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)