Intentional writing

‘So why do you write?’

Well, there’s a question that’s difficult to answer. Do I say all the reasons that are true and if so does that cover everything, or will they miss the essence of the question? Depending on who asks and which book, article, novel, paper or thesis they have read I have to select from the following reasons: 

• Forming a good story and introducing sub-plots is fascinating
• Creating good quirky characters means they come alive
• I enjoy shaping the rolling rhythm of sentences
• Poetry is beautiful and emotional 
• Practice makes progress
• I have something important to say and I need to find how to say it
• Writing about writing is a way to share my skills
• I want to share Biblical truths
• To worship God or bring others closer to Him
• Writing about God and church as a part of life can be a way in for non-churchgoers
• I want to share God’s love
• To help people with their mental health
• Teaching others how to help friends and family with mental health difficulties
• To address difficult subjects and make people think
• It is wonderful to encourage others in their writing and see their success.

But most of all, I write because I feel called to write and I cannot not write.

So this is a large list of reasons which don’t all apply to every piece of writing. I have pulled the reasons out of my own experience but I know that is the wrong way round. The reason needs to be the intention. 

So here are some questions you could ask yourself at the beginning of every new piece:

What do I intend to achieve with the piece I’m planning? It may be that you are teaching, encouraging, entertaining through a story, sharing, producing a beautiful poem with profound truths etc. Your aim will be interlinked with your medium. Can you write your intention in one sentence? When writing my Dr Mike Lewis stories my aim for each has been ‘To write an accessible, exciting and thought-provoking novel which includes positive Christian experiences.’

Who is it for and what are they like? Readerships vary. For example, it is very clear when you are writing for children that the younger they are the more pictures they will need to understand and enjoy the story. Writing for non-Christians will not be the same as for Christians who will have some understanding of faith and some biblical knowledge. And within every audience will be sub-sets. Theologians will need a different level of teaching to those who are new to all things Christian.

How can I reach my chosen readership and get my message across? Consider whether it is best to put out the message in a bold, unadorned way, or maybe as a theme that emerges from a story or coalesces as the end of an article. Some things we write may be totally secular, for example I have written for psychology journals where the articles would not have been considered with Christian references. My aim in writing  was to share knowledge and build skills in working with children.

Happy writing - building on good intentions!

Annie

annie-try.co.uk

‘No more Elegies, Today’ copyright Clint Smith