So You Want To Be a Writer?

I took my dad along with me to my first writers' conference. I was sixteen years old.

Normally, there is a Teen Track at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers' Conference, but that year, due to low turn out, I attended the mainstream fiction track. At dinner, the first night, one of the other conferees mentioned something about a teen writers' group who only attends every other year - and this was the off-year.

I met the other teen writer the next day. One of the most precocious, outgoing people I had ever met. And we still keep in touch to this day.

Already, she had a novel finished and was talking to agents and editors about publishing. All I had was a rough draft that my pre-conference group tore to shreds (I thanked them for it later... but still). I certainly felt a bit overwhelmed and less than enthusiastic about whether or not I could really do this whole "writer thing."

I can't even begin to explain just how much that Palm Sunday weekend in 2011 sticks out in my memories.

I met my favorite author, Lauraine Snelling, and finally got to hear why Grace and Jonathan weren't together by the end of the book (apparently it was unrealistic for anything to happen between them in the time span of the book in the context of the early 1900s). She really shaped my perception on realism in historical fiction.

I heard hymns sung with enthusiasm I'd never encountered before (they have a special place in my heart now - regardless of ridiculously complex melodies).

And several ladies, many about forty years old to seventy, came up to me and mentioned that they wished they figured out they wanted to write at my age.

That caught me off guard.

I wasn't exactly the next Christopher Paolini. One of the authors at the conference even mentioned that it takes a writer, on average, seven years of trying before their book gets published.

So what?

I went back to that writers' conference in 2012 and sure enough... there were several other teens that year. Lissa Halls Johnson led the track. And it was that year - I was convinced.

Don't think too much about age when it comes to writing. There is no exact window during which you may or may not be eligible to put out a novel. While there is something to be said for life-experience fueling your work, whatever you do - write what you know. 

You don't need a degree for that.  

At the end of the conference, I was seated in the chapel beside my dad (who showed up rather unexpectedly) listening as they announced the awards. Pace-Setter, Writer of the Year, Most-Promising New Writer, etc. I don't recall my heart beating as they announced the Most Promising Teen Writer. I kept looking across the isle at my friend from the previous year seated beside her mom (another writer, of course).

Then came the introduction.

Started writing at thirteen. Just accepted into Westmont College, etc. etc.

The description sounded awfully familiar. Funny thing though, while accepted, I didn't plan on attending Westmont, I'd already decided on William Jessup, so the words didn't initially register. Until they said my name.

Then the whole world went into slow-motion as I rose, dodged the knees of the people seated next to me, and made my way to the front, where I received a hug, a firm handshake and a framed award while someone snapped a picture.

I could hardly believe it, even as I sat back down in my pew beside my dad - though I now understood why he came early.

I tucked all those memories away, and remembered them fondly from time to time.

I was only 17-going-on-18 at the the time. Now, I'm 22-going-on-23. And the manuscript I brought to that conference is the same manuscript I'm working on today (draft number five!). College gave me major writers' block and throughout those last four years, I started to wonder if maybe I'm as called as I thought I was to write.

My roommate and I have this thing we call, "doors and arrows." It started when our housing situation got a little screwy, so we decided that we were going to trust God to direct us. We would ask Him to either open or close doors and give us BIG arrows to point us in the right direction.

That thing, "doors and arrows" turned into my methodology for how I looked at my calling in life. More and more, I began to wonder if all the doors I was walking through were leading me in a different direction - writers' block, agents and editors weren't interested in my novel... you get the point.

Doors and Arrows are a confusing thing, at times. After letting go on one dream, I started looking into other options. Those doors seemed wide open - until I started thinking about what I would enjoy about those job descriptions versus what I wouldn't. Did the positives outweigh the negatives? Not exactly. Actually, some aspects outright scared me.

So I took another good hard look at writing.

I actually wrote my capstone for my degree on the historical background of my novel

I love the job description of a writer.

and I really need to finish my stupid manuscript after all the effort I've put into it, the numerous drafts and money spent on writers' conferences.

So, here's to me, attempting to get my inspiration back (I'm a panster, so this is going to be interesting).

This is year six for me.

But as for you... the journey into writing isn't necessarily straightforward. Whatever you do, do what you love, and write what you know. That's all there is to it. And if you do choose to write, really go all out. Don't be afraid that someone won't like your work. The market changes all the time - and you can always become a better writer.

So have courage, dear heart.

The Ultimate Love Story

Writing a book or a story is the beginning of a beautiful relationship between you and your imaginary characters. Don’t even try to resist the urges to laugh at your funny one-liners, cry when your favorite character dies, or obsessively hate your villain. And don’t be too embarrassed if you accidentally call your best friend the name of your main character. But keep these things to yourself, because your family will think you are nuts.

Writing wasn’t always this way for me. My name is Esther. I’ve been writing fiction since I was six or seven—not that that writing was anything I am proud of. At thirteen, I wrote my first REAL book. It was short—a children’s book about a young girl with a crazy grandma who drives a rocket ship. It’s the first piece of writing I’m not wholeheartedly ashamed of, because it’s technically pretty clean.

I started going to Mount Hermon’s writing conference that year, and I got some great editing. But I wasn’t in love with my writing. It was nothing more than a hobby—almost seemed like school to me at times. There were times my mom forced me to go to the computer. I had this unrealistic dream that I was going to get that book published. I went to Mt. Hermon twice. No interest from anyone.

Last year after Mt. Hermon, I had this new idea for a book. As soon as I started writing it, I felt something change. What was it? I fell in love with writing. It just sort of happened—I didn’t try. I found myself waking up before school at ridiculously early times to write a scene. I would goof off during school work dreaming up what would happen next. When I was supposed to be online finding scholarships for college, I would be—you guessed it—writing. And my focus turned from trying to get published for money sake, to just writing because I loved it and couldn’t stop.

I still want to be published, believe me. I’ll be going to Mt. Hermon again in two years to try. But even if I don’t, I won’t stop, because writing is a part of me, and I’m never letting go. I hope that this can be of some inspiration to you.

Esther

Should I Get A Degree in Creative Writing?

This is a big question for many fields, but I would definitely lump Creative Writing in that category. It's actually a thing, you know... a degree in Creative Writing? You can go to college, do some general ed and take a bunch of pre requisites and upper division electives centered around becoming a writer.

But oddly enough, writing is one of the few careers that doesn't require education to be successful. Most of the published writers I know don't have a degree in the profession. Sarah Sundin, for example, is a pharmacist.

Part of this is because we all learn how to read and write during the course of our primary education. After that, writing is a "gift" of sorts - it's something you naturally are inclined towards or practice like crazy to hone your craft. Then, either the editors like your style, or they don't - which means you need more practice. In conjunction, storytelling is something that we gain from personal experience - living life.

So, should you get a degree in Creative Writing? Is it even worth it?

That all depends on a few things...

1) WHAT GENRE DO YOU WANT TO WRITE?

Honestly, this is a big factor.  

I'll let you in on a little secret... I'm currently wrapping up my last semester of college, and when I graduate, I will have a degree in History and a minor in Bible & Theology. Not English with a concentration in Creative Writing. Do you want to know why?
Because I write Historical Fiction. Plain and simple. I do research when I'm world-building for my manuscripts and over the last four years, my education has really helped my research skills. I've also gathered a lot of fodder for storytelling during history lectures. 

2) COMMERCIAL OR LITERARY?

I'll tell you this, right now... most colleges are not geared towards helping you become the next Suzanne Collins or J.K. Rowling. Creative Writing classes will lean heavily in the short story/flash fiction/poetry direction. College is about going deeper, and so Literary writing tends to be the focus. Metaphor, shape, breaking rules - that's the idea. The next Great American Novel.  

If that's your aim, then a degree in Creative Writing might be very interesting for you. But if you want to write something that's going to appeal to the masses, fly off the shelves and have a pretty cover, you might be bored with all the Lit prereqs - American Lit, British Lit, Lit and Culture... all that jazz. 

There are some colleges that will offer more in the Commercial department, but it's less common.

3) DO YOU WANT TO TEACH?

I have a friend who just graduated with a degree in English and now she's going on to get what's called a MFA (Masters in Fine Arts) - or essentially, a Master's degree in Creative Writing.  

For a lot of people - this is definitely overkill. The amount of money you spend of your education will most certainly not equal the amount of money you'll make writing. I once asked a Christian best seller what she makes per/hour. After doing the math, she admitted that even with good sales, she invests months into a manuscript and makes pocket change per hour. It's not lucrative.  

However, book sales aren't the only means of making money with an English Degree. That friend of mine plans to teach Writing at the college level - and she will need higher credentials to do so. 

4) IS WRITING YOUR MAIN GOAL?

Depending on what you plan on doing with your future, Writing might not be your only ambition or income. In some cases... you might even need a Plan B for income. It's pretty common for writers to have a day job. Like being a super hero (yes, I went there). It's like having a job to support your hobby - though, if you are lucky, you might write the breakout novel that gives you a bright, lucrative future. If you're lucky.  

Anyways... that day job? Don't do something your hate. When you're picking a major, make sure it's something you enjoy. Personally, I love writing, but I also love history. My history electives are my favorite classes. I can't wait to get started on my single-subject teaching credential. I'll have summers and spare time to write.  

Just think about it. 

Your future and your education should reflect the ways God has gifted you. Don't be too practical, but don't make decisions lightly. Think about it. And just because making it as a writer won't come easy doesn't mean you can't do it. If you love it, then pursue it.

I really do love writing, but I didn't chose to get a degree in that area. I'm not much of a Literary person, I don't think I want to teach at the college level, and I don't think writing will be my only occupation. So, in just about a month, I'm going to be graduating with a History degree.

However, I have a lot of electives aside from my history classes... I've taken Creative Writing, Advanced Creative Writing, Writing/Publishing the Novel, and Special Studies: Novel Workshop. In addition to that, I try to make it to a Writer's Conference every year.

Just because you're not getting a degree in Creative Writing, doesn't mean you're not serious about pursuing publishing.

And if you do answer "yes" to any of those questions above, an English degree with a Creative Writing concentration might be just what you need to go all the places you're dreaming of.

Good luck, Writers!

Being a CHRISTIAN Writer

Are we writers who are Christians? Or are we Christian writers? I suppose I'll leave that one up to you. Not all of us want to write for the Christian market. Some of us are called to write for the secular market because that is where we can give God the most glory. That's what important. Where has God called you into His ministry?

Ever thought about it that way before? That writing is your ministry? It took me years to wrap my head around that. I just knew I liked writing. I didn't quite understand God's role in my writing. The two seemed separate, yet inexplicably bound together in a jumbled mess. I'm sure many of you can sympathize.

But this is what I discovered.

God created us. He knows our inmost being. In fact, He even gave us our gifts and talents, he designated them to us. Think back for a moment of the parable of the talents that Jesus told. Each servant was given gifts so that they could take them and make use of them for the benefit of the master, and eventually, themselves. Can't you just imagine God saying, "Well done, good and faithful servant"?

We were gifted with the talent of writing - the joy of writing! So why shouldn't we expect that God wants us to put that talent to use and profit from it? It's the whole point of having the talent! What use would it be... what purpose would it have if we just hid it under and rock? God intended for us to use our talent.

But here's the real question... how do we use it? And what is profit?

Those answers will vary from person to person. But when I say profit (this answer will be universally true) I do NOT mean money. It is inevitable that you will reap some financial benefits, BUT IF YOU ARE WRITING, shouldn't your writing serve some purpose? We were created to give glory to God and declare His Holy and Precious Name. This does not necessarily mean you have to write Christian works, but I do think that your works should reflect the values of our Creator and should focus on having an identity founded in Him. What this means will vary depending on your subject matter. Profit will first and foremost mean directing people to look upwards for answers. Use? Well... what story has God laid on your heart to write? Only He can tell you.

Hugs.