My Approach to Writing 2

People periodically ask about my writing methodology. While I do not consider my approach the best or that I am a great writer, I do enjoy sharing what the Lord has taught me over the years. I am not a writing teacher, my grammar and speling ain’t great, and I don’t know all the comma, rules out there. However, I am able to share what I know after ten books (and three more this year). And since I regularly encourage you to tell your stories through the written medium, it is time for me to share some of my story.  I pray this contribution will assist you in equipping the Church for the multiplication of disciples, leaders, and churches among the 5 billion.

Lord willing, I’m going to write some periodic posts over the next few weeks on my philosophy and approach to writing. Stay tuned or subscribe to this blog so as not to miss them.

Here are some thoughts to get us started:

I enjoy writing. It is not always easy. It is not always fun. Sometimes it is fun. It is always a blessing to me.

I do not consider myself a great writer. I am prolific, but not great. I describe myself as average. I am always critiquing my style and trying to learn from others. I have much to learn.

Writing is art. Writing is Kingdom stewardship. It is an opportunity to sculpt a concept, an idea, a vision the Lord has placed within your heart and then make it public.

The only way to become a writer is to write. The best way to improve as a writer is to write. The way to develop your style is to write.

I have different writing styles. The style used for this blog is not found in any of my published books (yet). The styles found in my books are different from the style I use for an academic paper to be presented at a society meeting. And I use a different style when I write for my church family.

After I finished my doctoral studies, I wrote like a Ph.D. student for seven years before making necessary stylistic shifts. If you develop different styles, you will be able to connect with different audiences. These connections provide an opportunity for you to lead those audiences together that they may learn from one another.

I am a non-fiction writer. Don’t ask for my guidance on writing fiction. While I did fold a fictional narrative into Evangelism: A Biblical Response to Today’s Questions, I am far from writing novels. But who knows what may come (I do have an idea for a book about a witch, a wardrobe, and a lion, but I’m not ready to share that with you.).