Writers' Quotations

In attending writers’ conferences through the years, I have picked up a lot of interesting quotes.  The following are paraphrases taken from my notes.

                  

The Christian writer is asked
to tell the old, old story in a new way.

                  

If you are called to write, you must make
space in your life to do so.

                  

There is no good writing,
there is only good rewriting.

                  

While others glance at things,
the writer scrutinizes.

                  

Spending time in solitude with God
gives you a deeper well on which to draw
when you write.

                  

Use humor in writing,
but turn it on yourself, not others.

                  

Anecdotes are brief “slice-of-life” stories
with a purpose.  Salt them throughout your writing,
using your best anecdote at the beginning.

                  

You should be able to say in one sentence,
“This article is about...."

                  

When you’ve written a story,
record it in a tape recorder.
Replay it and listen for ways to make it
less stilted and more conversational.

                  

Details (i.e., who, what, where, when, why)
help you connect with the reader.

                  

Be observant.
Continuously see stories
in what happens to you and others.

                  

Interview ordinary people with whom
we can all identify.
Find someone doing something interesting
and interview them.

                  

A writer must be both a creator and a critic.
Create first, then turn the critic on and edit.

                  

Writing for the cause of Christ carries its own reward.

                  

Ask of everything you write,
“What will this do for the reader?”

                  

You don’t need to ask publishers,
“What should I write?”
Ask yourself,
“What do I want someone to say to me?”

                  

Don’t try to cover up the rough parts of your faith.
Our writing should be sincere, reflecting truth.

                  

Don’t just be a word producer.
Ask God to use your writing to produce
fruit that remains.

                  

Life should not be a roller coaster of
work/collapse.
If we build fallow into our production cycles,
we will have better crops.

                  

Let your personal Bible study feed your spirit.
Then you will continually have things
to share with others.