What people have found most helpful this year, all in one post. It’s almost the end of 2024, and I wanted to compile my best posts for you.

These are the ones people have reached out to thank me for, commented on, or remembered.

To be honest, most of my favorites didn’t make the list. So you should definitely peruse the blog feed for more!

Most Helpful Blogs of 2024

My roommate picked “The Secret to Community.” It shares the one thing I do in the middle of an argument that changes everything. It’s truly my secret to growing a beautiful community.

The Secret to Community

So many people reached out (even people who were strangers to me then) and told me they loved “How to Survive the Birthday Song.”

It was the first comedy article I ever wrote and kickstarted that side of my career. Now I have several comedy articles posted on The Pearl and, of course, on my own blog.

Other articles are funnier, but I think this is the best balance between helpful advice and hilarious observations.

How to Survive the Birthday Song

I picked “Maybe it’s not so different…” for the number of long comments people left saying they needed this.

Is our relationship with God different than our relationships with people? It also shared how eating an orange completely shifted my idea of what trust is.

Maybe it’s not so different…

Publishing Updates

A year ago, no one had considered my writing good enough to publish. I’d submitted to a few things, only to be rejected.

Then in January, The Pearl published my short story about panic attacks and grocery shopping. I was so excited!!

The Pearl continued to take a chance on me, offering amazing opportunities as part of my apprenticeship. I became their social media manager and the managing editor for their next stunning anthology.

You heard me right, I’m the managing editor of an anthology, which I’ll also write a story for. I’ll be published in book form when it’s released in May 2025! (My name is even on the cover, check it out below!)

If you write, take a look at the nifty website I designed for the project.

It’s a serious opportunity; authors will be paid for their work, but more importantly, it’s a good project for upcoming authors. Everything will be produced at a high level and we have an established audience through The Pearl and The Company platforms.

We’re looking for magical realism stories with a summer element. Short stories set in this world, the one we live in, with just one crazy interesting change. We’re accepting submissions until January 30th, 2025. Learn more and submit here.

Above all, God was kind and gentle to me in 2024. I’m so grateful for him, for you, and for this last year. To him be the glory forever and ever, amen!