What if you’re not the first to write about the subject?

Fall 2022, just as I began sketching my notes to pull the Amplify book and course together, I attended an author workshop in Atlanta. Andy Bucher, who leads the editorial team at Four Rivers Media, highlighted a few concepts which will assist you in finding your voice.

A man of faith, he pointed us to Luke 1. If you’re not a person of faith, his points still apply. He first read the passage from the Bible (Luke 1:1-4, NIV):

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Then, Andy made seven observations. Each of them are relevant to you and the creative process.

First, Luke was not the first to write the message.

Clearly, as he states, “many have undertaken to draw up an account.” The truth is, just as Solomon declares, “There’s nothing new under the sun.” You can stroll the aisles at Barnes & Noble— or scroll Amazon— and find numerous books on everything from prayer to parenting, from finding your purpose to discovering your inner potential. You can learn about gardens and gangsters, as well as just about any hobby or area of expertise you can fathom.

One day my dad told me, “The average person in our society encounters more information in a single day than the average person living in Victorian England encountered in their lifetime.”

He’s probably right. There’s nothing you can’t find without just a few clicks using a device you carry in your pocket. People aren’t “wandering in the wilderness,” to use a Biblical metaphor, because of a lack of access to new information.

“What’s new,” Andy reminded us, “is your perspective.”

Your perspective, like Luke’s, matters.

Second, Luke didn’t delegate or dump his message on someone else.

You can’t. For sure, you can use a ghost-writer (I’ve even ghosted books before), but you must communicate your perspective— and your passion— as you do.

Third, Luke wasn’t— during that season of life— known primarily for his words. 

Even though the message he penned outlived him— and outreached his culture, his geographic travels, and even his lifetime— he was clearly recognized in his day more for his medical services than his writings. People knew him as “Luke the physician” instead of “Luke the writer." Writing was a second job for him. 

If you feel discouraged because your own writing or speaking or content-creation hasn’t taken off yet, recognize that you’re in good company. Like most famed artists who withstand the test of time, Luke wasn’t known— in that moment— for the greatest work he created. 

Fourth, Luke wrote for a bigger purpose.  

It wasn’t about the money— though money might come your way. Rather, communicating a clear and certain message drove him. He tells us clearly, that he writes, “so that you may know the certainty…”

Fifth, Luke wrote with an audience in mind.  

He didn’t just “sling information out,” hoping it might stick somewhere. Theopilus was his audience.

Some Bible scholars suggest that Theophilus wasn’t an actual person (in Greek, the language Luke used, the name means “lover of God,” as theo means “God” and philo means “love”). Whether he was writing to an actual person or a group, Luke certainly had someone— or someones— in mind.

Andy reminded us, “If you write to reach everyone, without a target, you probably won’t hit anything. But, if you direct your message towards a specific audience, a bull’s eye, you’ll hit them and you’ll likely hit others that are near them…”

This is important. 

When you write, type your words (or pen them, if you’re writing longhand!), as if you’re communicating to a person. That’s who reads your book— one person at a time. They might be sitting on their couch, sipping coffee at the shoppe down the street, or reclining in their bed… about to go to sleep. However, you’re not writing to a group of people; you’re talking to a person.

A book is one person writing to another person. For this reason, I always write in the first person… and speak to one person— to you.

Sixth, Luke structured his message in such a way it can be followed. 

He didn’t just toss the stories together. He ordered them… 

He declares, “I too tried to write an orderly account…” 

People often ask me how our books are created. For the most part, you first aggregate (or gather) the content. There’s not necessarily great precision and structure to the content when you first pull it together. However, after you have the information, you then assemble and reassemble it, ordering it in such a way that it makes sense and people can follow along. This is true of both books and workbooks.

(There's a video link at the bottom of this post about how books come together, BTW.) 

This leads us to our final observation…

Seventh, Luke “investigated everything” to create that orderly account. 

He didn’t simply write his opinion. His words, though certainly laced with his opinion, were conclusions based on study and reflection. 

Anyone can say “something.” Especially in our day, when anyone can record a video and post it online. Anyone can self-publish a book, as Luke initially did.

Words are cheap. What’s not cheap is saying something that’s worth saying— and worth reading. 

Your next step = Learn how to write your book

Watch the short video here and see how to take pull your message together, as well as WHY you should begin with the book (even if you want to do other things and choose NOT to publish the book).