A hearty congratulations to Dr. John D. Eckrich on the recent release of his book, Vocation and Wellness: Renew Your Energy for Christian Living! Who wouldn’t like more vocational wellness in their lives? I learned about this via Facebook in an informal review by a man I very much respect, so I’m happy to highlight it for you today.
Monthly Archives: May 2016
Lutheran Writers’ Blog Roll
It’s been nice getting to know a few new readers lately. There have been some helpful suggestions. One touches on this: would you be interested in me adding a Lutheran Writers’ Blog Roll to my site? It might be a neat resource for those seeking community with Lutheran writers, as well as another way to let Lutheran authors speak for themselves. What do you think?
Filed under Uncategorized
Sorrow and Thankfulness
You know how, as Lutherans, we regularly confess our sins? As I would say to my kids, it’s both a church practice and something we practice just because it doesn’t always come naturally. We confess in part to recognize sin ourselves, turning to the Holy Spirit to reveal it to us. (Isn’t it neat to think of the Holy Spirit as both the source of the conviction of sin and conviction of faith? John 16:8; 1 Thessalonians 1:5) Well, it occurred to me that sorrow and thankfulness mingle in both the Church and our vocations.
While we have pastors, the church year, and the liturgy to help us practice thankfulness toward our God because of Jesus, I for one could consider practicing thankfulness more within my vocations! Below I apply that thought to writers.
Filed under As Christian Writers, Writer's Life
Consider Etiquette
Let’s consider etiquette a little more. Yesterday we looked at a link comparing and contrasting “thank you” and “sorry,” to offer a more cheerful, appreciative outlook and interaction. Well, today I’ll link to a book on etiquette I recommend. It helped shape my perspective and understanding in a surprisingly practical way.
Filed under Writer's Life
“Thank you” rather than “Sorry”
Writers have to plumb the depths. What is hidden a few layers deep? What is really going on? It’s part of character development, obviously, but it’s often indicative of why we write, too. And it’s true about non-fiction writers as well as novelists. Theologians? Write because of sin, suffering, wonder and marvel over the revealed God! And though the following article may be more personally insightful than character building toward that future best seller, it’s worth a read. Maybe you’ve seen it: it speaks via cartoon about the difference—and perspectives—between “thank you” and “sorry.” After the link, I’ll expand on sorrow and writing.
Filed under Uncategorized
Tornado Bag
Last night the sirens went off and we had to hustle our family to the storm shelter. We started to get ready as soon as an alert was texted out, since, frankly, it’s intimidating getting six little kids out to safety. One was actually in the bathtub so it was all, “Hurry, honey! Let’s get dressed!” and, aside, “Mary!! Pack a diaper bag!!” So, what would you pack in a tornado bag? Would you pack for comfort or distraction? Where would books or writing figure in?
Filed under Uncategorized
Cover Contest
I found out about a neat Facebook giveaway. Lumen Legends’s Facebook page, by author Tyrel Emmett Bramwell, is offering a signed copy of The Gift and the Defender as a prize in a Favorite Cover Contest.
Filed under Uncategorized
Reading Psalms and Reading Ourselves
I’ll admit it. I make use of secondary sources. So here’s another link to my dad’s blog, this time on his post Reading the Psalms. For our sake, I thought we could apply the Tips for Reading the Psalms to reading and writing in general. Reading Psalms and reading ourselves is obviously different, so I shift content a bit to get to some food for thought as writing tips.
Filed under Writing Tips
Dana Gioia Interview
Another Federalist Radio House piece if you are interested: a Dana Gioia Interview, speaking on the enchantment of poetry and American Literary Culture. I appreciate how he points out that so often we are trained to write in ways that people no longer read resulting in the paradox that so many are “paid to profess poetry,” but so often poets write to other poets rather than the public.
Is writing just for writers? Who do you write for? Or, when you encourage others, what are you encouraging them toward?
Filed under As Christian Writers, Poetry, Writer's Life
Structure for the Doctor
Let’s explore a little more about the idea I shared yesterday, but this time talk about structure as well as content.
Filed under Shared Writing Ideas