Last year, Jeff Goins interviewed me on the subject of writing. I’m publishing the complete, unedited interview on the blog in three installments. Whether you are an author, a blogger, or someone who likes to post long notes on Facebook, I hope you will be inspired by the interview.
How long have you been writing, and how did you get started?
In the mid-90s, I became the host of what was known back then as internet “Bulletin Boards.” Bulletin Boards were the precursor to blogs today.
Every two weeks, I’d write a short article on a certain aspect of ecclesiology and post it on the Bulletin Board. People would comment on it and we’d have an engaging discussion (much like a blog).
As time went on, more and more people began asking me for the articles in printed form. At first, I would print them out on my computer and staple them together. Then someone suggested that I hire a printer to put them into a book. So I tried it.
In 2004, a Christian publisher became aware of my self-published stuff and made me an offer to publish it. Knowing that I would reach a much larger audience with a publisher, I accepted the offer. My first published book was The Untold Story of the New Testament Church.
Two years later, Tyndale House (via George Barna) wanted to publish my book, Pagan Christianity, and I agreed. Since then, I’ve published with Thomas Nelson, David C. Cook (Francis Chan’s publisher), and Zondervan (for Spanish editions). To date, I’ve written 10 books. Three are eBooks and seven are published by Christian publishers. I’ve also published many articles. People can view them all on my Mediography page.
Recently, I experimented with my first self-published Kindle project. Epic Jesus is the name of that work. It’s also in Spanish.
You’re the author of multiple books. Can you explain your process? How do you write a book? Do you have a regular routine?
Christopher Morley once said, “The most valuable writing habit I have is not to answer questions about my writing habits.” In like manner, Hemingway rarely talked about his writing habits, feeling it brought bad luck. However, he did leak them out here and there. And someone compiled a book from those leaks . . . which I happen to cherish.
So in the spirit of Hemingway, I’ll leak a bit here.
There are three different ways that I do it.
One way is to select a spoken message I’ve delivered in a conference, have it transcribed, and then shape it into written form. “Epic Jesus” is the most literal example of this process. (People can click here to hear the message and compare it to the eBook.)
From Eternity to Here is based on messages I delivered in five different conferences in the United States in 2005 and 2006. I did a great deal of editing on those transcribed messages to craft the book. But its origins were those talks given to live audiences.
Another way is to combine a series of articles I’ve written into a book. Revise Us Again is an example of this process. About 65% of that book is made up of previous articles I’ve written in different publications. The other 35% is new material. All the chapters are tied together by a common theme.
Still another way is to sit down and write a book from scratch. Reimagining Church, Finding Organic Church, Jesus Manifesto, and Pagan Christianity are all examples of this process. The last two were written with co-authors, Leonard Sweet and George Barna, respectively.
Regarding my routines, here’s how I typically work:
- First, I write a tentative Table of Contents. I usually end up modifying and rearranging it as I write the chapters. But the general framework stays pretty much the same. The Table of Contents is like a map that helps navigate me to where I’m going.
- Second, I begin writing the chapters. I don’t always write them in order. Instead, I go with what inspires me at the moment. This part of the process is like throwing a lob of clay onto a wheel. The clay is disorganized and without form; I just write my thoughts on the screen. It’s the raw material to work with later.
- Third, once I’ve gotten some clay on the wheel, the real work begins. This is where I shape, mold, add, remove, and re-write. For me, the art of writing is re-writing. I keep re-writing until something satisfactory emerges.
- Fourth, once all the chapters are in good form, I print them out and go through them with a red pen in hand—making edits, changes, removals, and additions. Reading the printed manuscript in hand is very different from reading it on the screen. Things I wouldn’t notice or see on the screen suddenly come to light.
- Fifth, I insert all the changes that I made on the manuscript with my red pen into the document on my computer. This is the part that I hate. It’s laborious and tedious. It reminds me of Peter De Vries’ famous words, “I love being a writer. What I can’t stand is the paperwork.” I wish I could hire someone to do this part of it, but honestly, they would never be able to read my hand-writing. (It’s a cut below chicken-scratch. I can’t decipher it myself sometimes!)
- Sixth, I go back and redo steps three, four, and five. Re-write, print out, edit with a red pen, insert edits into the document on the computer. When I’m thoroughly sick of re-writing the book, I wash my hands of it and hand it over to the editor. And herein do I fully resonate with the words of Winston Churchill:
“Writing a book is an adventure. To begin with, it is a toy and an amusement; then it becomes a mistress, and then it becomes a master, and then a tyrant. The last phase is that just as you are about to be reconciled to your servitude, you kill the monster, and fling him out to the public.”
Like Hemingway, I write best in the mornings. Between 5 am and noon. I’m also a plodder. I plod a little each day. Some days I’m highly motivated and can peel off thousands of words at one sitting. Other days I’m like James Joyce.
One day a friend of Joyce’s found the author hunched over his desk. The friend asked, “What’s wrong?” Joyce responded, “I’ve been working all day and have only written six words.” His friend said, “Six words is normal for you.” Joyce replied saying, “I know, but I don’t know what order to put them in!”
I concur with Gene Fowler who said, “Writing is easy; all you do is sit starting at a blank sheet of paper until the drops of blood form on your forehead.”
But my favorite quote of this type is by Red Smith: “There’s nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein.”
Some authors are regimented. They force themselves to write a certain amount of words each day. I tried to play that game and the uniform doesn’t fit. I write when I’m inspired. This is especially true for blog posts.
In fact, sometimes I’ll wake up in the middle of the night with an idea that’s burning in me. I’ll get out of bed and write an entire post at 3 am. I rarely do that with books, I’ve done it numerous times with blog posts (and interviews). Interestingly enough, it’s 4:18 am EST right now as I write these words.
I’ve listed the things that inspire me to write in a blog post.
Incidentally, I enjoy blogging more than writing books. Perhaps because it’s not as grueling.
Thanks, Frank. As a writer and editor, I always enjoy posts on the writing process. I love the James Joyce quote. Hadn’t heard that one before.
I have read several of your previous posts on this topic and appreciate your thoughts. I have had an idea stored on my computer that began back in 1994, From time to time I will look it over and ponder whether I should pick it back up. Maybe the time has come to jump back into it.
Fantastic post!! Now I’ll “leak” about how I READ your books. Gonna go out on a limb and say this is probably a very similar routine for most of your readers:
1. Rent a post office box from a prepaid cell phone.
2. Create a fake email address at the public library so I’ll have a pseudonym to do my business.
3. Order one of you books via Priority shipping to the PO Box………….Wait a few days.
4. Dress in a black. Hooded Sweatshirt, ball cap, and aviator sunglass required. Torrential rainfall is a plus.
5. Call and check on my Pastor to make sure he is at his desk and not driving around town.
6. Write a lengthy letter to my wife and children. sealed with wax… and with clear instructions not to open unless I have not returned by dawn.
7. Drive to a store of ill-repute. Give them a church business card and ask the cashier if they’d like to ask Jesus into their heart… and… Ask for a black bag.
8. Go to the post office. Sit in the parking lot until all other customers have left.
9. Go get the book. Place book in black bag. Cancel the PO Box rental. Hand the post office worker the money we agreed to. Tip my hat. Wink. Smile. Leave.
10. Drive the long way home… Peeking in the black bag multiple times.
11. Read the book in its entirety with highlighter in hand. Weep. Jump. Shout. Get angry. Weep some more.
12. Draft letters of resignation to the institution.
13. Ask wife and kids if they want to go back to the Public library.
That’s pretty much how it goes down….
Blessings,
Your little Brother in Christ
That’s insane. You’ve exactly described how I read my books too.
My Brotha’ from another motha’
Only two books left to read from you. Epic Jesus and Revise us again.
Then I’ll have to start all over.
I thank God for you every day… You have been a huge help in turning my life, on its head!!! Something from one of your books enters nearly every conversation I have these days with my friends. We are so EXCITED about the correspondence we have had with your camp regarding a KY conference in May. Not gonna beg….but Please prayerfully consider coming and ministering to us and with us. Two days ago I was talking with my wife about how things in our city were starting to shake. People are waking up to the fact that there is something….”Beyond the Building”, and that “there’s got to be more”. Then at 3 AM yesterday….our city experienced a mild earthquake…that literally shook people from their sleep…coincidence….I think not!!!!
Not to mention…. The bass fishing here in May is Unreal… Just sayin.
Hey, Frank. That was more than just leaking a few of your ideas.
I concur on your author coaching. Great input. Keep sharing your thoughts and wonderful posts. – Michelle
Thanks so much for the encouragement!
I have 3 books on deck. They are all on 3 differing subjects of Christianity, so I’ll end up getting bored with one of them, and switch to another, and the sme problem ensues.
Well, they probably thoght I was bonkers BEFORE I read Pagan, but that’s besides the point 
When I get back to my original manuscript, I’ve forgotten the flow by that point and find it difficult to start again. I’ve also noticed, I’m better at responding to blogg posts than I am at creating blog posts
And Frank, to make your chest really puffed with pride, your books have changed my life. Thanks to you, I still have an outstanding bill from seminary that I didn’t complete, and a bunch of people at a church who think I’ve gone bonkers.
Ant: Words like that humble me and cause me to praise the Lord for His ability use me. A paintbrush is deluded if it thinks it was responsible for the artist’s work. Though I’m not against seminary. God leads some there and others He leads out.
Sounds familiar…
My blog posts come pretty quickly and easily, because I only write those when inspired. But about a year ago I started writing fiction. I had a neat story idea that led me down a road of 6 or 7 chapters…then I got stuck. Later, I had another idea for a different story–same thing. I got really into it and was consumed by the idea for about a week. Then, like a light switch, my brain was turned off until another idea came after listening to my favorite Eagles songs like “Life in the Fast Lane” and “Desperado”.
As it stands right now, I have 4 stories that I have started. Some with significant amount of time and energy put into them, others that were great moments of inspiration and creativity that died as quickly as they were born.
I feel like I could actually finish a story if I would just quit having new ideas…a well, maybe someday I’ll finish something.
Hope all is well Frank!
Thanks Frank, for an incredible post. I don’t know if you are familiar with Madeleine L’Engle’s Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art. It’s full of wonderful wisdom, such as this quote by Chekov: “… but You must once and for all give up being worried about successes and failures. Don’t let that concern you. It’s your duty to go on working steadily day by day, quite quietly, to be prepared for mistakes, which are inevitable, and for failures… The thought that I must, that I ought to, write, never leaves me for an instant.” This quote has encouraged me more as a writer than any other.
Devine inspiration, thanks! I can so relate to your leak list; confirmation much needed.
Loved Josh’s post. It made me laugh. My scenerio is quite different. I sit in my car at the post office, feet on dash, book in hand; then go through the drive-thru line with book in clear view on the dash. Eat lunch as quickly as possible (not recommended) so I can continue reading aloud with constant acclamations of “I have to read that again.” “I knew I wasn’t crazy.” “Did you hear that?” To which my darling husband simply smiles.
Still institutionalized, but seeking change.
thanks for this, Frank. So encouraging – some of your methods are similar to mine (like printing a copy and amending it) even though I haven’t finished my first book – I once joked it was being written one coffee morning at a time.
Thanks for sharing, Frank. I dream of being able to write a book someday.
Thanks for sharing. I get most of my inspiration while writing on something else or in a prophesying meeting where each one has something to share. I jot them down (iphone is a huge help here) and then develop them later.
I have a feeling that I will relate mightily to that quote from Winston Churchill, not that I am writing a book but I am in the final stages of my Masters where the fun stops and I actually have to write up what I have found out. Just in case you wonder my thesis is Wild Boar:friend or foe? Examining the conflict of wild boar management in my area of Latvia where I live. Not the exact title you understand, but near enough.
Thank you so much…I’m inspired and encouraged..I wrote my first book after teaching/preaching and I felt the Lord say, now write that message down and get it out in book form..it only took me 3 years
…(lots of distractions along the way)..but I finally got it done and am now working on another one..they are workbooks really. Besides keeping up on my websites. I also started a blog.
Thank you again! Oh and I love the quotes!
Great tips and quotes, Frank. I’ve always loved that Churchill quote on writing. Fling the beast to the public!
Another tip I use: write your back-cover copy first. This, along with the table on contents, is a great guide for me – keeping me on message.