A new book drops today, yes on Election Day. Its impact will be considerable as well, for words carry weight. How one wields their words speaks much about their motivations, goals, and the gains of connections made to others.
This new book is Blogging for God’s Glory in a Clickbait World by Benjamin Vrbicek and John Beeson.
All through this new book we see reminders of the common grace of blogging, and especially when writing online is done with motives aligned with God’s. The authors aim to equip readers—bloggers and would-be bloggers—to “pursue excellence in the craft, including theological precision, beautiful prose, visual appeal, and the edification of readers,” which they do in a systematic way, “all drawing from the best industry practices.”
It is that industry they hope to shift from an almost-default self-congratulatory intent for bloggers to instead “serving your readers and glorifying God.” Along the process they model a helpful axiom, helping us all do the same: “Lift others up, and lift Christ up higher still.”
The table of contents highlights the flow of good words, and I found that chapters I didn’t initially think essential became my favorites, for the way Vrbicek and Beeson interact with the information and one another, trading chapters.
“… more than achieving numerical growth, we want you to have the character to blog faithfully whether you see any growth at all. We want you to maintain the motivation when blogging feels more like slogging, to borrow the word Tim Challies uses to describe the grind.”
—BENJAMIN VRBICEK, Blogging for God’s Glory in a Clickbait World (PAGE 12)
Facets of this good book: a great section on “aligning our motivations,” followed by chapters on purpose, disciples, commitment, obstacles, behind-the-scenes aspects (“widgets” and costs), networking (read and find other bloggers), success (monetizing & “winning”), and in conclusion: cultivating a cross-shaped blog.
It’s that goal that makes the book so helpful, ultimately.
Get your own copy of Blogging for God’s Glory in a Clickbait World
Appendices:
- Is blogging dead? (26 bloggers weigh in: “NO” is the resounding response, though the craft has changed and grown more diverse.)
- Glossary: 88 words and phrases bloggers should learn, as a quick reference.
- Pull quotes, included in the e-book and scattered throughout the print version.
This book on blogging is engaging, story-formed, well-designed, organized, thoughtful, and inspirational, as *blogs* ought to be!
Here’s to a resurgence in thoughtful blogging! This book will help along the way in so many ways.
While you’re invited to subscribe to this blog below, I also encourage you to visit and follow the authors’ blogs:
- Benjamin Vrbicek’s blog is Fan and Flame, found at benjaminvrbicek.com. I have been reading his writings for years and met him about a year ago, and have staying in touch.
- John Beeson’s blog is the Bee Hive at thebeehive.live
