Faith-based Writing – How To

I wrote a blog post earlier about overcoming writing fear. It was a business-type analysis of why I was afraid of writing and how I overcame that fear. As I’ve been thinking about that article, I realized there was a major section of it — really, a huge part of the solution — that I mention, but that I don’t address: The feeling that I should write. The direction that I received, and that I continue to have, that tells me: “Write!” That is Faith-based Writing: This feeling, this assurance, that directs us, that guides us, that sustains us, that overcomes our writing fears.

What is Faith-based Writing?

For lack of a better term, I’m going to call this belief and direction and motivation “faith-based writing.” My wife actually has a course called Spirit-led Authoring. I think they are about the same thing.

WAIT! Before you run away, and before you say “Oh, this is one of those things that deals with God or Jesus or some religion,” hear me out. I will freely (and proudly) admit that I believe in Heavenly Father and Jesus. I am trying to do what They direct me to do. For me, that’s where I get my direction. But whether you believe in God, Jesus, Allah, the Great Spirit, karma, the Universe, or just your own self, we all have that inner voice, that feeling, which talks to our minds and our hearts and our souls and prompts us to do things.

THAT feeling is what I’m talking about. THAT feeling is what we need to hear and have faith in.

Hearing and Following Directions

Receiving and following those feelings is such a major part of overcoming writing fear that I feel I need to share my process with you. Remember: It may look and sound different to you. The process may be different, but I believe the principles are the same. These are what the steps to writing what I should look like to me:

• I have a gut desire, deep in my soul, that I want to know what I should be doing.
• I go to a quiet place, where I can think, where I can work out my thoughts in my mind. Sometimes it’s my bedroom. Often it’s out in the woods or the meadow on my property, or on my front porch.
• I take a writing pad. Why? I’m a writer! I want to capture the thoughts and feelings and impressions I get.
• I ask the question(s) that are on my mind. In my case, recently, I asked: “What should I be doing?”
• I go into myself. I feel, in my heart and soul. I listen in my mind. What am I being told? What do I feel I should do?
• I write those feelings and thoughts down.
• As I write them down, often they will expand into more and more wisdom.
• When I’m done, I give thanks for the insight. I mean, when you’re on a road, lost, and you ask for directions, and someone tells you how to get where you’re going, don’t you at least say “Thank you!”?

Turning Faith-based Writing Directions Into Actions

I take that writing pad to my desk or workspace, and look at it. Sometimes it will just be a general directive, an overarching feeling. Sometimes it will be very specific: “Write about peeling peaches.” If it is specific, I want to be in a space and a place where I can actually DO SOMETHING.

If it’s not specific, I try to take the next steps, to actualize it, to make it part of my life, and my plan. If it’s really a high-level instruction, I might take it and make a mission statement out of it. That lets me review in and remember what I’m supposed to be doing in my life.

As you do the things you’re prompted to do, cross them off your list, or reframe them to become additional action items. This does two things. First, it gives you a sense of accomplishing something. Second, it lets you get additional thoughts about what you did. Be open to feeling and hearing those “next steps.”

Writing Directions: A Template

Here is what I got the other day. I have to admit: It was much stronger and more direct — and at a much higher level — than what I was expecting. I suspect it will become my mission statement, or at least a very strong directive for my life. It operates based on my belief system. As a writer, this may resonate with you, or it may not. That doesn’t matter. This is mine. You can get your own.

David Kuhns: What and How You Should Write

You are a writer. Your mission is to help people find and express their joy and life purpose, and thus find Christ.  This you do by example and by teaching. Money will flow as you do so. Relax into it. Find joy in writing wisdom, knowledge, perception and understanding. Use Marnie’s gifts and talents cautiously and strongly. Use y’all’s resources. Write five pieces a day, and do five hours of repurposing Create a WOW Book program as well as other things you’ve written previously. This is now your job!

Those are my faith-based writing directions. You can make them yours, if you want. I suggest, though, that you use them as a jumping off point, a set of samples, for your own directions. Look into yourself. Listen to your heart, mind and soul. Find out what you’re supposed to do, then make a plan to do it.

Potential Faith-based Writing Inspiration and Resources

Marnie and I have used this faith-based writing and inspirational process to great effect in our own lives. It’s changed the way we work, and the way we are. We’ve been able to coach others on how to do it. We run what we call Passion Retreats, customized business launch retreats, where we help people find their passions and set up plans and processes to make them reality. Marnie has also built a Create a WOW Book Course that walks you through finding what you want to write about, and then seeing it through to a finished product. And there are other resources as well, that we’d be happy to share with you.

Ultimately, I believe that everyone has a purpose (or several). Mine is not Marnie’s, or yours, or anyone else’s. We all have talents unique to us which help us fulfill our unique vision and purpose. The amazing part about this is, as we all do our own purposes, and we all share with each other, we make the entire world a much better place. Why? We’re all uplifting AND learning from each other.