Writing with Flare

Writing with pin-point accuracy while incorporating colorful language, this is the challenge. A unique blend of creative and technical writing, which enhances the presentation as a whole, maintains focus while adding depth. A paradoxical statement to some, this kind of writing penetrates the mainstream standard. We owe it to academia; we are called to go beyond, we are called to push past. To do things like they have always been done and to expect different results, is insanity. To uphold the status quo, is to remain at mediocrity. The bar can always raise, those willing to set it higher are those who will see it done. Our writing should reflect our schooling, clear and concise should not be license to create dreary and drab. Let us ‘wow’ our audience! We are positioned to be a beacon of light; dry words only parch our readers.

“In writing, you have to gain an audience’s trust ...

. . . They must believe you.” James Mangold, Walk the Line director and screenwriter

In leading worship, we would rehearse for an hour before the services started. We talked a lot about worshiping for the audience of One – that this wasn’t “practice” time alone – it was an opportunity to worship God before His people came in for worship. So we rehearsed with exuberance, lifting our hands or clapping, inviting the presence of God. When the church came in, our countenances and postures reflected excitement and adoration for the Lord. Had we run through the music half-heartedly, focusing solely on hitting the right notes and blending, there would be staleness to the worship.

Writing is similar. If we don’t believe in what we are writing, neither will the reader. If we put a paper together without a clear intent to communicate a message, the lack of “integrity” of our work will be quickly recognized. Let’s strive to put our heart in our work, regardless of the content we are writing about!

To Express Oneself Honestly

Writing is a release... It is an expression of heart, there is liberty and freedom within each stroke. It can be a form of casting cares and transferring burdens. It can literally open the floodgates of heaven. Instead of bottling up one's emotions and feelings, one can convey them without necessarily conveying them. When there's no one to tell, tell the journal. Put thoughts on paper, allow them to flow. Don't hinder, don't forget, don't neglect the inner stirring. There is much profit to be had, there is much deliverance to be initiated. Write a covenant; etching it forth into the sands of time, sands that remain preserved throughout history. Create the living legacy, leave the message that transcends...

A Spiritual Endeavor

In order to inspire, we must be inspired. We must be drawing from a deeper well, beyond the shallows of mere worldly wisdom. One can be filled with a plethora of intellectual knowledge, which simply fails to reach the heart. Life-giving words emanate from living water that flows from the very depths of our souls. A Spirit driven person, moved by the heart of God Himself, enters the realm of discovery. There are no limits, impossibility is a fragment of imagination that falls short regarding the things of God. We enter a new arena, a place where the right words written at the right time, can impact generation upon generation. The writer has passed, though through their words, they transcend their lifetime. Allow for the creativity of God; be a willing vessel, a conduit by which God touches the heart hardened by empty verbiage. Truth applied, transforms lives... Let us correspond accordingly, as truth channels, depositing words containing both power and life.

“Good writing is clear thinking.” – Max Lucado

Once upon a time there was a student who needed help writing a paper. Although typically a very nice student, on this particular day the very nice student was very frustrated. By the end of the session, the reason became clear. The very nice, yet very frustrated student was attempting to write a paper without reading any of the source materials, and without attending class.

It seems preposterous, but how many of us attempt to write a paper before researching and outlining ahead of time? No stone throwing here – guilty as charged. I have re-read my own work, paused, and thought, what in the world am I talking about? But the paper gets turned in anyway, hoping to dazzle the professor with big words and long sentences, believing he or she will realize how brilliant I am and be able to figure out what I really meant. This is the case of muddled thinking.

Many times, the “arch enemy” is time. Or should I say, the lack of time management. Have you tried to meet last-minute deadlines by staying up all night on a caffeine buzz? Most of us experience this wretched night at least once while pursuing higher education. But if we will begin to train ourselves to work on projects ahead of time, it will give us the opportunity to process the material. This will generate clear thinking and result in good writing.

“Editing hurts, but so do cavities… (Part 3 of 3)

…we can’t see them, so we call the dentist in who can.” – Max Lucado

In line with the necessity of rereading and rewriting our own work – over and over – there is another key ingredient we cannot overlook. It is the role of an editor. This does not mean you have to hire one to proof your Biology paper. It means you need to find a pair of willing “Fresh Eyes.” We are blind to the errors in our own work. This is why a movie director hires a movie editor. He has to trust that editor who is not himself and does not think like himself to recognize quality from quantity. Could it be that “less is more”? The editors in our lives help us refine (and reduce) our writing.

So how do we find someone willing to take the time to edit our (often long and tedious) papers?
In the academia world, we are surrounded by “like-minded, heavy-laden” souls who also have deadlines. It may not be a bad idea to find one or two others and exchange papers for the purpose of editing each other’s work. This is the classic “I’ll scratch your back if you’ll scratch mine” routine. Hey, it is a classic saying because it works. It can even become a “club” of some kind – meet for lunch and make it as fun as possible.

Working hard, making the time, rewriting, and having someone edit your paper will transform your writing … and increase your grade point average. It will also help you become a better writer who knows how to effectively communicate – and connect – with your reader.

A Secret to Great Writing (Part 2 of 3)

One of my graduate professors said that writing is made up of two parts: 20% original thought, and 80% rewriting that original thought. That is why we turn in “Zero Drafts”. These submissions don’t even count as first drafts. Uggh. No one enjoys rewriting. Yet this is the ingredient that separates good writers from great writers. So what do we mean by rewriting? Maybe this will help:

“Sentences are like just-caught fish: spunky today, stinky tomorrow.”
–Anonymous

What sounds good the first time written may not have the same pizzazz the following day. Rewriting starts with rereading. Reread your work (preferably out loud) after you write it. Pretend you are in the shoes of someone who just happens to pick up your work, having no previous knowledge of your subject. Do you have to explain a paragraph’s meaning out loud in order for it to be understood? Then rewrite it the way you just explained it out loud. Conciseness is your friend. Max Lucado said,

“Summarize the entire book into one sentence. All other paragraphs must pay homage to that sentence.”

This, my fellow writing friend, takes work. And work means revisions. (aka, rewriting!) And yet, rewriting is not quite enough on its own … Enter the editor.