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When you pick a lily of a topic, explore every aspect from every angle as you prayerfully consider your subject.
Look for a unique perspective, then focus on what can be verified by Research and observation.
Select a theme and purpose to provide a solid stem from which your outline then your actual writing grows.
List and arrange each point you want to make in a logical sequence, such as time or the natural progression that occurs as something or someone begins to change.
Study book catalogs, periodicals, publishers’ websites, and writers guidelines to get a feel for the length, tone, topics, and trends of each publication.
Consider similar works in religious or secular markets where your manuscript might fit.
Especially, consider the particular reading audience your manuscript might have. Ask yourself how or why your work will affect that group of people. Then, write what you have to say with every word it’s worth. When you’ve finished your first draft, read it aloud. Then put it aside for a while. As you return to your work later, consider your content, logic, and word choices as objectively as possible, making changes as needed. Usually, these revisions won’t involve major changes in your outline but will nicely polish your work, perhaps as you add a startling statement, an interesting fact, or a penetrating question.
If your manuscript seems lifeless, put the work aside again while you go on to another project. Read poetry or a novel. Study Fiction Writing and Writing Poetry, and consider if the techniques used for those types of writing can freshen your nonfiction too. Consider a critique to help your writing reach the next level of professionalism. Also, consider other subjects you might want to explore. Then look for each angle that shows your one little water lily picked from the pond out back and set in a milk glass on a windowsill. Consider each subject as your lily, waiting for a portfolio of possibilities.
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