The Five Stages of a Writer’s Journey

By Andrea Merrell

Has God called you to write for Him? Has He given you a vision? A goal? A dream?

Too many times when God places a vision before us, we expect it to happen immediately. Generally, there is a process. Steps we need to take before we see the fulfillment or completion.

Pastor and author Bob Gass says, “there is a time for sowing, a time for growing, and a time for reaping.” He calls it a five-stage process. Let’s look at how he breaks each one down while keeping our writing journey in mind.

The Birth of a Vision

When the vision comes, we are excited because we realize God has a plan just for us.

The Preparation

This is where things get sticky. Gass says, "this is the stage where dreams are often aborted because we don’t want to do the necessary preparation. When God gives you a vision, there must be some action on your part, or it will never amount to anything more than a passing daydream.”

The Wilderness and the Struggle

We’re quick to think that if something is truly from God, there will be no struggle. Not the case. Look at all the examples in the Bible. Gass calls this the “proving ground of our faithfulness.”

The Realization of the Vision

This is where we see and enjoy the fruits of our preparation and hard work. But the story doesn’t stop here.

New Beginning Vision

When we’re faithful to follow the path God puts us on, the destination we reach is not the end of the journey. He will continue to pour out fresh vision and purpose for the gifts He has entrusted to us.

So there you have it, the five stages of our writing journey. Don’t have a vision? Ask God for one. Receive it with joy, and prepare yourself for what lies ahead. Don’t get stuck in the wilderness or let the struggles you face derail you. Enjoy the fruits of your labor, then be ready for God to give you fresh vision and keep moving you forward.

Don’t be impatient for the Lord to act! Keep traveling steadily along His pathway and in due season He will honor you with every blessing. Psalm 37:34 TLB

What insights can you share about your own journey? We would love to hear from you.

(Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net, zdiviv, and Keerati.)

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Writer, don’t get stuck in the wilderness or let the struggles you face derail you. God has a five-stage plan for your writing journey. via@AndreaMerrell (Click to tweet.)