Writing an Honest Book Changes You

I am a pastor as well as a writer and publisher. Once, I was trying to help a member of my church unlock what was getting him stuck with life and God. Nothing seemed to work, and then I had an idea. I had read somewhere that writing your autobiography would show you things you didn’t know you knew.

He did it, and it changed his life. He realized deep truths about his experiences growing up and the connections to his behavior. He saw patterns he didn’t know were there. He realized what truly mattered to him, and he reset his life. His relationship with God took on new meaning.

“For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” — Luke 6:45

This was all before I was a writer. But after working with more than a hundred clients to write books, I’ve seen this happen over and over again.

Writing a book changes you.

Let me qualify that.

Writing an honest book changes you.

I have had clients leave the most transformational parts off limits. They needed a book, the message was a good one, we wrote it well.

Those are fine.

But where my “particular set of skills” (read in a tough, husky voice) all light up is when I have a client whose book causes them to go through their own hero’s journey.

In the classic hero’s journey, there is always a deep, dark cave the hero would give anything not to enter.

But that is also where the treasure is.

When you’re writing a book, you may well get to that cave if you are mining the depths of your soul, experience, and even trauma to extract the gold that would change someone’s life.

Some clients go into the cave, and I get to be pastor as well as writing coach and editor.

Some clients aren’t ready. In some cases, it might mean they’re not ready to write their book yet. In other cases, it’s just not that kind of a book. Totally okay.

For some, it might not be the information that is transforming them, but the act of sticking with the project, finishing something they’ve been wanting to do for a long time.

It’s truly amazing to see how a person changes through the process. It’s gratifying to be thanked for a life-changing experience. Truly gratifying.

So what about you?

What are you considering writing a book about? I’ll bet you have a couple of ideas swirling around. I’ll bet one or two of them would be safe. And maybe that’s a good place to start.

But I also bet that there is at least one that is pure dynamite. A part of you longs to write it, but you also know there be dragons in there in front of that treasure.

Maybe you have a hard and dangerous question that needs to be answered. Writing about it will allow you to explore it thoroughly.

For nerds like me, this is called heuristic writing.

Truth is the Point

What is true?

What would happen if the truth were stated plainly?

What might have to change about your way of life?

What hard choices would it bring?

What might you have to give to God?

Who would you have to confront?

Who would you have to forgive?

What might you have to stop doing?

What might you have to start doing?

“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” — John 8:32

“Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts. And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” — Psalm 139:23–24

I don’t think very many people are up to this kind of challenge. I don’t even know if I am in this season, but if you are, your heart is telling you right now.

Hey, by the way. I didn’t start this piece as an advertisement for my writing community, but now that I think of it, it helps to have friends on the journey.

If you’d like to join, all you have to do is upgrade to paid. Do you have Tuesdays from 11–1 CST free? That’s when we meet on Zoom for writing and publishing tips, guest speakers, and writing feedback for any members.

If you just want to hear more about it, comment as such and we will reach out.

One Final Thought

Pray before you write.

This is a spiritual exercise if you are interested in the truth. The Holy Spirit can take you far deeper than you can take yourself.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” — James 1:5

A bonus would be to get other people to pray for you when you write. Build a team of supporters and tell them when you’re going to be writing. It will help.

I know that in some seasons we just have to get by. We don’t have time or emotional energy to open the hood like that.

But if you’re in a season where God is calling you deeper, write a book. Plan to publish it, even if you might not.

It will change your life before it changes others.

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