If I heard it once, I heard it a dozen times at various writers’ conferences: as a freelancer, you need to start your day by tackling the hard jobs first. Buckle down, plow into the toughest task, and then move on with the rest of your to-do list. Finally, when I had a chance to…
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I periodically use the New York Times as a resource for research and book footnote citations, but am not a daily reader. So a friend first alerted me to the “pay to play” method (spotlighted in mid-April) used to boost California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s memoir onto the legendary newspaper’s bestseller list. “Here’s one way to…
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Until recently, Logan, West Virginia—just a 90-minute drive from my home—was best known as the hometown of America’s Got Talent winner Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. The former car-wash-worker-turned-singing-sensation captured the hearts of underdogs everywhere with his rags-to-riches saga, chronicled in his 2013 book, From Washing Cars to Hollywood Stars. It helps that he retains the…
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If there’s one thing our frenetic, fast-paced, always-on world needs, it’s a break. God modeled a sabbath for us in Genesis 2:2; if He needed a break after creating the world, what does that say for everyone else? This principle isn’t just a wise prescription for a weary soul; it extends to good writing and…
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Freelance writers and editors have been having a tough time lately. I know because, despite several promising projects at hand, March was one of my bleakest months in years. It’s not just me. A friend and fellow freelancer recently told me of a severe slowdown in his work. In a prayer network affiliated with one…
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In a little over a week, millions will pour into America’s churches, making Sunday, Apr. 5, the biggest day of the year. It’s what some wags call the “Super Bowl of church attendance.” Yet, those who are simply putting in an annual appearance or just bringing the kids for an Easter egg hunt are likely…
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Years ago, while ghostwriting the testimony of an author from the East Coast, I glanced through parts of a book he had written. I’ve long since forgotten most of the content, but one thing that stuck out to me was a study he cited on the need to remain active after age 65. The results…
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A couple of years ago, I talked with an editor who has sent me writing or editing work on several occasions. She mentioned needing revisions on a book she was ghostwriting. One chapter in particular needed a complete revamp—and in a hurry. “How much would you charge to write a new chapter overnight?” she asked.…
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My wife and I had another anniversary last week. After 47 years, they are still special, but with age comes wisdom: Where we have dinner to mark a special occasion isn’t nearly as important as being together. I say that based on a pair of memories stemming from our time in Colorado years ago. The…
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Years ago I talked with prolific author Philip Yancey for a story in Christianity Today. It concerned the unusual step of one of his books making its debut in South America rather than the U.S. Because Yancey was an editor-at-large for CT at the time, connecting with him to get a comment was easier than…
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