No Agenda
Spiritual writing -- writing to connect with the heart -- is a listening skill.
So often I think in terms of structure and order.
What’s the plan?
What’s the objective?
This is important to the writing process, don’t get me wrong, but only to a point.
Effective writing has a heart component.
It is heart felt and received by others, even strangers, because life is more about the heart than it is about the head.
The idea about no agenda is not that we don't start with our own plans and ideas, but that we aren't locked into them.
Instead we are open to be lead in other directions if called to do so.
Although I am sure some writers have the ability to see a completed work from the beginning, this certainly does not describe me.
In fact I am much better at starting than I am at ending writing projects, or knowing when and how to end them.
In the middle of the process I need prayer badly to bring me out on the other side. Consequently I believe God needs more credit for everything I produce and me much less.
Spiritual writing -- writing to connect with the heart -- is a listening skill.
It is putting aside my agenda and asking the question. "Lord, what do you have for your people?
What do you want them to know that comes out of my life experience and observations?
And Lord, please give me the courage to be honest in the telling.
Ben...I know that all you write comes from spiritual listening which leads to spiritual writing. God does a good job through you...Be Blessed and a Blessing, Brother....