Sharing our written words with others can be terrifying. We feel exposed and vulnerable, fearing criticism—or worse, failure.
I remember the first time I taught the Bible study I wrote. I was nervous, but God graciously gave me generous affirmation and encouragement from the women in the group. At the end of our 12 weeks together, I could’ve walked away content, feeling that my work was done.
But that’s not what happened. The women asked thought-provoking questions throughout the study, giving me insight into what was most helpful and how I could improve it. I realized my work had only just begun.
The Bridge From Good to Marvelous
Like “iron sharpening iron,” community response can be uncomfortable at times. But I’m learning that the refined result is so much more rewarding than a piece with rough edges.
Even though I know and value the beauty and benefits of the “sharpening” or editing part of the writing process, I still sometimes hesitate because of the inevitable discomfort it entails. (This discomfort is often tied to our pride and pleasure in our work.)
Last year, I participated in a peer critique group for the first time. Skeptical and scared, I submitted my non-fiction piece to a fiction writer for editorial feedback. Two of my non-fiction peers had already reviewed the piece and offered helpful comments, but the fiction writer identified completely different weaknesses in my work and provided invaluable recommendations. Her unique perspective showed me how to elevate the piece in ways most non-fiction writers wouldn’t think about.
After implementing her suggestions, I felt like the piece had grown from mediocre to marvelous. I could not have achieved that on my own; it required multiple helpers.
Why We Need Each Other
God designed us to need each other, not just for our own benefit, but also for His glory.
The Bible is clear that we’re “better together,” even as writers. God gifts us uniquely so that we can serve one another and collectively glorify Him ( 1 Peter 4:10–11). Through the illustration of the body in 1 Corinthians 12, we see the beauty of the various parts all working together.
I’ve found the editing process less intimidating by understanding the different types of “sharpening” our writing needs. Just as there are different parts of the body, there are different types of editing, and each plays a unique role in creating a God-glorifying finished piece.
- Developmental Edit: A “big picture” review, focusing on structure, argument, pacing, and overall content.
- Line Edit: A deep, sentence-level polish focusing on clarity, flow, voice, and word choice.
- Copyedit: Corrects technical errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and syntax.
- Proofread: The final check for any remaining typos or formatting errors right before publication.
The women in my Bible study were not editors, but their big-picture questions acted as developmental edits, guiding me to adjust the study’s structure and add helpful content. The fiction writer, with her focus on story, conflict, and vivid description, provided a masterful line edit, making the prose more engaging.
Humility and Courage for Writing Critique
Just as editors have different strengths, so do we as writers. Some of us are gifted at the “big picture” ideas but struggle to make sentences flow. Others can craft sentences that sing but may overlook the meticulous details.
This is not a weakness to be ashamed of; it’s an opportunity for the Body of Christ to function as it was designed.
True humility involves honestly assessing our strengths and weaknesses for the good of others and the glory of God. We faithfully steward our writing when we recognize our weaknesses and humbly rely on the strengths of others.
I encourage you to reflect on this:
- In which area are you strongest? In which areas of writing do you most need to grow?
- Can you identify writing peers whose strengths shine in areas where you are weak?
Pray about it. Ask God to help you see how you can best serve your readers and other writers. Then, ask Him to give you the courage and humility to connect with peers who can sharpen your gift, so that together you can build up the Body and glorify God even more effectively.
“…speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love” (Ephesians 4:15-16).
This blog post originally appeared as The Biblical Principle That Moves Your Writing From Mediocre to Marvelous on my Wield The Word Substack in October 2025.