I began writing when I was young. Since high school, I’ve kept a journal. And as a 23 year-old working overseas, I wrote my first book. I began blogging in 2005 and have written 3000+ posts. I’ve written 14 books in all – half of them published.
Book-writing has been complicated for me. I say…
This is a new format for the blog. The first format change in 17 years! What do you think? I’ve been thinking about “why do I write?” and “what have I written?”
I began writing when I was young. Since high school, I’ve kept a journal. And as a 23 year-old working overseas, I wrote my first book. I began blogging in 2005 and have written 3000+ posts. Book writing has been arduous. Usually it’s a multi-year process getting the manuscripts to a point where I’m happy enough to share them with others.
It occurred to me, “I have no idea how many books I’ve written over the years. So I went back and counted – 14 books in all – half of them published. The other half sit as orphans on my hard drive.
Book-writing has been complicated for me. I say complicated because, there’s a big difference between what I feel led to write about and what I care enough about to go through the process of publishing and marketing.
I’ve found that most manuscripts that I want to publish take multiple years to write and multiple drafts. Then I have to gather a team to help me get it ready to share with the public. When I’ve had great teams, the books have done well. A couple of them went to #1 on the Amazon Bestseller list.
Book writing is for me a kind of art. I’ve chosen not to make money on my books. There are a lot of easier ways to make money! So here are the books. Maybe I’ll publish a few more in the future.
Unpublished 1. 3 Roles of a Leader: Tools to help you grow as a young leader 2. Risk-Based Discipling: A primer on how to use Jesus’s methods of making disciples 3. Secret of Abundant Living: A study of Isaiah 58 and God’s heart for the poor in spirit 4. Dangerous Jesus: A series of Bible studies on how Jesus made disciples 5. Mistaken Identity: Issues when trying to define your identity 6. The Arc of You & Me, Dad: Poems while waiting to die 7. My Life & Adventures: A Memoir of Seth Barnes Sr.
I hope you publish more in the future Seth. I read Kingdom Journeys a few years ago, and it is a game changer. I have about 40 highlights in my Readwise queue that seem to resurface right when I need them.
Whenever I preach on prayer, or need a reminder of something, I inevitably pull out The Art of Listening Prayer. Shari (my wife) appreciated Kingdom Journeys. I would say listen for God. He may be wanting to say more through you.
Oh – I’ve completed the memoir. I actually did publish it. I just did a small run. I’ll give you a copy when you’re next back in the States. Probably I’m sensing that God has more stories for me to live into before I publish it.
I like the new layout! And I would really enjoy reading the unpublished ones; especially the memoir, dad’s poems and risk based discipling. i just went and bought the Katrina. Thank you for all your intentionality! Blessings!
The Art of Listening Prayer was one of the most life changing books I’ve ever read. Thank you for that gift! Keep writing, please – you are a spiritual father to many.
Ha – you are too kind, Charlie. For most of my life I have felt like I couldn’t match up with others who were far ahead of me. And I look at your life and often feel that way in the realm of business or in your clarity of quick insight in an interview or your capacity to place your reader right in the middle of a story with your authenticity and recapitulation of a conversation. And I look at my own life and often feel like I’m just now getting comfortable in my own shoes as a leader. I pray for more time to do what I’m on earth to do, which I feel, I’m still just waking up to.
So, thanks for your grace and for seeing the positive flipside to my relentless drive that often may feel overwhelming to those who are partners with me on some project. I need the grace more than you may know.
I hope you publish more in the future Seth. I read Kingdom Journeys a few years ago, and it is a game changer. I have about 40 highlights in my Readwise queue that seem to resurface right when I need them.
Thanks, Bill. That’s encouraging!
Whenever I preach on prayer, or need a reminder of something, I inevitably pull out The Art of Listening Prayer. Shari (my wife) appreciated Kingdom Journeys. I would say listen for God. He may be wanting to say more through you.
I like the new blog! Looks like a blank slate… When will the memoir be complete?
Oh – I’ve completed the memoir. I actually did publish it. I just did a small run. I’ll give you a copy when you’re next back in the States. Probably I’m sensing that God has more stories for me to live into before I publish it.
Seth, I can’t wait to read the new ones. I have read several and used some to teach and pass them on.
Thank you for your heart and ink 🙂
Ha – that’s the first time someone has thanked me for my ink! You are welcome, Flor.
I like the new layout! And I would really enjoy reading the unpublished ones; especially the memoir, dad’s poems and risk based discipling. i just went and bought the Katrina. Thank you for all your intentionality! Blessings!
Thanks, Chris. I’ll set aside a memoir for you and Dave for Christmas. Sending you the unpublished ones…
The Art of Listening Prayer was one of the most life changing books I’ve ever read. Thank you for that gift! Keep writing, please – you are a spiritual father to many.
I know no one else who is as prolific as you are. It is incredible to see how much can be produced by one man’s life. And you ain’t finished yet.
Ha – you are too kind, Charlie. For most of my life I have felt like I couldn’t match up with others who were far ahead of me. And I look at your life and often feel that way in the realm of business or in your clarity of quick insight in an interview or your capacity to place your reader right in the middle of a story with your authenticity and recapitulation of a conversation. And I look at my own life and often feel like I’m just now getting comfortable in my own shoes as a leader. I pray for more time to do what I’m on earth to do, which I feel, I’m still just waking up to.
So, thanks for your grace and for seeing the positive flipside to my relentless drive that often may feel overwhelming to those who are partners with me on some project. I need the grace more than you may know.
My dear brother. Your missives are manifestos and a language of the spirit realm. Grateful.