The #1 Biggest Mistake New Writers Make

Before Frodo set off on his orc-riddled adventures, the Shire was his safe place.

It was predictable. It was cozy. It was fertile.

And staying in the Shire meant no danger, no courage, no growth, and no story.

As writers, we all have our own “Shire moments.”

• Staring at a blank page with nothing to say.

• Reading over clunky, early drafts and feeling like a simpleton.

• Pouring your heart into words that nobody seems interested in reading.

It’s tempting to shrink back into our hobbit holes, isn’t it?

To stay where it’s safe, where we don’t have to risk rejection or orcs.

The #1 mistake beginner writers make is avoiding the space of mistakes.

Let me explain.

A friend of mine recently bought a pottery wheel. Every time I see her bent over it in her garage, I can’t help but picture that iconic scene from Ghost.

When I asked how her new hobby was going, she said, “I’m wasting more clay than I’m using right now, but I know that ratio will change eventually.”

That stuck with me.

Every “wasted” clunk of clay is really just an experience gained. Every glob, clump, and slab (those words feel right) of clay she drops is not truly wasted.

It’s the same with writing.

This is a shift in perspective on mistakes. Instead of judging your work harshly, view revisions and rewrites as part of being a writer.

• That messy first draft is where your best ideas take root.

• Those clunky sentences are building blocks to sentences that will soon pour from you.

And here is something we know as Christian writers: God doesn't waste. 

Isaiah 64:8 reminds us, “We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.”

God uses everything to shape us.

Your mistakes aren’t wasted—they’re part of God's process for you.

But knowing that doesn't make self-doubt magically disappear.

The thoughts storm in:

• Am I even good at this?

• What if I’m wasting my time?

• Do I have anything worthy to say?

As someone who has been writing every day for over six years, I've learned that your relationship with writing changes as you grow.

And growth requires three things:

• Persistence: Keep showing up, even when it’s hard.

• Grace: Forgive yourself for imperfection.

• Courage: Trust God with the outcome.

Because every hero begins in a world that feels too small for them.

Frodo wasn’t made for a quiet life in the Shire.

Lucy Pevensie wasn’t meant to stay on the other side of the wardrobe.

Neo wasn’t meant to stay trapped in the Matrix.

You are not meant to stay a beginner.

God wants us to step out of our comfort zones.

Whether that’s starting a story we’re scared to tell or facing the blank page again after rejection. Moses felt unqualified. Gideon felt terrified.

But God’s call isn’t about our abilities. It’s about His purpose working through us.

And when you’re tempted to give up because your writing doesn’t feel good enough, remember Frodo. He didn’t feel ready, but he stepped out anyway.

Writing is about embracing the mistakes you will make.

So pick up your pen. Light a pipe if you need to feel Tolkien(ish). Lean into the process.

God can use every “mistake” to shape you as a writer.

Because leaving the Shire isn’t just about creating better stories.

It’s about becoming the storyteller God desperately needs you to be.