The Catholic Writers Guild

Branch Out: Have You Considered Writing THIS?

A few years ago, while I was going through the discernment process to find my charisms, I was challenged to test my “writing charism” to see how I could live into it more fully. I’ve always been a writer, but I didn’t feel like I had ever found my niche in the writing world. I’d worked hard to identify my voice and hone my craft, but I still had work to do to determine where I really fit in this world of books and publishing.

Before I could narrow down the type or types of writing that felt both fulfilling and impactful for me, I needed to branch out and try some brand-new methods and projects. The result was that I not only understood myself and how God created me uniquely to touch the world much better, but I also felt invigorated and creatively inspired!

Not every endeavor was a success. I’m not good at every kind of writing that I attempt. But the process was absolutely worth it, so I thought I’d share some of the different writing styles/activities I tried. Use these as a way to spark your own creativity or embark on a new writing venture. I’d love for you to brainstorm even more ideas in the comments.

Writing Adventures to Consider:

• • Volunteer to write for or edit the newspaper for your diocese. You could cover a local event or group, write about something on the liturgical calendar, share a story about how a Saint has touched your life, etc. I was on the editorial board of my diocesean newspaper for a year, and I wrote on a variety of themes.
  • Try poetry. Even if you’ve never written poetry before. You don’t need anyone’s permission to enjoy writing or reading poetry, and it’s a style of writing that lends itself to experimentation and growth. If you’re new to poetry, here’s my guide to getting started.
  • Offer to critique a friend’s work. This activity flexes different writing and creative muscles and can be a great learning experience. Challenge yourself to write out your thoughts in a cohesive critique letter, and remember to sandwich your negative feedback between words of encouragement. We’re all in this together!
  • Submit to a magazine or literary journal. There are monthly, quarterly, and annual journals and magazines for every interest you can imagine. Brainstorm about your areas of interest and expertise. Don’t limit yourself to theological or writing craft topics. Do you enjoy talking about parenting? Fine art? Gardening? Outdoor sports? If you’re looking for Catholic resources, check out Dappled Things or Parables Magazine. Many periodicals pay for chosen submissions, so that’s a nice perk!
  • Review a book or movie. You could do this just for yourself and post it on your blog, social media, or YouTube channel, or you could submit it somewhere. But challenge yourself to write it out so you can organize your thoughts.
  • Try a completely different genre. Every genre has a unique set of tropes, themes, and reader expectations. Studying a new one may lead you on a surprising adventure. And even if it turns out to be just a writing exercise, deconstructing and learning the ins and outs of a new genre might get your wheels turning.
  • Write a short story. For even more of a challenge, write flash fiction! Shorter isn’t easier! Being forced to choose words economically for the greatest impact is often maddening, but it can lead to other things like…
  • Copywriting. A learned skill, for sure. Think about well-written book blurbs, social media posts, and marketing campaigns. Some people get good at capturing attention with concise, descriptive sentences. Listen to some online lectures or take a course to hone your copywriting skills.
  • Write a personal essay. Penning a mini-memoir is a great way to process your thoughts. Consider taking a theme or issue and sharing your experience with it in a way that connects to your readers (rather than just recounting events sequentially). In that case, you have great material for a personal essay that you can try to get published in a relevant periodical or online.
  • Participate in NaNoWriMo. November is National Novel Writing Month. Writers from all over the country choose to try and “win” the NaNoWriMo challenge by writing 50k words in one month. Usually, people choose to draft a new novel, but you can use the resources, and community NaNo provides to knock out any project you have on your plate. 1,667 words a day… and go!

You don’t have to wait until you have the dreaded writer’s block to give something from this list a try. Consider it creative procrastination—I mean, a brain break! And keep an open mind to what you may learn about yourself and your writing affinities.

Copyright 2022, Anjanette Barr

Anjanette Barr

Anjanette Barr is a literary agent at Dunham Literary, Inc. She lives in Juneau Alaska with a house full of children, pets, and more books than she'll ever be able to read. You can find her on YouTube and elsewhere online as The Book Barrista (@BookBarrista).