John Newton (1725-1807) was a preacher, a key figure in abolishing slavery in the UK, and the hymn writer of many songs, including “Amazing Grace.”
Gleaning from such an impactful communicator is a no-brainer, but I’m particularly excited about his advice because it helped me transform my scattered thoughts into confidently creating this blog. While his insights focus on writing, I believe they apply to all forms of content creation—art, videos, and more.
I’ve organized his timeless advice using the 5 Ws (Who, What, When, Where, Why, How) to capture this gold for both myself and you.
1. Who Should Write?
- YOU!
If you don’t usually write, John Newton would encourage you to make better use of your time by incorporating a writing practice into your core habits.
He told one of his friends to “be very choice of your time you would find advantage in using your pen more.” — Letter 8. February 15, 1762.
Imagine how much better use of time it would be for us to write books, fill prayer or gratitude journals, send encouraging letters or texts, build a blog community, or create any form of loving content than merely scroll on our phones?!
If you have started becoming a writer, he would encourage you to trust that it is worth it for you to write and he would celebrate your heart for writing.
He told another friend “the subjects you propose are important” and “I rejoice that the Lord has made you desirous of being useful to others.” — Letter 3. September 17, 1776.
Do you need encouragement to start the habit or to trust that your words are significant enough for you to continue? Take Newton’s encouragement personally and know that you should do it. It’s a wise use of time and it serves others, what could be better?
But if this feels overwhelming, don’t worry. He gives more baby steps in how to actually get started and grow your writing.
2. What Should We Write About?
- Write About Other Writing
That’s what I’m doing right here! Newton said, “Write short notes upon the Scriptures you read” and “from your favorite authors.” — Letter 8. February 15, 1762.
He’s giving us SUCH an easy way to get inspiration. Reflecting and commentating on other writing (or art in your art form) is a great way to build appreciation for excellence and learn how to do it yourself. It is also how we can partner and interact with other creators (even dead ones!) through responding to and building on what they have created.
But notice that he is saying to reflect on writings that are timelessly powerful and that you love. Instead of trying to emulate the moment’s trends or some critic’s opinion, enjoy quality things that you personally enjoy. That is a better investment and overall way more sustainable, enjoyable, and authentic in the long run.
- Write About Your Experiences
Personal stories are powerful and you should write about yours. Newton noticed that the things we write about “are most likely to influence others when they are the fruits and transcripts of our own experience.” — Letter 3. September 17, 1776.
- Write About What Matters
Newton warned, “Trifles, however adorned—are trifles still.” — Letter 3. September 17, 1776. Beautiful language is irrelevant if the substance isn’t even worth sharing. But this takes discernment because sometimes we don’t yet understand the impact. So, be patient with your journey and adjust as you learn more. It’s better to write than to overthink this, but if you see a decision where you can choose what most matters, choose it.
- Write Letters To People
Newton wrote many letters, and letters remain a wonderful way to encourage people today. Writing and receiving actual physical letters from friends brought me so much comfort during tough times. If you know anyone who could be lonely, need encouragement, or you are thankful for and haven’t expressed it enough, writing and sending them a letter could be amazing. There are even all sorts of ways to make letters extra special with pretty stationary, stamps, and decoration on the envelope. I believe letter writing could become a huge delight for our day and age. Imagine if you got something other than bills and junk mail when you checked the box?
But even besides actual letter writing, we have many ways to write to people: we can send texts, email, post on social media—even a simple sticky note can brighten someone’s day.
The purpose and structure of letters also gives a great overall model for other writing:
- Start with a personalized and tone setting greeting, thinking about your recipient as you write.
- Make it personal and free-write like you’re talking to your friend.
- Keep it short and ask your friend questions they can respond back to keep the conversation going.
Viewing blog or social media posts as letters to friends makes them feel simpler. Writing to connect with friends keeps us focused on what it’s all about and is more natural.
- Write Songs
Newton wrote about 300 hymns, some of which we still sing today! Whether this idea seems way out of your comfort zone or right up your alley, stretching your creativity to write songs or poems can bring transformational growth. I find that writing songs and poems can help me process my emotions and experiences, give me more perspective, and draw me closer to God.
- Keep a Journal
Newton started writing in journals after he came to faith in Christ and filled many over his lifetime. Whether it is a journal with simple daily records, a prayer journal, a gratitude journal, or one for everything (which is what I think is the best), we all know that there is so much scientifically proven benefit in keeping a journal. For me, it helps me process my thoughts and emotions, connect with God, see patterns in my life, and see God’s faithfulness overtime.
Keeping a blog or social media can also create a similar process of recording thoughts overtime in such a valuable way. But I think a journal is still helpful for processing in private before sharing things with others.
3. When Should We Write?
- Early in the Morning and/or a Scheduled Time
Newton Advised, “I recommend your… morning hours be sacred.” “And if you accustom yourself to rise early in the morning, you will find a great advantage.” “The afternoon is not so favorable to study. This is a proper time for paying and receiving visits, conversing among your friends, or unbending with a book of instructive entertainment, such as history etc., which may increase your general knowledge, without a great confinement of your attention.” — Letter 8. February 15, 1762.
Choosing a specific time to write will make you much more successful at achieving your goal to write. And prioritizing it early in the morning ensures it actually happens before you get tired and busy the rest of the day.
My husband helped me create a block schedule for my day and let me say that has been a total game changer in actually blogging, painting, getting inspired, and unwinding with non-work activities by the time he’s home.
I also really like how John Newton thinks reading history would be a suitable entertainment to unwind! Maybe we’re not writing as much as he did because we’re rotting our brains with inferior ways of relaxing? It makes me question what I could do to unwind that would also have an actually beneficial outcome. He recommends something that will increase our general knowledge without taking too much labor or dedicated attention.
4. Where Should We Write?
- Create a Special Spot and Change it if Necessary
Newton said, “I think one great advantage that attends a removal into a new place is, that it gives an easy opportunity of forming a new plan, and breaking off poor habits.” — Letter 8. February 15, 1762.
Overtime, we build habits associated with certain places and activities. Newton saw a huge advantage in intentionally building great writing habits linked to a specific place. And if you need to break bad habits and implement new ones, going to a new place can help with that.
Personally, I found a huge leap in productivity after working in my favorite coffee shop for a week. Even now that I am back to working at home, I am far more productive than before I tried a new place and got into better rhythms. I also had a breakthrough in my prayers when I switched from my usual more distraction prone place to going and sitting in my car each morning.
5. Why Should We Write?
- For Ourselves to Learn More Deeply
“What we only read we easily lose—but what we commit to paper is not so soon forgotten.” — Letter 8. February 15, 1762.
Our writing should primarily serve our own growth. It sounds selfish but it actually is not because saying or writing things that we do not live out ourselves always has extremely weak influence for others in the long run. Who we are as a person is so much stronger than our words, so having our writing impact ourselves first and primarily is the best purpose and motivation for writing.
6. How Should We Write?
- Asking for God’s Help
“For every new service, I stand in need of a new supply, and can bring forth nothing of my supposed store into actual exercise, but by his immediate assistance.” — Without Me You Can Do Nothing. February 23, 1775.
Literally ask God and His Holy Spirit to help with every word and thought and sentence and meaning. If we feel like we can’t write, that is all the more helpful because then we will more eagerly rely on Him and grow more intimate with Him.
- Praying for Wisdom
“Frequent secret prayer is the life of all we do. If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God, and it shall be given.” — Letter 8. February 15, 1762.
Ask Him for wisdom before and during writing.
- Praying for Joy
“Oh! that the power of God would set my heart and pen at liberty while writing, and fill your hearts while reading—that we may rejoice with joy unspeakable.” — Letter 5. May 23, 1762.
Ask God to give you joy while writing and for that joy to be so infused in your writing that your readers will be able to be filled with His joy as well.
- Praying for Your Readers’ Good
“Before you set pen to paper… and during the whole time… commend him by earnest prayer to the Lord’s teaching and blessing.” — A Guide to Godly Disputation.
Newton instructs to pray for the people who will read your writing and for the impact your writing will have on them. Prayer is powerful and changes things, so it is one of the best things we could do to make our writing the most helpful to others.
- Giving God Opportunity to Speak
“I love to give up my heart and pen, without study, when I am writing. The LORD knows the state of my friends, their present temptations, etc. and I look to him to give me a word in season.” — Letter 12. March 1, 1769.
Lay down your desire for control, and let God do the writing. Let it just come freewriting style and trust that without major edits and strategizing it will be what He wants it to say.
- As You Would Talk With Your Friends
“The whole art is to write with freedom and ease. When you take your pen in hand, pop things down just as they come to your mind; just as you would speak of them without study.” — Letter 8. November 10, 1781.
Write freely and naturally. There’s no need to overthink or search for the perfect words. I find it helpful to read my writing aloud to ensure it flows easily.
BONUS:
Download this checklist to keep with you as you’re creating
Here is a link to the full letters of John Newton quoted in this article
Maybe you’ll find even more gold in them than I did!
P.S.
I was originally inspired to learn from John Newton by reading an article by Tony Reinke called, “15 Tips on Blogging from John Newton.” I cannot find that complete article on the internet anymore, but looking at my old journals recently, I found some notes I had taken in high school about it and am so thankful!
I had it burning in my heart to write and blog for… over 8 years. I have been off and on writing and blogging during those years. It’s not that I wasn’t doing anything. But it was very sporadic and unorganized. I had ALL these ideas for things I wanted to write about and I would write them down and think about them and work all over the place on those different ideas without completing them. I truly believe that time was valuable and that good came out of it even though I didn’t have much to show. But seeing Newton’s advice for writing and putting it into practice in a structured way has transformed my writing journey and brought me to this point right now!