Keep Casting

The only way we can fail as writers is to quit. So keep writing—when you’re scared, exhausted, and discouraged. Let the act of writing be the encouragement you need to fulfill your calling and once again recapture the joy. — Edie Melson

Writers have more in common with fishermen than we might think. Jesus invited Peter, the fisherman, to follow him and learn how to fish for people” (Matthew 4:19). That picture carries an important lesson for anyone who wants words to matter. A fisherman doesn’t stand in the kitchen holding a fishing pole and wonder why nothing bites. He goes where the fish are.

Writers must do the same.

Go Where the Readers Are

Many aspiring writers imagine that if they write something worthwhile, readers will somehow discover it. Usually, they won’t.

A fisherman can have the finest rod, the strongest line, and the best bait available, but none of it matters if he never reaches the water. Likewise, writers need to think beyond the words. We must consider where the people we hope to help are already gathering. They may be reading blogs, scrolling social media, attending churches, joining readers groups, listening to podcasts, watching videos, or searching online for answers to problems they are facing. The apostle Paul understood this principle when he said, “I do my best to find common ground with everyone, seeking to help them get from where they are to where God wants them to be” (1 Corinthians 9:22). He didn’t change the truth. He changed the way he approached people.

Writers can do the same. The message remains faithful, while the method adapts to the people we hope to reach.

Write for a Real Need

Fish don’t bite simply because a fisherman wants them to. Something has to attract them. Readers are much the same. Rarely are they searching for our writing because they want to help us fulfill our dream of becoming favorite authors. They’re looking for something to satisfy a need.

• They may need encouragement.

• They may need hope.

• They may need understanding.

• They may need laughter.

• They may need practical help.

• They may need truth presented in a way they can finally understand.

Good writing begins when we stop asking, What do I want to say? and begin asking, What does my reader need?

Jesus frequently began with people’s immediate need. He spoke about water to a woman standing beside a well. He spoke about bread after feeding hungry people. He talked about seeds, sheep, vineyards, coins, weddings, and farming because those things belonged to the everyday lives of his listeners. He met people where they were and led them somewhere deeper.

We should follow Jesus’ example.

Keep Casting

Anyone who has spent much time fishing knows that one cast isn’t enough. You cast. Nothing happens. You cast again. Still nothing. Then comes another cast. And finally the line moves. Writing can feel exactly like that.

• You post an article and almost nobody reads it.

• You submit a manuscript and receive a rejection.

• You send an email and receive no response.

• You publish a book and sales move slowly.

The temptation is to assume the effort failed. But fishermen know better. One empty cast doesn’t mean there aren’t any fish. It only means that cast did not produce a catch. The apostle Paul said, “Never tire of doing good, for a harvest of blessing is certain if you never give up on God.” To encourage writers, he might have said, “Don’t be discouraged by the silence of writer’s block. A breakthrough is coming as long as you keep trusting the One who gives you words to write” (Galatians 6:9 Scripture for Writers).

Writers need persistence. Write another article. Send another submission. Improve another chapter. Talk with another reader. Make another cast. The next one may reach someone you could never have reached otherwise.

You Can’t Force the Catch

Readers have choices. You cannot force someone to read your book, accept your message, or agree with your conclusions. When writing about faith, you can’t force someone to respond spiritually.

Our responsibility is not control. Our responsibility is faithfulness. Paul described ministry this way: “I planted seeds and Apollos watered, but God is the one who brings spiritual growth and produces the harvest” (1 Corinthians 3:6). That truth can remove tremendous pressure from a writer. Your job is to plant or water, to communicate truth clearly and faithfully.

What happens inside the reader belongs to God.

Make the Bait Worth Taking

A fisherman pays attention to what attracts fish. Writers should pay attention to what attracts readers. That doesn’t mean resorting to manipulation or sensationalism. It means learning how to communicate truth in an appealing and meaningful way.

A lifeless opening may hide a powerful message. A confusing paragraph may bury an important truth. A dull title may keep someone from discovering an excellent article.

Jesus told unforgettable stories. A rebellious son leaves home. A shepherd searches for one missing sheep. A traveler is beaten beside the road. A farmer scatters seed across different kinds of soil. Those truths were profound, but the presentation invited people to listen.

Writers who care deeply about truth should also care deeply about craft. Strong storytelling, vivid examples, clear language, compelling openings, and memorable illustrations aren’t decorations. They are part of reaching the reader.

Some Will Swim Away

Every fisherman loses fish. The hook slips loose. The line breaks. The fish reaches the net and somehow escapes.

Writers will experience something similar. Some readers will misunderstand us. Some will disagree. Some will stop reading. Some may love one book and never read another. That doesn’t mean we have failed. Even Jesus watched people walk away.

Faithfulness matters more than popularity. We need enough humility to improve when criticism is deserved and enough courage to remain faithful when rejection comes simply because someone does not want the message.

Fish for People, Not Applause

One of the greatest dangers for writers is forgetting why we began. Numbers can quietly become everything. Book sales. Followers. Subscribers. Reviews. Likes. Shares. Those measurements can be useful, but they can also become traps.

A fisherman counting fish may eventually forget why he loves fishing. A writer counting readers can eventually forget why the words matter.

• If one reader finds hope because of something you wrote, that matters.

• If one struggling believer understands Scripture more clearly, that matters.

• Although discouraged, if we decide not to quit writing, that matters.

Jesus repeatedly valued individuals whom others overlooked. One Samaritan woman. One blind man. One tax collector. One frightened father. One thief dying beside him.

Writers should never underestimate the importance of reaching one person.

Faithfulness Is the Measure

You may never know how far your words travel. Someone may forward an article. A friend may lend your book. A paragraph may be quoted years later. A reader may remember one sentence long after forgetting everything else you wrote.

Our responsibility is not to guarantee the outcome. Our responsibility is to keep casting. Go where readers are. Understand what they need. Offer something worth considering. Improve your craft. Keep trying when nothing seems to happen. And trust God with the results.

The aspiring writer often asks, How many people will read what I write? Perhaps the better question is: Am I faithfully casting the words God has given me?

Keep writing. Keep learning. Keep reaching. Keep casting.

The next reader may be closer than you think.

For a practical guide to storytelling, check out Storytelling at Its Best

Story Power Hour with Frank Ball on third Mondays at 5:30 p.m.

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