Thoroughly enjoyed this. You hit on a lot of things I’ve noticed and occasionally tried to articulate in conversation- there are people who say things in books (which I think we have too much of) and then there are writers. We need more writers. I appreciate the communities and programs that attempt to encourage writers, but not everyone has a book to write. And the glut of people who are just saying things in books is kind of discouraging for those of us who harbor a small dream of writing something beautiful and deep. Always appreciate your thought and commentary. Thank you.
Very well said, Allison. William Zinnser once said that everyone has a story to tell. He meant, stories from their life. And I believe that. But, to your point, some books should maybe be longform articles. I like how you put it "just saying things in books" ... that's great.
You might be interested in Daniel Vaca’s Evangelicals Incorporated and Timothy Gloege’s Guaranteed Pure. Excellent reads on the foundation of the Evangelical Industrial Complex.
I am also bringing up “where are the Lewis’s of our generation?!” rants to unassuming friends around a fall fire 😂 love all of this and truly would love more literary fiction than commercial fiction in the world 🙏 🙏
This hit as I’ve been navigating the world of commercial non-fiction, creative writing, and having integrity for both the sake of my own soul and my readers. Thank you for sharing!!
Thanks Tim, very helpful post. I recently started communicating with Wipf & Stock about publishing my dissertation. They have a different publishing model that includes author financial participation in the publishing process, which might sound negative, but seems to me to be quite positive, as it results in deep works being published.
Sure thing, Joel. Yes, Wipf & Stock is an interesting player in the Christian publishing and academic world. Some consider them a vanity press, due to the "author financial participation," but I've not worked directly with them so I couldn't say for sure how it works and how beneficial the final outcome is for the authors. They seem to do very good work and their imprints are varied and interesting.
Loved this, thanks for putting all of this into words--and a challenge for me to keep reaching for the deep. Excited to check out the beauty book--I did a research project on beauty for a spiritual direction program this year, wish I had it for that, but alas, the learning will continue.
Thoroughly enjoyed this. You hit on a lot of things I’ve noticed and occasionally tried to articulate in conversation- there are people who say things in books (which I think we have too much of) and then there are writers. We need more writers. I appreciate the communities and programs that attempt to encourage writers, but not everyone has a book to write. And the glut of people who are just saying things in books is kind of discouraging for those of us who harbor a small dream of writing something beautiful and deep. Always appreciate your thought and commentary. Thank you.
Very well said, Allison. William Zinnser once said that everyone has a story to tell. He meant, stories from their life. And I believe that. But, to your point, some books should maybe be longform articles. I like how you put it "just saying things in books" ... that's great.
“Not everyone has a book to write;” I couldn’t agree with that more!
You might be interested in Daniel Vaca’s Evangelicals Incorporated and Timothy Gloege’s Guaranteed Pure. Excellent reads on the foundation of the Evangelical Industrial Complex.
Oh, those are great recommendations, Shawn. I'm very interested.
I am also bringing up “where are the Lewis’s of our generation?!” rants to unassuming friends around a fall fire 😂 love all of this and truly would love more literary fiction than commercial fiction in the world 🙏 🙏
Yes, I'm finding this is a constant refrain of many. Let's work to make it come about! :)
I wonder if we aren't seeing any Lewis's because, generally, everyone's education has been so ruinous for so many decades?
I wasn’t gone say anything so I’m glad you did! Yes! I think you’re on to something very important.
This hit as I’ve been navigating the world of commercial non-fiction, creative writing, and having integrity for both the sake of my own soul and my readers. Thank you for sharing!!
I'm glad it stirred some thoughts for you Caroline!
Thanks Tim, very helpful post. I recently started communicating with Wipf & Stock about publishing my dissertation. They have a different publishing model that includes author financial participation in the publishing process, which might sound negative, but seems to me to be quite positive, as it results in deep works being published.
Sure thing, Joel. Yes, Wipf & Stock is an interesting player in the Christian publishing and academic world. Some consider them a vanity press, due to the "author financial participation," but I've not worked directly with them so I couldn't say for sure how it works and how beneficial the final outcome is for the authors. They seem to do very good work and their imprints are varied and interesting.
Leave it to you to bring 90s music into the "Where is today's C.S. Lewis?" discussion 😂
Haha! Because, as we all know, 90's music is when we had real music. :) LOL.
And C.S. Lewis would definitely have agreed. 🙃
Yes, most likely. :)
Loved this, thanks for putting all of this into words--and a challenge for me to keep reaching for the deep. Excited to check out the beauty book--I did a research project on beauty for a spiritual direction program this year, wish I had it for that, but alas, the learning will continue.
It's uncanny the connections with Roger Scruton, C S Lewis, J R Tolkien. Your conviction that artists too easily join the parade for commercialism reminds me of something I wrote at Mere Beauty https://tayount21.wixsite.com/merebeauty/post/mediocrity-it-s-easy-and-it-sells.
Your thoughts?