs into pages.
A comfortable and private place lends to the discipline of writing, which is making the choice to put yourself in a position to download or develop divine downloads for others. After all, that is the purpose of writing, the good of others (i.e., inspiration, instruction, equipping, etc.).
How's it going? Where will you write?
Where to write? Answer #1 is: Wherever you are when you get a divine download about something that needs to be shared with others. Steward what God is giving you by making notes to remind. Sometimes it's a phrase or two, or several bullet points. I've stopped on my bike to pull out my phone to type a note, or to record the thoughts. The idea is to make notes that you can use later to more fully develop your thoughts.
Answer #2 - Wherever you are comfortable and most productive. My two favorite and best places are the love-seat in our piano room or the back porch; laptop on my lap, and feet propped up. No one in the room, as quiet as possible, with a view of woods, trees, or some other natural landscape to ponder while sewing thoughts together into paragraphs and paragraphs into pages.
A comfortable and private place lends to the discipline of writing, which is making the choice to put yourself in a position to download or develop divine downloads for others. After all, that is the purpose of writing, the good of others (i.e., inspiration, instruction, equipping, etc.).
How's it going? Where will you write?
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
When to Write
"When do you have time to write all this stuff?" It's the most common question from readers and aspiring authors. They realize from their own experience that writing is hard and takes time. The answer to their question is, "When you make the time."
Once you are convicted that God has given you something to say, and you become convinced that is essential to put it into written words to archive it for others making time is fairly easy; well, at least there is adequate motivation to make time to express your mind and heart through the written word.
My best time for writing is in early in the morning when my energy is high and my mind is fresh. Mid to late afternoon works well too. Often by then I've accrued some reflections about a topic, and feel ready to put the pen to the page (fingers on the keyboard, but pen to the page sounds more poetic, :). When is your mind most clear and creative? When is your high energy period of the day?
The bottom line is that if God has given you something to say that it will require time and energy to say it. Start small to develop the habit of writing as a discipline in your life. Set aside 30 minutes to sit at your keyboard every day, or 5 days/week, or 3 days/week...whatever. Just do it. Get started. See what God does during that time; what He inspires you to put on the page. Go where your heart is at the moment. As you write, day after day, the message you've been given will take shape. Sentences form paragraphs, and paragraphs form articles or chapters. Develop one thought at a time, one after the other, expressing what is in your heart for that writing period.
When to write? Whenever you set aside best energy time to write. Now, writing on deadline is a different story, because you might have to keep writing into periods of the day that you aren't at your best. When this happens, take breaks. Change the channel, as Tony Schwartz instructs in his book, "The Power of Full Engagement". After 45 minutes to 75 minutes, get up, take a break, get something to eat, exercise, read something else, etc.; whatever rejuvenates you. Then, if you still need to get something out per a self-imposed or external deadline, you'll be able to keep going for another period.
When to write? Today. In faith, make the time, then ask God to give you the words that He wants others to hear.
I'm looking forward to reading what He gives you to say!
Jeff
Once you are convicted that God has given you something to say, and you become convinced that is essential to put it into written words to archive it for others making time is fairly easy; well, at least there is adequate motivation to make time to express your mind and heart through the written word.
My best time for writing is in early in the morning when my energy is high and my mind is fresh. Mid to late afternoon works well too. Often by then I've accrued some reflections about a topic, and feel ready to put the pen to the page (fingers on the keyboard, but pen to the page sounds more poetic, :). When is your mind most clear and creative? When is your high energy period of the day?
The bottom line is that if God has given you something to say that it will require time and energy to say it. Start small to develop the habit of writing as a discipline in your life. Set aside 30 minutes to sit at your keyboard every day, or 5 days/week, or 3 days/week...whatever. Just do it. Get started. See what God does during that time; what He inspires you to put on the page. Go where your heart is at the moment. As you write, day after day, the message you've been given will take shape. Sentences form paragraphs, and paragraphs form articles or chapters. Develop one thought at a time, one after the other, expressing what is in your heart for that writing period.
When to write? Whenever you set aside best energy time to write. Now, writing on deadline is a different story, because you might have to keep writing into periods of the day that you aren't at your best. When this happens, take breaks. Change the channel, as Tony Schwartz instructs in his book, "The Power of Full Engagement". After 45 minutes to 75 minutes, get up, take a break, get something to eat, exercise, read something else, etc.; whatever rejuvenates you. Then, if you still need to get something out per a self-imposed or external deadline, you'll be able to keep going for another period.
When to write? Today. In faith, make the time, then ask God to give you the words that He wants others to hear.
I'm looking forward to reading what He gives you to say!
Jeff
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