Learn How to Write Devotions that Sell

I try to cover all aspects of writing for publication. And one of the questions I get the most is how to write devotions that sell. Unless you’re writing flash fiction or poetry, a devotion will be one of the shortest pieces you’ll ever write.

Narrowing Down Your Options

A lot of newer writers I meet find themselves overwhelmed with the myriad of options in the field of writing. They struggle, trying to decide between writing articles, devotions, fiction, non-fiction, etc. Writing is a big field, and if you didn’t study some aspect of it in college, the choices can be daunting.

My suggestion—take a deep breath—you don’t have to start out with a specialty. As a matter of fact, until you’ve tried several different genres, you probably shouldn’t limit yourself too much. Even those of us with formal training find ourselves morphing into a different kind of writer than we envisioned at the start of our career.

Give yourself time to flex your wings. Try out different things. Write for the web, for print—even try your hand at a short story or flash fiction. Not only will variety help you determine the kind of writing you love, it will improve your ability overall. Here are some other tips to help you get started.

• Look for a writers group in your area. There may or may not be one, but if there is, it will help immensely. It gives you perspective when you see what others are doing and you’re able to ask questions.
• Take a look at what you like to read. What touches you? What do you find yourself saying, “If I could write anything, I’d write this?” The answer may surprise you and lead you down a different writing path.
• Determine what you want to accomplish with your writing. Is it to touch people, glorify God, earn a little extra money? The answer may not be all one thing, but you should have one that stands out from the others.

These tips will help make your choices easier. They will also help you determine where to go for further training. For example, I might recommend one book for a writer who wants to write devotions and a completely different one for someone who is interested in freelancing as a career.

So, bottom line, don’t be afraid of all the choices—embrace them! And don't be afraid to try more than one project at a time. Trust me, it can be done.

I’d love to hear from you. What kind of writing do you like to do? How did you discover it?
Don’t forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie

God's Marathon

I shall run the way of Thy commandments, For Thou wilt enlarge my heart. Ps 119:32 (NASB)

The crowd began to roar as the runners came into view, arms pumping and feet pounding. All of their training and discipline came into play during that last mile. Their faces reflected the struggle to continue—to finish the race. If you’ve ever witnessed a marathon, you know what I’m talking about. These athletes train for months to be able to finish that grueling 26 mile race.

So how do they manage this amazing physical feat? They’re not born with the ability to run these distances, no one is. It takes training—months and years of discipline and sacrifice—and a larger heart. That’s right; doctors have found that long distance runners have significantly larger hearts than the average person. This is a result of their intensive training. They need this larger muscle to pump additional oxygen through their blood to compete at this level.

As believers, we also have a race to run. God has a purpose for each of us; at times it’s a grueling marathon of faithfulness and work. But God also provides the strength, the larger heart, to accomplish His purpose through us. As we practice daily obedience and discipline, our capacity for the lifeblood of the Holy Spirit increases. Our hearts enable us to be used by God in His work. We too can become elite spiritual athletes, an example of what God wants for all His people.

Staying on Track with a Devotion

Last week we talked about how to stay on track when writing an article. This week we’ll talk about how that focus pertains to writing devotions. Unless you’re writing flash fiction or poetry, a devotion will be one of the shortest pieces you’ll ever write.

A devotion is a piece that illustrates a truth through a story. Almost always, the truth being illustrated is a Scripture from the Bible. Occasionally you’ll run into other truths illustrated in a similar fashion, but these are generally referred to as meditations.

Because devotions are so short, they’re somewhat easier to keep focused. But be sure that every sentence refers back to the Scripture lesson you’re trying to illustrate. In something so brief, side trips—no matter how enlightening, are strictly forbidden.

Terminology Note: Most people outside the industry interchange the words devotion and devotional. Contrary to popular belief they are NOT synonyms. A devotional is a collection of devotions.

Most devotions range from 100 to 700 words in length, with the average being around 250 words. There are certain conventions you should be aware of when you pen a devotion, but few hard and fast rules.

Here are some of the guidelines commonly followed

• There’s always one single lesson per devotion (this is a hard and fast rule)
• There’s a tie into a single Scripture—usually no more than 1-2 verses
• They’re short—generally 150 to 400 words

These are the aspects that can change

• The placement of the Scripture—it’s common to have it before or after the body of the devotion
• Thought for the day—some devotions include them and others don’t
• Prayer—again, some have them, some don’t
• Challenge or question—this is another aspect that is up to the publication or author

There are many places that accept devotion submissions. Some offer payment, others only clips. Personally, I love to write devotions and I love to read them. One of my favorite sites is http://www.christiandevotions.us/ . If you’ve never written devotions before, they're an excellent resource to learn how and they accept submissions. Their policy now is to offer clips, but no payment. Their site gets a lot of hits so it’s a good place for a beginning writer to start.

What devotion sites do you like to read? Where have you submitted devotions? Share your tips and remember –
Don’t forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie