We all need goals. I see them like the map to the destination. I won’t know when to turn where until I get to the road anyway, but at least I know my direction.

I’ve taken on my three words for this year and am making them more a part of my routine. I remain conscious of my mood and expectations, while fighting cynicism. I’m excited for my present life, ministry, and personal development. For those who help me intentionally, I really appreciate it.

I'd like to make writing an every day deal. Share on X

I love writing.

There seem to be four kinds of writers:

1. Those who do it reluctantly.
2. Those who do it intentionally.
3. Those who seek catharsis.
4. And those who bleed on the page because they have to.

I struggle with the technical style of my training and the emotive style of my creative self. I struggle with the fact that my writing “voice” is actually a bit too much like my speaking voice. If you’ve met me in real life, you know why that is actually a problem. I bleed on the page: it’s just my blood looks academically passive with intermittent interruptions of barbaric yawp.

So like most writers, I seek guidance from other writers. And the one true thing I hear from them all is to write every day. That’s about the only thing they agree on.

My existing goals

One spot of real disagreement in the blogging space is how often to write for your blog. Some argue for one good piece per week. Others for more regular writing.

I’m exploring a more regular pace than I’ve maintained.

Two prominent writers publish every single day: Seth Godin and John Saddington. I’d like to join them.

• Seth Godin is a marketing guru and a prolific writer, but his keen insight is in connecting powerful images with unorthodox truth. He is the business guy I dream of being for the church. His daily writings are brief and punchy. A bit Hemingway to my Faulkner.
• John Saddington is an entrepreneur and developer. His most recent app, Desk PM is highly regarded and if I had a Mac, I’d use it. He publishes daily with a more slice-of-the-life approach. These can be long or short, but he is working it every day. As much as I want to be a Godin, I’m more like a Saddington.

I currently keep a 3-5 articles per week pace with a Saturday newsletter. If you aren’t subscribed to the Newsletter, then maybe you should be…

I’d like to make writing an every day deal.

A special project

One of the ways I’ll be encouraging myself to write every day is to take on a Lenten writing challenge. I will write a short reflection for every day of Lent (Monday through Saturday) and the Sunday Sermon. I’ll be starting in two weeks on Ash Wednesday.

The reflections will be short and blend thoughts on the lectionary readings with my Lenten theme of Simplicity and the year’s theme of Hope.

If you’d like to sign up to make sure you don’t miss out, I know I’d appreciate it.

My Goals

So my goals are simple.

1. To write daily.
2. To pepper my long-form think pieces with daily personal reflections.
3. To organize my thoughts into more regular and punchier posts.

 

And while I’ve got you, check out the menus on my website. I’ve updated them to add a couple of new pages that I’d love for you to check out.

• A Sermons page which catalogs all my sermons and homilies for the last 3 years. I plan on having something in this space each week, even when I’m not preaching on Sunday.
• A Making Meaning page to help guide some focus on my site to these articles, but also to guide my focus. I want to remind myself that people are still seeking GOD and trying to find meaning in the world, and this is an area I can help.
• I also added a dedicated page for the ebook I wrote a few years ago.

Check ’em out! I think they turned out pretty well. These also might serve as a way to share some of my writing with others.

Any other areas or topics you’d like to see covered or put into one place?