Clarity for Legacy Writing Projects
When God calls you to write a book (or several books), the unfamiliar process can overwhelm a person.
In 2017, I received several prophetic words that I would write books. As an act of faith, I consistently journaled my time with God. Inviting God to lead the process, I practiced writing every day. Often, the Lord would wake me in the wee hours of the morning and direct me to the computer.
My writing skills were underdeveloped at that time. I’d been out of college for over two decades. To practice, over the next year, I made regular short posts on social media. The feedback from family and friends encouraged me to keep writing.
Things grew muddy after that. I still didn’t have a clear book outline and couldn’t see how my stories or posts connected. Growing frustrated and lacking direction, I stopped writing for a time.
In 2020, God said it was time to write my testimony and that I’d be starting over from scratch. Ouch! My prior writing was good practice but not necessary for the current project.
Fumbling my way through it all, I learned many costly lessons. Over the next 3 years, I wrote and self-published 14 books, including “The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Self-Publishing for Christians.” It’s the big-picture guide and step-by-step checklist I wished I’d had when I started writing.
When I teach classes on self-publishing, the following activity helps bring clarity to writers of multiple projects. On a sheet of paper, write out what you know about each book (topic, title, genre, or audience). Then, invite God to show you which book needs to come first. There is an order to everything. He may have you start by sharing your testimony. You can’t imagine how much more inner healing comes through documenting your testimony; this is how your audience will connect with you.
Still not sure which topic to write about? Ask yourself if there’s a topic that people always ask your advice on. Why not take a poll on social media asking, “What’s one topic you think I would write a book about, and why?” Or, “If I was going to speak before a group, which topic do you think I would discuss, and why?”
Once you’ve narrowed your topic, the next step might be asking God for an outline or inviting Him to show you the cover design. God created time; He is not limited by it! To Him, all things are finished. I believe this includes our books.
Whether writing is new to you or you’ve already self-published several books, you’re sure to find many practical tips for success in “The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Self-Publishing for Christians.”
Available from https://www.Amazon.com/author/salliedawkins.
