Within our own circles, writers like to talk about their writing habits. Some like a quiet room; others like to play music. Some demand solitude, and still others can write anywhere. I tend to write like I live, flying by the seat of my pants. So, for me, the writing process can vary day by day according to the work in progress or the mood of the day. I’m a music-playing kind of writer. What music is playing usually depends on what, or rather, who I am writing for. Ed Landr

And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. There is a tendency among Christians to think that the Apostles were given something “ex

A display of skill or adroitness, sleight of hand , that’s what Mr. Webster says the word means. In magic, it is the art or skill of performing tricks or illusions for entertainment. So, being a fiction writer means you have to be somewhat of a magician. Many magicians prefer the term illusionist and that may be a better term for a writer. The job of a fiction writer is to create an illusionary world that engages the senses of the reader without overexplaining. He then fill

But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. Acts 4:19-20 “The things which we have seen and heard,” lawyers and scientists call that anecdotal evidence. No matter how many eyewitnesses are on the scene, without something solid to measure, collect, and record, they immediately discount its veracity. After all, it’s

I read this week that Amazon has added a new feature to books. It’s called Ask This Book . It is an AI program to answer readers’ questions. Didn’t understand a passage— Ask This Book will explain it to you, in its own words . Not the words of the author, the words of AI. And I used to think Lit teachers were bad about that. It makes a distorted kind of sense alongside an article I read from The Washington Examiner . In that article, college professors from some top univer

I come from a bygone era in which fathers and sons were not talkative, demonstrative, or buddies. At least, that was my experience. My relationship with my father was more along the lines of master and student. Maybe that’s why, unlike Progressive Insurance customers, I want to turn into my parents. Of course, my father never acted like the characters in the commercial. His words of wisdom and instruction were very private. I don’t remember ever being reprimanded or verbal

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: Amos 8:11 At community festivals, booths offer free Bibles. They are given away at military induction centers, churches, and the message of Christ is everywhere. Quite literally, ask, and you shall receive. When it comes to the word of God, we live in a land of plenty. The Scriptures tell us God is not willin

I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. John 17:9 The familiar prayer found in Matthew 6 and again in Luke 11 is the prayer Jesus taught. Whether His disciples are to use it as a pattern for prayer or quote Him directly is a moot point. Either is acceptable to God if one’s heart is in it. However, if you want to examine the Lord’s prayer for His disciples, turn to John 17. In Jesus’ words to the Father, He sp

St. Thomas Aquinas places contemplation as the central goal of life. Aristotle thought highly of the practice as well. I’m not a deep thinker, so I borrow the thoughts of those who were. However, I have found that a regular time of contemplation and reflection about who I am and where I am going helps me choose the path I wish to travel. I have told the story many times of how a college writing assignment convinced me to write stories that I allowed others to read. I have t

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Galatians 2:20-21 I may be overestimating the truth when I say that I am an expert on frustration, but I don’t think so. Frustration seems to cling to me like my s

Even with the advent of a new great-grandson, I don’t think 2026 is going to be a “new year, new me” kind of year. I have no plans for becoming a static display either. I don’t have a time machine, but I’m thinking of having a “back to the future” year. That is, I plan to recapture some of the old “me”. I am making those plans knowing full well the world I lived in back then no longer exists. One of the foreseen consequences of such a move is to find oneself out of place. H

Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment. Isaiah 41:1 His voice thunders like the cascade of many waters. His words call worlds from nothing. Yet, God rarely speaks louder or more powerfully than when He speaks in silence. God’s silence is an invitation to draw near and experience His presence. The Word of God became flesh, but not everyone heard what He wa

“When life itself seems lunatic, who knows where madness lies? Perhaps to be too practical is madness. To surrender dreams — this may be madness. Too much sanity may be madness — and maddest of all: to see life as it is, and not as it should be!” Miguel Cervantes, Don Quixote I think Cervantes’ hero would agree that writing fiction requires a special kind of sanity found only in what normal people deem madness. Upon the solid ground of real-life mathematics, multiplying

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good wil

“I will also ask you one question…the baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?” Mark 11 In the temple, Jesus found Himself confronted by the priests. They demanded to know by what authority He was doing the things He did. Before providing the answer, He had a simple question of His own. Do you know God when you see Him? In a test for color blindness, a number in one color is set in a field of a different color. If you’re color blind, you cannot discern the number.

I was once told that I am not a horror writer (Amazon disagrees). The reason for that assessment was that I wrote too many happy endings. That has some validity. I have been ignored as a Christian writer because I write things about things that are scary and evil. That too is a valid or at least a reasonable criticism. It would be a lie to pretend that pleasing readers doesn’t occupy a corner of my mind. However, I would be deeply dismayed if I were writing to please everyone

Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. Romans 2:1 The hunt for justification seems to know no bounds. People will say, do, and believe anything in order to feel good about themselves and be justified in their own eyes. Broad is the way that lifts a person up by tearing others down. Narrow is the gate, and strait is the way that seeks sel

“You don’t know how paralyzing it is, that stare of a blank canvas that says to the painter you can’t do anything…” Vincent Van Gogh Any writer who has sat staring at a blinking cursor on an otherwise blank computer screen knows what Van Gogh was talking about. The paralysis comes not so much from the empty screen, but the emptiness inside. There is no critic so harsh as oneself. He sees through the written words, looking at the hesitation and doubts to call every effort u

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12 I was taught long ago that there is nothing free except our will. Only the willingly blind and ignorant believe they have found an exception to that truth. My Christian friends might protest that salvation and grace are free, but they are wrong. Romans chapter 5, speaking of salvation, mentio

You have to have a stout heart to be an author. I can’t speak for others, but my characters all like to complain. I mean, I give them a voice the world can hear, and what do they do? They blame me for being a busybody and telling their secrets all over town. I never get an “atta boy”, only a string of “about time you got it right”. Take Ed Landry, for example. He loves to complain about how that trouble seems to seek him out, and how his desire to help others always gets hi