3 Steps You Can Take Toward Your Writing Dreams Today

Are you struggling to start writing because you feel unqualified or ill-equipped? Do the excuses keep piling up as your schedule overflows with everything but time to write that book you’ve been dreaming of? I’ve been there. Even those of us who have published books or popular blogs often struggle with not feeling like a writer or with simply procrastinating for one reason or another. Today, I want to encourage you and give you some tips for how to push past those insecurities and excuses and start making progress in your writing dreams and aspirations. 

The question I get all the time is, “Where do I even begin?” Today I want to share three steps you can take, starting today, to reach your writing dreams.

1. Stop hiding your dreams away. 

When God was calling me into online ministry and writing, I prayed about it for quite a while. But there came a point where my dreaming and praying turned into actual steps toward doing what I had been dreaming of and praying for. You can’t just stay stuck in the someday. You have to stop hiding your dreams away. Here are a few questions to ask yourself as you are in the process of praying: What has God called me to do? Who has He called me to speak to or reach with my writing? What am I passionate about? What message did I need to hear that may be what others need to hear too? 

2. Figure out where you will be, and be all there. 

There are endless options online and many different places to be. It can all feel so overwhelming. So I would say figure out where you will be, and be all there! You must start somewhere, and if you spread yourself too thin you won’t give the best of who you are to any one place. Don’t try to start a blog, start a podcast and self-publish a Bible study all at the same time. Pick one place, and start there. Also, don’t feel like you must have Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube from the start. Pick just one social media platform you can be consistent with, and start posting there. Figure out where you will be, and be all there.

3. Surround yourself with people who can inspire you.

When I started in online ministry and writing, I had no community online. I was starting from scratch. You must reach out and find your people. Reaching out takes action. You will have to work for this. Here are a few ideas to help you get started:

 ~Make a list of people who you follow, who you know have the same passion as you, or who are in a field that complements or makes sense with yours — and start making connections with them.  

~Join a Mastermind Group. These are groups of people who decide they are going to support one another by sharing each other’s content with their audiences, praying for one another, supporting one another, etc.

~Join an online writing group, like COMPEL Writers Training. A group like COMPEL is the perfect place to continue to grow your ministry relationships.

~Strengthen connections through generosity and partnership. Follow up with the people you are connected with online, and continue to partner with them! 

Here are some ideas for continued partnership:

Do giveaways together on Instagram to cross-promote to your audiences.

Share one another’s articles on your social media accounts.

Write a book together.

Ask them to write a guest post for you, or offer to write a guest post for them.

Promote their new book release.

Do a book study for your audiences together.

Do an online course together.

Remember: A building isn’t built all at once. It takes one brick at a time. The bricks at the bottom are what make the foundation so secure. Take your time — be consistent, and be faithful. You can walk confidently in what God has called you to. One day you will look back and you won’t believe how far you’ve come.  

~Ruth Schwenk

Ever been frustrated with not knowing how to write and get your book published? That’s why we created our Direct Access Book Club, to give you the inside look from authors and publishing experts at the process of writing and publishing a book. Our next book club will walk through Trusting God in All the Things: 90 Devotions for Finding Peace in Your Every Day with authors Karen Ehman and Ruth Schwenk. This interactive experience will equip you with the direction you need to pursue your writing and publishing dreams, even when you feel uninspired and discouraged. Click here to learn more, and join us September 5-September 30, 2022!