How to write for ylcf.org

If you can’t answer “yes” to each of these questions, please go back and rewrite your piece before submitting it to ylcf.org:

• Is your post in line with YLCF’s purpose of encouraging young women?
• Is your post succinct (600 words or less) and to the point?
• Is your post easy to read and follow?
• Is your post free of typographical, spelling, and grammatical errors?
• Is your post free of theological or controversial topics?
• Did you have someone else read and critique your post?
• Are you writing to encourage rather than to be heard?

Please don’t rely on just an automatic spell check feature! If you would be a writer, you must know your craft.

Here are a few links to help you master the art of the written word:

• Anatomy of an Effective Blog Post – by Michael Hyatt
• Writing a Blog Post People Want to Read – a post at DIY ministry by Christin
• Grammar Girl – quick tips for better writing
• “5 Steps to Better Writing Now” – from L Words Editing
• Five Ways to Improve Your Writing – from Andrew Peterson
• Elisabeth Elliot on Writing
• “How to Write Good” – from New Attitude Magazine 
• Notes from the Oregon Christian Writer’s Conference
• How to Show Not Tell – from Getting Down with Jesus
• “Writing like I know how” – a post by Gretchen 
• Hot Topics & Haters: A How-To Guide – Part 1 and Part 2 – by Nish Weiseth
• OWL (Online Writing Lab) Handouts from Purdue University

Here are a few more favorite posts & links on writers & writing:

• “A Postcard from the Writing Life” – a post by Elisabeth
• An Interview on Writing with Mary DeMuth & Cara Sexton at (in)Courage
• “Thinking Out Loud” – a post by Gretchen
• good opening sentence at Jennifer Straw’s missionary blog “Among the Mwani”
• Encouraging Words for Writers – a blog by Bonita Lillie
• more YLCF blog posts on the topic of writing

A few books every writer should have sitting by their desk:

• a dictionary (one old, one new)
• a thesaurus
• Elements of Style by Strunk & White