Jan 3, 2019
5 min read
My Top / Favorite Articles From 2018
A 2018 Retrospective
This past year, I wrote and published over 200 articles on Medium, mostly in the categories of writing, books, health (mental and relational), and faith/relationships.
So as a final goodbye to 2018, I’ve gone back and picked out a few of my favorites to share. These are articles either I’ve found personally meaningful, or readers have expressed particular interest in.
Enjoy!
Writing Strategies
5 Ways to Come Up With Ideas When You Have Nothing to Write About
- Because all writers face this problem sooner or later 😉
How to Write Irresistible Headlines that Entice, Intrigue, and Insist on Being Read
- The gateway to great article writing.
Good Writing is Not Written, It’s Assembled
- Derek Halpern and Ryan Holiday’s techniques for writing well.
Want to be a Great Writer? Then Don’t Focus on Writing. (Do This Instead)
- Lessons learned going from 0 to 100 mph as a writer in 1 year.
These 10 Strategies Will Springboard Your Writing Success on Medium
- For those new to the wonderful world of Medium, or those who want to improve faster.
Thoughts on Health and Personal Development
The Secret of Eliminating Unnecessary Pain
- The biggest struggle we all have that causes us significant avoidable pain.
Secrets of Eternal Youth from a 92-Year-Old Two-Time Cancer Survivor
- Lessons learned from my grandparents
The Single Most Powerful and Effective Way to Change…Someone Else
- Because mental illness is on the rise and more and more people are going to need the assistance mentioned in this article.
How to be a Life-Saving Friend to Someone With a Mental Illness
- One of the most personal essays, based on real-life experiences from both sides of the table
8 Reasons Why Being Old is AWESOME
- There’s no need to fear aging — instead, we can embrace it!
It’s Not Too Late to Live The Life You Never Knew You Wanted
- A true story about a drug-and-sex-addicted prodigal who made a 180-degree turn gives all of us hope that we can do the same.
On Faith & Love
Spiderman Was Real: And He Saved 75+ Lives During WWII
- The story of one of my personal heroes. And the “Spiderman” part is not clickbait.
7 Simple Ways to Feed Your Spirit by Memorizing Large Chunks of the Bible
- Methods that have helped me memorize hundreds of verses (and turn some into music!)
What You Don’t Know About Love Could Destroy You
- Wrote this because of growing concern over the many dangerously incorrect views of “love” that are being passed off as legitimate.
Jesus Was Not Nice — And You Shouldn’t Be Either
- Because inaccurate views of Jesus lead to massive misunderstandings among people — Christian and non-Christian alike.
The Story of the Entire Bible, Part Two: Detailed Synopsis
- For those who have never read the Bible cover to cover.
Dear Arooj
- A fascinating discussion with a devout Muslim writer
What Does it Mean to Trust God
- This article triggered some interesting conversations.
Books That Made a Difference in My Life This Year
Willpower Doesn’t Work
- Ben Hardy’s bestseller on how to ACTUALLY achieve your goals, without relying on your unreliable willpower.
The Compound Effect
- Darren Hardy’s how-to handbook on the power of small gains over a long time.
Man’s Search for Meaning
- Viktor Frankl’s classic Holocaust memoir and explanation of logotherapy, man’s will to meaning.
Story Genius
- Lisa Cron’s brilliant analysis of what makes a story really work, and how to write an effective story of your own.
Other
Why Not Me?
- Musical poetry
Church Musical: A Musical Play in 4 Acts
- The first of its kind that I’ve written 😃
2 Powerful Quotes That Changed My Worldview
- A response to a reader’s question about how to overcome selfishness.
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