A Book + Life Update!
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I try to the keep the overly personal content to a minimum around here, but I thought this would be a good time to give an update on a few things and say a quick word about the next few months for the Insights newsletter.
First, the book: I have finished a tentative outline for the book and intend, Lord willing, to begin writing in earnest this month. As of right now, the deadline for the manuscript is January 1, 2023. There is a possibility that could be brought sooner, but right now I am planning as if the rest of this calendar year will be writing.
Last week I shared with some colleagues that I feel a particular burden for this book. Having been able to work in publishing for almost 5 years now, I don’t harbor the same delusions of grandeur about being an author that I used to. Book writing is a long, painful, toiling, and often anticlimactic work. It’s an exercise in self-doubt. The vast, vast majority of Christian books fall into obscurity almost immediately and are discounted relics of one author’s years and prayers. It is almost inevitable that this book will become the same thing. And by God’s grace, I plan to be OK with that.
The burden I feel for this book is not about its prestige, but about its message. It’s the same message I’ve been pounding out for a few years on the old Letter & Liturgy blog and now this newsletter: Technology shapes us, and naming and resisting this formation is part of Christian discipleship. Not long ago a reader of this newsletter shared with me that their child, who grew up in a loving, Christian home and showed no signs of confusion for most of their life, is now identifying as the opposite sex after finding an online “community.” There’s so much that needs to be said about a Christian’s relationship with the Web. I won’t be able to say it all, but I feel very strongly that saying a few things well can really make a difference for someone. That’s what I want.
Would you pray for me as I write? Please pray that I’d find the right words, identify the right problems, wield the Scriptures rightly, and that the book would find the reader who needs it.
Second, some other big news. My wife and I are expecting our third child in September! We are very, very happy. The lines have fallen for us in unspeakably pleasant places, and we are beside ourselves with gratitude.
This news means, though, that this year is an uncommonly challenging one. I have a book manuscript due by the end of the year and a baby coming in about 5 months. Phew! Would you pray for our family as we prepare to welcome the baby? Would you pray for a healthy pregnancy (it’s been very good so far), a safe delivery, and the grace to persevere in all this good work?
Next, a word about the next few months for the newsletter. Between welcoming a child, my regular day job, writing the book, and other editorial opportunities I have, time is getting tight. My plan is still to produce at least one new piece of content each week, but I’m also preparing for a more realistic hiatus to force itself on me. All this to say: If sometime in June or July there’s some radio silence for a few weeks around here, don’t freak out, and don’t unsubscribe! Life is happening!
Finally, a request. I try to keep as much content on the newsletter free as possible. Lately most of what I’ve written has been available to all. That being said, if you’re not a paying subscriber, would you please consider becoming one? The $5/month or $40/year subscription not only tangibly supports the writing I do here, it’s an invaluable encouragement as I try to balance this newsletter with other platforms. It’s already been a wonderful year, and I’m so grateful for each and every one of you. if you’re not ready to becoming a paying member yet, no worries. There will still be good things around here for you to check out. But the support means a lot.
A Book + Life Update!
I just recently found your writing on Substack and have been really impressed by the quality of your thinking and writing. The role of technology in our lives is a topic of immense importance and we need LOTS of good writing about it. We need church-wide awareness of this critical discipleship issue and that is only going to happen through extensive and repeated exposure to wise words on the topic. So I'm glad to hear you're working on this book and wish you all th best as you write.
It's focused on business publishing, but you may enjoy this article from my boss, which informs a lot of the way I think about which authors to acquire. Seems obvious to me that you have the Stories, Idea, and Fire part down already.
https://marker.medium.com/how-to-get-a-six-figure-advance-for-your-business-book-idea-23642d4f22b5