Hold Your Language to a Higher Standard

Call me prudish. I'll accept it.

Call me sheltered. I'm thankful for it.

As a freelancer working with some of the largest Christian publishers in the nation, I have seen great writing. And I know that you don't need to use foul language to get your message across.

When you use profanity in your writing, it screams something louder than the intended effect. It tells the reader something about your own command of the English language.  A fellow Christian editor and I were talking at a writers' conference a few weeks ago about profanity in writing. We agreed that in most cases, the use of such language does not edify a piece of work in any way.

So writers, I implore you. Just. Stop. It.

Sure, there may be times when you allow a character to let a word slip in fictional writing. But it's important to not allow this to become the norm.

Remember, they aren't just words. Consider an abbreviated list of Bible verses regarding our language:

Colossians 3:8 (ESV)

But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

Ephesians 4:29 (ESV)

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Ephesians 5:4 (ESV)

Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

Proverbs 21:23 (ESV)

Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue
    keeps himself out of trouble.

And though the talented J. K. Rowling used some not-so-choice words sprinkled in the Harry Potter series, there is one quote that should remind even the most secular of writers about the responsibility we have with written language. The beloved Professor Dumbledore said, "Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it."

Make yourself uncomfortable with the habit of using foul language, and you will find yourself sensitive to it. Surround yourself with good writing, wholesome music, and friends who are trying to live according to God's Word. As 1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV) states, "Do not be misled: 'Bad company corrupts good character.'"

Not only should we try to shield ourselves from bad influences, we should seek to influence others. Paul writes in 1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV), "Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity" (emphasis mine).

Remember, your written words are powerful like the tongue. When someone reads them, they cannot be taken back. Bridle them.

Need some suggestions for good music for writing? Take a look at my Spotify playlist (on the right-hand menu of this page near the bottom).

Looking for some inspirational writing to give you a start? Take a look at these books for some wonderful fiction and non-fiction of Christian writers:

How a Gratitude Journal Can Help Your Writing

As I move through the month of November, the month of Thanksgiving to Americans, I start daily with my Gratitude Journal, which I intend to use for one year.  While many of my friends on Facebook and Twitter are posting one blessing they are thankful for each day, I have kept mine mostly private, in a small journal, listing three blessings/gifts a day.

Some days are easy, others take a little more time. Some are the gifts that I like to call blanket "Miss America" answers: the health of my children, a wonderful husband, a roof over our head. And yes, those are HUGE. I don't belittle them.  I am sure if I haven't already listed them, I will list them by the time I get to my goal of 1000. My rule is to never repeat the same blessing in my journal. I'm approaching number 46 today. In the past week, this journal has done more for me than realize what the Father has bestowed upon me. I'm learning more about myself, and it's helping me in the craft of writing.

Here are some ways I've discovered that my Gratitude Journal is helping me become a better writer, and I think it can help other writers also:

1. Learn to say more with less. Keeping each item down to a simple sentence, sometimes even a simple 3-5 word phrase, forces you to find the correct descriptive words and trim the excess.

2. Become more attentive. Looking for God's blessings as you go through your day awakens you, as you are prepared to see the revelations moment upon moment. Competent writers are keen observers.

Rather than those "Miss America" answers, I look to the simple and find the splendor in it. Senses awaken to the instruments of the Creator. By putting a magnifier on the small, we can appreciate details which help capture the often unnoticed moments. Remember to slow down.

3. Force creativity. My self-imposed "let no blessing be repeated" rule makes me not only become more attentive, but also get more creative with my writing. I have often found that my self-proclaimed "Miss America" answers can be given true action and specificity with a small creative twist.

 4. Focus writing goals. Each day, my topic is the same in my Gratitude Journal--three simple gifts. In that way, it's a great tool to help me focus my writing, and discover new ways to add to my list each day. A journal containing morning pages (an idea promoted by Julia Cameron in The Artist's Way), is a great way to get all your thoughts on paper, and it's tremendously helpful to use for brainstorming, meditation, and more. I have a tendency in my morning pages to wander, though, and when I need to focus, my Gratitude Journal is a win-win. I can focus on thanksgiving to God, worshiping Him and honing my craft at the same time.

5. Accept the meager, (and be prepared to edit later). Some days, the words won't flow from my dull, clouded mind. An illness, a needy child, a hectic schedule, a pet with muddy footprints . . . the mundane can push me to wonder how to find three blessings in a day's time. But still, I write--even if they sound corny, cheesy, or selfish. If I write nothing else that day, at least I write those three blessings.

Later, I'll look on my list for the meager days and often can turn the meager list into something wonderful. Finding the beautiful in the ugly, those "silver linings" give you valuable practice in self-editing, while allowing you to see God's gifts and perfect timing from a new perspective.

6. Form consistency and pacing with writing habits. If I write nothing else in a day, my Gratitude Journal is the one thing I can maintain. Keeping a list is easier than a 3-page journal entry, which some days I simply don't have the time to do when I wear multiple hats. I tend to write longer pieces in shorter spurts, when I can grab a few minutes here and there. I know, though, I can spend 15 minutes a day with my Gratitude Journal (I usually only need about 5 minutes).

If you haven't started a Gratitude Journal yet, now is a perfect time to do so. Ann Voskamp has some wonderful products to go along with her book One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are, or you can use a small simple notebook. Here's mine:

If your up for a healthy writing challenge, take a look at Ann's Joy Dare for a year's worth of focused gifts that you can print and keep in your journal.

Happy writing, and don't forget to thank God daily for His many gifts!

Dialogue Dilemmas and Punctuation Perils

During a writers' retreat in October, I attended a workshop where the guest speaker talked about manuscript submission. She stressed the importance of proper formatting and having a firm grasp on English composition rules when submitting to publishers.

The topic of dialogue tags brought a lot of questions about styles, creative tags, and punctuation. Many authors struggle with the difference between the British method of punctuating dialogue as opposed to the American English format. (I'll address those differences in a later post.)

During the session, a writer next to me was having a particularly difficult time grasping how he would punctuate a sentence. His quotation contained an end mark, an exclamation mark, and he had a dialogue tag following the quotation. He was showing me some examples and asked for my grammatical critique, since he had learned I am a freelance editor.

When I read his dialogue example, I realized the problem was not a punctuation issue at all. The writing was missing another essential element that not only can solve a writer's confusion with punctuation, but add life to a dialogue that holds a reader's attention.


The reader doesn't need the traditional "he said" at the end of a dialogue. The quotation marks tell the reader that the character said something. If your scene has been established, the reader probably already knows who is talking. The reader needs a picture.

The concept is simple: Show, don't tell. 

Any writer who has taken a creative writing course or read a book on creative writing is familiar with it. Yet, when we struggle as writers (myself included), we tend to forget that simple idea. We lose ourselves in the forest of dialogue tags and flat writing. Maybe it's because we are not thinking outside the box. Maybe we get lazy (I'm speaking to myself here also).

I took the writer's example and gave it a twist with the "Show, don't tell" strategy. His eyes lit as though I'd revealed some hidden gem. Here's a close representation of his example and how I added the strategy.

His sentence:
"You said you'd guard the stone with your life!" she yelled angrily.

My twist:
"You said you'd guard the stone with your life!" Angela spun round on her heels and stomped toward the door. 

See how I added that extra visual imagery? It gives the reader a picture. You can add "he said" and "she said" all day long, and even change your "said" to "yelled" or some equivalent, but your writing won't have the extra dimension that the "Show, don't tell" strategy can give it.

"Show, don't tell" also helps rid the need for adverbs in your dialogue.

In his book On Writing Stephen King argues, "Spend adverbs sparingly, like they were $100 bills."

In my example, you know with the sentence I added that Angela is angry. You see it with her action. The exclamation point at the end of the quotation already tells the reader she is angry. The word "angrily" from the writer's example is redundant and unnecessary once you add the action in the next sentence.

If your dialogues seem dull, go back and work in the "Show, don't tell" strategy. Chances are, the actions are already worked into your scene outside of the dialogue. Not only will your writing improve, but you won't have to look at a replacement list for that pesky word "said" as often.


Disclosure of Material Connection:Some of the links in the post above are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Writing With Palms Open Wide

At the beginning of the year I read the One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. Like many other Christians around the world, I started my own gratitude journal. I had good intentions, but I was woefully inconsistent with it.

For November and Thanksgiving, I have reopened my journal and my eyes to the world of Mrs. Voskamp. Her testimony is a lesson for all women, shining Jesus through her humble life on her Ontario farm. She allows readers small glimpses of her journey as she writes several times a week through her blog and for other Christian websites.

If you have not read the book, it's time you pick it up. Chew and savor it thoroughly--and allow God's blessings to unfold in your own life. The eloquent prose requires patient reading. You will be blessed for it.

The book has been so popular that many women's Bible study groups are using it. Zondervan recently announced the publication of a new DVD and Bible study guide to go along with the book, and yesterday her website announced the release of a journal on November 20.

As a Christian and aspiring writer, Ann's own life resonates with me. Ann gave an interview to students at Patrick Henry College in September 2011. It's just under one hour in length, and it gives us beautiful insights into Ann's writing process and how she weaves her faith throughout.

As I also pick up my neglected novel that I began two years ago for NaNoWriMo, I approach the next page, a broken sinner whom God pieces together with a carefully-crafted story. I look for His signatures lightly etched on the screen. On days when I feel my prose is dull, I will still write, praying the Lord will find a way to shine through the work. With perseverance, I will continue my gratitude journal, giving the Lord thanks, even during the storms life will inevitably bring. With palms open wide to the heavens, I pray the Lord allows His glory to shine through my pen and on the screen.

If you have never visited Ann's website (just updated yesterday), head over there now and be encouraged.



Disclosure of Material Connection:Some of the links in the post above are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."