?? more writing advice ??

Published by Donald Miller | Filed under Don Answers your ???s

Hey, Don,

I live in Beaverton and I was baptized at Imago; I used to go, but when my parents, by the grace of God, came to faith, we started going to the Lutheran church. I take people to Imago when I’m in Portland sometimes and I just tend to introduce people I drag with me to whomever I can so I might’ve introduced someone to you at some point, I don’t know.
Writing has always been apart of my life and I am currently at an arts high school in Beaverton on a writing pathway. I would never consider writing as a career because it’s like breathing for me (you find someone who’s made a career out of breathing and we’ll talk) and I’m not committed to it enough. But I like to think of myself as a determined sort of person and I think it’s something I could do on the side. I have the motivation — but there’s no need for me to go into that here. I just happened by here one day and I read someone’s question about writing a book and you had recommended one particular book to them. I know it wasn’t Story, but I am actually supposed to be writing a paper on Blaise Pascal right now, so I don’t really have time to go search for it. Do you know what book I’m talking about? ‘Cause I’d sure like to know, if you know what I mean. Any tips for a teenager lookin’ to write on the side would be much appreciated, as well.

Much love in Christ,
Elizabeth a.k.a. Lissa

Lissa,

I always recommend “On Writing Well” to budding writers, and now I can recommend “Plot and Structure” as well as anything by James Scott Bell. He is a terrific writer and writing coach. Those are great books about the craft. But it is a craft that must be learned and practiced. So the other piece of advice is to write, every day, toward a publishable work. That means an article, short story, essay or book. There are other forms, but these forms are ultimately what you will make a living at if you want to write for a living. Many people journal and blog, and that is great writing practice, but ultimately the better practice is to work daily on a project that can become something others will enjoy.

Don