Ask the Author: Keith Giles
Answered Questions (8)
Keith Giles
Too many!
The Day The Revolution Began by NT Wright
Crucifixion of the Warrior God by Greg Boyd
Stricken by God by Brad Jersak
Sinners in the Hands of A Loving God by Brian Zahnd
and dozens more...
The Day The Revolution Began by NT Wright
Crucifixion of the Warrior God by Greg Boyd
Stricken by God by Brad Jersak
Sinners in the Hands of A Loving God by Brian Zahnd
and dozens more...
Keith Giles
I think it's better to just keep writing every day and not stop writing. Keep a journal, start a blog, write short stories every day or start a little newsletter you send out to a few of your closest friends [which is how I started my own blog 10 years ago].
If you're always writing you never have to worry about getting "inspired" to write.
Inspiration still comes, but it comes in the midst of an ongoing habit of writing, because "Writers write."
If you're always writing you never have to worry about getting "inspired" to write.
Inspiration still comes, but it comes in the midst of an ongoing habit of writing, because "Writers write."
Keith Giles
I feel like this is the perfect setup to a great joke that I don't know the punchline to.
Keith Giles
Without a doubt the best thing about being a writer is the positive feedback I get from people who have read one of my books or blog articles. I even keep a folder called "Warm Fuzzies" which is chock full of emails and comments I receive from people who have taken the time to let me know that something I have written has blessed them or encouraged them.
That encouragement always makes me feel like I need to keep going during the times when I feel like giving up.
That encouragement always makes me feel like I need to keep going during the times when I feel like giving up.
Keith Giles
Just write. Writer's write. Artists draw. Musicians play.
So, even if it's not automatically at your fingertips, or burning in your brain, the act of sitting down and just writing something, anything, even if it's bad, will usually help me push through the cobwebs and find something worth using.
I also recommend blogging, journaling, and anything else that keeps your mind in the mode of writing.
Another practice that has helped inspire my writing has been getting up early when everyone else is asleep. I make a cup of coffee, let the cat in, and spend those quiet hours in thought, scribbling my thoughts down, and hopefully, writing another chapter.
So, even if it's not automatically at your fingertips, or burning in your brain, the act of sitting down and just writing something, anything, even if it's bad, will usually help me push through the cobwebs and find something worth using.
I also recommend blogging, journaling, and anything else that keeps your mind in the mode of writing.
Another practice that has helped inspire my writing has been getting up early when everyone else is asleep. I make a cup of coffee, let the cat in, and spend those quiet hours in thought, scribbling my thoughts down, and hopefully, writing another chapter.
Keith Giles
I wrote a series of blogs about a year ago that really convinced me that this was an important topic and I knew it was worth the time and energy to make this my next book.
Keith Giles
Writers write. If you call yourself a writer and you're not writing, then you're not a writer. So, my best advice is to start a blog, or keep a journal - or both! Get yourself in the habit of writing daily, and then keep at it.
The second best piece of advice is to edit yourself mercilessly. Less really is more. Try re-writing your four page story down to two pages without removing any of the dialog, or action. Then, take that two pager down to one page. You will be astonished how much better your writing will get when you start looking hard at what is superflous and begin making cuts to the fat.
Finally: Get feeback. Find someone who will honestly tell you when your writing sucks and thank them profusely for their honesty. Or find a workshop where you can have people you don't know read your writing and give you feedback on what works and what doesn't. The best writing classes I took in college were workshop classes and I would kill for that kind of environment now.
Thankfully I can try out some of my writing on my blog and solicit objections and feedback online - and my wife is an excellent sounding board for me, too.
The second best piece of advice is to edit yourself mercilessly. Less really is more. Try re-writing your four page story down to two pages without removing any of the dialog, or action. Then, take that two pager down to one page. You will be astonished how much better your writing will get when you start looking hard at what is superflous and begin making cuts to the fat.
Finally: Get feeback. Find someone who will honestly tell you when your writing sucks and thank them profusely for their honesty. Or find a workshop where you can have people you don't know read your writing and give you feedback on what works and what doesn't. The best writing classes I took in college were workshop classes and I would kill for that kind of environment now.
Thankfully I can try out some of my writing on my blog and solicit objections and feedback online - and my wife is an excellent sounding board for me, too.
Keith Giles
My next book, "Jesus Untangled" is almost complete! I'm very excited about this project. The subtitle: "Crucifying our politics to pledge allegiance to the Lamb" should give you a clue what it's all about.
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