Inspirational Fillers and Devotionals

Short Pieces of Writing That Offer Hope and Wisdom

Aug 4, 2009

Short and tightly written devotionals and other shorts illustrate one value while bringing uplifting thoughts to a reader. Learn to use few words to convey a message.

To understand how tightly written words can form a picture with a message, consider proverbs 25:11, “Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word fitly spoken.” The sentence forms a beautiful picture that appeal to the senses while providing food for thought.

From Idea to Written Piece

To produce an apple a seed is planted and cultivated. The tree grows, and the beautiful ripe apple is chosen and picked. The apple provides nourishment, but the setting of silver conveys love and care The setting of silver is the framework of the piece. An apple on a paper plate would provide the same nourishment but not the same beauty. The imagery illustrates the need to consider words as a gift that will nourish a soul.

When an inspirational idea comes to mind, connect it to the reader benefit. Start with stating the theme in one sentence. Then write out the whole idea before editing. Make sure the reader benefit is clearly illustrated or stated.

Polish the Words

The apple in the setting of silver shines because someone took time to polish it. Editing polishes the writing. Don’t rush to serve the words before making them shine.

How does a writer edit the piece? First, remove anything that takes away from the focus. Ask questions. Does the title match the focus and grab the reader’s attention? Is it a play on words, such as “A Stitch in Time,” about someone’s medical need for stitches? Does it relate to universal problems, such as, “The Lost Pen”?

Ask, can the reader easily find the focus or is it buried? Do the words describe a memorable picture that conveys the message? For example, the inspirational poem by Emily Dickinson, “The Cirlce” conveys the message to go beyond rejection with offering inclusion.

Is it tightly written? Check every word to see if it belongs. Read the devotion out loud to hear how the words flow. Consider the audience. Is it full of active verbs with a high energy level for teens, or a gentler pace for older readers?

Examine the conclusion and overall impression. As the apple in a setting of gold provided a beautiful picture of nourishment for body connected to words as nurturing the mind, does the inspirational piece do the same? An apple is a fitting food for all. As an apple provides sweetness to the lips and energy to the body, so the inspirational filler should provide joy and energy to the soul.

Does it benefit the reader? Will it uplift his or her spirits or cause the person to reflect?

Checklists

Use these checklists as tools to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses. Not every meditation or short filler will have everything checked.

Check for these strengths to create in the writing. Work hard to stay on the single focus. Ant words or thoughts that are not relevant to the focus should be removed.

Check this list of short comings to avoid. Eliminate any problems from the writing. This may mean replacing phrases or verbs, cutting out cliches, or adding in more description.

Once completed, the words become precious gifts of wisdom, carefully packaged with love. It's ready to sell.

The copyright of the article Inspirational Fillers and Devotionals in Writing for Non-Fiction Genres is owned by Karen Whiting. Permission to republish Inspirational Fillers and Devotionals in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.