Pulling Weeds and Planting Seeds

Making every word count. This is the advice of most literary professionals. Editors, agents, and critique experts espouse brevity over lengthy passages of empty prose. Since there are literally thousands of writers vying for readers’ attention (and hard-earned dollars), it would seem only prudent that we heed that advice. Unless, of course, our goal is to write for ourselves and not sell books.

That may be your goal which is fine. It’s not mine.

My personal goals are:

1. To write books that glorify God.
2. To share the love of Christ with the saved, but even more importantly, the unsaved.
3. To sell books.

I have many other personal goals that center around the scope of writing and goals that extend beyond it. If you don’t typically set goals or write them down, I would encourage you to do so. I’ve done this for many years and it’s been a valuable tool for me. It allows me to set a course, stay on course, and create a new course when I’ve reached particular milestones.

I think to tackle our future without direction is a wasted effort.

Sure, sometimes, it’s okay to wander a bit when we’re waiting on word from the Lord. In fact, I think it’s probably normal. I’m talking more about our conscious effort to see our dreams, desires, and goals through to fruition. Without actually writing these things down on paper, how are we to visualize what we want the outcome to be? It’s kind of like blowing out the candles on a birthday cake. We realize the expected outcome (hopefully the candles will all blow out!), but how can we know what the cake will taste like unless we actually take a bite of it?

 Think of it this way: Listing our goals (short, concise descriptors) + visualizing the outcome (success) = realizing God’s will for our lives.

And this equation doesn’t just end when one goal is reached or mastered. We should create new equations. It should continue as long as we have breath in our bodies! (And, of course, we should consult God every step of the way.)

Years ago, I devoured every book I could get my hands on by a particular author. She was prolific, descriptive, and a master storyteller. This author’s words could paint a picture without the benefit of an artist’s brush. I wanted to know her secret. When she “retired” from writing, I was heartbroken. She was the only one who could truly describe a sunset one hundred different ways and get away with it. I loved her words and her use of them.

Because I’m a visual person, I love description. I can’t get enough of it. But the truth is, if it doesn’t advance the story, it will usually end up getting slashed.

At the time (for her genre) this author was a groundbreaker, but in today’s world, her writing style might be considered outdated. The reason her work stood head and shoulders above the others of her day was because she told a phenomenal story and she used her arsenal of words in a variety of descriptive ways.

When considering writing style, trends, and publishing demands it can sometimes be a slippery slope. Keeping our readers’ wants and needs in mind, versus our own personal vision, is an ever-present challenge and one that bears constant monitoring. 

Just like the words we actually write, we must sometimes readjust our goals to align with the changing times. In other words, we have to pull a few weeds to plant new seeds. Growth can’t happen without our willingness to participate. Every good gardener knows that to have a productive crop, there first has to be plan (goals) and there also has to be a caretaker (visionary) who will expend the time necessary in nurturing the garden.  

******         

Words, too few or too many, have the power to impact. How do you strive for the proper balance as you write? And if you set goals, do you physically write them down?