Part 2

Writing a Powerful Devotional

21 Keys to Writing A Powerful Devotional

Here is a check-off list to use as a guideline when writing a devotional for submission to a publisher:

 1-Check the guidelines of the publisher you are approaching. Usually the body of

     your devotional should be 250 words or less

 2-Type and double space your devotional

 3-List your name, phone number and e-mail address

 4-Create a short bio

 5-Look at other daily devotionals, thinking about those you enjoy reading the most

 6-Write out your thoughts simply and clearly

 7-Avoid saying, you should, you must, we have to, and you need to, etc.

 8-Don’t use poetry or an illustration that has been done by another. Your

    experience is unique

 9-Unless you can verify a quote, avoid using them

10-Look for ways to encourage others to delve deeper into their Bibles

11-Begin with a Bible verse and relate it to an experience in your life    
     Or start with an experience in your life and find a verse to illustrate it

12-Choose the single point you want to make and make it your single focus

13-As you begin, write out everything that comes to you--let it flow

14-Begin with action that will draw the reader in. Use an occurrence, a conversation,

    a circumstance, a thought, an idea, a Bible verse, or short Bible story

15-Relate/connect that thought, idea, etc., to an experience in your life that caused

     or helped you to grow spiritually
        Or relate it to how it taught you to accept your life, circumstance, situation, or

        people, as they are       
        Or relate it to how God worked through it to change your life

16-To strengthen your devotional, when appropriate, consider using dialogue

17-Choose a title

18-Suggest a Bible reading and find a scripture relating to your devotional’s theme

19-Write a brief prayer, a thought appropriate for your theme summarizing your

      devotional’s point, and a short "spotlight" prayer

20-List the version of the Bible you used and the reference for the scripture verses

     used

21-After you’ve written your devotional, let it “season” for a few days. Then go

     back, reread it, weed out extraneous material, and check your word count