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5 Tips That Will Benefit All Christian Writers

Whether you’ve stumbled onto this blog from a Google search about writing, or you’re a regular GodlyWriters.com reader, chances are you want to learn from other Christian writers about what works and doesn’t work. Maybe blogging is your main writing platform, or maybe you have the next New York Times bestseller somewhere in the works. Regardless, you have a message to share and you want to help people in their daily walk to know the Lord of lords more intimately.

Maybe all you need is a godly tip or two.

Yes, just a point in the right direction now and then to make sure you are walking the correct path. For myself, there have been times when I’ve been stuck in a rut and didn’t know what to do next. It’s interesting that usually the simplest of suggestions is what got me to refocus and finish the task at hand.

So here are 5 miscellaneous tips to assist you in your writing.

Develop A Consistent Schedule To Write

The fact of the matter is, I haven’t quite figured this one out yet myself, though I am making progress by leaps and bounds. Did you know that a habit is typically formed after about two weeks of continuous repetition? Find the appropriate time (and the appropriate place or environment) to write, and then write like mad. Don’t stop, keep writing. Let it flow. Being consistent will help you to find “the zone” as a godly writer.

Write About Stuff That Other People Might Not Agree With

Nothing starts a good conversation like religion and politics. What tends to create debate is the given fact that people have their own cherished opinions. When those opinions are challenged, progress happens. People are forced to think and wonder what exactly it is they believe or don’t believe. For Christians, there is no greater topic than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

Jesus was a pro at being controversial. He never held back and told it as it was. He called the phony religious leaders “hypocrites,” rather than saying they were acting in a hypocritical way. When someone asked Him a question, He usually answered it by asking a question back. Jesus wanted discussion, debate, controversy. He wanted it because our minds are dull of hearing and we need to change our minds (repent) in order to find God.

Once when Jesus was walking with a massive crowd following in His wake, He turned around and screamed,

“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” (Luke 14:26-27).

This was one of Jesus’ hard sayings and many people no longer followed Him after it. I can almost hear Judas Iscariot murmuring in the background, “Oh no, not the ‘Hate your family’ and ‘Come get crucified’ sermon again! Jesus, this is not how you build a following!” Yet that’s precisely what Jesus preferred to do. He was building His tribe (the Church, if you will) by being deliberately controversial.

Try Free-Writing Rather Than Typing

I find that this works best when I’m writing a book, rather than blogging. I have never handwritten my blogs posts and then typed them out. That just won’t do. However, I find that I am much more creative when I write with a pen and paper, and that’s why I always use that method when writing the initial draft for my books.

Keep A Running List Of Blog Post Ideas

One of the biggest detriments to blogging consistently is that we just don’t know what to write about. A few weeks ago I started making a list of topics for my three blogs. Many times I would have a great idea for an article but forget all about it because I never wrote it down. Ugh! Now that I keep track of these ideas, the article simmers in my mind over a few days until it finally gets published on my blog.

Ask A Lot Of Questions

As I mentioned above, Jesus asked many, many questions of His listeners. The contributing writers here at Godly Writers usually ask a question at the end of the article in order to create a conversation in the comments section. And it works beautifully. However, I started an experiment on my own blogs (and other blogs I read) a few weeks ago and have been pleasantly surprised by the results.

What I started doing at the end of most of my comments is that I asked one more question. It’s easy (and lazy, too!) to respond to a reader’s comment by simply saying “Thanks!” for commenting, say a few nice words and then put a period at the end. That’s nice, but I can think of no greater way to end a conversation in the commenting section of a blog than that. When I say “Thanks!” and then ask a followup question to the reader, more than half the time they will respond back. In fact, other readers have even answered the question I left for someone else!

People like to converse, even in the blogosphere. Didn’t you know that?

QUESTION: What “tips” have you learned over the years that have helped you in your writing? (All Christian writers want to learn more!) Please share in the comments section below.

* Image credit: Daniel Sauceda (Creation Swap)

Comments

  2. says

    I make notes of any blogging ideas that come to me. I keep them in a little notebook that is handy when I am temporarily out of ideas. I’ve done this for years. I keep quotations there, too, and interesting words and phrases that are thought-provoking or maybe just especially delightful wordsmithing. I call this my ‘everything’ notebook.
    Several years ago, I found myself unexpectedly in the company of a published author who invited me to a reading nearby. I thought the event should be recorded for remembrance, and all I had was my “everything’ book. I opened it to a blank page and collected her autograph and her encouraging words.
    My husband laughs at me now and then, because I never go anywhere without paper and pen, but my need to keep a record of my ideas even comes in handy for him sometimes!

    • says

      That’s great stuff, Katherine. One of the things I’ve wanted to do but haven’t ever gotten around to doing, is keeping track of great quotes. I prefer reading paper books, because I read with a highlighter in hand. Whenever I come across a sentence or a thought that hits me, I highlight it. I want to be able to come back to it again someday.

      Do you use your notebook just for ideas, or do you use that notebook to write posts and articles as well? Is it your “ammunition” for writing, or more of a “collection” of thoughts?

  3. says

    I am sure it sounds selfish, but I write for myself first. If I am not interested in what I am writing, then I lose my drive to write, and I am sure that my writing will not be interesting for others. If I enjoy what I am writing, and am learning in the process of writing, then I will keep writing whether or not people read.

    • says

      Jeremy, that’s a great point. If you, as the writer, aren’t passionate about your topic then it’s unlikely anyone else will. If you don’t care about what you’re writing about, no one else will either. There’s a lot of truth to that.

      Question for you: Do you find that your readers tend to write about similar topics as you, or do they read your articles because it isn’t what they normally write about?

      • says

        Good question. Most of my readers do not appear to be writers. Of those that are writers, they write about similar topics. So, this falls into the idea of writing for (and with) your tribe.

        • says

          That’s good that you know who your readers are. Most writers (umm, like me) don’t really know who is reading their stuff.

          So…….are you writing what you think your readers want to read?

          • says

            Not really. I am writing what I think I would want to read if I were the reader. I write about stuff that interests me and that I want to research and learn about. Apparently, there are others out there who want to read about this stuff too!

            • says

              That’s awesome, Jeremy. Just keep following your passion and write about it. With 7,000,000,000 people on this planet it shouldn’t be difficult finding loads of people who want to hear what we have to say. 😉

  4. says

    I wake up early each morning to start writing. Those quiet hours when everyone else is still sleeping provide the best writing sessions for me!

    • says

      Yes, I find that the morning is also when I’m most “creative.” I’d like to write in the evening, but I just get too tired after the kids go to sleep.

      Question: What time do you wake up in the morning and start writing? I’m trying to still find the perfect time to do this. 😉

      • says

        I have the same issue at night!

        I wake up at 4:30 which gives me an hour before I need to start getting ready for the day. I’d like to get up at 4:00 because I keep hearing that 90 minute blocks are ideal for writers (that’s what I hear from fiction writers a lot and I’m writing fiction) but so far 4:30 is enough of a challenge!

        • says

          4:30 am? Wow!!! That’s…like…Superwomanish!

          If I could start waking up around 5:00 am then I’d be very content.

          Interesting that you mention fiction vs. nonfiction. I never thought about that. For me, writing fiction at night (or during the day) comes easier. Early in the morning, that’s when I write nonfiction. Strange how that works.

          Do you write mostly fiction or nonfiction?

          • says

            I never would have thought that I would get up that early! But with my schedule that’s the only time that I have. I decided that I wanted to make the sacrifice and I’m glad that I did!

            I’m writing two novels now (editing the first, writing the second) so fiction is my major writing focus now. I also have a blog on personal growth that I write.

            I write fiction better before noon and nonfiction in the afternoon or evening.

  5. Positively Alene says

    I’ve been trying to incorporate a live list of running ideas in to my daily schedule. Which means stopping when they come and jotting them down on something. I’m tired of losing all those great ideas. This was a great post!

    • says

      Love the name, Positively Alene!

      Yes, I agree that taking the time to write those ideas down is very important. If we don’t I think we’ll lose amazing topics in which to write about. Keep up the great work!

      Question: Do you keep a written journal of your topics or type them on an iPhone or something else? Also, what topics do you write about most?

  6. DLiesner says

    I’m curious about a word in your interesting blog – referring to Luke 14 – I see the scripture saying He (Jesus) turned and said to them, (not screamed). Which translation led you to feel the word was translated to screamed?

    Thanks by the way for the honesty of admitting you are also developing the habit of a consistent writing time.

    • says

      Great question, by the way.

      When Jesus preached He was preaching to large and enormous crowds…mostly outside. Sometimes He preached along the edge of water, at other times he went up on a mountain to project His voice downward. If many thousands of people were following Him then merely speaking would not do, because only few could hear Him. He would need to raise His voice quite loudly. I used the word “screamed” but you could just as well use “yelled” or “lifted up His voice.”

      Question: Have you been able to develop a consistent habit of setting aside time to write? What time has worked best for you?

  7. says

    I like to use a mindmap to plan out the book chapters and the questions I’ll answer in it. Then I spend 10 minutes answering those questions in long hand. I write the entire book out in long hand then type it up. I let it sit for a while then start the editing process.

    • says

      RevTrev, I also find that when I take the time to outline a chapter or a blog post, the writing almost comes naturally, because I have a strategic plan.

      Also, what you say about letting it sit for a while makes a lot of sense. I know that when I’ve written something and spent some time editing and then go away for 30 or 60 days, that when I come back to edit I see all sorts of things I need to change.
      Question: Are you writing any books or do you mostly blog? Also, does your plan of attack for writing change whether it is a blog post or something else?

  8. Donna says

    I do my best writing in the early morning hours, usually around 5:00 a.m. I only write two days out of the week, averaging roughly 9-10 hours per day. This schedule is what works best for me. On my writing days I don’t shower (until late afternoon), eat (only drink coffee), answer the phone, let the dog out, or check email until I’m through writing for the day. People say I’m crazy and I respond with, “Of course I am, I’m a writer!”