How to START a Writing Group
Shoutout to Thomas Umstaddt and Sharon Tedford who released a great interview on Dec 13, 2022. They talked about the importance of making connections with other writers, how to get a writing group started, and what to do during meetings to make sure you are offering encouragement and practical help.
Thanks, Shannon Guerra!
Thanks, Shannon Guerra! I was delighted to learn that author and blogger Shannon Guerra named Bandersnatch one of her favorite books of 2021. She writes, “This book delves into the friendships, collaborations, and works of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and the rest of the Inklings – how they inspired, encouraged...
What Makes a Group Thrive?
In a recent podcast, I talked with Kevin Miller on the Ziglar Show about TEN essential form of interaction that make a small group thrive. You can hear Part 1 of the interview HERE. Resonating: I hear you, and I understand what you are trying to do. Praising: This is good. Encouraging: You have what […]
National Presbyterian Church: Washington, D.C.
I was pleased to be invited to participate in the Summer Speaker Series at National Presbyterian Church this year. Other speakers in this wonderful series included Tremper Longman, Mark Labberton, Kerri Alexander, Erica Salkin, and many more. Their speakers’ archive is a treasure trove, well worth exploring.
The Secret Headquarters of The Babylon Bee
Last year, I was invited to visit the Secret Headquarters of the famed Babylon Bee. You can watch my interview about Lewis and Tolkien here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C56VVnBQS30 I cannot divulge all that I learned there, but there are three things you should know about the team at The Bee: 1. Their work is genuine and important. […]
Worth Reading: New from Donald T. Williams
Donald T. Williams has a new book, and I liked it well enough to write a back cover blurb. Called Ninety-Five Theses for a New Reformation: A Roadmap for Post-Evangelical Christianity, the book calls Evangelicals to “regroup, reground, and recommit to their heritage if they are to be faithful to their Lord.” Here is my […]
Why Did the Inklings Stop Meeting?
“David Bratman puts it strongly: ‘If Hugo Dyson is remembered for one thing by Inklings readers, it’s as the guy who didn’t like The Lord of the Rings‘ (“Dyson” 28)…It is not just that Dyson was loud in his manner and derogatory in his comments. By the spring of 1947, Dyson had become so irritated […]
A Mutually Committed Lifestyle
J.I. Packer’s reflection on his book, Knowing God. “But there is one defect I do see. In addressing my readers as individuals, trying as best I can to single them out and search their hearts before God, I fail to show that it is only as one gives oneself in human relationships, in the home, […]
The Question I (Almost) Couldn’t Answer
On February 12, I had a marvelous talk with Cherie Harder of The Trinity Forum: digging deep into the friendship of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien and exploring lessons we can learn from their example. Click here to listen. One of the delights of this particular interview was the number of listeners […]
This is the work.
Matt: “Did you finish that Dante book yet?” Me: “Naw. Got about 300 pages written. Spent a month with my writing group reading through it. It’s bad—really, really bad. I’ve got to let it sit for a while until I’m better at my craft. I’m not ready to write it yet. But I will be.” […]
Reading Icon-ically
In the Orthodox tradition, an icon is a picture that serves as a window to see God and an opportunity to open that window to receive something from God. Reading can work the same way: we read a devotional book or study the Bible, and the experience can be transactional. We expect to see something of God […]
My Favorite Work of Art
In summer 1998, I had the first serious accident of my whole life. I was scraping paint off of some windows at my house, and I slipped and jammed the razor tool into the back of my knuckle. A quick trip to the hospital confirmed that I had severed my tendon. Using a surgical procedure […]
What I Wish I Had Known Before I Became a Writer
The Steve Laube Agency just ran a blog post asking, “What is one thing you wish you had known before you became a writer?” Here is their blog post: http://www.stevelaube.com/one-thing-wish-known/
What Should I Read?
A couple weeks ago, I received this note from one of my students: Professor, I mentioned the idea of getting your recommendation for five of your favorite books that I need to read before I die. I know you are most likely slammed with reading and grading so take your time, but let me know when […]
Five Facts about C. S. Lewis
I was given ten minutes to name the top five facts that everyone should know about C. S. Lewis. I complied, and my answers were put into a blender with those of Dave Horner and published in this article: http://www.christianpost.com/news/c-s-lewis-top-10-facts-everyone-should-know-about-one-of-the-intellectual-giants-of-the-20th-century-109299/ Her
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