The Writing Life
The writing life – and the life of faith – are ones of continual exercise. Paul tells Timothy to exercise in God daily (1 Timothy 4:6-10, The Message). No spiritual flabbiness is allowed. For the writer who holds her art as a means of exercising both her talent and faith, the same holds true. She has to exercise. She has to train because it makes her fit “both today and forever.”
[Read more…] about How to be a Better Writer: Exercise Your Writing
A newly released film is like a satellite. It might transmit or not. I’m on the ground and have to find something else to do. – Keith Maitland
The Christian life asks for mind’s attention and heart’s affection. – Justin Cofield, The Austin Stone
[Read more…] about Work with Purpose
Writers tend to keep details about their upcoming work close to their vests, which isn’t surprising. Their ideas may not yet be fully formed. They may have been told to remain quiet about the “particulars” by their publisher or publicist. Even so, they should talk about their upcoming projects. [Read more…] about How to be a Better Writer: Talk about Your Projects
Writing is like giving away the few loaves and fishes one has, trusting that they will multiply in the giving. – Henri Nouwen, from his Reflections on Theological Education
Writing – perhaps all art forms – dwell within the habitudes of uncertainty and bewilderment. I enter into the act of creating not knowing if I’ll create anything. A doubt underlies the thought: perhaps I’ve drawn my last drawing already, perhaps I have no more words to write. [Read more…] about On Writing: Loaves and Fishes
I still remember one of my professors chastising the class about absolute statements. He told us to avoid them or risk the peril of being confronted with a contradictory claim, not to mention a less than stellar grade. I accepted his instruction because the underlying statement was and is sound: no one person can know everything there is to know about even a single topic. It’s foolish to pretend otherwise. [Read more…] about How to be a Better Writer: Acknowledge the “but”