Writing in Layers: Trusting the Author and the Process to Reveal Your Story
Just a quick note before we dive in—
Welcome to all the new faces and thank you to those of you who’ve been walking this journey with me for a while! I’m so glad you’re here. Let’s dig in!1
I used to think stories had to be written in a straight line—beginning, middle, and end, all neatly mapped out. But the more I write, the more I realize that storytelling, like life, unfolds in layers.
Recently, as I stood before a half-finished painting, I hesitated before adding another brushstroke. What if I ruined it? What if I got the colors wrong? But then, I reminded myself—paintings, like stories, aren’t created in a single stroke. They take time. They require trust in the process.
Writing is the same way. I’ve never fit neatly into the category of plotter or pantser. Instead, I pounce—jumping between scenes and ideas as God reveals them. It’s not a linear journey, but a layered one. And the more I embrace this, the more I see the same pattern in life.
Because God, the Author, is writing a story in each of us—one scene at a time. I’ll unpack that a little further below.
Plotter, Pantser, or Pouncer?
Would you consider yourself a plotter, a pantser, or something in between?
I’ve realized I don’t fit neatly into either category. Instead, I pounce. As I write, I jump back and forth between ideas and scenes as God reveals them. My process isn’t meticulously planned, yet I don’t completely fly by the seat of my pants either.
One moment, I’m running through a field with Adeline, feeling her fear as she’s chased by a bear. The next, I’m sitting beneath the stars, listening to a heart-to-heart between her and her father.
Adeline isn’t just a character I created—she represents so much more. She is me as a little girl. She reflects my daughters. She embodies all of us who dare to go on a quest to discover our purpose, calling, and identity.
In my “pouncing,” God deposits deep-seated truths and timely reminders. At one point, I worried that because I didn’t fit the mold of plotter or pantser, I was doing fiction “wrong.” But my wise writing coach reminded me:
“If it’s working for you and you’re co-creating with God, go with it. It doesn’t have to look a certain way.”
That’s what I want to remind you of today as well. Creativity isn’t bound by a formula—it’s about creating with our Creator. We are all made to create, but how we express that creativity varies based on God’s unique calling on our lives.
Because at the end of the day, creativity isn’t just about the act of making something. It’s about the desire to create and express ourselves.
Creativity, Desire, and Unlearning
Recently, I was having coffee with some local writer friends when they admired one of my paintings from my #100DayChallenge and #TheQuestInColor series. I brushed off their compliments, but then one of them said something that stopped me in my tracks:
“Not everyone has the desire to paint.”
Here I had been diminishing my creativity, forgetting that the very desire to create is a gift from the Holy Spirit.
But first, we have to unlearn old narratives and uncover what has been there all along.
One of my first creative epiphanies came when I asked myself:
“Is this who I am becoming, or who I’ve always been?”
The answer doesn’t matter nearly as much as my continued pursuit of God. The more I dig into the story I’m writing, the more I uncover about myself and about Him. And the more I dig into the story I’m living—I find the same truth.
During the Creativity Summit I participated in last month, Allen Arnold shared something that resonated with me:
“We can’t create what we don’t know.”
We must know God to create worlds that reflect Him and His character. But we don’t have to understand everything before we create—we discover as we create.
It’s less about us connecting the dots in our lives and more about God revealing mysteries He’s tucked away.
This leads us to have faith—not just in our writing process, but in our everyday lives.
Faith, Control, and POV
During one of our meetings for my in-person writing group, we talked about whether we skip to the end of books to see how they turn out. Some of us do, some don’t. Then, we wondered—does our Enneagram type influence this choice?
I’m not an Enneagram expert, but this conversation led me to a realization about control.
So often, we want to skip ahead in our own lives. We want to know how things end before we fully live the story. But we aren’t the author—God is.
There’s a quote that says:
“God is the Author of your story. Stop trying to steal the pen.”
God is the Author of the story we are living. We are the main characters. And we are the narrators of the stories we write and live.
But our point of view (POV) is determined by the Author Himself.
First-Person POV (Our Lived Experience)
“I walk through the valley, not knowing what lies ahead, but trusting the Author has a purpose.”
We experience life in first-person POV, limited to our own thoughts, emotions, and immediate surroundings.
We don’t have full knowledge of the plot, but we trust the Author does.
This perspective requires faith because we don’t always see how the pieces fit together.
Third-Person Limited POV (Our Understanding of Others & Events)
“She wondered why the storm had come, unaware that on the other side, a field of flowers awaited.”
Sometimes, God gives us glimpses into others’ stories, but we still don’t see the full scope.
Like reading a novel with a limited third-person POV, we observe and interpret, but our knowledge is constrained.
Our understanding grows over time, but only the Author knows the whole story.
Living in first-person faith while embracing a third-person perspective allows us to trust God as the Author while fully engaging in the story we are meant to live.
Final Thoughts: Embracing the Layers
Just like writing a novel or painting a picture, life is built in layers.
Some moments feel messy, unfinished, or uncertain—but that doesn’t mean the story isn’t unfolding exactly as it should.
You don’t have to be a plotter or a pantser. You don’t have to have everything figured out. God is writing your story, revealing the details in His perfect timing.
And as we create—whether through writing, painting, or simply living—we discover more about who we were made to be.
So, let’s keep creating. Let’s keep trusting.
Because the best stories are the ones that take time.
Reflection Questions:
How do you approach creativity—plotter, pantser, or something else entirely?
Where do you see God as the Author of your story right now?
What layers of your own story is He revealing to you?
What I’m Speaking
🎙 On the Mic – I recently shared prewriting and brainstorming tips on the Kingdom Writers Podcast—listen here!
🎤 540 Writers Group – What a blast to share my message last month on Dressing Up Your Story! Grateful for the new writer friends I met.
🌲 Mt. Hermon Faculty Debut – Next week, I’m attending Mt. Hermon as faculty for the first time! If you’re going to Vision Christian Writers Conference, please come say hi!
What I’m Writing/Painting
I’m still painting scenes and ideas for Adeline’s journey—learning to embrace the “not knowing.” It’s stretching me, but I’m realizing that even when I long for certainty, God is more concerned with the unfolding of the story than my timeline. He reveals the next step in His perfect timing. Here are some of my recent pictures that represent key elements of Adeline’s journey.
What I’m Reading
📖 Being Fully Known – Yes, again. Because it’s that good! Dr. Dalton-Smith talks about the seasons of growth God places us in, and right now, I’m in the field of Surrendering—learning patience, trust, and obedience.
🌿 The Secret Garden – I want to reignite my childlike wonder. I want to be the mom who lets my kids meander on walks instead of rushing them. If they stop to smell the roses, I want to be there too—probably taking a picture to paint later. I have a copy on hand, so I might make that my airplane read! 🙃
What I’m Planning
📅 Upcoming Virtual Writing Conferences – I’m giving two different workshops next month! Stay tuned for more details and how you can grab your tickets!
✈️ Prepping for May Travel & Hosting a Writing Retreat – Plus, gearing up for summer with three kids at home!
🙏 Dreaming & Praying About a Workshop – I’m considering hosting a small group at my church to help women (maybe even high schoolers and young adults) write and share their testimonies. Praying about what this could look like!
What I’m Loving (Just Pure Joy & Creativity!)
🎨 Painting – I see the world differently now. Sunsets move me to tears. Creativity is more than we think it is—it’s a way to worship, to notice, to express.
📝 Journaling – Unlike last year, I haven’t stopped my morning pages. Writing daily has helped me process thoughts, ideas, and emotions in ways I didn’t expect.
🌸 Getting Outside – Tennessee spring is here, and I’m soaking in every moment with my kids—feeling the breeze, chasing sunsets, and embracing the beauty of God’s creation.
Let’s keep uncovering together!
Until next time,
Whether you’re new around here—maybe you discovered me through The Transformation Tale, The Faith-Based Frameworks Guide, a podcast, a workshop, or an in-person event—or you’ve been with me for a while… thank you.
I’m so grateful you’ve carved out a little corner in your inbox (and heart!) for this creative adventure. Around here, you’ll find encouragement, practical tools, and faith-filled inspiration to help you boldly live out your God-given calling—with a dash of joy and a whole lot of grace. 💜✨
I love that you're a pouncer and have embraced so many layers of your creativity.
Thanks for sharing your brilliant insights in such an accessible, engaging way.
Immensely enjoyed and learned from this post Stephanie. You have put a new impetus on my desire to write a sequel to my memoirs published in 2020. Thank you! God Bless You. p.s. I also raise monarch butterflies in upstate NY and write devotionals and speak on how watching their transformation has clarified my own Christian transformation. It is part of my talk this week - I was asked simply to tell my story.