Over the past couple of years, though, I’ve committed to writing a weekly blogpost on my website, as well as a few guest posts for others, so I’ve been challenged to pen some non-fiction. What surprised me is that I enjoy writing inspirational and how-to articles. Whoda thought?
In the midst of creating and editing my novels, both historical and contemporary, I’ve had to consider how I might connect with readers non-fictionally, outside of story.
Here’s how I’ve done it.
* Devotional / Inspirational Articles
The first week of each month I write a devotional thought or comment. I love finding a spiritual parallel to ordinary everyday events.
Example: I notice people’s shoes and their corresponding personalities and how we are all uniquely made.
* How-to Articles
Mostly, these are directed toward fiction writing. The second week of each month I offer a continuing mini-course on fiction: Fiction Writing 101. This past year I have considered such topics as theme, research, editing, submission, social media, etc. I pick my own brain to uncover all I already know of the topic, then search for more information, cite it, and add live links to helpful articles.
The third week of the month I post another writing column titled Tools of the Trade, where I analyze various concepts like time management, resource books, ideas and where they come from, public speaking for promotion, etc.
* Book Reviews
This has been a favorite writing form for years. In the past, I reviewed a book a month for the newsletter of a Canadian Christian bookseller, Living Books Inc. Lately, I’ve incorporated a review a month into my blog. Last year I also interviewed authors and posted these interviews once a month.
* Thankfulness
I have a theme a week, four in total, for each month, but when a month has a fifth Tuesday, I write an off-the-cuff list of things I am thankful for. It’s encouraging for me and I hope also for my readers.
I encourage you to try some of these types of writing to broaden your scope. If you normally write long fiction, try a short story, or vice versa. Try non-fiction to capture ideas that float through your head from time to time. Use these ideas and writings to help and motivate others. The end result will always be beneficial to you, just like the fact that a teacher always learns more in preparation than the student learns in class.
And besides all this, you can probably use bits and pieces from all of the above for your fiction!
This is so true, Jan! (In fact, a week or two ago I wrote and submitted an article of similar theme to be posted at International Christian Fiction Writers in early September.) I’m a fiction writer through and through, but I believe researching, writing, and editing academic nonfiction has really sharpened my fiction and given it depth it wouldn’t have otherwise had. (Plus, I relate to your non-writing activity list: I just LOVE Netflix for the great storylines I watch in the evenings, when my early-to-bed husband leaves for slumberland.)
Thanks for your comments, Deb. Yes, I need story a lot, whether through reading, listening, watching, and creating. We all need input in order to create output. We don’t have Netflix, but I’d like to subscribe.