We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master. — Ernest Hemingway
Ignorance comes in two forms: not knowing and not wanting to know. Both can be costly. Do you understand Point of View? Not knowing may lead to head-hopping that confuses readers. Are you sure you know the grammar rules? Not knowing can lead to sloppy work that frustrates editors.
A writer who says, “I don’t need to study the craft. I just write from inspiration,” is choosing ignorance. Inspiration is beautiful, but without applied skill, our messages won’t captivate readers.
When Forgetting Hurts
Even when we do know the right principle, we may forget at crucial moments. Most writers have heard “show, don’t tell,” but in the heat of drafting, we easily fall back into “She was sad” instead of “Tears blurred her vision as she clutched the unopened letter.” That’s why taking notes during workshops, making lists of common pitfalls, or keeping a personal “checklist of craft reminders” can be valuable. Forgetfulness is normal, but systems help. Create one that works for you.
For example, suppose you know pacing is vital, yet you overload a chapter with backstory. A sticky-note on your monitor—Move the story forward—can help you remember not to do that, saving valuable time.
Trusting Detours
Your manuscript may stall, a publisher may reject your proposal, or a contest may not go your way. At first, this feels like failure, but often it’s God’s detour for your protection or preparation. Like Moses who spent forty years in the desert before God sent him to deliver the Israelites from Egypt, you may need time in the “desert” to grow in discipline, patience, or clarity that will push you toward the best message for the audience that God has called you to write for.
Writers sometimes think all the words they type are sacred—never to be edited. That blind belief can leave their work rough and unreadable. We need to learn what we didn’t know we needed to learn. Work through the detours and see how God might use them to bring you to a greater level of excellence.
Appetite for Truth
Do you really want to know the truth about your writing? Feedback can sting. An editor’s red pen can feel like rejection of you as a person. But without a hunger for truth, we stagnate. Jesus said those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled (Matthew 5:6). Or stated another way, “Those who strive to write their best, who hunger and thirst to please God, will find true satisfaction.”
Some writers faithfully submit their work to critique groups, not because it’s fun, but because they want to improve. Others who defend their work, seeking approval, miss the pleasure of making their stories better.
Effort and Discernment
Until they get into the heavy lifting, aspiring writers seldom realize how much work is required to produce a captivating story. The Bible says wisdom is to be “sought like treasure” (Proverbs 2:4–5), which means we keep digging and searching. We never give up, no matter hour grueling the work turns out to be.
Discernment is also needed. Not all advice is helpful. Online forums, books, and workshops don’t always agree. Critique partners might not have the right perspective.
Prayerfully consider the style and approach that will be most effective for your audience.
Antidote for Ignorance
No matter how many craft books you read or writing courses you take, you will never know everything. That’s okay. What matters most is seeking God’s wisdom in your writing journey. Lacking wisdom, we can ask God, and he will give generously show us what we need to know (James 1:5). Sometimes his wisdom comes as a sudden idea that solves a plot problem. It might be courage to keep writing when you feel like giving up. Or it could be knowing which story to pursue next.
Ignorance is part of the human condition, but remaining ignorant is our choice. Don’t make that mistake. Writers who refuse to learn, who reject correction, or who cling to myths have severely limited their potential. Instead, seek truth with humility. Write ideas down. Ask for feedback. Do the research.
Most of all, pray for God’s wisdom to guide you.
Without a clear message, rushing to write is like running with no destination. Slow down. First seek understanding from the Lord. Or your story may go astray. — Proverbs 19:2 Scripture for Writers
Fading Ignorance
There’s knowing a thing, and not knowing it too,
But worse is choosing to ignore what is true.
Writers who say, “I’m good. Don’t need to learn,”
Will miss out on wisdom at every turn.
We all can forget what we once understood,
So write it, rewrite it, and make memory good.
A note on the desk or a verse on the wall,
Can help you remember when blanks come to call.
Sometimes there are detours, delays, or a stall.
While wanting the prize, you can still trip and fall.
Yet God is seeing what you cannot yet see.
The setback can shape who you’re meant to be.
Beware of the myths that sound easy and bright,
Like “first drafts are perfect” or “editors get it right.”
These tales can mislead you. They shimmer. They glow.
But wisdom will test them, and soon you will know.
Do you hunger for truth, though it stings when it lands?
Will you welcome the red marks from critical hands?
Those who are eager to learn will welcome the test.
They’ll grow in their writing and give readers their best.
Search on with persistence. Don’t stop. Don’t despair.
But ask God for wisdom to sort what is there.
Know that some “tips” are not treasures of gold.
Some shimmer with lies that will leave you cold.
No writer knows it all, and nobody ever will.
But God gives us wisdom, grace, and skill.
Ask him for guidance. He’ll show you the way,
And ignorance will fade in the light of his day.
For a practical guide to storytelling, check out Storytelling at Its Best
