So you think you're a writer? Archives

Okay, full warning … you are about to be offered the opportunity to read even more of my miscellaneous ramblings!

If you read this blog regularly then you have heard about PathLight. Well, the team there has been brainstorming how to stay in touch with their supporters without boring them. Nobody needs useless updates, and we don’t want to act like PathLight’s work is the most important thing in the world. (Even though it kinda is).

Nonprofit updates often follow a familiar script. My snarky mind imagines something like, “Hello, we have fantastic news! The kids are fantastic! Our …

ChatGPT

Have you used ChatGPT yet? It’s an amazing tool. Here is a quick example.

I asked “What is junkyard wisdom™?”

Now keep in mind the phrase didn’t exist until about 2009. And it’s been exclusively used by me (I hold the trademark) or reviewers of my work. It took me a few years just to figure it out myself.

ChatGPT’s answer came in ten seconds and was shockingly accurate:

Junkyard wisdom refers to insights and practical knowledge gained from experiences in difficult or challenging situations, often those found in everyday life. The term “junkyard” suggests a place of discarded or …

Deleting Leadership

A few weeks ago I accidentally deleted over a thousand files from my computer. Thankfully I recovered them all, but they came back unsorted. All the business files were mixed with the PathLight files or the Westmont files or the family files, for instance.

I’ve been slowly putting them in the appropriate folders. It’s easier than it sounds because the titles usually offer clarity. I’m pretty sure “Goble Properties Depreciation Schedule March 2017” doesn’t go in the travel plans folder.

But a few need to be opened and read first. This has, oddly, been fun. It’s like treasures of the …

Changing Gears

Are you ready for another Junkyard Wisdom™ devotion series? Say yes. I’m the sensitive type and couldn’t handle your rejection.

The next series is called Changing Gears: A Generosity Road Trip. It starts on May 31 and will run about two weeks.

On this road trip we visit some famous cities, islands, and regions around the Mediterranean. In each stop we will reflect on the insights of a resident or visitor, like Bathsheba in Jerusalem and Peter in Rome. Each person we meet will have something interesting to share about generosity.

And as with all my road trips, there will …

Vacation With Jesus!

About a month ago my wife D’Aun had a fun trip with a few of her friends. So I had a ton of time on my own, and I spent it writing an absolutely ridiculous series of devotions. They are unlike any of the other edgy devotions I wrote and more, well … more … well … you’ll see.

Basically, I take an imagined vacation with Jesus. To Belize. In 2022. And while we’re there—which somehow also takes place two thousand years ago, by the way, before Jesus begins his public ministry—he talks through an upcoming sermon he calls “The …

Want a Free Chapter of my New Book?

My new book, Junkyard Wisdom Rebuilt, will be released June 2nd! The publisher has generously agreed to release one chapter early, and it’s completely free.

Well, almost completely. I need your email address, but that’s all. Enter it below and you’ll be redirected to a page with the free chapter! And it’s one of my favorite chapters, so I hope you enjoy it. It’s a PDF so you can download it if you wish. Please do remember it’s copyrighted, of course.

Obviously we hope this freebie entices you to buy the book. But if not, well, okay I …

Junkyard Wisdom Rebuilt is here!

Finally! It took months to get it posted by Amazon, but my third book is finally available for preorder! I honestly wonder if the guy responsible for uploading new products was stuck on a container ship somewhere. Took them forever! But it’s finally here.

Junkyard Wisdom Rebuilt will be released on March 10. I would love it if you’d preorder a copy!

So what is the book all about? The short answer is a better and continued version of my first book. But that doesn’t do it justice.

A couple of years ago I realized how quickly books can …

Devotions

I started writing devotions simply for the fun of writing them. It began with a series on Advent and the response was overwhelmingly positive. Thank you!

So I’ve decided to create another series, this time around Lent. As with the first series the framework is a road trip — this time it is the story of Jesus and all those with him as they head toward Jerusalem to celebrate Passover.

Along the way we meet grumpy Samaritans, selfish Pharisees, and deal with disciples who don’t quite understand what’s happening. I also take a bit of liberty with the story and …

So you think you’re a writer?

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