#110. Donald Miller
Apr 3rd by Jon
Whenever I sit down to write, I silently and automatically think in my head, “WWDD?” By that I of course mean, “What would Donald Write?” There’s a part of me that so loves his writing style that usually my first draft of anything is simply the “Donald Miller” draft. But it’s fake, not because he is, but because what I’ve written is not the truth but rather what I think a Christian author should say. And so what I write sounds really holy and Godly but is actually a pack of loosely packed lies. But Donald Miller is great.
And I think he’s great because he’s honest. He was one of the first Christian authors for me that really seemed to share his scars, to roll up his sleeves and expose his bruises. Whether that was about his absent father or his dreams to move some where that had more “green places” on a map. He writes like a friend talking to a close friend, not like a Christian on a platform sharing wisdom. And he’s a really nice guy. My parents are friends with him. Before “Blue Like Jazz” exploded and he moved on up like the Jeffersons, beans don’t fry in the kitchen, he stayed at my parents’ house for about a week writing. I spoke with him once on the phone, a story that I have admittedly tried to make more out of in the hopes that other Christians that like him will in turn like me. He was kind and encouraging and told me my background in writing advertising would serve me well when it came to writing books and inside the cover of the issue of Blue Like Jazz he gave me, he wrote, “I can’t tell you how much I love your parents and home.” And that was a really cool, unnecessary thing for a guy about to sell a million books to say.
So I heart Donald Miller.
p.s. what Christian author do you think is going to be the “next” Donald Miller?
Comments
I told several friends, when I sent them the link to your blog, that I thought YOU were going to be the next Donald Miller! Interesting that you should write a post on him.
There is this guy who is a pretty good writer…his name is Jon…or something like that…
put a hand on each side of your head and hold tight.
YOU
You’ve got a great gift, keep up the good work. No pressure there!
Hmm… how about Tony Dungy.
(http://christianity.about.com/od/christianbooks/tp/christianbooks.htm)
Um, you?
(I thought someone should say it.)
The interesting thing about Miller is that despite his obvious gifts, he’s not been able to hit one out of the park, stylistically speaking, since BLJ. I wonder if he sits down to write and asks WWDW?
My wife and I love, love, love this site. Well done, Jon.
What Christian author is going to be the next Donald Miller? My answer Donald Miller.
As you have pointed out he needs to take a lesson from Every Man’s Battle and start his own “empire”
Blue Like Jazz
Blue Like the Blues
Blue Like Smurfs
Blue like “Hey you just ate a blue jawbreaker and your tongue is blue”
Re: P.s. – if I say “You” will you dedicate your book to me? *cheesy hopeful grin*
Today I got an email from Amazon promoting DMs new release, Jazz Notes: Improvisations on Blue Like Jazz. I hope and pray he isn’t starting his own little “empire”. I hope he isn’t being sucked into the machine!
I read this book by a guy named Jim Palmer called Divine Nobodies. I have yet to find another person who has read it. Anyone? I thought it was very good.
I too heart Don Miller. It’s funny because when I first came into circles about Blue Like Jazz it was like: have you read Don Miller’s Blue Like Jazz and Rob Bell’s Velvet Elvis? The 2 were inseparable. Almost like they had created this pact to write these 2 books to flip things upside down together. It took me forever to separate the two.
I look forward to his movie adaptation. It should be interesting!
Ray Sikes. He is a bit older Miller, which in my opinion makes him someone to listen to. Although an age similarity is always attractive for learning and supplies a kind of “I really know what he’s talking about” response, Sikes seems to really get the older author approach right by not forgetting confession, relation, and redemption when sharing his wisdom instead of just saying “I was young once, but then I became a man and was enlightened.”
He seems to be all about the journey and not the A to B life, at least in his new book.
O, and this site is a new discovery for me! Excellent work.
Did you read “A Million Little Pieces?” I think you should write a stream of consciousness post. I like the way Rob Bell writes. And I think that Chesterton was the first Donald Miller.
I have read everything Donald Miller has written, and just can’t get enough. There is something about his writing style that really keeps my attention (kinda like you!) He has a sermon on the Mars Hill (Grand Rapids) website that I have listened to a million times called “Story”. It’s amazing. I must say I’m really jealous that you almost know him.
-Brad
You need to read, “The Shack,” by William P. Young. Amazing. He is next. Too humble not to be amazing.
do you think brett was trying to be funny because he’d read #92?
i think rob bell is a simultaneous donald miller with a little more theology but just as much honesty. a pre-donald miller, i think, is adrian plass. he’s older, but he’s hilarious, and honest. it’s funny how we christians have to search for honesty within our own “subculture.”
when blue like jazz came out, it was all the rave in the Christian community on campus, and your dad even mentioned it in church, i think, but i was skeptical of all the hype so i avoided reading it for ~a year after it became really big. but once i picked it up, i couldn’t put it down and read all the books he’d published at that point in a period of three days. now when people ask, it’s hard not to say that blue like jazz and searching for God knows what are two of my favorite books, because they are, but sometimes i feel too Christian kitschy. plus “donald miller” doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue.
anyone ever read The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne. He’s doesn’t want to be anyone, but Shane, but he quotes Donald Miller. They are both ballers… Rob Bell too!
Jon, I like your writing style, and think you’re close.
I also think that Vince Antonucci is as good as Donald Miller. “I Became a Christian and all I got was this Lousy T-shirt” is as raw and honest as “Jazz”
Yeah… love Donald Miller’s style but I think he is seriously flawed in some of his thinking… not that we all don’t have flaws, but seriously, he’s a great writer, makes you think, which is good… but I also believe he’s got serious issues with some areas of his theology.
Tim LaHaye.
Just kidding.
Um, I’ve never heard of Donald Miller…does that make me a bad Jesus follower? I may have to check him out.
We’ll all be hearing a lot about a book called “My Beautiful Idol” by Pete Gall this year. I got my hands on a pre-release copy and it reminds me a lot of Donald Miller (let it rip writing style) combined with Augustine’s “Confessions” (THE spiritual memoir). Be on the look out!
Donald Miller rocks!
What do you think of when you think of the ‘magic’ in Miller’s writing?
There are insights, of course, and a command of the language, but what I come away with is a refreshed sense of permission to tell the truth. To feel safety speaking what I feel, to confess the places where it hurts — even when it hurts where I caused the pain myself. And something about that permission allows me to speak the truth without having to drum up a rebel’s courage to say what’s really going on.
What Miller has done for me — apart from playing a huge role in opening up the market for voices like his — has everything to do with depressurizing my reality, making it possible to struggle, to doubt, to live with a certain degree of ambiguity, without feeling shame as though I’m messed up or am “doing my faith all wrong.”
What Miller’s writing has modeled for me is a way of really, finally, speaking the truth in love.
My wish would be that his example could become OUR example when it comes to mixing those two rarely well-mixed words — truth and love. Whether that example ends up in books, or simply in a million lives, wouldn’t that be something if we could all trust God that way?
As to who’s next, I say all we’re talking about are books. A day’s entertainment, and a few thoughts that we carry with us, hopefully along with a sense that there are other people in the world who see things and feel things a bit the way we do. They’re not all that big a deal. They’re landmarks. Placeholders. Simple experiences to remind us of Home. And we’re all created to offer such things.
One author, one reader, one friend, one brother — we’re here to augment and compliment, and all to point to the same bearded Galilean.
Let’s ALL be next.
Pete Gall
author of My Beautiful Idol
fan of Donald Miller
guy who’s learning to love his wife, his friends, and the people he meets along the way (especially Michael Cline!)
I know the question had more to do w/ who’s going to be the ‘next’ Donald Miller, but I’m surprised no one has made the comparison between him and Anne Lamott. I love both writers, and his writing style reminded me of hers. The differences between the two seemed more in life experience, but other than that it’s a similar confessional, humor-laden, descriptive, honest, refreshing look at Christian spirituality.
What a hilarious way to end this blog. A question, which I’m sure everybody who reads this blog would agree that is you. I have sent out your blog link to a few friends. Some I told you were Donald-esque, and others, I didn’t mention a thing of the Donald, and they came back with a comment of how Donald M.arvelous your blog is. Keep up the good work. God is doing some awesome things through you, no doubt. God rocks!
(That seemed like an appropriate way to end my little comment…..though I would probably never vocalize that statement in those exact words, that God rocks. I’m pretty sure He’s actually emo…..or more into Folk Country.. but those don’t make a statement about how cool He is, so let’s just not go there.)
in response to jessy, yeah, i love Anne Lamott and definitely note similarities. in fact, i think DM even references her in one of his books. i’ve read them all (which validates this post) so i don’t remember exactly which book has the referece.
Tony Myles
My friend Linda directed me to your blog a few days ago, describing you as “Donald Miller-ish.” Thought you’d like to know.
Funny! I have been reading your blog most of the night and I kept thinking how much you remind me of Donald Miller!
Lauren Winner, Anne Lamott and Donald Miller make up my Trinity of Fabulous writers. Seriously Jon, you’ve got a future in this so get’r'done. (Your book I mean) And when my good friend Kelli Couri is done with hers, she might kick Donald off my triad to create an all-female amazing authors group.
It’s the fish that don’t fry in the kitchen.
The beans are too busy not burning with the meal.
I agree with the post that mentioned Lauren Winner. I picked up “Girl Meets God” and couldn’t put it down. I’ve been struggling with finding my identity within the church as a Christian: I still can’t buy into the typical non-denominational place with mega screens that mask a sanctuary for a rock concert. Winner writes with charismatic candor about her struggles of discovering her role as a Christian woman. Coming from a Jewish background, her view of Christians is refreshing and comical. I laugh along with her remarks and confessions.
Lauren Winner is a terrific writer, but sometimes too self-centered.
Not new and trendy, but if you want a true,deep challenge, don't forget Dallas Willard.
Yeah…Donald Miller changed my thinking a lot. I like that he makes a lot of Christians feel uncomfortable with how honest he is.
YES to Jim Palmer. If you haven't read his books, do. They're life-changing.
so a few years ago, i was working on a writing project on which DM was also contributing. ( i was a lowly assistant, not an author.) inevitably, every communication i had with him turned into one of the most random and/or embarrassing events of my 20's. however ridiculous i was, he always responded with kindness, warmth, and a hint of sarcasm. he's not perfect. but that's what we love about him.
lol, Andrew, "Blue Like Smurfs", love it.
Blue Like Antifreeze
Blue Like Bamboo
Blue Like Swine Flu
Blue Like Grandma's Hair
Blue Like the Church Play-Doh Timmy Just Ate.
Donald Miller's gonna write the prefaces for my first two books and then go into retirement because he can't top them. Really. Just watch.
My first book will be on the dangers of pride.
The second one will be on unexposed hypocrisy.
I don't know that he is the NEXT Donald Miller (pretty sure he had books out before Miller published BLJ), but I find a lot of similarities between him and Mark Driscoll. Driscoll is also funny, witty, and brutally honest about his shortcomings and the shortcomings of his church, both in print and in his spoken word. If you are looking for the next author who will blow your mind, Driscoll is it. Definitely NOT Rob Bell!