Tip #4

What is your job, your function as a writer? Do you write poetry or prose? If you write prose, what genre do you favor If you write novels, you probably tell stories. James A. Michener was a storyteller, and he excelled at it.

Tip #4. “The job of a storyteller is to tell stories, and I have concentrated on that obligation.”

And Mr. Michener did an outstanding job! You might have noticed that his novels are long. For example, Texas has 1,474 pages, and Hawaii has 1,490 pages. But he conducted extensive research, he did his homework, and rewrote them several times with editorial assistance. The first printing of Texas was 750,000 copies.

But don’t try to copy Mr. Michener. Don’t try to write long stories. Instead write what you feel comfortable with. Be yourself, establish your voice and your style, do your homework, give yourself time to excel. But write! And you may be thrilled with the results if you …

Write Creatively.

What will Readers “Take Home” from Reading Your Book?

As a pastor, I always gave everyone in attendance something to “take home.” Whatever the listener’s background, be it Christian, atheist, philosopher, scientist, mechanic, writer, or whatever, I wanted the listeners to learn something that was meaningful to him or her. Why?

I didn’t like asking people to come back; I wanted them to come back because they desired to hear more. As a result, the attendance in our churches grew substantially.

In the same way, writers must make a lasting impression in the readers’ minds. With thousands of books to choose from, we must give them a reason to want more of our writing. A good, well-written, compelling story will draw the reader back for more. Identify your target audience, and learn to write so that your story will live on in their hearts and minds long after the last page has been turned.

Write Creatively.