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Writers Boot Camp Registration Opens TODAY: 3 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me As a Writer

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3 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me As a Writer

My writing career began as an intern for Christian Retailing magazine. My first published pieces were reviews of books, music, and products in the back of various publications. I spent years honing the craft of writing in segments of 250-words or less.

This slow, humble beginning taught me the basics of writing and publishing.

Don’t miss a deadline.

Be good to your editor.

Make every word count.

Stay within the word limitation.

Earn trust, then spend it to earn more.

Find new ways to convey old expressions.

Study the publications where you want to be published.

Every piece provided the opportunity to learn more and grow in the craft of writing. Here are three things I wish someone had told me sooner:

1. Don’t kick the footnotes.

Most of the most stunning insights, connections, and facts I’ve ever discovered came through following a trail of footnotes. Whenever I discover an author I adore, I study every reference they mention. I hunt down links. Buy books. Track down original studies. Exhaust every mention. I want to know who they read and how they find their sources. Often one footnoted source will lead to another until I discover a powerful body of work.

Footnotes tell me where to find mineshafts and enable me to dig for similar treasure. I don’t just do this when I read, but when I listen to presentations or watch television. I’ll Google unfamiliar words and references as well as trendy expressions to track down their origin. You’ll become a deeper, better writer if you practice this discipline.

2. Listen for the ping.

The Sacred Echo explores the repetitive nature of God’s voice in our life. Long before I wrote this book or developed the title phrase, I discovered the importance of listening for what I called, “the ping.” You hear the ping whenever you encounter the same decibel of an idea or concept in multiple situations.

Let me give you an example. I’ve been journeying with a friend enduring a painful divorce marked by betrayal. She decided to change her name—not just return to her maiden name but change her first name, too. Earlier this week she shared the meaning of her new name and how healing it has been for her.

This morning I spent time with another friend who does rescues Bichons. She explained that whenever they adopt a new dog they change the dog’s name. Why? Because an abused dog will often connect their abuse with their name. A new name helps the dog with a fresh start. I thought of my friend walking through the divorce.

Then, Revelation 2:17 came to mind:

“To the one who is victorious, I will give… that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.”

The power of a new name.

I’m beginning to hear the ping. One day I will write more on this, but for now, I’m listening to expand the concept’s depth and search for fresh meaning.

If you live your life where you hit “publish” on every story and idea the day it happens, you’ll miss the hearing the ping. But if you listen for the ping your writing will become more savory and full-bodied.

3. Shift focus from the bothersome to the beauty.

Honing the craft of writing (or any art), requires analyzing the quality and consistency of pacing, storytelling, plot development, and word choice.

The role of constant critic soon becomes second nature. But this will only hurt your writing. The same clunky voice that finds fault with other’s work will unleash its vengeance on you.

That voice will grow louder.

Your writing will slow.

You’ll encounter difficulty constructing a story. Then a paragraph. Then a sentence.

You must train your mind to shift from what’s bothersome to what’s beautiful. Instead of only asking, “What’s wrong with this?” or “Why didn’t this work?”, you must discipline yourself to ask, “What worked well?” and “What is worth emulating?”

Your writing will improve 10 times faster if you develop the practice of searching for beauty early.

I have many other lessons I wish someone had told me earlier as a writer. But I only share these with those who attend Writers Boot Camp. This boutique event is designed to help give you an edge in publishing, building a platform, and writing.

God has given you a story. Now is your time to tell it.

WBC SUMMER 2016

That’s why our team has created Writers Boot Camp, the most rigorous and revolutionary writer’s retreat you’ll ever attend. At Writers Boot Camp, we will help you become a more focused, savvy, and confident communicator who is prepared to enter and succeed in today’s publishing world. Attendance is extremely limited so we can be accessible to you.

You won’t be a number in a crowd, but have access to industry insiders throughout our time together.

It’s time to invest in the story God has called you to tell. Join us at Writers Boot Camp in Salt Lake City, Utah, June 20-22.

The first three Writers Boot Camps SOLD OUT IN 48-HOURS. Registration opens TODAY 9AM Mountain Standard Time.

Grab. Your. Spot. Now. 

Visit www.writersbootcamp.org.

*Original Photo Source

 

70 Comments

  2. Cherie from Queen of Free
    Cherie from Queen of Free on August 3, 2015 at 11:53 am

    Ooooh – ping. My neighbors adopted a brother and sister through the foster system who were elementary aged. When they changed their last name, they also changed their first names. At first I thought this was odd. I mean after all, they weren’t babies and had had their names for almost a decade. But the more I pondered it, the more it made sense – they were a part of a new family, a new creation and they were leaving behind a very difficult childhood marked with disappointment and pain. 🙂

  3. Angela Howard
    Angela Howard on August 3, 2015 at 7:14 pm

    I appreciate you sharing what you have learned! I love the idea of “listening to expand the concept’s depth and search for fresh meaning.” It’s so important to take the time to listen, rest and let God weave His truth into an idea to deepen the story or experience. It’s a challenge when life is rushing at me. Thank you for the encouragement.

  4. Tress
    Tress on August 4, 2015 at 2:16 pm

    I’m following closely your writing tips and I thank you for them! I have felt called to write for several years. I began doing more writing a few years back and even started up a blog that was gaining momentum. Then a life-crushing event occurred in my life and all ‘extra’ writing has pretty much ceased. (I am a pastor and the Holy Spirit’s help in my sermon writing through this past 18 months has been AMAZING!”) I have recently felt that the time has come to begin my holy writing again. I am both excited and scared. So… I thank you for your tips and encouragement! I actually have a question in all of this rambling. 🙂 When you wrote about journaling “with” a friend who is going through a divorce, what do you mean by that? How do you journal “with” her? I do a lot of spiritual counseling and mentoring and am interested in what this looks like for you. Thank you and God’s blessings of exuberant joy to you!

  5. Shelly Miller
    Shelly Miller on August 4, 2015 at 3:46 pm

    Love this Margaret, so very helpful. Thank you. You know I hope to be in one of your writers boot camps some day!

  6. Jennifer
    Jennifer on August 20, 2015 at 2:04 am

    thank you for sharing. This helps me greatly. Growing up I knew I loved to write. I remember when I was only five sitting on the back steps, I had learned to write in Kindergarten, it was summer and I thought what if my right arm broke or something happened to my right hand? So I practiced writing with my left hand too. I did it in secret though. My teachers saw the writer in me too. They encouraged and pushed me. You and another author have encouraged me to step out and take the plunge. That and the Lord said its time to write the book I gave you. He gave me the title for it 20 years ago. I’ve been published before and been praised before but I write to tell the story or poem God wants me to tell. To glorify him. I would love for my writing to reach just one or just to pass down to my family. Thank you for sharing. I love the ping or listening for ideas. I love telling true stories especially ones that show God is alive and he still does miracles today and everyday.

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