The Writer’s Alphabet
By Edie Melson
A is for Abundance. Write out of the overflow. Feed your soul and you’ll always have the words you need to sustain your calling.
B is for Bravery. Don’t shrink from the hard stuff, whether it’s tough topics or just the courage to continue.
C is for Commonplace. Don’t overlook the magic and beauty that surrounds you. It’s the spaces between that often add depth and meaning to our words.
D is for the Details. Excellence is found in attention to every aspect of our craft.
E is for Encouragement. Use your words to encourage others along the way. Words have great power. Wield yours for good.
F is for Finite. Our time here on earth is limited, don’t waste time and energy on what might occur.
G is for Gratitude. As frustrating as this love of words can be at times, it truly is a gift. Don’t ever take it for granted.
H is for Hilarity. Don’t forget to take time to see the humor that crops up unexpectedly. Laugh at yourself, at the circumstances, and especially at those who irritate you.
I is for…well…I. Don’t neglect yourself. Take care of your body, your mind, and especially your soul.
J is for Je ne sais quoi. Which is French for that certain, undefinable quality that makes each of us special. Never doubt how incredibly special you are!
K is for Keeping on. Don’t ever quit, no matter what.
L is for Lessons Learned. Sometimes the knowledge we have comes from our own experience, but often times it’s gleaned from the experiences of those around us.
M is for Muscles. Writing is hard work. Keep up a regular writing schedule to stay in shape and continue to grow in your craft.
N is for No. Time to write comes only when we make the choice. Saying yes to writing means saying no to something else.
O is for Only. Only you can write from your one-of-a-kind perspective. Yes,we all have shared experiences and circumstances, but those are filtered through each of us, making our voice unique.
P is for Position. Ignore those behind you or you’ll grow conceited, don’t envy those in front or you’ll grow discouraged. Instead look within and see the possibilities.
Q is for Quantity. Learn to write a certain amount every day, whether you find yourself in the mood or not. It’s this discipline that will sustain you in the tough times to come.
R is for Respect. Respect yourself for following your dream and being brave enough to say the words, “I am a writer.”f human emotions in your writing. A diet of nothing but sweetness and light cannot sustain anyone for very long.
T is for Talent and Time. Talent will get you nowhere, but time can lead you into forever.
U is for Unless. Unless you answer the call, your story may never be told.
V is for Villain. Never underestimate the power of a good villain to make a hero great—in a story and in life.
W is for What if….Two magical words that lead to an infinite world of possibilities through the pen of a writer.
X is for, Xylophone. Sometimes you have to hit it with a hammer to make the music heard.
Y is for Yes. Take a chance on success. Make it a habit to say yes to some of the scary opportunities that come your way.
Z is for Zigzag. I’ve found that as a writer, the most interesting path from point A to point B is rarely in a straight line. Almost all the good stuff is found in the detours.
I encourage you to use these thoughts to alphabetize your writing life. Can you suggest some others?
Don’t forget to join the conversation!
Edie Melson is a freelance writer and editor with years of experience in the publishing industry. She’s a prolific writer, and has a popular writing blog, The Write Conversation. She’s the co-director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, as well as a popular faculty member at numerous others. She currently has two books available, the best selling eBook, Social Media Marketing for Writers, and her latest project, a devotional for those with family members in the military, Fighting Fear: Winning the War at Home When Your Soldier Leaves for Battle. Married 30 years to her high school sweetheart, Kirk, they have raised three sons.
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4 Comments until now.
I like when things can be broken into simple and manageable thoughts. I think we could all find something in this list to help us in our writing. Thank you, Edie.
BTW – The French phrase is spelled “je ne sais quoi” – literally meaning, “I do not know what.” (The French have quite a few meaningful phrases that we don’t have in English.)
Yvonne,
Thank you for your kind words. Also, I really appreciate the spelling tip. I searched through several online dictionaries and thought I’d chosen the right spelling. I’m glad to now know the correct way. Blessings, Edie
Interesting how closely writing reflects life.
Your marvelous alphabetized depiction of writing could easily have been entitled “Life’s Alphabet.”
Thank you, Edie.
Ms.Edie, thank you for sharing, and indeed this is a remarkable piece of writing information that is exceptionally inspirational.
However, for me V is for Vision, because my vision to touch lives through inspirational words-whether written or spoken,is indeed a deep passion that does not only give me personal satisfaction,but also gives my life a sense of meaning (M)and purpose (P).
Appreciatively,
Don Chuckie.