January 25th, 2007 — editing, writing, subject, publishing
Here’s how it works when I go fishing. I put bait on a hook. I cast and wait, recast and wait, recast and wait. Hopefully, I catch a fish. It’s just a matter of patience usually.
Unless I’m fishing in dead water. I did that once when I was a kid . . .
January 19th, 2007 — editing, writing, parables, subject, publishing
You read that right. Good writing sometimes sings, but it always stings. In addition to being a bad pun, that’s a reminder that we can’t forget to take risks in our writing. In fact, if we aren’t taking risks as writers, we might as well just stop.
Heck, sometimes we even have to take risks with new technologies like Gabcast, where you can hear me talking more about writing that takes risks. (I also share another great parable from Annie Dillard.)
Just this week, I was talking to a Texas real estate Czar and we got to talking about vulnerability. Vulnerability requires a strong, supportive community, he said. And by vulnerability he seemed to mean accountability. And by community he seemed to mean something like a bible study accountability group.
But I knew what he was talking about.
December 21st, 2006 — editing, writing, subject
It’s a simple acronym: SOAP.
Subject, Occassion, Audience, Purpose
But it revolutionized the way I write and the way I edit because it begins in the place that gives most writers trouble.
When we have ideas, they are gifts from God. They are manna. They are quail. They words from the muse.
When we don’t have ideas, we call it writer’s block.
I'm Senior Editor for The High Calling, High Calling Blogs, and Faith In The Workplace.
