Writing Essentials
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I have a hard time calling myself a writer because I’m not published yet. OK, I’ve published an article or blog here and there, but I have yet to hold my published novel in my hands.
I have to remind myself that I write not for publication but because it is my gift and what God calls me to do. I write because I can’t not write.
Writing is writing
I used to feel that if I wasn’t working on my novel, I wasn’t writing. Then as I was working on a presentation for a marriage ministry, I realized I was writing. I was pulling from personal experience, being creative, using my gift, and honing my craft. Anytime you put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) you are writing.
Gain perspective
It seems everyone I run into is writing a book, would like to write a book, or has thought about writing a book. But ability isn’t always the difference between published writers and those still waiting for publication.
Published writers faced rejection and kept writing. They never gave up. Gone With The Wind was rejected 38 times. Just because one publisher doesn’t accept your work doesn’t mean all will turn you down. Keep refining your story and sharpening your skills—and be prepared.
As long as you are writing and honing your craft—you’re a writer. Write because you love to. Write because you can’t not write. And never give up.
Heather Kreke is a graduate of the Apprentice, Journeyman, and Craftsman courses. She lives in Pittsburgh PA with her husband and two daughters. Heather’s passion is to inspire youth to seek God’s will for their lives.
We are writers before we are authors and we’ll be writers ever after. Why? Because like you said, God has given us words. He has given us a gift that we’ll use even if not for monetary gain or published fame. You are definitely a writer, Heather!
Thank You–just what I needed to hear:)
Hi Heather, this is a fantastic statement: “I write not for publication but because it is my gift and what God calls me to do. I write because I can’t not write.”
I would love to have you join me at the retreat I’m going to next week in Sedona. Check it out in my recent blog posts. I have been praying for God to use me to share His message with the world. And if He chooses not to, I will be content with writing something that is unpublished that will bring healing to my own heart.
Blessings on you as you continue to use your writing gifts for Him.
When you do not think you have anything to think about, you still are thinking. That is just like writing. You sound like you have hard work on your hands. Try to take small breaks somtimes and memorize some Bible verses.
As a man with no voice (lost larynx to the surgeons knife – but it got the cancer too) I write for EVERYTHING – but I have to agree – “I can’t not write”. And my latest little project is a commentary on Prov. 3. 30+ pages handwritten.
Even if you have no voice. People will hear what you have to say in your writings.
I like to think of getting published as the fruit of writing, while the act of writing is simply living out who I am. If God has gifted me with the ability to write, then I cannot help but write. As long as I am exercising the gift, I can call myself a writer.
Theresa Froehlich
I like that…being published is the friut, and the act of writing is living out who I am.
Thanks!
I really needed to read that, “writing is simply living out who I am. If God has gifted me with the ability to write, then I cannot help but write. As long as I am exercising the gift, I can call myself a writer.” I’m always thinking about the getting published and not the overall writing for the Lord. The Lord has given me this gift. Thus, I need to use it for Him!
Again, thank you!
Well, every writer cannot but obey ‘THE VOICE’ in secret or open. I think the right way to write is to write and obey the voice. it speaks, will always speak.
Very encouraging! Just what I needed to hear!
Thank you Heather,
This is an encouraging piece.
God bless…
I have written short prayer articles for my church and am currently struggling to get myself back into a writing habit. It seems that once I begin to write, everything else just falls into place.
Thank you Heather.
Michael.
“The power of life and death is in the tounge”. Provebrs 18:21
As such, writers take speech and put it into organizational langauge called sentences. The sentences are arranged into paragraphs. The paragraphs make volumes called chapters and the chapters make up what we all call books.
Our “CREATOR”, who I call our “SUPERNATURAL FATHER,” gave us all the ability to learn to write.
Some of us take advantage of the opportunity and some don’t.
The ones who learn to do so more proficiently than others, who also have a good work ethic, become our authors.
Very well said.
Thanks Heather
Calling myself a writer, or even telling people that I want to become a writer is so difficult for me. There’s always a voice telling me that it’s a foolish or prideful thing to say. But it’s neither of those. It’s a faith statement. It’s who God has called me to be.
And I 100% agree, I write because it gives me the greatest satisfaction, I can’t not do it!
I also have a hard time telling people that I am a published writer. I have written an article for the church mail out bulletin and also had two poems published. i did this to glorify God. I am working on a child play, one day I will see if God wants this published also.
Thanks, I needed that! I just got a Certificate from and online writing school last spring, and to date it has not made a bit of difference in getting published! I have had stories and poems published…but in very local, grassroots newsletters; also, one essay in an online magazine, for no pay whatsoever. I would so love a national magazine to actually pay money! I sent an essay to a small, local news paper that publishes fun true-life stories the way official news papers used to 50 years ago..and all they did was tell me to “check back in about a year”! So I needed the encouragement of your quote here on this website. God bless you!
Very nice commentary Heather! I struggle with when to call myself a “writer” as well, but I came to the conclusion that if I’m writing I must therefore be a writer.
I loved all the comments about how God has blessed people with the ability to write. I have a very different situation however. Whether or not God has “gifted” me with the ability to write I don’t know yet. I am a writer. The novel I’m currently finishing is over 100,000 words (so far)and will close in about another 15-20,000.
The interesting thing is, I have NEVER wanted to write. In fact, there’s days I don’t want to write now. But God…two of my favorite words…God has given me a story (four actually) and He seems quite sure I must write it. Where I struggle most is that I am very good at so many other things. Financially, writing has not been lucrative for me yet, I’m unpublished. But God won’t give up, He won’t let me rest, He stays on me constantly.
Am I an anomaly? Am I the only one writing against my will? (ha ha) I won’t say that I don’t enjoy it, just that it is not my first love or my first God given talent, at least in my own opinion. It’s also probably the most difficult, time consuming, off the wall thing I’ve ever had to TRUST God in.
Help?
Every writer needs to be encouraged from time to time. We judge ourselves on the work of others. Are we as good as they are, will it really matter that I write, but in the end it is really all about God. Does what we do honor him. Having just published my very book I soon realized that before I was published only God saw it, now I have others who will read what I have written. It was and is very humbling to say the least. I write because it is healing for me, I learn so much from writing. God instructs us, as Christians, with telling the story, what happens with that story then is left up to God. If we view our work in this way I think it will help us relish in the gift that God has given us. God then is left with bringing the story to life. After all it is really all about Him, isn’t it?
What a great thought! I have struggled through this question myself and this was a good confirmation for me
I write because that is where my heart is. I write because I believe I have something to say. The main reason I write is because down deep inside of my inner man I strongly feel what I have been through has not been in vain. God can take my story and give others hope within their own lives. Whether or not I ever become a published author is no big deal in terms of one person having a change in their life for Jesus’s sake.
Amen, William! I’m reminded of the Starfish story: “It matters to this one…” If God is calling us to write it, someone out there needs to read it. Whether it’s one person or millions. We write for the glory of God.
Thank you for this important post. Our identities in Christ are more important than what others think of us, or even what we think of ourselves. God is the Great Author of all good things, and He will pour his calling into us as we listen and respond with a resounding, Yes! I will get up early and click-click-click. Yes! I will write the blog post for the women’s ministry. Yes, I will write my little son a book, even if we just create it in PowerPoint (for now!)
I have written in journals, on napkins, post-its, backs of envelopes… you name it, I’ve been writing on it since I was a little kid. I can’t not do it. Thank you so much for reminding me today that I am a writer.
Blessings,
Kristen
Oh my, Heather, you are so right! God has put on us this passion for words, and I fully believe it is our witnessing tool to the masses. My published novel is still a dream, but I have been blessed to touch the lives of dozens of young writers who journey along with me on this struggle of being a writer from a Christian world view. Keep it up, lady!
Glad to hear there are others out there who can’t not write! I got some good advice recently from an editor who knows I am struggling with self-doubt: Stop thinking so much about getting published and just have FUN with your writing. I think I’ll try that and see what the Lord does with it
Heather, you are definitely a “writer” and you have truly blessed my heart. Thank you for sharing. I am so glad I found this article tonight. I think the Lord knew I needed to read you….
Yes, thank you Heather, I can relate to what you are saying. I am a travel agent at present.
Although I’d rather be writing short stories.
Thanks again,
Sonny
Writers write becaue they have too. It’s like breathing, it’s something you do because you can’t life without that time your words dance across a page and come alive. It has nothing to do with being published it’s about who you are and finding who you are when you write.
Thanks brothers and sisters! I needed to read your comments to realign myself with why I’m writing. Like you I simply must. Recently my writing has taken off and it’s like waking from the dead. But I’ve been distracted with publishing/marketing/permissions/etc, etc, etc. I’m have way through a book that I know I’m collaborating with the Holy Spirit on – and that’s enough or now. The rest will come when its time. Thanks again – I’m happy again!!
I agree with everything you said, I have been writing every since i received my first journal at nine years old, and i haven’t stopped.Writing has gotten me through a lot of things growing up and now that i am older i do feel that writing is my calling. So thank you your words have really touched me.
I do agree that writing is a gift, God gave that to me, I have had small things published like small articles. Right now I want to have my own newsletter and start that going to. The book will fall into place maybe in a year or two. I have over 40 journals that will help me write my book. carolyn
I never expected to be a writer. I have always had opinions about certain subjects and always had goals concerning various subjects and willing to discuss them with others but never imagine putting my thoughts down on paper. I felt like Moses did, my grammar and mechanics is sub-standard. But like Moses, God gave me a helper (my wife) who is excellent in the areas where I am weak. So I am beginning to call myself a writer and working to improve myself each time I pick up the pen or pound the keyboard.