Writers need talent. We all know that. They also need to learn and master the skills that go into fashioning great fiction and nonfiction. Again, no news flash here! But one of the hidden attributes a writer must have, which isn’t apparent going in, is courage. Because one of the biggest bugaboos pretty much all writers face is fear.
Scary stuff, this writing business. Because we’re not selling bread dough here, but rather parts of our very souls.
4 fears that a writer may have, and ways to overcome such fears.
It is this physical aspect of writing—the sitting down and listening through the body, the hand, the pen—that can bring forth something substantial and true. Each shape, each word, is an expression of how the world is living in me. When I write, I keep going all the way to the end of the page, enjoying the sensual touch of it all, the way the letters link and dance and skip along, my fingers waiting expectantly for the next, the next wave, the next thought showing up, ready to be described. Writing is the reporter, giving form to it all, grounded in the past, amazed and present to this moment.
Imagine instantly pulling readers in and keeping them glued to your content from the very first sentence.
Your first sentence determines whether readers stay or scroll away forever. This comprehensive guide dives deep into over 20 powerful types of hooks in writing, offering examples of good hooks for blog posts, essays, and more.
Master these proven hook techniques to instantly capture attention, spark curiosity, and keep your audience engaged from the very first word.
Small talk is a skill that can be learned and practiced. It’s a great way to start a conversation and build meaningful relationships. Here are some tips from Janet Travis to help you rock at small talk:
Love is one of the greatest motivations that a person can have in life. Some people say that being able to experience love is important if you want to be happy. There are people who aren’t as concerned about love as others, though. Some people are much more concerned with making money, and they may focus on financial success at the expense of their love lives.
Take a moment to examine whether you feel you should be more focused on finding love or making money.
“Pray first, then plan” is a foundational approach to decision-making that prioritizes seeking divine guidance before taking action. It emphasizes aligning personal, business, or ministry plans with God’s will to ensure wisdom and purpose, rather than merely asking for blessing on pre-made plans. This practice fosters peace, reduces impulsive decisions, and encourages trust over anxiety
God calls us to pray. God also calls us to plan. There is a balance. We start with prayer, but we don’t end with prayer. Sometimes there is a person who is going through a crisis. The advice that is given them is to just pray. But that advice may not seem all that helpful if they have been praying. God does not make us passive victims of fate in some cosmic battle that is waging. He has equipped us with the Holy Spirit. Yes, we are to pray, but then we are to take the courage and the faith that God gives to us in prayer and act upon it. Make plans and execute those plans. Yes, pray! But don’t stop with prayer.
But maybe you are not as much a prayer person as you are a planning person. You got a problem, so you make your plans. You seek your solution. And then you ask God to bless your plan. You ask God to provide your solution. It is good that you are planning, but the problem is that you are planning without prayer. Prayer is the afterthought.
An example where this plays out is when a person loses his job. He sets a plan to find a new job. And then he prays to God to help him get that new job. You see the starting point was finding the new job. The solution was automatically to become employed. That is our plan. That is our solution. And it might very well be God’s solution. But maybe the season of unemployment is to lead you in a different direction. Or maybe the time without a job is an opportunity to gain a new experience. But if we are so focused on our plans without prayer, we might miss the thing that God is doing.
Instead of first determining the solution, start by seeking God in prayer. See where he would lead and the solution he would determine. Our plans are not always God’s plan. And we will find it much easier to succeed when we go with God’s plan.
Pray first. Then plan. Pray again. Then execute the plan.
Reflection
Do you give greater emphasis to prayer or with planning?
Do you have something in your life where you have prayed, but failed to take action?
Do you have plans that you need to set aside so you can seek God’s will?
Prayer
Lord, sometimes I am paralyzed to inaction. I bring you my worries and concerns. You speak faith and courage into my life, and then I fail to take action. There are other times when I rush ahead of you with my plans and fail to seek your voice. Forgive me for failing to pray. Forgive me for failing to plan. Grant me your Holy Spirit that I would have the wisdom to pray and to plan so that your will would be accomplished in my life and that your kingdom would come through my words and actions. Amen.
