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WRITING THAT WANDERS

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A tumbleweed on a windy day displays the definition of the word wander perfectly.

To wander means to move about without a fixed course, aim, or goal; to go astray.[i] In West Texas where I am from, we see tumbleweeds blowing here and there all the time. They have no root system, therefore, nothing to hold them firmly planted. They are wanderers moving without aim.


There are times when we may be prone to wander when we do not have a specific goal or destination for our journey in life. Like a tumbleweed, we do not have a root system to keep us grounded if we do not stay firmly planted in God’s word. Our faith in Christ gives us foundation, but the word of God gives us spiritual substance for pressing on toward God’s purpose.


The same is true in writing, there must be a fixed course, aim or goal that we continually refer to for moving our manuscript toward the finish line of publication. As I look back on my first writings, I see that this is where I went wrong. I wandered because I did not have a fixed course. The writings end was not firmly planted in my mind for growth toward the finished product. Therefore, the writing went here and there without a root system of even flow throughout. And so, in writing, there are questions we can ask ourselves. Writing our responses and referring to them often will help us to stay on course and not wander.


  • What is my fixed course? Like a road that begins at one place and ends at another, the theme should flow throughout the writing to connect the end to the beginning.

  • What purpose am I aiming for that will benefit readers?

  • What is the goal? Am I writing to publish, to teach, to benefit others, to entertain or to glorify God?

If the purpose we are aiming for is to make money, the reality is that very few authors make much money. But for those compelled to write and called by God to do so, 1 Timothy 6:10 is a great reminder of how the love of money (having money as our focus and purpose) causes some to wander from the faith. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 16 that we can make our plans, but it is the Lord who guides us. As we commit our plans to Him, as we pray for wisdom, as we seek inspiration from God, He will direct us in our writing as we surrender our work to Him. Ask Him what the goal of the project is to be and for direction to begin and end by threading the theme throughout. Examine your motives and see if they line up with God’s purpose.

Commit your activities to the Lord,

And your plans will be achieved.

Proverbs 16:3 (HCSB)


A man’s heart plans his way,

But the Lord determines his steps.

Proverbs 16:9 (HCSB)

[i] Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

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