Home Row: A Podcast with Writers on Writing

Matt Smethurst is managing editor of The Gospel Coalition and author of 1–2 Thessalonians: A 12-Week Study (Crossway, 2017). He and his wife, Maghan, have three children and live in Louisville, Kentucky. Listen to Matt detail how I changed his life. Discover my favorite candy. And of course, listen to Matt’s wisdom on writing. 1:50 Matt honors me for changing his coffee life 10:50 Our favorite candy 13:35 How Matt became an editor 15:45 What’s the hardest part about writing for Matt? 17:17 How we can grow in creativity 20:46 What kind of writing does TGC look for? 27:00 What are some of the common writing mistakes the editors at TGC see? 37:00 What advice do you have for those who want to turn submit a piece to TGC? Find all of Matt's writing at TGC here: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/author/Matt-Smethurst Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattSmethurst Follow me, J.A. Medders: @mrmedders My blog: www.jamedders.com

Listen to author, historian, and professor Thomas Kidd and I discuss multipack of topics on writing. George Whitfield used the technology and platform of his day for the spread of the gospel. What can we learn from him and our writing? Is platform wrong? Social media can do a lot of good things—if it weren't for Twitter, Dr. Kidd and I would have never connected. Listen as Dr. Kidd and I navigate it all. Today's music: Purple Dinosaur by nobigdyl Sign up for Dr. Kidd's newsletter: https://t.co/ayd1BCspeS Dr. Kidd's books: Benjamin Franklin: The Religious Life of a Founding Father, http://amzn.to/2qTuXYJ George Whitefield: America's Spiritual Founding Father, http://amzn.to/2pXiqWP Find the rest of his books here: http://amzn.to/2ps0VuI Twitter: @ThomasSKidd, me: @mrmedders My blog: http://jamedders.com/ My books on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2pshkzp

Listen to David Murray, author and professor, talk about how he became a writer, the struggles in writing, burnout and pace as a writer. Check out David's blog: http://headhearthand.org/blog/ His new book, Reset: Living a Grace-Paced Life in a Burnout Culture: http://amzn.to/2pQl7KC How Sermons Work: http://amzn.to/2qxk0fb Jesus on Every Page: http://amzn.to/2qxeiKn And the rest of David's books on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2pQvLAO Find David on Twitter: @davidpmurray Find me on Twitter: @mrmedders My blog: http://jamedders.com/ My books on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2pQBIhc

Listen to Lore (pronounced Loreee) and I talk writing, C.S. Lewis, editing, and vulnerability in our writing. Big thanks to rapper, nobigdyl, for providing today's music. Check out his album Canopy. Todays tracks: Tree Tops and Purple Dinosaur. https://www.nobigdyl.com/ Check out Lore's website, Sayable: http://www.sayable.net/ Lore's latest book projects, Read and Reflect Series: - Humility by Andrew Murray,http://amzn.to/2qfao8x - The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan, http://amzn.to/2pzUdqb Follow Lore on Twitter: https://twitter.com/lorewilbert Find my books on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2qfnin6 My site: http://jamedders.com/ And find me on Twitter, @mrmedders Peace!

On today's show, Russ Ramsey, author and editor, drops writing wisdom all over the place in this episode. The Rabbit Room: https://rabbitroom.com/ The app I use to proof my work, Pro Writing Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/ He Reads Truth: http://hereadstruth.com/ Check out Russ's books on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2o7bPIb Get Russ's latest book, Struck: http://amzn.to/2oFwlRn Here's my books on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2oelQUn

Episode 14: Scott Sauls on Writing by J.A. Medders

Episode 13: Trillia Newbell on Writing by J.A. Medders

On the final episode of Season 2, I talk with Scott James. Who? Scott, like me, isn't a celebrity pastor or writer. He's an ordinary person, and he's a great writer. Scott is a lay elder at the Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama. And, Scott is also a full-time doctor. He's a smart guy with a demanding job and full plate. So how does Scott find time to write? How did he become a writer? I love Scott's story. I think you will too. Scott's books on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2hMYz6N My books: http://amzn.to/2h3xGwu

Kevin Vanhoozer and I talk about a vision for Christian writers. Listen in as we talk about what does it mean to communicate what is "in Christ". I think you'll find our discussion on writers as theologians helpful to your writing and your calling. Find Dr. Vanhoozer's books: http://amzn.to/2gZ8mpR The article he mentioned: How To Write a Theological Sentence: http://www.abc.net.au/religion/articles/2013/09/26/3856546.htm Need help checking your writing? Grammarly is a friend you'll like: https://app.grammarly.com/ My books on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2g3kEv4 My website: www.jamedders.com Keep writing!

In this episode, Russell Moore and I talk about growing as a writer, how country music helps his writing, and why writing with End Times theology in mind is a good thing. Listen and learn from one of my favorite writers. Article on Procrastination: http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/02/why-writers-are-the-worst-procrastinators/283773/ Dr. Moore's website: http://www.russellmoore.com/ The ERLC: http://erlc.com/ Dr. Moore's books: http://amzn.to/2fkCtsl Twitter: @drmoore My website: http://jamedders.com/expository-mutterings/ My books: http://amzn.to/2g9TyTH Twitter: @mrmedders

On this episode of Home Row, Don Whitney and I talk about writing, ministry, fountain pens, and more. Listen as Dr. Whitney talks about his emphasis on writing on spiritual disciplines and the things that help us grow in Christ. Hear the story of how his landmark book came to life. Dr. Whitney's books: Praying the Bible: http://amzn.to/2ewMJue Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life: http://amzn.to/2ewOEP6 Dr. Whitney's website: http://biblicalspirituality.org/ My books on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2fyfgQJ Here is a blog post I wrote on the perfect starter fountain pen: http://jamedders.com/a-perfect-beginner-fountain-pen/

Christian George, Professor at Midwestern Seminary and Curator and the Spurgeon Library, and I talk writing—and Spurgeon as a writer. We often think of Spurgeon the pastor and preacher, but forget he also wrote around 140 books, managed a magazine, and more. FROM THE SHOW: The Spurgeon Blog: http://center.spurgeon.org/weblog/ The Lost Sermons of Spurgeon (Vol. 1): http://amzn.to/2eIMHB2 Check out more of Spurgeon's Writings: http://www.spurgeon.org/spwrtngs.php Follow Dr. George on Twitter: @_ChristanGeorge Follow me on Twitter: @mrmedders Check out my books on Amazon here: http://amzn.to/2embfnO

Jen Wilkin and I talk writing, creativity, editing, being from Texas, au-gratin potatoes, and the challenge of writing a fresh work on God's attributes. Be sure to check out Jen's author page on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2eyf1Kb Her first book, Women of the Word, has sold over 50,000 copies. http://amzn.to/2eyhGmK Her book on the attributes of God, None Like Him, snag it here: http://amzn.to/2dZgG9w Follow Jen on Twitter: ‪@jenniferwilkin Follow me, J.A. Medders: @mrmedders

Mr. Wordsmith himself, Douglas Wilson, and I talk about, you guessed it: writing. Doug's Amazon Page: http://amzn.to/29oxWCU Doug's Book on Writing: Wordsmithy If you want to buy a book on writing, this is the one. Wordsmithy is my favorite. http://amzn.to/29oyuIG Enjoy the show, spread the word, and write something that makes people mumble to themselves, "That was good."

On this episode author Trevin Wax and I talks about the three kinds of writers, where writers should start writing, and motivations in writing. Show Notes: Trevin's Books: Gospel-Centered Teaching: http://amzn.to/1WBw3FR Counterfeit Gospels: http://amzn.to/1TXDF1p Holy Subversion: http://amzn.to/1qr9JAo Clear Winter Nights: http://amzn.to/1WBw64v Trevin's Blog: https://blogs.thegospelcoalition.org/trevinwax/ Three Kinds of Writers: https://blogs.thegospelcoalition.org/trevinwax/2015/05/26/which-kind-of-writer-are-you-microwave-crockpot-or-stir-fry/ Recommend Books on Writing: Words Fail Me: http://amzn.to/1Nx3PsP On Writing: http://amzn.to/1rRZBlB On Writing Well: http://amzn.to/1Nx3Xbv Wordsmithy: http://amzn.to/1Nx3Rkh The Rhetoric Companion: http://amzn.to/1WBwgc7 My Author Page: http://amzn.to/1Nx47zP Twitter: @trevinwax / @mrmedders Thanks for listening!