WANT TO GO DEEPER AND DISCOVER HOW TO START WRITING FICTION FOR A LIVING?

Sell Out is an introduction to The Creative Way, a multi-week immersive course in writing transformational fiction that will be available for

limited enrollment a couple times a year. Since you downloaded this resource, you’ll be the first to know when enrollment opens on

September 10, 2016.

Scratch'Pad'

Beginning%with%the%release%of%my%Hirst%novel,%15%years%ago,%writers%

have%always%asked%me%why%my%novels%sell%while%so%many%others%of%

seemingly%equal%quality%don’t%sell%as%well.%It’s%because%I%have%an%unfair%

advantage,%I%would%tell%them.%I’m%doing%it%differently%than%them.%When%

asked%how,%I%didn’t%know%how%to%put%it%into%words%so%I%would%just%

shrug%my%shoulders.%It’s%a%mystery.

Now,%many%years%later,%I%do%have%the%language%to%describe%what%I%

was%doing%and%how%to%lead%others%into%that%same%way,%regardless%of%

what%kind%of%story%they%want%to%write.%

So%many%writers%nurture%a%dream%of%penning%a%novel%and%even%

more,%writing%for%a%living.%Far%too%few%succeed.%But%it’s%entirely%

achievable.%Even%probable.%Problem%is,%most%writers%take%a%path%piled%

high%with%bodies%of%the%wellZintentioned%who%have%tried%and%failed%

before%them.%%

There%is%another%lessZtraveled%path,%a%much%deeper%and%more%

rewarding%way%that%facilitates%irresistible%stories%that%always%Hind%

their%audience.%On%this%path,%writing%for%a%living%is%as%much%about%how%

your%writing%changes%the%story%of%your%life,%as%making%money%from%

selling%what%you%write.%It’s%a%path%few%take,%so%then%you%must%take%it—

there%are%no%dead%bodies%along%that%way.%Success%is%certain.%%

That%way%for%creative%sojourners%bent%upon%discovering%truth%

through%writing%stories%is%found%at%the%core%of%all%spiritual%teaching,%

even%if%what%we%are%writing%isn’t%the%least%bit%spiritual.%Word%to%the%

wise:%It’s%powerful%mojo.%Write%in%this%way%and%your%stories%will%

always%rise%to%the%top.%

There’s%so%much%practical%teaching%on%what%and%how%to%write,%

much%of%it%very%good.%But%the%who%of%writing%and%the%why%of%writing%is%

actually%more%important%than%what%you%write%or%how%you%execute%it.%

Indeed,%the%what%and%how%Hlows%naturally%out%of%the%who%and%why.%

Yes,%we%will%hone%our%craft%and%learn%how%to%write%stories%that%

connect%with%hundreds%of%thousands%by%employing%powerful%

storytelling%skills%that%blow%minds.%But,%truly,%the%most%powerful%way%

begins%with%something%else—something%rarely%discussed,%among%

writers%of%faith.%Indulge%me%for%a%few%minutes%and%I’ll%give%you%just%a%

glimpse%of%a%great%mystery%that%changes%everything.%%

You%who%have%eyes%to%see,%may%you%see.

TED DEKKER

1%Story:%Everything%is%Story%

First,%some%context.%We%all%know%that%all%good%writing%is%about%

affecting%and%moving%the%heart.%When%we%connect%to%our%own%heart%or%

to%the%hearts%of%others,%magic%happens.%Wonder%blossoms.%Tears%of%

compassion%and%joy%Hlow.%Inspirations%explodes.%The%world%listens.%

So%then,%as%writers,%our%question%is%this:%How%do%we%and%our%

readers%get%from%the%mind%to%the%heart?%%

One%word:%Story.

It%is%said%that%the%shortest%distance%between%the%mind%and%the%

heart%is%story.%Why?%Because%everyone%lives%in%the%story%of%their%life,%

and%it’s%only%that—a%story%subject%to%the%power%of%their%

interpretation.%All%experience%is%radically%subjective%to%perspective.%%

All%good%writing,%particularly%Hiction,%seeks%to%affect%our%perception%

and%experience%of%either%the%story%we%are%in,%or%the%story%we%would%

like%to%live%in.%You%might%think%you’re%writing%to%a%reader’s%mind,%but%

bestZselling%books%write%as%much%to%the%reader’s%heart,%where%they%

live%in%the%story%of%their%own%lives.%

This%is%why%we%write.%It’s%the%context%of%our%writing.%

In%writing%a%Hictional%tale,%you%put%a%character%in%dire%straights%that%

mirrors%your%own%challenges%on%some%level%and%you%help%them%rise%

above%that%conundrum%so%that%they%can%live%a%new,%happy%life.%Plot%and%

character%are%important,%but%the%story%of%how%a%character%transforms%

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within%the%plot%is%what%makes%books%connect%with%the%reader’s%own%

story.%These%are%the%novels%that%sell%out.%%

In%all%stories,%our%readers%take%a%journey%of%change%using%an%

imagined%story%of%how%we%could%experience%more%happiness%and%

fulHillment%in%this%life%and%the%next.%We%all%live%in%story%and%we%are%all%

seeking%to%improve%that%story.%

Write%into%your%and%your%reader’s%story%and%you%will%affect%the%

quality%of%their%lives.%When%that%happens,%magic%happens.%Books%sell%

out.%

But%there%is%more%to%this%story…%

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2%Self:%Who%is%writing%the%story?%

If%life%is%story,%and%it%is,%then%who%is%the%one%living%that%story?%Who%are%

you?%I’m%not%talking%about%the%story%you’re%living%in,%but%rather%the%

one%living%in%that%story.%Who%is%that%you?%Not%in%any%esoteric%sense,%

but%really.%Who%is%the%you%living%in%your%life%story?%

Understanding%your%true%identity%will%affect%more%change%in%how%

and%what%you%write%than%any%other%single%factor,%so%follow%me%here%

even%if%all%this%philosophical%talk%makes%your%head%hurt.%You%want%to%

write%Hiction%for%a%living,%right?%%%

Remember,%your%objective%is%to%improve%the%story%of%your%life—

that’s%why%you’re%writing.%Therefore,%as%you%go%about%imagining%a%

new%story%of%how%things%might%be%in%this%life,%it%is%Hirst%critical%to%

realize%that%you%are%NOT%your%story%of%life.%You%are%the%one%living%in%

that%story—a%story%you%may%want%to%and%can%change,%like%changing%a%

costume.%If%you%think%you%are%your%lifeZstory,%you%will%Hind%yourself%at%

the%mercy%of%that%story.%Only%as%you%awaken%to%the%realization%that%

you%are%far%greater%than%that%story,%will%you%Hind%the%power%to%change%

it.%

Who,%then,%are%you?%Let’s%start%with%what%you%are%not.%Paul,%that%

radical%mystic,%put%it%best.%You%are%not%what%is%seen,%he%wrote,%because%

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what%is%seen%is%temporary%and%passes%away.%Like%an%avatar%in%a%video%

game%or%a%role%in%a%movie.%He%called%your%avatar%your%earthen%vessel—

same%basic%thing.%It’s%a%beautiful%gift%to%be%honored%(something%those%

pesky%gnostics%denied)%but%it’s%not%your%unseen,%eternally%true%self%

who%can%be%known%and%experienced%as%you.%Paul%was%adamant%about%

this%because,%well…%it’s%true.%

Jesus%put%it%this%way:%The%real%you%is%in%the%world%(for%a%short%time)%

but%not%of%it.%You%are%in%your%story%but%that%story%is%not%essentially%you.%%

Like%Neo%in%the%Matrix,%you%are%in%this%matrix%but%not%of%it.%It’s%your%

job%to%awaken%to%who%you%actually%are,%beyond%all%that%your%eyes%can%

see,%as%Paul%said.%

Who%are%you?%Again%according%to%Paul,%you%are%what%is%unseen%by%

earthly%eyes.%You%are%complete%in%your%union%with%Christ.%Complete%is%

the%same%word%for%perfect.%Your%story%might%need%some%help,%but%you%

are%complete,%gloriHied,%risen%with%and%one%in%Christ,%full%of%more%

power%and%peace%and%love%than%you%can%possibly%comprehend.%You%

are%hidden%with%Christ%in%God%where%there%is%no%conHlict.%%

Or,%in%Paul’s%most%radical%characterization%of%who%you%are%as%the%

son%or%daughter%of%the%Father%in%Colossians%3:11:%“Christ%is%all%and%in%

all.”%Are%you%a%part%of%all?%Even%more,%as%Paul%writes%to%the%Romans,%

those%he%justi@ied%he%also%glori@ied.%That%is%who%you%are.%GloriHied.%

In%John%14%and%17,%Jesus%put%it%this%way,%no%less%radical:%I%am%in%you%

and%you%are%in%me.%Like%a%bottle%of%perfume,%where%the%perfume%is%in%

the%bottle%but%the%bottle%is%also%in%the%perfume.%There%is%no%

separation.%It%seems%impossible%until%you%think%of%them%as%one.%He%

then%compared%that%oneness%to%the%same%way%He%is%one%with%the%

Father.%His%teaching,%not%mine.%

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Or%more%simply%put%by%Jesus,%you%are%the%light%of%the%world.%Not%you%

shine%the%light%or%have%a%light%but%your%are%the%light.

That%is%who%He%said%you%are.%Too%esoteric?%Too%philosophical%for%

your%taste?%But%you%must%understand,%all%artists%Hind%ways%of%seeing%

what%few%see,%even%if%it%seems%esoteric%to%others.%And%it%matters,%

because%as%you%connect%with%your%identity%as%the%light,%you%will%Hind%

boundless%creative%power.%%

Then,%as%that%one,%you%can%write%to%change%the%story%of%your%

character’s%lives,%your%own%life,%and,%by%extension,%the%lives%of%those%

who%read%your%story.%Stories%of%transformation%transHix%a%world%who%

longs%to%see%light%in%the%darkness,%and%that%includes%ever%living%soul.%

Every%blockbuster%movie%and%or%novel%are,%at%their%core,%

transformational%stories.%%

Most%importantly,%you%get%to%write%to%discover%the%treasure%in%the%

Hield%of%your%own%life.%This%makes%your%story%utterly%authentic.%

Readers%crave%authentic%stories.%Writing%your%story%becomes%a%

practice%of%Hinding%and%abiding%in%the%creative%power%of%boundless%

power,%full%of%insight%and%inspiration%to%affect%change%in%you,%your%

characters,%and,%by%extension,%your%reader’s%experience%in%this%life.%%

This%is%true%regardless%of%genre.%All%stories%are%about%a%character%

(you)%overcoming%against%all%odds.%They%are%all%about%working%

through%some%form%of%darkness%(challenge)%to%Hind%light%(resolution).%

There%is%perhaps%no%greater%truth%that%we%as%writers%can%awaken%

to%than%the%truth%of%our%own%identity%and%creative%power.%It’s%a%game%

changer.%But%we%can’t%be%who%we%are%unless%we%Hirst%see%who%we%are.%

And%we%can’t%see%who%we%are%unless%we%sell%out.%%

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3%

Selling%Out:%The%Art%of%Surrendering%%an%Old%Story%for%a%New%Story%

How%can%I%write%as%the%one%who%is%complete,%full%of%peace,%one%with%and%

in%Christ,%brimming%with%more%creative%power%than%I%have%imagined?%

you%might%ask.%

There%is%only%one%way%and%Jesus%put%it%best:%Let%go%of%who%you%

otherwise%think%you%are.%Or%in%His%words,%deny%your%self.%Which%self?%

Not%the%self%that%is%complete,%risen%with%Him,%and%full%of%creative%

power,%surely.%%

Rather,%let%go%of%every%version%of%your%self%is%this%not%in%line%with%

who%you%really%are.%Surrender%the%old%story%of%who%you%thought%you%

were%and%embrace%the%truth%of%who%you%really%are.%Put%the%old%story%of%

you%on%the%cross%each%day,%and%abide%in%the%vine%of%His%creative%power%

which%is%now%your%own%in%Him.%%

Surrendering%is%simply%falling%out%of%a%dark%prison%of%fear%into%the%

light%where%boundless%inspiration%is%found.%So%then,%why%would%you%

not%want%to%surrender%in%your%writing%practice%each%day?%

Then%you%will%be%able%to%Hind%peace%in%the%storms%of%writing.%Then%

solutions%to%your%writing%problems%will%arise.%%

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Think%of%inspired%writing%as%a%form%of%seeing%through%a%dark%fog.%

The%light%is%there,%you%just%can’t%see%it.%The%solution%is%already%there,%

like%the%sun,%but%clouds%of%confusion%and%frustration%are%in%the%way.%

Our%journey%as%writers%is%learning%to%see%more%clearly%along%with%our%

characters.%

It%is%as%Jesus%said:%The%eye%(your%perception)%is%the%lamp%(it%shows%

you)%of%the%body%(your%bodily%experience%in%this%life.)%If%your%eye%

(perception)%is%clear,%your%whole%body%(earthly%experience)%will%be%full%

of%light.%But%if%your%eye%is%bad,%the%light%within%you%will%be%dark%indeed.%%

It%is%as%Jesus%said:%You%are%the%light%of%the%world.

But%you%can’t%write%inspired%words%if%you%are%blind%to%that%light.%

Fear%not,%because%Jesus%came%to%bring%sight%to%the%blind.%

Do%you%see?%Our%practice%as%writers%is%to%surrender%all%that%blocks%

our%vision.%Every%plot%point,%each%chapter,%each%book%idea,%each%story,%

every%word%we%write%is%an%opportunity%to%write%with%either%clear%

vision%or%clouded%vision.%The%only%way%to%see%clearly%is%through%that%

beautiful%process%called%surrender.%Each%hour,%each%day,%each%blog,%

each%book%is%Hilled%with%opportunities%to%Hind%the%light%in%us%by%letting%

go%of%the%clouds%that%block%the%light%from%our%vision.%

When%you%sell%out%and%write%with%clear%vision,%your%writing%will%

connect%with%readers%in%way%you%never%imagined%because%they%too%

are%the%light%of%the%world,%looking%to%see%that%same%light.%

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4%

Sand%Castles:%Playing%with%Your%Story%

Knowing%now%who%you%are,%you%quickly%realize%that%you’re%not%a%writer,%not%really.%

You’re%just%playing%the%role%of%a%writer%for%a%short%time%in%this%life.%And%you’re%

playing%that%role%to%change%both%your%life%experience%and%those%of%your%readers.%

In%this%role%as%‘writer’%you%have%great%freedom%to%be%as%creative%and%unique%as%you%

like,%both%in%content%and%in%marketing.%It’s%all%part%of%the%story%you’re%creating.%

Think%of%yourself%as%a%boy%or%girl%on%a%beach,%building%sand%castles.%Those%

sand%castles%are%the%articles%and%books%you%write,%the%contracts%you%sign,%and%the%

campaigns%you%run%on%social%media%to%spread%awareness.%To%be%clear,%you%aren’t%

the%sand%or%the%sand%castle.%You%know%that%a%wave%will%soon%come%and%wipe%away%

your%sandcastle,%but%that’s%okay.%It’s%not%who%you%are.%%

You’re%on%the%sandy%beach,%but%not%of%it.%

Once%you’ve%let%go%of%the%idea%that%your%sand%castle%is%more%than%it%is,%you’ll%

feel%great%freedom.%Success%or%failure%in%building%that%sand%castle%doesn’t%Hill%you%

with%fear%or%worry.%You%can%always%start%over%and%build%another%sand%castle.%If%

someone%comes%and%knocks%over%your%sand%castle,%that’s%okay%too.%There’s%plenty%

of%sand.%%

You’re%that%child,%playing%in%the%sand%for%a%short%time,%building%very%cool%

sandcastles%with%abandon%and%freedom.%In%that%space%of%awareness,%you’ll%not%

only%build%the%coolest%sandcastles%imaginable,%you%won’t%fear%loss,%and%let’s%face%it

—fear%of%loss%is%the%Achilles%heel%of%all%writers,%as%it%relates%to%both%content%and%

marketing.%What%if%doesn’t%work?%What%if%no%one%likes%it?%What%if%no%buys%it?%

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What%if%I%can’t%get%a%contract?%The%mad%voices%in%your%mind%are%like%chattering%

monkeys%in%the%trees%and%there’s%no%way%to%shut%them%up.%

It’s%okay.%Remember,%you%are%complete%already.%Instead,%ignore%them.%They’ll%

quite%down%when%you%stop%yelling%at%them.%

Now,%get%back%to%building%your%sandcastle.%Go%back%to%the%cool%challenge%of%

keeping%the%thing%from%falling%over.%Not%that%it%matters,%but%that’s%the%game%you’re%

playing.%How%tall%can%I%go?%How%many%turrets%can%I%build%without%knocking%the%

whole%castle%over?%

Marketing%is%only%the%Hlag%you%put%on%top%so%other%people%stop%and%look.%Our%

problem%is%that%we%immediately%revert%to%thinking%we%are%our%work,%our%

sandcastle,%the%roles%we%play%as%writer%or%that%we%are%our%Facebook%post.%We%

quickly%court%fear%of%rejection%and%our%minds%Hill%with%limitations.%%

Rather,%simply%be%the%child%of%the%Father,%who%you%are,%as%the%true%you,%

regardless%of%the%sandcastle.%Be%you,%because%any%other%version%of%you%is%only%a%lie%

that%drains%you%of%energy.%What%sandcastle%will%you%build%then?%What%story%will%

you%write?%

Whatever%it%is,%that%story%in%all%of%its%authenticity%and%power,%will%Hind%its%

audience.%It%will%affect%and%move%the%heart.%When%you%connect%to%your%own%heart%

and%to%the%hearts%of%others,%magic%happens.%Wonder%blossoms.%Tears%of%

compassion%and%joy%Hlow.%Inspirations%explodes.%%

The%world%listens.%

Do%you%want%to%write%Hiction%for%a%living?%Good.%So%do%I.%And%what%an%

incredible%way%of%living%it%is.%

%

Happy%writing.%%

Ted%Dekker%

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