Transferring your thoughts to paper can be a potentially overwhelming experience whether you’re working on your first book or your fiftieth. You’re in charge of the content and the publisher and everything else in between. To gain a fresh perspective or communal guidance, check out these helpful tips to writing your book and publishing it.
1. Submit it to God
Your creative spirit comes from the Father, and to the Father your writing belongs. Make sure that before you begin working, you submit your pages to God’s hands. The Lord is eager for your book to come to life! You can trust that He’s sitting beside you, wanting to point you in the right direction. There will always be fruit on the tree if the soil is seeded from Heaven.
2. Prioritize Time
Writing a book is like running a marathon: you have to build in the time. In order to help transfer your book ideas to paper, it’s crucial to organize writing time in your schedule. It can be hard to actually consider this a priority, as with any hobby. But you’re on your way to becoming a published author, so it’s helpful to think of it as a job. Set up work hours and boundaries with friends to know that this space is important. You’ve got typing to do!
3. Hold Yourself Accountable
After you’ve consecrated writing time, make sure that you’re holding yourself accountable. It can be easy to internet surf and check social media once you’re actually in front of your computer, especially since writing is predominantly an unsupervised profession. Find a community to be your cheerleader and create mock deadlines for pacing purposes. Be creative with it! Only you can get those chapters finished.
4. Write for the Lord
In a world of online reviews and comment sections, creating something for others is at its most delicate stage. Anyone can say anything about your work, and that can make creating something feel extremely vulnerable. Know that in this writing season, you are not responsible for impressing the world; you are responsible for being obedient. Wanting people to love your work is understandable, but God’s affirmation is the only one that matters.
5. Study Model Texts
You’ve probably heard it said that “The best writers are the best readers.” Research has proven this adage true, and it’s most effective when you’re reading with a student lens. Study different texts and identify which writing styles you most admire. Utilize mentor texts as models and feel free to replicate certain techniques. Compare their texts to yours in an analytical framework, and you’ll find yourself naturally critiquing your own work.
6. Find Shalom
In the midst of deadlines and work schedules, it’s tempting to keep writing when you’re in the groove of it. Enjoy those sweet spots but also ensure a Sabbath once writing becomes work. Don’t worry about falling behind or rushing to complete something. It’ll be in those places of rest that the Father can rejuvenate you. You’re more likely to burn out if your quality time with God isn’t set as a weekly priority.
7. Embrace Revisions
Once you have all your chapters typed, it’s tempting to just click ‘Spell Check’ and ‘Print.’ But before it’s time to send your manuscript off, go over each chapter idea. Look at your content holistically, rather than just fixing misplaced commas and quotation marks. If you need to, take a several-day break from that particular piece in order to look at it with new eyes. Ask a friend for feedback in order to make sure your story is told effectively. Each chapter title and paragraph transition matters.
8. Choose a Publisher
The last—and most exciting—step is to watch your book come to life! Once you’ve edited your book as much as possible, it’s time to pass it along to another set of hands. There are a variety of ways you can transfer your book to the shelf, and it’s important you find a publisher who honors your voice and maximizes your readership potential. Consider marketing services, content control, agent requirement, and profit margin. Be selective and intentional. You’ve worked hard on what God has called you to; you’ll want your publisher to do the same!
Featured Image by Art Lasovsky
To find out information about Kingdom Winds Publishing and its available services, visit our publishing information page here.
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