Why are you writing? There are so many available writing classes for potential writers. The need to belong to a writing group ranges from one person to another. However, as a Christian writer, your core should not be what or to whom you are writing. The foundational principle is that you are writing as a form of worship to God and service to the men and women that God has called us to.
You have to rely on the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to ensure that your message is based on what He wants your readers to hear according to His will.
Your writing should not be for monetary gain. In as much as you will sell your books and make money out of it (some more than others), this should not be your motivation.
There are three stages in the writing process:
1. Pre-writing
2. Drafting (actual writing)
3. Revising (editing)
STAGE ONE: PRE-WRITING
The Bible says that before going to war or starting the construction of a house, you must count the cost. Prior planning provides you with a better probability to succeed. As a writer, you have to plan and prepare your writing in order to ensure you accomplish what’s required by the dates set.
To get you started, you need to think about several metrics. We will use a real example to help us nail it!
CASE STUDY: Muthoni Mercy’s book – Back On My Feet, The “How-To” Manual For Single Parents
1. The subject of the book/content
The subject matter for the book is “help for single moms and dads”. The subject is not necessarily the title of the book. The subject matter is what you will be discussing in your book. It is the overall theme of your message.
2. The purpose of the book’s message
This is the ‘why’ for the book in the author’s heart and mind. The purpose of this book is to give helpful information and encouragement to men and women going through single parenthood due to various reasons including, fornication, adultery, divorce, death of a spouse, and rape. This purpose keeps you on check while drafting the pages of your book.
3. Target audience (reader)
Who are you writing the book for/to? This will help shape your tone, voice, and levels of language difficulty. For this book, the tone is that of sympathy, encouragement, and up-lifting. Most of the single dads and moms are already at a ‘discouraged’ position, therefore the author’s tone cannot add to that discouragement.
This applies to all audience (reader) categories – books meant for children should be written in a simple way; for women in a loving and emotions-provocative way; for men in a masculine way; for teenagers in an expressive way; for businessmen and leaders in a serious and corporate way; and so forth.
Deciding the target audience (reader) at the start will enable you to have less back and forth exchanges with the editors later during the publishing process.
4. Set a timetable for your writing.
Human beings are creatures of habit. It may not be as easy when you are starting, however, when you get used to the routine, your body, mind, and spirit will cooperate every time (well, almost every time).
I write better at night when there is no distraction. My timetable – after dinner, I will put the kids to bed and then sit for an hour or two every day consecutively for one month.
So what’s the best time to write? The best time is the time you decide to set aside. However, once you make that decision, you must stick to the routine every time.
So is it better to write every day for a few minutes or have one or two full days in the week? Having a few minutes everyday helps instil the discipline without breaking it. But as earlier indicated, the best routine is what YOU decide. The secret is in keeping up the discipline.
5. Do an outline/bigger picture/skeleton of your book.
This will form your map towards the writing journey. It’s important to note that the direction may change midway, but you must have something at the beginning. You are writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, if He chooses to lead you in a different direction, then you will just obey.
My Outline:
Introduction
Chapter One: How did I get here – The fall or Tragedy?
Chapter Two: A Plan of Escape
Chapter Three: Escaping – From Bondage to Freedom
Chapter Four: The Come Back – Thriving and Flourishing
- Sowing righteousness
- Model for your child
- Preparing for the right partner
Chapter Five: Comfort Others
6. Do proper research at the beginning.
This will include reading through other authors’ books on the subject matter; researching from the internet; and using any other relevant materials.
*You should ensure you write down the references as you do your research to save yourself from looking for the references later during the publishing process. You should cut and paste the references on the last page of your writing pad/book/word processor etc. You should indicate book titles and the authors.
*Avoid plagiarism – using other people’s content without credits to them is a crime punishable by law (and most times, ends up in expensive suits). If you did not say it, you should quote it and build on it. It also demonstrates your faithfulness as Christians.
*If you are interviewing people, you should ensure the interview notes are well done either in video, audio or written formats. Take as many notes as possible, and make sure you let the people know how you will be using their feedback to avoid future disagreements. You can use simple forms for your interviewees to fill allowing you to use their feedback in your book project.
Assignment
Assignments create teaching and learning opportunities to think and learn about ideas, topics, events, and questions — about specific content in the writing course. This is why a quality assignment is the hallmark of effective instruction. By completing each assignment in the context of the unit you are in, you will form a stronger foundation for yourself to understand the next unit and by the end of the course, you should have the manuscript (first draft) ready.
1. Send a good resolution passport photo to WhatsApp 0733817962 indicating your author’s names (how you will want your names to appear in your final book).
2. Define who the target audience (reader) for your book is.
3. Set up a writing timetable to help you with the discipline of consistent writing.
4. Do the outline/framework/skeleton of your entire book as you see it now.
5. If you can, also have a working title.
The assignments number #2 to #5 should be submitted via email/Google Docs (with permission to edit) to authors@cblafrica.com and you will receive further guidance.