YLCF Team Members on Writing –Interview Part Seven

How did you start writing?

Jeannie: I really can’t remember a time I didn’t write! I wrote my first book, illustrated with stickers and magnanimously dedicated to “all the little children of the world” when I was eight. At age nine I updated the back cover with a list of my “other works,” including the amazing statement that “Jeannette has also written some fine poetry.” One poem listed was “Glenn’s Birthday Card” (written for my cousin) which simply read, “Glenn/Is ten.” I had no problem with self-esteem. ?

I was about twelve when HopeChest magazine published my first story. To say I was thrilled would be an understatement. I sent copies of that story to all my relatives and several friends. It’s a wonder I didn’t die of a swollen head! Amazingly enough, I later went through a time when I wouldn’t even attempt to have my writing published because I felt it wasn’t good enough (pride again, but in a different form). But I never stopped writing. Letters, journals, songs, poems, articles, stories – I love to write!

And today, even though I write regularly for several publications and have published a book, my first love remains journaling and writing to close friends. It’s such a part of me that I almost feel I haven’t experienced something until I write about it. This year I even started keeping a “family journal,” recording daily events and farm news. I look forward to seeing how the Lord will use my love for writing in the future!

Elisabeth’s answer to this question will be recounted in an upcoming article: “The Writer Who Wasn’t.”

Natalie: Like Jeannie, I cannot remember a time when I was not writing for an audience. I have never been so good at journaling for myself…I journaled prayers, daily events etc. for the purpose of sharing with my family and friends. Before I could write I would dictate stories to my mom and illustrate them with stick figures and magic marker gowns.

Two sisters and I became more earnest in our writing around age ten. We decided to write a series of fictional books together–the sort of thing we most wanted to read. None of the novels reached completion but the pain-staking writing and revising of those hundreds of pages taught us much about how to weave words.

I started writing for publication by submitting non-fiction pieces, devotionals, and various fillers to small homeschooling magazines. Over the past eight years I’ve tried to continue to challenge myself to always improve my craft. It is tempting to settle into an environment in which you are comfortable, but I will lose the chance for growth.

What is your favorite thing to write about?

Jeannie: Without a doubt, my favorite thing to write about is what God has done for me or taught me. I love sharing things He’s done in my life, especially if they are things I know other girls can relate to. I shy away from “teaching” theology because that’s not my place (although I realize that my theology colors my outlook on life, and thus my writing, as well), but I love writing about my daily walk with Jesus.

Elisabeth: Things God has taught me and adventures that I have. I love the challenge of painting pictures with words so vividly that my reader gets to walk around in my shoes. I also love the challenge of being totally real when I talk about spiritual things.

Natalie: Whatever God has been teaching me! If I am excited about how I have seen Him work, what I have discovered in His word, or learned something about myself and my relationship to Him, I want to share it with others. If I thought I had an audience, I would delight in weaving allegories, fantasy short stories, and other such things teaching spiritual truths. Whether or not I am capable of doing thus well is another matter.

Do you have any advice for those of us that are interested in writing?

Jeannie: The advice I wish I could give everyone who is interested in writing is: Try it! Don’t wait until you feel you’re “good enough” at writing. If you have something to say, put it on paper. At first you will probably struggle over every paragraph, but it does get easier with practice. When you think it gets your message across, don’t stick it in a drawer and forget about it – find an outlet. Publish it somewhere! As your writing improves, you may cringe at your first attempts ? – just remember that you can’t get better without those first steps.

I’d also like to encourage you to be yourself. Don’t try to copy someone else’s style, or it will end up sounding stilted and forced. Personally, I love Lanier’s writing – it’s lovely and elegant – but I can’t write like her! I think it’s because writing is an expression of our personality, and God made us gloriously different. Don’t fight it – develop your own style.

Having someone critique your writing can be very helpful. My parents are excellent at this! Other people are able to spot inconsistencies, redundant passages, and undeveloped ideas. They can point out things like pet words or phrases (one of mine is “actually” – I take it out so often it’s not even funny!). Most importantly, they can help you stay “on track” spiritually, making sure that you don’t lead anyone astray, even unintentionally.

So by all means, write! The world needs more people who write for God’s glory. Go for it!

Elisabeth: Just do it! I started with a little thankful book and five sentences a day. Having an audience helps a lot. I’m not too motivated by an imaginary audience or the idea of “practice makes perfect,” but I’ve gotten immense benefit (and good practice) just by letter-writing and emails. A real live audience who talks back is also great incentive to be interesting, clear, and concise.

Of course, I also gained a lot by taking a two-year correspondance course through The Institute of Children’s Literature. (You can find info about them online). Though I’m not currently writing for children, most of the principles are the same, and I see clear results of that study in my fiction and non-fiction…and even when I write in Hebrew!

A writing friend who is willing to tell you what’s wrong with your work is worth her weight in gold. So is reading a lot: you are filling yourself up with your raw material: beauty and a wide range of words. Finally, don’t forget that you can’t write what you don’t see, so train your eyes and ears and heart to take in the details of life as it really is. Oh, and you do have something to offer! Everybody has the same subjects to write about, but only you see life from your unique perspective.