This past weekend I was at a convention in Worcester, MA and one of the keynote speakers said something I found insightful and true: The key to writing is re-writing.
The context of her speech had absolutely nothing to do with writing a sermon, but the statement is so applicable nonetheless. What's the key to writing a good sermon? The key to writing is re-writing. When I initially print out my message each Thursday it's nice and clean, but after reviewing my message over and over prior to Sunday, it eventually looks like this (see picture below).
The context of her speech had absolutely nothing to do with writing a sermon, but the statement is so applicable nonetheless. What's the key to writing a good sermon? The key to writing is re-writing. When I initially print out my message each Thursday it's nice and clean, but after reviewing my message over and over prior to Sunday, it eventually looks like this (see picture below).
Rewriting isn't necessarily about changing the content, just discovering a clearer and better way to communicate it. Here's (basically) how this looks for me...
- First draft includes the basic message, but lots of superfluous material
- In the second draft I start seeing what parts I could eliminate
- In the third draft I start seeing better ways to communicate the content that made the cut
- In the fourth draft I'm reviewing the core essence of the message
Note: I don't personally re-type my message. As I read it over and over I cross stuff out and make lots of notes. It's in that sense that I re-write.
Whether you're writing a letter to the editor or a sermon, the key to writing is re-writing. Re-writing brings clarity and focus and increases the chances your audience will understand what is is you're trying to communicate.
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