“How Do I Start Writing?”

29 Aug

Elaine Beachy Blog 0 0

Knowing where or how to start writing can feel overwhelming—even if it’s just a magazine article or a letter to the newspaper editor. You may think, “Who would ever want to read what I have to say? I’m not good enough. Other writers are much better than I.” But that kind of thinking will squash the gift or calling you feel inside of you. Reject those kinds of thoughts. You have something to offer the world, especially if your desire is to please God with your writing. If you have a desire to write, I believe God placed that desire inside you; but that inspiration has to be nurtured and encouraged, and exposed to training in the writing craft. I had to come to the place in writing my children’s trilogy where I decided I need to write for an audience of One: God. Writing to please others is counterproductive; you need to be true to yourself.

Often those who would like to write say, “I just can’t seem to find the time to write!” Perhaps it’s not so much a matter of not finding time than it is to know how to get started, or how to proceed. We will discuss the “time” issue in another post.

I think every serious writer has had all those thoughts at one time or another. Much of writing is thinking, and then organizing those thoughts into a cohesive work.

Before you begin putting pen to paper, or fingers to the keyboard, ask yourself some questions. Why do you want to write? What is your area of interest, your motivation? Do you want to inspire and instill spiritual truths? Do you want to write fiction or non-fiction? Poetry? Humor and satire? Screenplays for movies or TV sitcoms? (We need Christian writers in that field!) What do you want to do with your writing? Put it in a book, send letters to the editor of newspapers, or submit magazine articles? Maybe you want to start a blog where you can write about topics that interest you. With the click of the computer mouse, you’re published! This is often a good place to start as you practice your writing. Or maybe you want to write a memoir as a legacy to your children and grandchildren.

Be honest and look inside your heart. What inspires you? What do you know that may help someone else? What is your passion? One word of caution: if your desire is to make a lot of money selling books or make a name for yourself, don’t write.

“How Do I Start Writing?”

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