A Steward of the Pen: Why You Should Keep Writing

Hey, everyone! Today, I wanted to share a little more of an encouragement than a writing tip or a book review. Many people can become discouraged when writing––I know I can be––so I just want to encourage y’all to keep on writing. Here are five pieces of encouragement for you to think about!

1. Your writing can help you work through your own difficulties

You probably already know this, but writing can help you get your thoughts out on paper (or on a screen), and it can help you process what you are going through. It could be directly about your own life or about your character’s life, but no matter what, your writing can help you express your emotion. It also might help because you are writing different characters with different outlooks, so you may be able to try to have a new perspective that you may not have had before. Maybe you know someone who has hurt you, and you have a character like that in your story. Trying to figure out why your character is the way he or she is may help you get a perspective on the actual person you are having problems with.

2. You can find enjoyment and fun in writing

Writing can feel like a chore sometimes, especially if it becomes about the page count and trying to get enough chapters done. However, remember that writing is a space to be creative and have fun. God didn’t make us to just walk around stiff and serious all the time. So have fun with your characters, make up new storylines, let your imagination go for a while. One of the most fun parts of writing for me is worldbuilding. It’s a way to explore places and go deeper in your world (that’s a nod to your worldbuilding post, dear Auriel!). Or maybe you love character development. Lean into that for a while, and explore these characters. Or maybe you just want to play with beautiful prose. Do it, and don’t worry about if it sounds perfect. Have fun with it!

3. Your writing is a way to glorify God and draw others close to Him

I’ll be honest and say that I struggle with giving up my book to God. Isn’t it mine? In a way it is, but I have to remind myself that life is not about myself, and it is better to give glory to Him than to myself. Think of the people that could know who God is and how beautiful and kind He is. My writing could play a small part in that. Even if you aren’t a Christian, think of how your writing is not just about you. It’s about reaching others and reminding them of truth and goodness. What if someone was in a really tough time and your writing helped them to see that they were not alone? What if they were inspired to change for the better because of your story?

4. Your writing can make a difference now matter who sees it

Writers want their books to be read, obviously. But the writing world can be hard, and it is difficult to get a book published by a big publisher. However, it’s not necessarily about the number of people who read it. If no one else but your family and friends read this story, can it still have an impact? Of course! I can personally say that I have read some of my friends’ or family’s stories that have touched me deeply. Whether five people read it or five million, you can still make a difference. What if one of your friends needs to hear that truth in that moment and you got to be the one to share it with them? If your book does get published, remember that you have the opportunity to touch whoever reads it. I’m sure that God moves people to write stories so that they can help others. Stories are powerful and they stick with us. Like the Bible says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue,” (Proverbs 18:21 NKJV), or in this case, in the power of the pen. You may think your story is small, but it may be a way that God can shape a person’s life for good.

And finally…

5. You have been given a gift. Use it.

You may not think you’re not that talented. Who cares? If you have even some talent and you have a passion, work with it. Most people don’t just pick up a pen and become the next Charles Dickens or J.R.R. Tolkien. And even if you will never be the greatest writer, so what? If you can reach people with your writing, be content. No one has the perspective you have. You have stories to tell, so tell them, even if it is just one other person you do it for. God can use you, no matter what. Be humble and let God do what He needs to do.

Well, I hope that you take these things to heart and go out and write great stories! Words are more than just words, so steward them wisely and enjoy the voyage!

~Evelyn Knight