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INTRODUCING BRAIN PICKINGS
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Category Archives: Writing
CUTTING THROUGH CONFUSION
A sample of Reno’s words: “…the discussion seems to want something impossible: ideals without judgments, goals without rules, principles without ‘discrimination.’ This reflects the incoherence of modern liberal culture…”
The full piece is here: http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2014/10/catholicism-sex-and-marriage
CS LEWIS ON CS LEWIS
Lewis had a remarkable memory for what he read of others, but sometimes his memory of his own writings failed him. Though he had a large library, he did not keep all of his own books there! Walter Hooper adds, “Often, when I quoted lines from his own poems he would ask who the author was. He was a very great scholar, but no expert in the field of C.S. Lewis.”
(As quoted in Seeing Beauty and Saying Beautifully, by John Piper)
THE LAUGHING SKEPTIC
Scot McKnight introduced me to the brilliant essayist, Joseph Epstein. Here is a wonderful piece which offers much wisdom on what he is seeking to do as a writer:
LETTER WRITING, A LOST ART
In our family, The Carol Burnett Show, was always “must see.”
Yesterday, I read a wonderful piece on Burnett’s fondness for writing (and receiving) real letters:
WRITE YOUR OWN BOOKS!
POWERFUL LESSON ON DIGNITY OF ALL PERSONS
Celebrated author, Maya Angelou, died last week.
Here is a powerful lesson one of her student’s learned from her:
http://margaretfeinberg.com/maya-angelou-class-wake-forest/#more-26253
HT: Jesus Creed/Scot McKnight
YOU WANNA WRITE?
Go ahead!
There are many opportunities, especially if you are okay with not getting paid for awhile.
Participate in the blogs you like. Remember to keep your comments short. Many violate this rule.
Start your own blog. If I can, anyone can!
Review books. It is a good way to build a great library.
Do good job. Work at it.
Write because you must. Your gut is driving you.
Quantity is your friend. As Stephen King says (On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft), read and write a lot! But stay away from King’s swearing!
WHERE ARE THE LEADERS?
The man in the picture above is Professor Carl Trueman. Carl teaches at Westminster Seminary. He is an insightful, brilliant, and funny writer. And courageous. He is about the only leader of consequence to write candidly about the ongoing saga of Mark Driscoll. Carl has graciously featured my own writing on the subject for which I am grateful.
I asked Carl to write a piece about the virtual silence of leaders on the Driscoll controversies and he speedily fulfilled my request:
http://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2014/03/mark-driscolls-problems-and-ours
JONATHAN EDWARDS AND ME
There are not many similarities between Edwards and me, but one is there. Edwards would go out on horseback to think. While he was gone, he would jot notes on whatever paper he could find. These would then be attached inside his jacket.
I have no horse, but I do use a lot of paper. And I use will use about anything when thoughts come to mind: paper napkins, gas receipts, etc.
Above is an example from a couple of days ago. A gas receipt and a card from the gym were brought into service!