So, you feel a calling from God to use the talents He’s given you for the work of His kingdom?
Congratulations. Now comes the tougher part.
The God-directed call to touch readers’ hearts is a worthy goal. But like any ability or skill—athletics, music—writing must be honed. It is part art and part craft.
Many people saythey’ve always wanted to write a book. Few have the patience and stick-to-it-iveness to battle self-doubt or the self-discipline to see the goal accomplished.
To become a highly effective Christian writer according to God’s definition of success will require faith and courage. To become the writer God has called you to be will necessitatea willingness to step outside of your comfort zone, your routine and open yourself to growth and change.
After nearly a decade of working with and observing editors/agents/writers, here are some tried-and-true habits to live and write by:
- Be a person God can use to glorify His name.
- Be humble
- Be teachable
- Be in the Word and get to know Him
- Be about prayer
- Be surrendered to His will for His timing and His way
- Work on your craft every day.
If possible, write something every day. Even if it is terrible. Writing is a muscle that must be exercised to grow stronger.
If not writing, learn something new about the industry, marketing, or writing.
- Read and study the master writers in your genre in both the general and CBA markets.
Analyze why they do what they do so well
How do they/where do they begin their stories
How do they so effectively pace their novels, etc . . .
- Join professional writing organizations to dialogue with other published and unpublished writers.
- Meet regularly with a circle of likeminded writer friends for encouragement.
BRMCWC is a great place to find one other.
Virtual friendships are fine, but face to face interaction with local fellow writers is better.
- Attend the best writer conferences your budget allows—at least one conference a year.
You’ve chosen well. BRMCWC is one of the most stellar writing conferences in the country.
- Learn to edit yourself brutally.
There’s probably a practicum for that. Wink. Wink.
- Develop Teflon-coated skin when rejections start to pile up.
You know you’re a “real” writer when you receive your first rejection. Welcome to the brave, new world of Writership.
- Related to #8, persist, mature and endure.
Like your spiritual life, the writer’s life is not so much a sprint as a marathon.
- It’s worth repeating again— Be a person God can use to glorify His name and that others will enjoy working with.
For a Christian writer, Habit #1 would appear—duh—to be self-evident. But caught up in deadlines, submissions, or whatever—it’s all too easy to neglect the heart preparation that it takes to become all God desires for you to be. You can only write as good a story as the story you are living. He is much more interested in who you are in Him versus any book you could ever write for Him.
Make it your goal to become a vessel of honor that God can use to pour out His vision and His heart for a world that desperately needs to hear the good news about Him.
Attitude and self-discipline are essential qualities for every highly effective writer. Put your money and time where your mouth is and work hard at your craft. Have a servant’s heart. It’s not all about you. Have a generous spirit that helps other writers along their writing journey, too. Writing is a collaborative partnership—you, God and others.
No matter where you are on the writing journey—unpubbed, debut or multi-published/award-winning—I find that periodically I need to check my attitude and my motivations so that my writing will indeed be about Him and not me.
Be wiling to give back to God your dreams and expectations. Make your one desire Him—not publication, bestseller lists, etc.Try not to tell God what to do, how to do it and when. Remember—there is a God and you are not Him. As Amy Carmichael, missionary to India, once said, “He is to be preeminent in all things.”
Is He above all things in your life? Who sits on the throne in your life? Who calls the shots? Or has the dream taken precedence over the ultimate Dreamweaver?
After making a lifestyle of the ten habits of highly effective Christian writers listed above, lay those dreams within the palm of His Hand.
There is no safer place for them to be.
What do you think? Are there other habits of highly effective Christian writers that you would add to the list? What has been your experience?
Multi-published author Lisa Carter likes to describe her romantic suspense novels as “Sweet Tea with a Slice of Murder.” A Vast and Gracious Tide released in June 2018. The Stronghold won a 2017 Daphne du Maurier. Under a Turquoise Sky won the 2015 Carol Award. Beyond the Cherokee Trail was a 4½ star Romantic Times Top Pick. She also has two contemporary romance series with Love Inspired. Lisa enjoys traveling and researching her next fictional adventure. When not writing, she loves spending time with family and teaching writing workshops. A native North Carolinian, she has strong opinions on barbecue and ACC basketball.
Join the adventure at http://www.lisacarterauthor.com.
The Conversation
Wow, Lisa, this deeply resonated with me: “You can only write as good a story as the story you are living.” YES. I need to frame this and hang it in my quiet time corner! And this: “Try not to tell God what to do, how to do it and when.” One of these days, I’m going to get that right! Thanks so much for a challenging and heart-helping post. Sending love from another North Carolinian with strong opinions about ACC basketball. 🙂