There are some writers who believe you have to write every day. If you don’t, you’re not a writer. I know: I heard that a lot in my early years writing. And it depressed me because I’m not that type of writer. I can’t sit down and just start writing if I don’t have a … More Between Projects: When I’m Not Writing
We have a big backyard. In fact, we own two acres. We live just outside of town here in Texas, which gives us the occasional opportunity to run into wild animals–and loose tame ones–on our property. We’ve played host to possums, snakes, wild pigs, and lots of squirrels over the years. We like it. It’s … More Two Rabbits
I grew up in a very traditional family. My father was a veteran of WW II and was a blue collar worker. My mom, a new Christian, worked extra hours to put the four of us children through Christian schools. My father had high expectations of me, the only boy, but they were based on … More Sins of the Father
I’ve been staring at the last two chapters of my latest book project, and I know what I need to write. But I have stage fright. I know exactly what needs to go there, and after months of labor, it’s exciting to know that I am that close to finishing the rough draft. And yet, … More The Easiest–and Hardest–Chapters to Write
Life is what happens while you’re making other plans. — John Lennon There’s the dreamer’s view of the writer’s life: the writer wakes up about nine-ish, gets some coffee and sits down to write. After a day of literary masterful material flowing magically from his or her laptop, he wanders off to spend time in … More Life, or Something Like It
One of the things I noticed during my 24 years of teaching at our university is a common problem that many intelligent, gifted students have. Usually, when someone is talented in one area, they also have talents in other areas as well. And then what happens is that they get to college and they find … More Two Roads Diverged
People say that the Root of All Evil is the love of money. But I’ll wager that it’s just money, period. The fact that we need it, and most of us don’t have it. Right now, it’s pretty much running my life. And I’m sick of it. I’m not writing right now. Okay, I’ve admitted … More The Root of All Evil
Ever since I started this blog back in 2006, it’s been my pledge to be totally honest about the writer’s life and what’s going on in mine. And so it’s time to talk about the dark side that happens to some of us. I’ve been struggling with a bout of depression for the past ten … More Dealing with Depression as a Writer
Famous? No. Rich. Definitely not. Established? Check. If you’ve been writing a while, been around the block, had a few titles published under your byline, you get to the point where putting sentences together become, well, while I won’t say easy, I would say tolerable. Writing the blamed story isn’t your biggest challenge. You can … More The two biggest challenges for an established writer
In my bookcase of my office (which is currently in transit across campus) is a book that includes an essay by author Stephen Lawhead talking about J.R.R. Tolkien, the writer he says had the largest influence on him. In it he talks about when he learned the reality that who you are as a person–your … More Called To Be a Hero
The Great Adventure 