Mastering the Art of Writing: Six Ways to Hone Your Skills & Develop Your Craft

It’s not everyday that I read a work that literally knocks the proverbial wind out of me. Works such as these are far too infrequent – and incredibly luxurious. They are what make the leisure of reading worthwhile. An excellent story deserves to be told with excellence – hence, this post. When such stories are poorly rendered, they are done a severe disservice, which is a sad injustice.

It’s works like these – the ones that take my breath away – that push me forward, compelling me to further my development as a writer. I’ve been a writer all my life – quite literally since the age of seven. I was born to do it and I could very well read and write my life away. This is my calling. I knew it since I was three years old (although I could not articulate it). It’s my passion. For me, it’s like breathing. I was the student who eagerly wrote term and research papers, finishing them in a few days time, and my grades were exemplary. Throughout my school age years and beyond I acquired quite the reputation for writing,  fast becoming the one people flocked to for help in times of desperation and deadlines. And although my writing talent is an incredible gift from God, writing is a skill I’ve eagerly developed throughout my entire life. Stewarding that gift cannot be underestimated. I’ve invested hundreds of hours toward it, and I still do so this very day. I’ll never stop developing toward this beloved craft. Yet I am not yet an accomplished author, although I believe someday I will become one. As for the message, I certainly have one, and that is precisely what drives me to write.

Likewise, if you have a message, or are an aspiring author yourself, I want to talk with you about writing. Because you’ll need to prepare for the undertaking of this daunting task, regardless of your affinity for the craft. Writing is still, to this very day, despite all our technological advances, the number one media used to reach the masses. Mark my word, if you have a message, in due time it will demand to be written. So, if you want to write successfully, meaning that you will both reach and capture your target audience – I’m here to cheer you on.

So let’s talk. I’m ready to go head to head; eye to eye. Grab a cup of joe and take a seat.

Your Message and the Industry that Drives It

It used to be that if a book was published it meant the author possessed both the skill and storyline that demanded an audience. Publishing houses had the divine right to carefully select who they were going to publish, how they were going to market them, and having obtained the right from the author, edited the work as they deemed necessary to ensure a lucrative profit. There was a great investment of resources put forth in presenting a published work properly, for whom such a prestigious honor was reserved only for the finest few. Books were therefore revered, and their authors esteemed. Anyone and everyone who was published was granted a measure of automatic notoriety of sorts. Authors, among other noble crafts, were some of the most prestigious individuals in the public eye. Many of the greats in the industry are centuries old, and their works live on today, no less the bestsellers they were when they began. Up until just twenty to thirty years ago, if you had an authored work – make no mistake – the world knew about it.

We’re not playing by the same rules today. Hardly.

Within the last ten to fifteen years, independent publishing has surfaced with a worldwide vigor, and with a  global social media platform to drive it, putting publishing houses clean out of business, or at least pressing them into a competition that is so fierce they struggle to survive. Writers of every kind, regardless of skill or story, are now enabled to publish their message free of charge at any whim of desire. As a result, truly gifted and skilled writers, along with the excellency one would expect to accompany a worldwide publication, are indeed rare.  As for those who have truly harnessed their gift, developed their skill, and polished their craft for the professional industry – their competition is all the greater.

Yet even so, writing well doesn’t come naturally for everyone. It’s a coveted craft by many. Today there are a plethora of aspiring writers who have a legitimate message, yet they often lack the skill necessary to (1) convey it properly and, (2) to draw an audience they can keep.

In this post I’m going to talk with you about how to master the art of writing, providing six steps that will help you hone your skill and develop your craft. If you have a message and want to deliver it, developing your skill as a writer is imperative in our present day. Regardless of whether or not this is a natural gift for you, you can learn some keys that will help you develop the skill. Because regardless of your abilities, a many few make it to the top. The chances of your message reaching the masses is met with greater odds than ever before, and increases by the day as books tumble onto the press by the hundreds. That’s the simple truth. Because in our present world everyone has a public voice, among whom many are aspiring authors. Yet most of them are seldom heard.

EXCELLENT MESSAGES DESERVE TO BE TOLD WITH EXCELLENCE.
ANYTHING LESS IS AN INJUSTICE.

IN DUE TIME YOUR MESSAGE WILL DEMAND TO BE WRITTEN.

SO LEARN TO WRITE IT WELL.

Learning to Read

This is where the craft of writing truly begins.

I’m not talking about basic literacy. I’m talking about the ability to digest authored works which will challenge and expand your thinking, vocabulary, and style, by which you may develop your own literary voice.

Less than two centuries ago literacy was reserved for the elite classes. Those who were able to read often owned expansive private libraries, by which their wealth was determined. Books were commonly held as as sacred objects, and those who owned them were considered blessed and fortunate. There was a learned and deliberate manner in which books were to be handled and read. God forbid they should ever be written in, and to do so was considered a desecration that was punishable. Pages were delicately turned, never to be creased, and spines were diligently protected. Public libraries were awesome to behold, and were some of the most grandeur and opulent establishments history has ever known the world over. In fact, many rivaled churches. The manner in which books were typeset, printed, bound, and mass produced made them exceptionally expensive. To have ownership of an authored work – a book – was a luxury reserved for the elite. For this reason, public libraries were instituted by the government for the public in an effort to advance literacy, and to ensure the longevity and circulation of published works among the masses. To this very day, and for this reason, books of antiquity are highly prized, and their restoration requires a rare, costly, and laborious process.

Aside from their inherent value, what gave books their greatest worth was the ability to read them. Literacy was therefore a great gift. For this reason, the Bible was considered the most revered of all sacred books and historical writings, which was read and interpreted by the established clergy within the Church. As much as literacy was a blessing – to be illiterate was equally a curse. For those who were literate, reading was among the most common of all pastimes afforded which often became a family affair as great orations were punctuated with animated demonstration. For entertainment readings were held publicly by the most gifted of orators in dens, great rooms, and public squares. To read, therefore, was a coveted and noble ability. To be read to was a pastime of sheer pleasure. But to write – that was esteemed as one of the greatest gifts man could possibly bestow. It was here that great works were conceived, and the mastery of the English language was at its finest. As a result, accomplished authors, being the male few, obtained an audience who found it nearly impossible to resist their work. Authoresses were rare, and if they attempted to publish, were forced to adopt a male pen name. Jane Austen was the first authoress to officially break the mold and the negative social stigma attached to it, thus establishing a new trend by writing highly acclaimed works that forever changed the face of authorship for the aspiring female.  Her greatness is established not only by her excellent artistry of words by which she developed sweeping stories, but in her brave and noble achievement that garnered worldwide critical acclaim.

Today the nominal reader seldom advances past the twelfth grade level of high school. Collegiate writing is therefore scarcely found, much less demanded, and is even less widely embraced among the public. People want what is simple and easy. For this reason, many of the books written and published today read at the eighth to tenth grade level. How sad and pathetic.

This regression is evidence of the literate yet lazy masses.  What is simple and easy does not often garner wide or critical acclaim – precisely because anyone worth their salt can write it. On the contrary, it takes great skill, talent, and mastery of the English language to write a literary work that is equally as beautiful as it is linguistically complex. Such works are rare today, and to find one, the voracious reader must hunt patiently for the author who speaks their literary language. For this very reason, I’ve chosen the works of antiquity from eras gone by to languish in my favorite pastime. Authors such as these, who afford such pleasure, I regret to say, are nearly extinct.

It amazes me how many aspiring writers nary pick up a noteworthy book. Their personal libraries are neglected or even non-existent. In terms of literary works, they are often ignorant and grossly undeveloped or underdeveloped. And their writing sadly reveals their limited literary palate. Therefore, if you aspire to write, you must also aspire to read. The material you read and enjoy needs to be both broad and diverse, coming from differing authors, genres and eras of time.

There are various styles and voices out there that convey similar messages. But which ones reached their audience? It’s interesting to find that most successful authors not only gave their audience a linguistically beautiful piece of work, but it also rendered their message in a manner that captivated them until they finished it – and further compelled them to pass it on.  The key is the story must be brought to life in a way that allows the reader to experience it. Otherwise, the luxury of reading becomes a bore.

Bottom line: people are not going to read a book that is boring – regardless of its message. An excellent high quality read must therefore be grammatically mature, well-developed, and linguistically beautiful.  A grammatically immature and linguistically dull or underdeveloped book is one that is rarely (if ever) finished. As I’ve often said, reading is a luxury that requires a great investment of the reader’s time. Authors, therefore, need to deliver. A wise and experienced reader can recognize an excellent work rather quickly; within the first two to three paragraphs or pages. An inexperienced reader may require two or three chapters before they discover that they’ve wasted their time. Regardless of the genre, the plot should advance the reader through a mixture of intrigue, mystery, and suspense, all being rendered in a literary style that is engaging, artistic, and beautiful. There has to be a reason to keep reading, and if there isn’t one, the likelihood of the book ever being finished is slim to none. If your reader is not committed by the third chapter, regardless of your literary style or subject matter,  you’ve lost your audience and wasted the reader’s time. Again, today most literary works average an eighth to tenth grade reading level, which is insulting, disappointing, and unsatisfying for any seasoned reader.

I caution you:  Don’t make that mistake.

Learn to read. Reading is by far the best way to develop yourself linguistically. The art of prose found within proper grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure all have fundamental rules by which any writer must abide. Yet an author’s personal voice and style may vary widely depending upon the genre or storyline. Understanding this mastery with which varying authors write successfully is one of the greatest keys to successfully reading and writing yourself. Take a lesson from the masters: Victor Hugo  (Les Miserables, The Hunchback of Notre Dame), Herman Melville (Moby Dick), Nathaniel Hawthorne (The Scarlett Letter), Jane Austen (Emma, Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice), C.S. Lewis (Mere Christianity, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Screwtape Letters), Mark Twain (Huckleberry Finn), E. E. Cummings, Shakespeare (Romeo and Juliet, Othello, Hamlet, The Sonnets), Harriet Beecher Stowe (Uncle Tom’s Cabin), and Margaret Mitchell (Gone With the Wind) to name only a few. The classics will never disappoint if you can appreciate their musical literary resonance. These masters deliver the goods, which is precisely why their works have become classics, having far outlived their time. As for modern-day authors who have mastered the fine art of writing, I suggest Hampton Sides, Angela Hunt, and Francine Rivers (all of whom have won numerous literary awards). Their works are brilliant.

If you are going to advance in your writing, your reading must advance as well. Reading levels are generally determined by word count, syllable count, sentence structure, and grammatical accuracy. Push beyond the elementary levels by which so many novice authors attempt to write. The collegiate level of writing is no longer considered a mastery of the English language in today’s world.  A masters or doctorate level are therefore recommended if you’re going to truly develop. It was at such levels that the greats authored their classic works. Yet this takes time. Few truly excel in the English language at the masters or doctorate level, and therefore it is rarely found in modern publications, especially novels. However, as for the works of antiquity, this was the standard by which any author obtained publication, and if you couldn’t meet it – you weren’t published.

Graduate yourself to higher ground by seeking literary works that challenge and change you in layered, complex, luxurious reads which are written with excellence. An excellent high quality read should not only entertain and delight you, but challenge and change you as well. Such authors are rare treasures worth diligent search.  Once found, they afford a gold mine of literary entertainment. This is precisely the reason their works are renowned and advance throughout the ages. They are timeless. They have truly mastered the craft with skill; using a unique style branding them as an author, which has never, nor will ever be duplicated. And their stories, whether fiction or non-fiction, are unique as well, having never been told before. For example: Shakespeare is untouchable. He has a ‘throne of work’ which he has authored that no one would dare duplicate. His works are deemed to be of such sacred nature that only a fool would attempt to tamper with such eloquence of poetry and prose. He’s a ‘grandmaster’ of the art. This mastery of both style and subject matter offers the reader a thoroughly engaging work by which they are enabled to experience and escape into another world – often never wishing to return. Hence, the works of antiquity have spread among the masses, having far outlived their era of time.

For a list of excellent high quality reads, please visit my page: For the Avid Reader.

If you want to develop as a writer – develop as a reader. I cannot stress this enough. It will perhaps be the greatest investment of your time – and the most enjoyable.

#1. RULE OF THUMB: Learn to read. Expand your library by embracing a diversity of authored works. Linger and learn from the greats at your leisure, and develop your literary palate. Know this: You will never write better than you read. That is a promise.

YOU WILL NEVER WRITE BETTER THAN YOU READ.
EXPAND YOUR LIBRARY AND DEVELOP YOUR LITERARY PALATE.

Membership Within Writer’s Groups or Guilds

As a writer you need feedback and support from those who are growing alongside you, and from those who have mastered the craft. Let it be understood that many masters of the craft are not authors of notoriety. They are professors, colleagues, and ordinary gifted people of intelligent and refined skill. You may find a group in your area where individuals such as these attend, and if there isn’t one, I encourage you to start one yourself. You may do so online, or in person among your own community.

Not every group is the same. They vary in membership, size, purpose, and literary goals. For this reason alone, you may need to join more than one. I encourage you to join a group that truly challenges you. For example, a group that is comprised strictly of novices cannot, and therefore will not, afford you the growth you seek. A good writer’s group will consist of members of varying degrees of literary success in a diversity of authored works. Some groups may have fees and schedules, and even offer classes and other networking among publishers and literary agents such as an opportunity for conferences and other literary events. Others may be strictly geared toward self-publishing, otherwise known as Independent (Indie). With that being said, writer’s groups often consist of more than just aspiring writers. Their members can (but do not always) include successful authors, freelance writers, ghost writers, editors, publishers, and even literary agents who are seeking fresh talent.

Networking within such groups is important for the sake of your personal development as a writer. Writer’s groups come in many flavors. Some may offer networking more than personal feedback, so find out what the goal is of any specific group before you officially join. Some may be online, and others may meet in person at libraries and other public venues. No group is the same, yet the common denominator should be to help any writer advance in their craft. How they go about doing that may vary widely. Therefore, you may want to belong to more than one group. I personally belong to three, and each serves a distinct purpose.

#2. RULE OF THUMB: Choose your writer’s group or guild wisely. The group you choose should accommodate your personal goal as a writer, and because of their variations, you may need to join more than one.

YOUR GOALS AS A WRITER DESERVE AND REQUIRE THE ASSISTANCE OF OTHERS.

Feasting at the Master’s Table

Don’t waste your time with crumbs when so many accomplished authors offer their free advice.

If you find an author you love, seek them out. We now live in a digital world that allows for an extraordinary social networking like never before. Many successful authors have websites by which they attract, gain, and establish a loyal following – such as people like yourself. However, these are not merely ‘fan clubs’. These are portals of interaction by which these authors achieve lasting success. They often incorporate blogs, and events such as book signings, and host references to their literary works such as published interviews and other research they’ve done for their latest accomplishment.

There are authors out there who interact with their audience not only via their personal websites which welcome visitors and contacts, but also via social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. The broader their platform, the greater their reach.

Regardless of what your chosen author affords you, I recommend you sign up. You have nothing to lose.  I guarantee that you’ll glean an incredible amount of wisdom from their personal lives and experience, and by watching how they conduct themselves within the industry. If they are a successful author, you’ll do well to learn by them. So search them out.

There are writers and authors out there, who having achieved their own measure of success, later turned their aspirations toward building the success of others. They are the leadership within the writing/publishing industry. They write books, blogs, and hold conferences – all which are geared toward establishing the success of the novice. I follow several modern authors whom I love and highly respect, as well as writers who teach others how to write, network, grow, and establish success within the industry. Both are needed.

#3. RULE OF THUMB: Connect with successful authors via their available portals and take advantage of what they offer their audience. When you do, stay loyal to them as a follower – not only for their sake, but for yours. Fully support their work both in reading and reviewing it. Much of your success will not be merely in what you solicit, but in what you sow.

FEAST AT THE MASTER’S TABLE.
AND BE FAITHFUL TO THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU.

The Practice of Writing

This is where your nose meets the grindstone.

Writing – You either love it or hate it. For most, it is the latter. Personally, I feast upon it. It’s my greatest passion. But if you loathe it, I’m here to serve you the plain truth: If you have a message, writing is going to be imperative for you. So you must learn. Period.

Writing involves precious time, especially when it’s for publication. There is a process of research, writing, editing, re-writing, and so forth. If you’re an experienced writer, you’ve more than likely already established habits that allow you to steadily churn your craft with greater ease. The ‘what’, ‘when’ and ‘how’ to write effectively has already been established for you through years of practice and experience. You know exactly where your writing nook should be, what music to play (if any), how much time you should allot yourself for a given project, and when to set the proverbial “butt alarm” (which I utilize).

Yet for the novice, especially those who dread writing, the in’s and out’s of writing are a drudgery unlike any other. And you may be at a complete loss of where or how to begin. Words fail you. Blank pages intimidate you with their stark and sterile glare… and sadly, precious time is lost. Frustration mounts.

There is no magic bullet in hitting the mark of writing effectively. It takes patience, practice, and time. Yet understanding the crucial steps from the initial blank page to the final published work will increase your likelihood of being successful, and give you a clear determined guideline.

These necessary steps to effective writing are as follows:

1. RESEARCH: What most novice writers fail to realize is that great writing begins with a fair amount of research. Those great books you read – I have news for you: many of them began with research. An author’s subject matter or storyline will involve people, places, cultures, eras of time, and differing circumstances that demand knowledge and/or experience they simply don’t (or can’t) have firsthand. That knowledge can only be gained through proper diligent research – and that from reliable sources. Depending upon the author’s work, that research may take more time than the actual writing. Research involves reading and reviewing all manner of diverse publications and private sources (i.e. books, newspapers, and diaries), traveling to distant countries or lands, and interviewing individuals by whom first-hand accounts and reliable knowledge can be gleaned. Once completed, that research must be organized for the purpose of referencing during the writing process. Case and point: this is the bulkhead of nearly any great authored work, and it can’t be minimized, underrated, or neglected. And make no mistake – it’s expensive. It demands incredible amounts of time, money, and energy.

2. WRITING: Once you’ve assembled and organized your information, the next task is to get it down on paper. Whether it be via pen and ink or a digital document, your thoughts, although ambling, disorganized, and wayward, need to be translated to the page. Worry about editing later. This is where your raw ability as a writer truly grows, being cumulatively tested by your skill and expertise. When you’re done with the initial rough draft you will be able to accurately determine where you stand with regard to areas of accomplishment and improvement. This rough draft will afford you an accurate picture in terms of your legitimate skill. Don’t be disappointed or discouraged if you find your rough draft consisting of content that can’t actually be salvaged in the raw toward an end product. Even the most experienced writers suffer the tragic editing demanded within a rough draft.

3. EDITING: When you return to your rough draft with the intent to edit, if you’re thinking ‘spell check’ – think again. Spell check simply will not cut it. Many authors will tell you plainly that they condemn spell check. Even the best programs cannot find common hidden errors. Only the human eye affords such precision. Proper editing is more than grammar, punctuation, and spelling. It’s about vocabulary, content, structure, format, and flow. Your content is primary, which accounts for the actual body of work. Without content there’s nothing to edit. However, your content can be lopsided, unbalanced, or misplaced within the document, meaning it may either be sorely lacking or heavily dominating. You need to learn how to cut, transfer, rewrite, copy, fill in, and format your work until it flows smoothly. Redundancies, for example, are common. Once you’ve established a first draft, you’ll need to submit it to a minimum of three people: (1) an avid, advanced, and experienced reader who is an unbiased third-party, (2) a grammar editor who checks for proper grammar, sentence structure and punctuation, and (3) a content editor who helps you fill in gaps, target areas of disconnect, and makes appropriate deletions or rewrites. What many writers don’t realize is that editing is often the bulk of the work.  Surprise!

4. RE-WRITING: Once your work is professionally edited, you can then begin your re-writing process, making any necessary corrections, and adding or subtracting content. This would account for your second draft. Then you’ll start the writing, editing, and re-writing process again – as many times as necessary until your final draft is accomplished and deemed fit for publication. As you can see, the writing process is laborious and time-consuming, and there are no shortcuts to excellent work.

#4. RULE OF THUMB: Practicing your writing is the only way to develop your skill and style. Writing is not easy – even for the professional writer or author. It is a precious time-consuming process that requires great patience and skill, which is only achieved with the assistance of other individuals who can intelligently assess your work. Writing is an investment that requires the collaborative effort of many if success is to be achieved, regardless of its scale.

SKILL IS DEVELOPED THROUGH DILIGENT PRACTICE.
THERE IS NO SHORTCUT TO EXCELLENT WORK, AND SUCCESS IS A JOINT EFFORT.

Networking

We’ve already discussed writer’s groups and guilds, and connecting with successful authors through their personal platforms. But networking is a bit different, and it will prove to be one of your most effective tools in garnering experience as a writer.

Networking happens when you can establish a relationship with other writers, authors, editors, and even agents on a professional level. Understanding the world of writing is absolutely crucial if you’re going to network successfully. As you progress you will find that becoming a successful author, regardless of the work you embark upon, is achieved through a collaborative effort of many professionals to whom you will owe a great amount of credit and will need to appropriately acknowledge – from the least to the greatest.

When it comes to a published work, not only will you need to list your resources with regard to your personal research, you will also need to acknowledge the individuals by whom you obtained the publication, and those who lent you their support, such as your mentors, editors, copy editors, publicists, and any agents. The deeper you go as an aspiring writer, the greater the appreciation you’ll have for those people who have lent you their expertise, regardless of whether it was pro-Bono or came with a determined fee.

A large part of networking happens at conferences and conventions. However, it can also happen online through many of the social networks available. It can even happen by divine Providence. As an aspiring writer, gaining momentum for your work is important. Learning how to establish your name (brand) through effective marketing in the community is important, and cannot be neglected. How you go about doing that will depend upon your resources such as time, money, and the goals you’ve set for yourself with regard to your target audience.

I’ve personally been blessed with many wonderful friendships of varying kinds within the industry. When God is with you, He connects you with key people for His purposes. When we understand that our message is about Him and building His kingdom, relationships are strengthened with purpose. They have divine worth. So cherish them, strengthen and develop them, and interact with those who share the same vision and passion that you possess yourself. These are the people you need to fully support, stand by, and sow into.

#5. RULE OF THUMB: Networking is about establishing  genuine relationships with peers and professionals in the industry who have common visions, goals, and aspirations. This is when God’s work gets done. You need them, and they need you. Get your feet wet by attending conferences and conventions. Meet people. Make friends. Also learn how to market yourself wisely, and establish your reputation appropriately among superiors. This takes time. As you grow as a writer, your networking should grow with you – on every level among many people.

BE DETERMINED TO ESTABLISH GENUINE RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE INDUSTRY AMONG MANY PEOPLE, AND ON MANY LEVELS.

Marketing

If you’re not writing, you’ll have nothing to offer the market. So every writer needs to understand that part of writing is also marketing. No author has become successful without marketing. Period. So you must learn. If you’re going to write, this is part of the package deal.

At present, the industry of writing requires that each author market their own work. Publishing houses no longer do this for you. They may offer the opportunity through a broad platform of viable distribution, but the author is required to do the legwork. That means operating within your networking to its fullest potential, growing that network via social media, and utilizing digital media to launch your publication in whatever manner is mete.

Most individuals, unless you’re incredibly gifted, learned, or digitally savvy, need help with marketing. And there are a dozen and one ways to do it. Graphic designers, web designers, marketing consultants, publicists, agents, and a host of other individuals may be needed depending on what kind of strategy you can afford to employ – none of which work for free. Regardless of the plan, you must have a strategy to implement it that will achieve your goal as an author with respect to your target audience. And if you can’t afford help, be prepared to both learn, and to do it yourself in whatever measure is realistic for you.

#6. RULE OF THUMB: If you’re going to be a successful author – you’ll need to be able to market your work effectively using a strategic plan that is geared toward your target audience. Take inventory of your resources and consider where you need professional assistance. If you can’t afford assistance, be fully prepared to go it alone.

ANY SUCCESSFUL AUTHOR WAS ALSO SUCCESSFULLY MARKETED.
WRITING AND MARKETING ARE A PACKAGE DEAL.

DETERMINE THE PACKAGE YOU CAN AFFORD, AND DEVELOP A STRATEGY TO IMPLEMENT IT EFFECTIVELY.

The Motive of the Message

Bottom Line: Your motive is going to drive your message.

Regardless of your natural talent for writing, if God has given you a message, there is a mandate to spread that word effectively, reaching your target audience. Just get ready, because at some juncture writing will be a part of that, whether or not that is in your immediate plan.

The good thing is – writers are no longer hindered by the elite publishing houses. Anyone and everyone who has a message can now afford to publish it independently. But that does not mean your message will be heard. And it does not ensure any measure of success among those who do hear it if you don’t know how to effectively write.

YOUR MOTIVE WILL DRIVE YOUR MESSAGE.
THE MOST EFFECTIVE MESSAGES ARE STILL WRITTEN.

Knowing how to write effectively will enable you to accomplish your goal according to God’s plan. Today, being able to write is a coveted, yet key skill, that allows people to reach their target audience – including the masses. Much of that reach happens via unofficial work written on social media, and via copyrighted work published on personal and professional blogs. However, if you’re going for gold and really want to make an impact with an authored work that is published in book format, a diligent application of these six steps can help you get moving in the right direction.

There are no guarantees. So don’t expect to go viral.

If God is guiding you, and you are obedient to Him, He will give you the strategy and success. Sometimes it’s not according to our way or timing. So be ready to embrace the plan He’s outlined for you.

I hope this post has given you a greater understanding of the true craft called ‘writing’, and what authorship is really all about. It’s not what most people think. It’s a tedious and time-consuming labor of love for those truly called to this special craft, which demands the very best.

The hard truth is this: Not every writer will be an author.

If you’ve read this post and still aspire to write, the opportunity is now available to everyone. Let it be known that there are a plethora of people who want to write their message with an aspiration to reach the masses. It’s important to realize, however, that a very small percentage will achieve that success as an author. As I said before, the odds are greater than ever.

NOT EVERY WRITER WILL BECOME AN ACCOMPLISHED AUTHOR.

FOLLOW GOD’S STRATEGY TO REACH YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE. IF YOU REACH IT, THAT IS WHAT WILL ULTIMATELY MEASURE AND DEFINE YOUR SUCCESS.

If you’re convinced that writing is your true calling, and you have a God-given message that you’re compelled to share, applying these six basic steps may help you get there with some good ol’ fashioned elbow grease, lots of patience, the right networking… and plenty of erasures.

Don’t just write – write with excellence. Such writers are a dying breed.

God bless you my fellow journeyman. I salute you.

Cheers & Shalom,