October 4 There's a collective of painters and poets and woodworkers and songwriters that make up a very special corner of the Internet called The Rabbit Room. And maybe more than any other website, this one has made me look up. God has used The Rabbit Room to fiercen my love for King Jesus and … Continue reading Hutchmoot 2020 (What, When, and Why)
August 16 The start of a schoolyear has always been my favorite time to readjust old writing habits and invest in something that will sharpen me. I've taken classes, joined communities, read books, and attended seminars. But there are two writing resources I come back to again and again. These classes and communities have sharpened … Continue reading My Very Favorite Writing Resources
Good writers are good pruners. They know when to pick up the shears and how much to chop. William Zinsser taught me that. “Be grateful for everything you can throw away. Reexamine every word you put on paper. Is every word doing new work? …Is anything pompous or pretentious or faddish? Are you hanging onto … Continue reading On Writing, Weeding, and Walking in the Light
This article was written for and published on TheRebelution blog. My friendship with Sara Barratt is 100% virtual. We’ve never talked over coffee or met up at a conference or worshiped together in church. I met Sara in the Young Writer’s Workshop—a place where everyone shares a thrill for stories, words, articles, novels, and poems. … Continue reading The Girl Who Started a Love Riot for Jesus
May 17 I met Sara Barratt in the Young Writer’s Workshop. As the community grew, I found in her more than a teen who doodles words. I found a young woman with wisdom beyond her years and a heart exploding with love for Jesus and a God-given talent for crafting articles. I was inspired. One … Continue reading The Girl Behind a Riot
February 2 Do you remember my Sunday Afternoon Snippet at January’s start— The "Why" Behind Our Resolutions? One of my resolutions for 2020 is to build an online platform from which my writing can be shared and spread. But why? That’s a question I’ve been grilling myself with. Because I joined Instagram this week. In … Continue reading I’m on Instagram! Here’s Why
Something stopped me from full-throttle resolution-writing this week. I realized the last 365 days have been some of the most pivotal in my life. I don’t want to leap into a new year—much less the next ten—without stopping, looking over my shoulder, and saying, “God, you’ve done lovely, mighty things.” Before we speed into January … Continue reading Look Back Before You Look Ahead: 6 Lessons from 2019
This month marks two years since I launched Bethany J’s Journal and became a blogger. Since October 2017, I’ve made pages of mistakes. I’ve fought discouragement. I’ve tried to craft better sentences. I’ve been enraptured by who God is and how he chooses to use me. And this month, I’ve realized it’s time for a … Continue reading Why I’m Rethinking My Blog Schedule
I’m a writer. I type words and erase more. I scribble down thoughts, then scratch them out. I spend my free time with verbs and commas and clauses. I long to create sentences that stir people’s souls and, ultimately, redirect their gaze. I write so people worship Christ. Not everyone shares my passion for words, … Continue reading 4 Reasons Why Young People (Like You) Should Write
August 11 On an unusually warm day in January 2017, my passion for writing was seriously kindled. I sat watching one video after another of young writers sharing their testimonies. These weren't hobby writers. These were teenagers holding published books in their hands. I was awed. Since 2017, I’ve been a member of The Young … Continue reading The Young Writer’s Workshop
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