Gleaning a Hodgepodge of Writing Ideas from a Crazy Life

This week has been crazy. So much is happening personally and nationally that I’ve been away from my writing. How about you?

Visitor from Abroad

My cousin from Denmark is visiting our family for four months. It’s wonderful to have her here. She brings different customs, perspectives, and a different language.

Do you have family overseas? Have you ever visited them? Have they visited you? What did you learn about their customs? Did you learn new recipes? How did you navigate the language barrier, if there was one?

These experiences can create many writing ideas. What humorous personal experience pieces can you write? What practical tips about overseas travel can you offer? What can you tell readers about how to go through the visa process?

The March for Life

I am unashamedly pro-life. Tomorrow (Friday, 1/24) is the annual March for Life in Washington, DC. I can’t attend but I will be watching. For the first time ever, the sitting president will address the marchers in person.

What can you write about this issue? Do you volunteer at a crisis pregnancy center? Can you tell any stories from there? What can you write about adoption? Are you grieving over a past abortion? How did you get help for that? How can you encourage other women who feel that pain? How can you encourage your readers to get involved in the fight for the lives of the unborn?

Election Issues

With the impeachment trial going on in the Senate, we can see that this election is more important than ever? What issues do you vote on? How do those issues connect with you morally and spiritually? What can you write about those issues? How can you help your readers become informed voters?

It’s always good for your writing to spring from your passions. Identify those passions and let the writing ideas flow.

© Deborah Christensen

Random Trails: Poetry Prompts | Writing Forward

Do you #write #poetry? Take a look at this link. You might find some inspiration there: https://www.writingforward.com/writing-prompts/poetry-prompts/poetry-prompts-from-1200-creative-writing-prompts

Even if you don’t write poetry, this article may inspire you.

Seeds of Truth: James 1:5

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

James 1:5, NIV

What do you need wisdom for today? How does God’s wisdom differ from our wisdom? How do you know that you can trust God to give you the wisdom you need? When have you trusted God’s wisdom in the past and it guided you to the right answer? What happened when you trusted your own wisdom instead of God’s wisdom?

How Can You Use This Verse in Your Writing?

Think through these questions. Use them to spark writing ideas.

• What kind of nonfiction piece can you write?
• What tips would you offer in a how-to article?
• What story can you tell in a personal experience piece? What takeaway value can you give?
• How can you use this verse to inspire fiction?
• How can you use this verse to inspire poetry?
• Do you know someone who lives out this verse? Can you interview them and write a personality profile on them?
• How can you explain this verse to children? What kind of children’s story can you write? What kind of nonfiction piece can you write for children? For teens?
• What kind of devotion can you write on this verse?
• How can you apply this verse to writing about God’s wisdom, God’s sovereignty, prayer, healing, illness, salvation of loved ones, marriage, parenting, pregnancy, singleness, family relationships, relationship struggles, work, finances, unemployment, current events, fear, discouragement, weakness, courage, hope, forgiveness, anger, anxiety, patience, grief, persecution, trials, etc.?

What other issues can you apply this verse to?

Plowing Together: Best Time of Day to Write – Please Comment

What time of day do you do your best writing? Why does that time of day inspire you? How does it spark writing ideas?

Please share your thoughts.

Fitbit for the Soul – Gleaning Writing Ideas from the Bible

I recently heard a sermon by David Jeremiah and it reminded me how important the Bible is to our everyday life. It’s not an outdated piece of literature. Instead, it provides guidance for every situation. It allows us to keep our fingers on the pulse of our soul. It enables us to grow in countless ways. God speaks to us through His Word.

Want to know the kind of person to marry? There’s a verse for that. Want to know how to treat that annoying neighbor? There’s a verse for that. The Bible speaks to issues like how to treat the poor, how to live a life of integrity, and even how to relate to God.

Have you ever thought of reading your Bible with your Notes app open? If a passage speaks to you in a special way, other people will probably benefit from the insights you gather.

Writing that uses ideas generated from the Bible goes beyond devotions. Use those ideas in fiction and poetry. Write how-to articles on topics addressed in the Bible. Share personal experience pieces on how God used what you read to address struggles in your life. Do you write mysteries? Use the many historical stories as inspiration for a modern-day whodunit.

The Bible is the timeless book that shows us the way to know God. It can also be a source of inspiration for our writing.

© Deborah Christensen

Friday Fun Facts: Agatha Christie’s Affliction

Agatha Christie suffered from dysgraphia, which is the inability to physically write. Therefore, it is reported, she dictated her stories to someone else to write down.

Random Trails: How to Use Freewriting to Supercharge Your Work | Write to Done

Check out this link to get your creative juices flowing: How to Use Freewriting to Supercharge Your Work

Seeds of Truth: Ephesians 3:20

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.

Ephesian 3:20, ESV

What does this verse mean to you? What does it say about how God takes care of us? What does it say about trusting Him? His love? How does this verse build up your prayer life? What happens when trials come? How does this verse encourage you to remain strong in the Lord?

How Can You Use This Verse in Your Writing?

• What kind of nonfiction piece can you write?
• What tips would you offer in a how-to article?
• What story can you tell in a personal experience piece? What takeaway value can you give?
• How can you use this verse to inspire fiction?
• How can you use this verse to inspire poetry?
• Do you know someone who lives out this verse? Can you interview them and write a personality profile on them?
• How can you explain this verse to children? What kind of children’s story can you write? What kind of nonfiction piece can you write for children? For teens?
• What kind of devotion can you write on this verse?
• How can you apply this verse to writing about trusting God, God’s sovereignty, prayer, healing, illness, salvation of loved ones, marriage, parenting, pregnancy, singleness, family relationships, relationship struggles, work, finances, unemployment, current events, fear, discouragement, weakness, courage, hope, forgiveness, anger, anxiety, patience, grief, persecution, trials, etc.?
• What other issues can you apply this verse to?

Plowing Together: Writing Mentors – Please Comment

Do you have a writing mentor? If so, how does your mentor help you glean writing ideas from everyday life? How does your mentor challenge you and make you a better writer?

New Year – New Goals

I took a break from this blog because I started a new job and I didn’t have time to write. But, it’s a new year. I love inspiring other writers. I like creating a community that encourages each other.

I’ll start with some questions to get your creative juices flowing: What writing ideas did you glean from your Christmas and New Year’s celebrations? What treasured traditions held new meaning? How did you restore fractured relationships? How did you deal with conflict? How did the loss of a loved one affect your holidays? How did your new pet adapt to your Christmas decorations? What goals did you set? What do you plan to change in 2020?

I hope one of these questions will spark a writing idea for you. Whether you write nonfiction, fiction or poetry, join me on a writing adventure this year.

© Deborah Christensen