You say, “I can’t help it. I just didn’t know.”
But the truth is, dear writer, that’s rarely so.
It’s not that we’re clueless. It’s more that we choose
To follow the easier writing ways—and we lose.
Desire’s a strong wind. It can topple your plot,
Unless you anchor it with the wisdom you’ve got.
Your conscience in writing is a whispering friend,
That says, “This will work,” or “This is the end.”
Don’t muffle your voice or pretend it’s not there.
A reader can tell when you just didn’t care.
The traps are all listed, the signs are in view,
From pacing that drags to a cliché or two.
But God gave you vision, and eyes that can see,
So steer your own story where it ought to be.
When you’re tempted to say, “That’s just how I write.”
Remember, dear scribe, to choose what is right.
If you know it, then show it. Don’t hide it away,
Let the truth of your story come out every day.
Don’t let “I don’t know” cause plots to fall through,
For the craft growing in your heart is God’s gift to you.
