Episode 140: How to Improve Your Writing Skills as a Christian Author (Before You Write Your Book)
We’ve talked about the mindset that has to come first. Now let’s talk about the work.
Because here’s the thing: wanting to write a book means we actually have to write well. If you feel like you’re not there, yet, don’t be discouraged. Writing is a craft, and crafts can be learned.
Ways to Actually Grow
A few places to start:
Read the classics on craft. On Writing Well by William Zinsser and The Elements of Style by Strunk and White are worth working through slowly, practicing the concepts as you go.
Get honest feedback. Not from family members who love us too much to critique us, but from fellow writers who will kindly tell us the truth. That kind of feedback is where real growth happens.
Find a writing community. An in-person critique group through a local library or coffee shop can be a gift. Online, the Writers’ Bloc Community at mywritersbloc.com is a warm, supportive space specifically for female Christian writers, with opportunities to submit writing for critique and connect in monthly Zoom sessions.
Submit to publications. Sites like Living by Design and Gospel-Centered Discipleship accept article submissions. Following their guidelines is good practice, and their editorial feedback can be genuinely useful. It also builds your online presence in the process.
Just write. Regularly. Blog posts, letters to friends, a church newsletter column. Try different genres, different tones. Experiment with fiction if you usually write nonfiction. Play with poetry. The more we write, the more we discover what actually sounds like us.
Clarity on where to begin can make all the difference when we’re just starting out and don’t know what to do first.
If that’s where you are, Start Here is a free 3-day email course designed to answer your questions and point you in the right direction. Find it at amylynnsimon.com/start
Additional Resources:
From Stuck to Steady: The 5 Pillars of a Consistent Writing Rhythm for Christian Writers (free 30-minute recorded workshop)
Schedule a free discovery call to see how coaching can help you get unstuck.
Sign up for Pen Points, a weekly email to encourage you in your writing.
Download the “Christian Writer’s Mindset Makeover”.
The Purposeful Pen is a weekly podcast for Christian writers designed to help you build a writing life with eternal impact. Each week you’ll hear practical tips and Biblical truth on topics such as improving your writing, honing your message, and managing your time. I always respond to listener emails and I’d love to hear from you! Amysimon@amylynnsimon.com