“Ouchy! Ouchy, I stubbed my toe!” Hopefully, such words do
not need an audience. Even if we’re in a room with a compassionate person, who says,
“Oh, Poor Baby!” we really don’t need to commemorate those words in writing.
Unfortunately, many writers, including Christians, crave
attention for every woe and complaint, often going on and on as though no one
will understand without lengthy explanations. That sounds like a harsh assessment! But it’s true,
and I pray it gives us all cause to pause and question our purpose in writing.
If we say, “God called me to write!” Excellent reason! That
happened to me, too, so our job then is to follow up by writing FOR him and
letting HIM write through us. (Oh, I pray He does so now!)
Decades ago, I sensed Christ Jesus showing me His
nail-pierced palms and saying, “Heal My hands.” Since I think of churches
around the world as being the Lord’s hands, I took that encounter to mean He
wanted me to do what I could to help bring the church Body of Christ back
together, holding hands, working together, and making a unified difference in
the world. At the moment, we seem more polarized than ever! But I keep praying
and writing whatever God puts on my mind.
But, back to the topic of considering where or to whom our
words go. When my children were growing up, I wrote Sunday School take-home
papers for young readers – both Bible stories and little contemporary stories
children could relate to as “take-aways” for their lives. This meant using
short sentences – the younger the reader, the shorter the words and paragraphs
too.
Later, writing for teens required another vocabulary and more grown-up tone, even if the overall message remained the same. For example, children of all ages need to know that God WILL work things out for good for all who love Him (Romans 8:28.) And, yes, for all who are called according to His purpose, which most likely includes children who do even know yet what that means. Regardless, how you approach that or any topic must consider the most relevant level – beginner to advanced.
So consider using a favorite scripture as a theme, then deciding where you want your words to go. To whom will you speak? Then, as you think about your choice of readers, ask yourself:
What do we most likely have in common – love of God, problems
with relationships, enjoyment of a hobby or activity, the same denominational
preference?
What type of tone might be most effective – playful,
serious, conversational?
Do I want to inspire readers by offering daily
devotionals, uplifting poems, encouraging articles, stories illustrating problems
overcome by faith in God?
Do I enjoy research? If so, what topics would I like
to investigate – scriptural takes on worship, medical issues, artistic
endeavors, technical concerns, mental health, insomnia?
Do I want to educate or inform? For instance, when a “military neck” became a
pain in the neck and an aching back affected mobility, I wanted to find out various
causes and treatments, so I started researching medical journals (found online
via state libraries) and trustworthy websites such as NIH (National Institutes
of Health.) Each entry required at least six reputable resources, but
eventually, the research lead to two life-health encyclopedias written for
Facts on File with a medical professional in the field to proof the entries.
The above examples offer only a few to consider before
writing. Then, let each theme, purpose, and genre draw readers with whom you
can connect, speaking in an appropriate voice. Of course, if you want to write
about the strong reactions caused by most toe-stubs, go for it, but don’t
tip-toe around. Investigate. Research. And, always, always be the very
readership God had in mind for His written word.
Thank you for commenting below, asking questions, suggesting
topics for future posts, and subscribing to this blog. May blessings abound in
your writing life in Christ.
