I have a book in my library at home that, every time I pick it up to read, scares the whoopie out of me. I read a few pages and am troubled so much by the words that I have to put it down. The book is Absolute Surrender by Andrew Murray. Maybe that’s where … More The Next Level
There’s a specific kind of student writer that always gives me a chuckle when they show up in my classes. Regardless of whether they are an English major or a Journalism major, somewhere in their high school years they were told, “You are such an exceptional writer! You are gifted! You are talented!” And they … More The Right Treatment
I’m good at multitasking, but one of the ways to keep from going crazy is to know your limitations. Next week marks three weeks until Colloquium–the real time the school year begins at our University–and I still have lots of work to do on my classes. Wednesday we meet to determine if we are ready … More Irons in the Fire
About a year ago, I was putting the last few chapters together for my six-year Christian suspense project, The Champion Series. It follows a pastor, Harris Borden, through extraordinary circumstances over a period of 22 years, as he is imprisoned, branded a terrorist, establishes an underground army and takes on big business and then even … More Do You Believe in Happy Endings?
I was surprised recently to read that of all the writing genres, Fantasy required the most structure. But as I thought about it, it makes sense. You are asking the reader to suspend disbelief, but in order to do that, you have to establish rules for your own created universe, and then stick by them. … More World Building
I’ll be the first to admit, talking about evil, real evil, gives me a chill. And rightly so. Christians know about Satan, and believe, just as we believe in the goodness and redeeming power of Jesus Christ. And just knowing Satan is real gives one pause. But the Bible also tells us: “…whatever is true, … More How Should a Christian Portray Evil?
I am presently reading the book “Story” by Robert McKee. I’m reading it in preparation for a class on Dramatic Writing I will be teaching beginning next month. I will have to say that it is one of the best books on writing I have ever read–and I have read quite a few of them. … More Character vs. Characterization
Two days of rest made a world of difference for me and Infinity. We barely had had the strength to make it up the hill where Evangelist was camped out, but in two days I felt like I was ready to hike across the United States, which it sounded like was Evangelist’s plan from the … More Ch. 4: No Rest for the Weary
As I probably mentioned, I am working on the very rough draft for “Infinity’s Reach,” the post-apocalyptic retelling of Pilgrim’s Progress. My experience in the past week or so has very much been a revisit of the principles of “the best laid schemes of mice and men often going awry” (with apologies to Robert Burns) … More Triple Play
I’ve had pretty good luck in the past few years with sermons I have heard linking up with what’s going on in my own life. This past Saturday was one of those occasions. Our pastor, Mic Thurber, (we’ll miss you, Mic!) spoke on worry. He said there was was always something to worry about, but … More I’m Not Worried…
