Posts Tagged ‘author’
To Write a Book
September 4, 2011 | 
Author To Write a Book
One of my life dreams has been to write a book. I accomplished this dream in a “first step” sort of way around seven years ago with an experiment in
self-publishing. While I consider my first efforts a milestone of sorts, I have also realized that first book is not what I had in mind for my life dream. Since that time, I have studied, researched, and practiced the craft of writing with hopeful preparation looking forward to the day when I might seriously pursue this life dream.
I still question whether I have a venue to speak, but I feel very sure that I have been given something to say and something to share. It has been this nagging confidence that has kept the dream alive in me. Several times I have sat down to begin the story only to push aside the keyboard each and every time. A mixture of doubt, fear, and a general lack of confidence in the story I have all contributed to undermining my goal of becoming a serious author.
These doubts took a serious beating during June and July this past summer during my time away at the Pecos Monastery. 
I met a man who greatly encouraged my writing and helped renew my confidence in the story I feel compelled to share. Since my return home from the monastery, I have continued to let the dream build muscle, sinew, and momentum in my heart.
Today, while listening to the pastor’s message during church, I was given a direction and an outline for the book. I believe this was divinely inspired and spent the day thinking about the structure and possible chapter titles for the flow of the book. I spent some time this evening making the first working outline for the book and plan to start writing and developing the chapters this coming week. I have no idea how long this exercise will take and what the outcome will be. I ask for your prayers. There is much that will need to be accomplished. I am prayerful that God will lead and God will protect. Please pray with me and for me.
Posted in Dailyness..., Family Stuff, iCrucified, Scoop | 
Tags: author, Book, Publish, Writing | 
No Comments »
Book Review: A Million Miles in a Thousand Years
Book: A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My Life by Donald Miller
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
ISBN: 0785213066
It didn’t take me very long to get sucked into Don Miller‘s latest “story.” While I’m well aware of the human condition and the journey with Jesus being a messy proposition 
at times (ok, most of the time), I’m not real keen on the whole idea of “messy spirituality” being the norm. After reading Blue Like Jazz, also by Don Miller, I was left with the feeling that a messy spirituality was the glorified path of a disciple of Christ. I liked the book well enough, but something about the impression it left me about my faith just didn’t sit well or feel right to me. Maybe I’m wrong, but that was my experience. Fast forward to present day; I started A Million Miles in a Thousand Years with an unbiased attitude, or so I thought. The first few chapters seemed like a Blue redux to me, but my impressions were soon to change. My sense of, and engagement with, the story was “full on” by page 38 and I was hooked for the rest of the ride.
Throughout my review and read of A Million Miles, I’ve kept a paper with great quotes from the book; that paper is now very full of quotes and page references now. Don Miller does a masterful job of intertwining several stories within the telling of one. I don’t know how much I may have read into the story, but I was tracking several thoughts and experiences (including my own story and experience) throughout the majority of the book. I don’t know if this will be the impression of anyone else reading the book, but once I got past my initial doubts (and yes, bias) A Million Miles flat-out owned me. It was a quick read at two-hundred fifty pages, but not “light” of content. There is a lot of depth to the book and it all but forces introspection and heart examination; where are you and what is your story within The Story?
I hesitate at printing quotes for a review; I know publishers and publicists don’t particularly like that, but suffice it to say I will be quoting some of this book in private conversations and there will be a few that make it into my teaching sessions…(Don, I’ll be sure to credit you). I don’t think I would be cheating to spell out a few chapter titles though, so let your imagination run with these: Writing the World, You’ll be Different at the End, A Character is What He Does, Listen to Your Writer…and these are just from the first two parts of the book (there are five parts).
This is a story about learning the art of story to retell a story; in the process of all this…a bigger story begins to be understood…The Story…HIS Story. There is a lot going on in A Million Miles…a lot. There’s much to be gleaned for the observant reader and/or a great story for the casual reader. I consider a win-win for either or both. Final Answer? I walked away a little disturbed from Blue Like Jazz; I leave A Million Miles challenged, inspired, encouraged, and ready to get my story on.
Posted in Books, Media, Shaping Me | Tags: A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, author, Blue Like Jazz, Book Review, Books, Christianity, disciple, Don Miller, God, Jesus, Spirituality, The Story, Thomas Nelson Publisher, Writer | No Comments »
