“Writing is easy,” said Red Smith, “all you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein.” That may sound a tad bit drastic, but the truth is, writing, in so many ways, is the pouring out of your soul. It is the depletion of self on paper. It is a wrestling match with thoughts, words, and syntax. Writing is ironic in that it’s therapeutic and unnerving. It’s relaxing and laborious. It is boring and inspirational. I dread it, and I absolutely love it.

In his book, The Conviction to Lead, Albert Mohler said, “Most of the words …