Ask Jessie / I am 17 years old and really want to be a writer when I grow up. I've read your books and they constantly inspire me to pursue God and His goals and hopes for me. I want to inspire people to live for God the way you do, and I was just wondering how you got where you are. Do you have any suggestions for me on how I could go about starting a career like you have in writing?

Thank you for your encouraging words! I get no greater pleasure out of writing than to hear that God is using these books to inspire girls to pursue Him. Seriously.

One of the greatest pieces of advice my college writing professor gave was this simple adage: "Writers write." If you love to write, do it--no matter what form or function your writing takes. Keep a journal, but don’t make it a log book (“Today I went to the beach…”) or fill it with just the mushy, boring feelings that morph from day to day (“Today I was so hurt because…”). Spend time describing the world and people around you through written words. Create concrete images. Play and experiment with words like you would a musical instrument.

Second piece of advice: take writing courses in college. If you already know you would like to make a career of writing, get the training. It's invaluable.

Lastly, always remember that your life is in God's hands. You may want to be a writer with all your heart, but He may know that the best thing for you is to be a missionary in Zimbabwe or a teacher in your hometown. Pursue your dreams, but always hold them loosely.

Best of luck, sis!

Love,

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