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We’re deep into Lent. Today I’m sharing my reflections on my Facebook page LIVE—so you can see the joy on my face as we dive into today’s reading.

But I want to pause here to give you a Lent Bonus—wisdom from a modern writer, who like the writer Gospel of John, stirs my holy imagination.

I must share a friend of mine. Her name is Ann—just like my middle name.

I feel like we’re soul sisters, word warriors, Christ-following creatives.

If you’ve ever read Ann Voskamp, you know she’s a stunning poet prophet.

Her words exhale life, hope, joy.

Rich imagery. Wondrous alliteration. Captivating story.

She’s the par excellence of brilliant writers and she just keeps becoming better.

The Broken Way is breathtaking. This healing ointment drips with handpicked words, lush turns of phrase.

Co-writing coach, Jonathan Merritt, recently asked Ann about her writing methodology.

Here are her 3 secrets to writing with irresistible style:

“When writers are talking about deep subjects like theology and faith, we often stay cerebral. We focus on the idea. But I take a different approach.

 

A reader doesn’t remember anything unless it comes to them within an envelope of emotion.

 

So you have to have a feeling around a big idea for you to remember the idea.

 

We need to notice when we want to stay cerebral. If writers can go ahead and wrap those big ideas in an envelope of emotion, I think they lodge within our readers differently.

 

As I’m writing, I want there always to be feeling. I want your mind engaged with your heart. That, I guess, is the first point.

 

The second point is a little more spiritual.

 

I think it actually helps writers to look at Scripture, especially the Old Testament.

 

The prophets were all poets, which seems sort of strange in contemporary culture. But it is so powerful because of its form.

 

If language has a lyricism to it, then it slows us down.

 

It causes us to engage the text differently, to think differently, to process at a deeper level.

 

So you don’t have to be a poet to write poetically.

 

The third point: Writers must remember that beauty is irresistible.

 

If we can make our writing not just smart, but beautiful, it will attract readers. And if we’re writing about faith, I think it also draws people to the ultimate beauty, which I believe is Christ.”

Ann’s brilliant insight:

#1: Emotion helps us to remember ideas.

#2: Prophetic language is always poetic language, and it causes us to engage the text differently.

#3: We need to speak our truth beautifully.

In leaning into the Holy Spirit and reading your responses to “How To Tell Your Testimony,” I sense we need storytellers and thought-leaders, the poets and prophets, to rise up now more than ever before.

We must cut through the confusion, the negativity, the darkness that’s filling our world with stories of redemption and transformation and hope.

You have those stories.

And they’re too good to keep to yourself.

I’d love to be someone who sparks your creativity and spurs you toward writing.

Would you allow me to help coach you for a few minutes?

I’m about to release a free 3-part mini-course that is packed with insights to help you start writing, sustain your writing, and share your writing.

If you’d like early access, simply click here to sign up for this free training.

BTW, what I’m teaching is NOT theory.

This is tried-and true, full-out “learn and deploy” instruction with coaching every step of the way.

You’ll be glad you did this.

For the story inside you. For the dream in you. For the future ahead.

This is a limited time training, so sign up today.

Question: What is the story stirring inside for you to tell?


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