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Inspiring the Inspirational Writer

By Ruby Bayan

As runners in this human race, we often catch ourselves gasping and grumbling, “Life stinks!” And we almost wish we can just, what do they say, “stop the world and get off.” But whether we like it or not, life goes on. And we have two choices: we can sulk defeated or we can emerge fighting.

Defeat is not exactly something we want to dwell on, so, we consider putting up a good fight. How? We analyze our ways and ourselves. We talk to our friends. We look for solutions. Or at the very least, we read stories about how our fellowmen deal with their own stinking lives. Enter the Inspirational Writer.

Inspirational writing has hit the bookstores like a tidal wave. Volumes of material — from taking “soup” for the spirit to witnessing miracles and angels; from glorifying love and romance to internalizing success and happiness. You’d imagine man must be having a terribly desperate time, but yes, this desperation is exactly what the inspirational writer zeroes in on to address. And the writer’s main challenge is how to be effective.

If you’re an aspiring inspirational writer, there are a couple of things you need to take into serious consideration: how you come across and where you’re coming from.

Inspirational writing has a style all its own. The most effective inspirational articles are, first and foremost, personal — first person, true to life, and uplifting.

For example: you are another member of this human race who has chosen to reach out to share something precious with those who aren’t as blessed; you are a friend who cares, who wants others to learn from your own lessons. You humbly extend yourself, opening your heart and sharing valuable experiences, hoping that in the process you create a positive impact on your readers, that somehow you make a difference.

Whether you come across in concise, bullet format, or in extensive dialogue-riddled narratives, your reader will appreciate getting a clear picture of what it is you are making him understand, teaching him to be, or encouraging him to do — in no uncertain terms, backed by real-life situations, and in true-to-life settings.

The message must come from one struggling human being to another. If your readers feel your sincerity and credibility, they will trust you and look to learn from you now and in the future.

So how do you gain credibility? You can get a Ph.D. or speak in a nationwide self-improvement seminar tour. You can write a series of self-help books or a “Dear Inspirational Person” column in a national paper. Or you can simply live life like I do.

I dread to think my becoming an inspirational writer stems from my having a short attention span. Let’s just translate that as the desire to learn something new everyday.

For the past several years, I have been trying and learning an average of ten new skills a year. These skills range from Japanese cooking, mountaineering, handwriting analysis, bowling, and knitting, to wall climbing, German, paper plane folding, gardening, and web authoring. Of course, I’m also a wife and mother, a friend, a traveler, and an eater. A 15-year career in marketing and sales equipped me with skills in communication and rapport. So does this make me credible? Maybe.

Like everyone, I also catch myself saying “Life stinks!” So I hit the bookstores and enroll in workshops. And I become a student of those who do have Ph.D.s and who do speak in self-improvement seminars. I get MY inspiration from them. I live their words then I learn my own lessons.

Along the way, I blueprint a personal life of positive values and principles and apply them in practical situations, with regular people. So then I can speak from experience and I can relate with my readers. All of these lend truth, sincerity, and credibility to the inspirational articles and advice columns I write. As a rule, “I preach only what I practice.” And my readers, regular people like me, can feel this.

One afternoon, a fellow jogger passed me. Without breaking stride, he waved at me and yelled, “Live the moment!” It was the title of my latest inspirational article. I smiled and waved back. I had made a difference — even to just one person, I had made a difference. At that moment, I had received my reward.

So to all aspiring inspirational writers, this is what I can share: Live. Learn. And tell everyone about it. Reach out to touch another person’s life — it WILL make a difference.

Ruby Bayan is the Contributing Editor of Suite101.com Inspiration/Motivation http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/inspiration_motivation. Her freelance writing resources and archives are at her homepage: OurSimpleJoys http://oursimplejoys.com.