You Might Be Surprised at the One Thing That Helped My Writing the Most
The one thing that helped my writing might not be what you expect.
It wasn’t taking a writing course.
It wasn’t hiring a writing coach.
It wasn’t learning more about the craft of writing.
What’s the surprising thing that helped my writing the most?
It was making a decision to write.
Even though I’d never published a word.
Even though I wasn’t exactly sure what I was going to write about.
Even though I doubted my ability.
Even though it was hard to find writing time.
I decided that the scribblings in my journal could one day find a reader.
Maybe the challenges I faced, especially in my marriage, could help others in their hard places.
Maybe they would feel less alone knowing I too struggled.
Maybe they’d find prayers that they too could pray.
Maybe they’d find practical steps to move toward hope and healing.
Maybe they’d find understanding and acceptance from me and Jesus.
So, a few days a week, I made a decision to write. I woke up earlier than the rest of my household, around 5:30 a.m. I got the coffee brewing, sat at my computer, and I wrote for about half an hour.
Sometimes the words flowed. Sometimes the words felt clunky and uninspired.
But I wrote. And I wrote some more.
One day those words turned into my first book published by Harvest House Publishers, What a Husband Needs from His Wife. And this first-time writer sold over 80,000 copies.
I had no idea where that first decision to write would lead. But God did.
Can you decide today to write every day? Or at least consistently?
Leave your name and/or a short message, and I will start praying for you right now to decide to write! To get past your doubts and any other obstacles. Make a decision today!
If you’ve already made that decision and you’re writing consistently, let me know that, and I’ll pray for you as well!
~Melanie
P.S. For more encouragement when you feel like you’re flailing and failing at writing, check out my post, “What to Do When You Feel Like You’re Failing at Writing.”
Isabel – definitely struggle to do it consistently but definitely needed that encouragement!
Hi Isabel,
I am praying for you right now! Pick a manageable goal to start with,
and then build from there.
Melanie, I can relate to much of this! I wrote about God’s goodness through two decades of debilitating pain, illness, and cancer. I wrote while bedridden, and transformed my devotional testimonies into a book. Then I found out I needed platform to get published, so I’m writing through cancer (again) to reach people with health issues and help them know Jesus. Pray I can have wisdom, direction, and endurance. It is difficult to write with poor health, but with God all things are possible! Pray for open doors for the right agent/publisher. God bless you!
I am so happy to pray for you, Andrea. What perseverance! What love for the Lord.
I pray every tear, every ounce of pain, every hopeless day is turned into HIS GLORY!
Praying for your next steps!
As a former wring teacher, I agree the best thing to help our writing is sitting down and writing. And yet, it is easy to come up with excuses. I currently write to remind women of God’s truth and grace and then write stories of real life to help us laugh at ourselves. Please pray for wisdom and using my time wisely.
Hi Theresa,
You are a great writer – I’ve been reading some of your things. I will be praying for you!
Curious what kind of writing teacher you were. I was a high school English teacher back in the day.
Thank you, Melanie!! This is such an encouraging post!! Yes, there is such a deposit of knowledge in each of us. It simply takes time to let it come out…. and we must make the time. Your prayers are so appreciated!!
Also, I bought your book on devotion writing and enjoyed it so much — Big Thanks to you and Amy for equipping and encouraging gals like me
Donna,
Thank you so much for the encouragement! I am so happy to pray for you and your writing journey!
Thank you
Hi Melanie, Mari here. 🙂 Such a great post, thank you! Since I finished my manuscript I’ve been struggling to find “my next project.” But, I read this post yesterday and this morning I sat down and wrote for 45 minutes and got a decent portion of a blog post done. Maybe blogs are my next project, but I do want another big one. 🙂 I guess I’ll keep asking the Lord.
Hi Mari,
I’ve been praying for you!
I get it!
I am in a stuck place write now.
But I keep showing up.
I know you will have a breakthrough at the right time!
right now! Writing on the brain!
I have started writing, but I feel like I am crawling because of insecurity. Even as I write this, I realize that babies crawl before they walk. And before you know it, they are running! I covet your prayers.
Hi Stacey, I am praying for you right now! It’s okay to crawl. Just keep writing! Maybe some days you just write in your journal.
That’s okay! I hadn’t done any personal writing for over 10 years, had just been writing coaching and editing. Last fall
I returned to personal writing – and I get it! My writing is going a different direction than I imagined,
and I am just trusting God with each day.