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Hey, God, cool blog, man. (Or whatever. I guess Jesus is the son of man, right?) I love it when CEO types start blogging. It’s so easy to think people in control aren’t even normal people. Not that you are normal. But if you are willing to blog, at least you’re meeting me where I’m at—speaking my language, you know?
Entries from March 2007 ↓
A Christian Comments on God’s Blog
March 31st, 2007 — blogging, christianity, speculative fiction
Ally Shares a Lyric Poem
March 30th, 2007 — poetry
A few weeks ago, I planned to start being more organized here. I am now posting one macro look at publishing, one micro look at publishing, and one example of good writing from myself or others—each week. That’s my plan.
Here is the first example of good writing. This poem comes to us from Ally, whom you’ll see in the comments section around here from time to time. I love this poem.
Heads Up on the Blogosphere
March 30th, 2007 — uncategorized
Before Ally’s post goes live, I wanted to offer a few quick links to important things I read this week. YOU MUST READ THESE.
Sentence Tip #5 - A Passive Blog Slams No Dunks
March 28th, 2007 — sentence tips
A paragraph filled with passive voice is like wimpy basketball.
According to my son’s favorite book (Balls!), basketball was originally a low scoring game. Coaches valued defense. The game moved slowly. Most players attempted shots with two hands—rather than the more common jump shot today. And no one had yet dreamed up the slam dunk.
Is there anything wrong with wimpy basketball? Do players need to dunk in order to play correctly? No. It’s about style. It’s about guts. It’s about putting everything on the line and trying to fly.
Good sentences fly. They have guts and style. Good sentences attack the reader and don’t let go.
Why Writers Must Dream (But Also Herd Cats)
March 26th, 2007 — blogging, responses, writing
Over at SuccessCreeations.com Chris Cree is talking about Visionaries and Executioners (er, Princes of Execution). He asks, Can you move (or move someone) from one category to the other?
I was born a dreamer. In college I began to forget appointments that mattered. (Like a date with my soon-to-be wife.)
She sat me down and said, “You can’t live like this.”
Do You Know the Biggest Name in Christian Science Fiction?
March 21st, 2007 — CSFF, blogtipping, publishing, sentences, uncategorized
It’s Randy Ingermanson, and he’s the featured author this month for the Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy blog tour. Specifically, the tour is focusing on his book Double Vision.
You can find more great links to this book by going to Bethany House directly. For now, I’m going to tease readers with his great first sentence:
Keryn Wills was in the shower when she figured out how to kill Josh Trenton.
How Will Publishers Compete with FREE Content?
March 19th, 2007 — IVP, blogging, blogtipping, publishing
Are books becoming obsolete? It sounds like a stupid question to ask Michael Hyatt (or IVP or Nav or any other press in the CBA), but I’m beginning to wonder.
Consider my six-year-old daughter.
An Open Letter to the Writers I Edit
March 15th, 2007 — editing, faith and work, publishing, thehighcalling.org
I want you all to know how much I value you—not just as a resource for TheHighCalling.org and FaithInTheWorkplace.com—but as writers and poets and prophets and visionaries who challenge this thing we call church in America to rise up and act more like the Kingdom of God.
Sometimes I know you may feel like I am a hard master with your essays. And a lot of you think I am way too young to be pretending to be a master at all. You’re right.
But listen, this is the task I’ve been given.
Sentence Tip #4 - The Puzzle and Payoff of Periodic Sentences
March 9th, 2007 — editing, sentence tips, writing
You know the story of Archimedes. Given the task of making sure the king’s crown was pure gold, he puzzled and puzzled (til his puzzler was sore). Then he took a bath. And noticed the water level rise as he entered the tub.
Suddenly the answer came to him.
Disappearing for a Bit
March 7th, 2007 — CSFF, blogtipping
I’ll catch up the comments later tonight. I appreciate everyone who has commented recently—and I’m especially excited to hear from Jeffrey Carver on the question of “Is Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy Redundant?” If you drop by his blog, Pushing a Snake Up a Hill, tell him I said, “Hi!”
Now, I need to spend a few days cocooning with a manuscript that needs some intense edits.
And—POOF—he was gone.
