Write What you Know but Learn as you Write by Theresa Grant

Write what you know…

I have heard it said that you should write about what you know. When you do there is reality that readers connect with. This is perhaps one reason why biographies are so popular as it is easy to connect with the reality of a person’s life.

I am currently working on my first book which is about The Lord’s Prayer. This is something that I know a lot about already as The Lord’s Prayer has been central to me growing in prayer over the years. It is very personal to me, and this biographical element will help the book to be real for the readers.

I am also starting to move out in preaching, and I preached my first sermon as a member of the preaching team at my church last Sunday. I was preaching on Jesus as Lord of the Sabbath, again it is something I am familiar with.

… but learn as you write.

When it comes to writing and preaching I still have my ‘L’ plates on. I am aware of both how God has gifted me, and also well aware of my shortcoming. I have much that I need to learn, and with writing and preaching my learning curve seems to be going up exponentially!

If I do not seek to improve and to up my game then all I will give people will be mediocrity, something below my best and not suitable for those I aim to encourage in their walk with God.

I am sure that you have tried to read books (whether commercially or indie published), or listened to music, when you have felt that the writer is either coasting on past success, or they have not learnt the importance of seemingly basic things using like professional editing services.

If our writing journeys do not involve learning then we are doing those we seek to serve an injustice. Our readers expect our best, not perfection but still our best. If we ever think we have arrived then we will cease to learn, and to cease to learn is to cease to grow, and to cease to grow is to cease to live. Let’s learn live and grow in all we do.

We have much to learn from Peter, Paul and Apollos. They were all ‘lifelong learners.’ Peter and Paul were taught by Jesus himself and others, and Apollos (who probably wrote the letter to the Hebrews) was taught primarily by Priscilla and Aquilla, and Priscilla must have been an exceptional woman.

Let’s write what we know so there is a reality in what we write, but let’s always be learning as we write then our legacy will be one worth leaving. Let’s face it when God made all things ‘good’, they were excellent not just mediocre, and all we do should be the same.

About the Author

Theresa is Andy’s wife and Isaac’s mum. She works as a catering assistant at a local primary school over lunchtimes, and enjoys reading, writing and learning in her spare time.

She has a heart for God’s presence, prayer and for revival. She is currently working on her first book on The Lord’s Prayer and part of the preaching team at her local church.