Like many people I know, I am pressed to squeeze writing into my schedule in the midst of many other responsibilities and distractions. To get anything done, I create a to-do list and attack it at the start of the day. The more items I get checked off, the more successful I feel. At some point I discovered that this …
Why Write Books at All? A Case in Favor of It
Last week I offered a case against writing books in this new era. This week I want to give some reasons for continuing to write in spite of the obstacles that stand in the author’s way. Here are some things that keep me writing: 1. I Want to Play. Picture a Little League baseball team. Twelve players are on the …
Why Write Books at All? A Case Against It
Is writing books still worth the effort? I know writers at every level who are asking that question, from new writers I meet at writers conferences to authors with multiple published books. This week I will make a case against writing a book, and next week I will make a case in favor of it. Please jump in with your …
Should Authors Value Fans Only—Or Do They Also Need Opponents?
In this era when authors are expected to spend much of their time seeking the approval of readers—by “building a platform,” doing blog tours, conducting interviews, and praying for 5-star Amazon reviews—it may be helpful to look at how writers of an earlier generation used opposition to their work to make themselves better writers. My friend and colleague Diana Glyer …
The Best Discipline I Ever Followed: One Hard Thing a Day
On any given day, certain tasks loom before me that I really don’t want to do. I’m not referring to bothersome but routine chores that are merely unpleasant. I’m talking instead about things I dread doing. These are actions that I know I can’t put off forever but that I can delay for a good long while. They linger on …
On the Necessity of Cultivating a Secret Life
When people hear of someone having a “secret life” or “secret self,” their first impression is probably negative. They might think of someone having an affair or extorting money from his company. They might think of a politician using secret funds to hide and mistress and a baby. But a secret life—or lives—doesn’t have to mean hiding something illicit. I …
Why Bible Writers Would Have a Hard Time Finding a Publisher Today
It is often said that the Bible is the all-time bestselling book, but it achieved that status in a much earlier publishing era. What would happen if the Bible were submitted as a new book to a publisher today? I imagined how an editor trained in today’s publishing realities might respond to it: Dear Writer: I have read your manuscript …