by Warren Johnson @haversackhisto1

Editing a writer’s work creates beautiful, flowing prose. But sometimes it destroys any hope of writing again, like the time an editor’s comments associated with the correction of grammar of a particular student alluded to their lack of knowledge of how to write. The devastation created that day for the writer killed two years of attempts before grace abounded more.

Recent conversations in a church small group revolved around grace and mercy, blessing and provision, hope and expectation. Each of these terms should be familiar to anyone with faith. Our salvation depends upon faith to bring us to repentance, much as hope leads us to an expectation something will happen. But hope isn’t enough.

In the secular world, hope isn’t much more than a wish. There’s no power behind a wish. It’ll depend upon any number of coincidences to come to fruition. Our worldview of Christianity offers us a far-reaching power through hope. An example is the expectancy of hope through faith in God’s Word, which assures us of eternal life.

The focus of writing under the power of hope leads to persistence and perseverance. Expectancy of success through hope requires preparation. Without the actual writing, no success comes forth. With years of study, practice, fellow writers editing work, and an expectation of completion to our efforts, our hope pays off. It may not be currency. It may be satisfaction. Either way, expectancy drives hope.

This conversation brings up the subtle hint about editing. How one edits and comments on a peer’s efforts may adversely affect an author’s expectations. Perhaps a beginning writer could benefit from verb conjugation but their structure shakes your nerves. Do you choose to stomp your foot about structure and not give them the opportunity to sharpen grammar skills? Those in this group have multiple examples of edits they’ve done. Some because they did their first edit last week. Others have edited professionally for twenty years. Still, the process of how to help build expectations in writers may be of more importance in this moment than all of your expertise in editing.

Honesty in editing creates viable growth for those who have developed the hard shell we obtain through all the warnings of the pros. I don’t know how to explain the importance of realizing what the hope level is for a newbie in the writing field. Their expectation through preparation creates great hope. Try to let the newbie’s hope remain when you’re editing.

When I’ve written, I hadn’t much of an expectation. I had some thoughts, some ideas, some spare time, so I wrote. I took some of those essays to a writing conference to find out from the pros what I could do with them. My expectations elevated when the first person I asked said they’d make great devotions. Whee doggies. My hope of being published soared because of this man’s kindness without judgement of quality or comments about what those essays needed.

From being the owner and creator of Haversack History—a living history program—to traveling the world researching his books, Warren Johnson keeps Jesus Christ his foundation as he ministers to those he meets.

Warren’s articles appeared in online magazines at the Journal of Emergency Medical Services, Splickety, and Southern Writers. Christian Devotions, a part of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, published more than twenty-five of his. A church network magazine also published an article.  He attended Word Weavers, Int’l and American Christian Fiction Writers critique groups, DiAnn Mills mentored him, and he attended Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference over the last 12 years. He has also attended the Carolina Christian Writers Conference and the American Christian Writer Conference in pursuit of a novel.

Warren’s wife, Barbara, helped him celebrate their fifty-first wedding anniversary in 2022 by driving across the nation on an adventure to Yellowstone National Park. They wandered away from three adult children, twelve grands, and two great grands.

Warren’s work history and research prepared him for authoring this series. His platform stems from Haversack History presentations, international training sessions for over one hundred and fifty distributors’ organizations, and fencing lessons to learn the thrust of the sport. He’s walked the streets of Jerusalem researching locations.