By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills
We writers are in the business of learning the craft, using our imaginations, writing, editing, rewriting, and the process repeats. That’s horizontal writing. We’re depending on people and earth’s resources to help us reach our publishing dreams and goals. While we prayerfully consider wise counsel and seek knowledge, too often we forget that we are called to live vertical lives. Our heads are bent over the keyboard instead of lifted up in communication with God.
We made an incredible choice by moving forward on God’s will for our lives and accepting our calling to write.
- We crave God’s guidance.
- We value the importance of prayer.
- We praise Him as the great Creator.
- We engage others in His saving grace.
- But too often we forget to write vertically.
Here are 5 ways a vertical writer can reach up to communicate with God and better communicate the written word.
- Develop a mission statement that puts God first. We seek Him first thing in the morning before we place our fingers on the keyboard.
- Understand writing is a calling, not to be worshiped. We have one God who gave us a special gift. Take the gift away, and do you still have a relationship with God?
- Love others above ourselves. Sometimes we writers have to humble ourselves and love the reader who hates our work, the agent or editor who gives tough feedback, or the publishing industry that prefers a different style.
- Guard our faith. The pressures of money and fame are tempting. God is our #1 target Audience, our perfect Reader, and our best Cheerleader.
- Reserve time in our busy lives to consult and listen to God’s voice.
When we consider our God is with us and wants the best for us, vertical writing is the only way to embrace our calling.
Are you a vertical writer?
Comments 16
Thank you for your gentle reminder to “seek Him first thing in the morning before we place our fingers on the keyboard.” I have copied your 5 points and will leave it on my screen so I’ll see it again tomorrow when I fire up my computer.
Luci, thank you for your sweet comments. I hope those 5 points keep you cooking up your writing.
Thanks for this wise advice that we should remember before we write the first word or take the first step each day. Our lives are gifts from God and everything we do should point others to Him. Blessings, DiAnn!
Thank you, Barbara. Have a beautiful writing-filled week.
DiAnn,
Such a much needed reminder. I’ve spent the last couple weeks rewording and retyping pages. I haven’t taken as much time to stop, look up, and ask for His direction. Thank you for the prompting to refocus, DiAnn. You are a blessing.
Thank you, Terry. It’s easy to attempt projects on our own, but with God, we are our best.
This is an anchoring post, DiAnn! Yes, when God is first all falls into place but we do need to guard our hearts so that we will not be hindered! Blessings and joy!
Susan, thank you for the encouragement! Guarding our hearts is imperative to the Christian walk.
Diann, I recently found you on the recommendation of my friend Sharon. I think I’ve received about 5 emails from you and each one has contained a nugget of gold. This one was the topic of discussion in my Facebook group for Christian writers. It was so powerful! Thank you for being faithful to your craft of writing, and for giving God the glory for your creativity.
Kim, I’m honored and humbled by your kind words. Thank you for your inspiring comments.
Amen. What a wonderful message for writers. Thank you DiAnn.
Thank you, Melissa. It’s a message for all of us to remember our prorities.
DiAnn. Thanks for this post. Thanks for sharing so graciously, your gift. I have been struggling with the whole idea of presentation. Yes, I want to present perfect works, but like one Psalmist states “My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.” I want to use “my mind” instead of my tongue . Thanks again for needed help along the pathway of trying to get published.
As I sit here honing, I am asking God to let His Holy Spirit be my editor.
Frances, thank you as always for your kind words. The Holy Spirit is our perfect editor.
If we put God first, everything else will fall in place.
Yes, Kathy! It may not be what we want, but it will be what we need.