Post-Pandemic Writing

By Linda Gilden

 

Now that we feel like the pandemic is coming to an end, we need to think about how to come out on the other side with our writing. For quite some time, our writing has had the influences of the pandemic sprinkled throughout. Now it is time to focus on the light at the end of the tunnel and help people see how to establish a new normal in their lifestyles. Here are several ways we can do that.

 

Continue to Keep Things Clean

We are writing for the kingdom. Therefore, we need to not only keep our physical surroundings clean but also our thoughts and writing. Just as it takes a miniscule germ to infect a person’s entire body, one offensive word can turn your readers away from a lifesaving message.

 

Have you ever been waiting for a book to be released because you just know it will change your life. Then as you are reading, the author uses one expression or word that you find offensive and the whole book is ruined for you? Don’t let that happen to your readers.

 

Take Off Your Mask Only When Not in a Crowd

Masks can only help us when we use them properly. We have been encouraged to wear masks whenever we are around lots of people, even family.

 

However, we can safely remove them in our writing. Being vulnerable is important when we are sharing the message God has given us with others. Vulnerability is not the easiest thing to practice in our writing. But when your target is the heart of your reader, you will change lives when you hit that target.

 

When I took off my “mask” of vulnerability, I began to get mail from my readers as to how much my words had meant in their lives. They connected with me at a level I couldn’t reach when I was holding back and had my mask on.

 

Stay Out of Crowds

One of the things we have heard for the last year was to stay out of crowds. Every group over a certain number could be a haven for germs. This applied to friends and public gatherings as well as small family events.

 

Writing is a solitary activity, yet the easiest things to write about are often those which are on the minds of the crowd. Hence, the pandemic has been the topic of many articles and even books over the last year. However, stepping outside of the popular box and writing about topics which are related and sometimes difficult can have the greatest impact. Trust God to direct you and lead you to write what will change lives. Perhaps you can approach articles from a spiritual standpoint. How did the pandemic impact your faith? How did your faith grow as a result of changes in the world over the past year? It’s time now to reach out to other people, whether through your writing or in person.

 

This horrid virus has wreaked havoc on families all over the world. Let’s take a lesson from the new rules that have been imposed for our protection. It’s time to take off our writing masks, write our messages cleanly and clearly, and take a stand to encourage others to speak up and make a difference, one word at a time.

TWEETABLE

It’s time to take off our writing masks, write our messages cleanly and clearly, and take a stand to encourage others to speak up and make a difference, one word at a time. via @LindaGilden (Click to tweet.)

Linda Gilden is an award-winning writer, speaker, editor, certified writing and speaking coach, and personality consultant. Her passion is helping others discover the joy of writing and learn to use their writing to make a difference. Linda recently released Articles, Articles, Articles! and is the author of over a thousand magazine articles and 19 books including the new LINKED Quick Guides for Personalities. Linda’s favorite activity (other than eating folded potato chips) is floating in a pool with a good book surrounded by splashing grandchildren—a great source of writing material! www.lindagilden.com