Faithful Finisher | Character Development, Christian Podcast, Live Your Dreams, Goal Setting

From one author to another, I have a theory.  That theory is this: setting aside 30 minutes on Monday to debrief the week before and dream about the week ahead will help us reach our writing goals faster.

But what do we review during the debrief?  How do we set achievable targets with actionable tasks for the week ahead?  How do we make sure what we work on each day and week takes us closer to our writing goals?

Finding the answers to these questions is at the heart of the super secret project I’ve been working on, and that is what I want to share with you today.  

Email me: [email protected]

Today I have three quick tips to help you write stellar stories.  

I didn’t learn these tips from a book or a course or a podcast or some random social media post.  I learned them while backpacking in South America.

What does backpacking have to do with writing?  Tune in to find out!

Join the League of Adventurous Authors email list here!

Today I am bringing you some entertainment in the form of an interview.  This is the third and final piece of the chat between me and my friend Becky on night seven of our eight day hike.  We interviewed each other about the trek while in our tent on that cold night, and now I’m sharing it with you.  You can also watch it here.

Listen in to find out how this trip will influence my next novel and discover the cool thing your creative brain will thank you for.

And if you want the inside scoop regarding the super secret project I'm working on for you before I announce it here on the podcast, you can get yourself on the email list.  

Now lets go back in time one more time to hear the end of the interview between me and Becky while we were shivering in our tent on March 29, 2023.  Let’s go to Chile!

I’ve got another just for fun episode for you today.  I’m sharing part 2 of the interview my friend Becky and I recorded while sitting in our tent in Torres del Paine in Chile.  It was night seven of our eight day hike.  We chat about food, friends and life lessons learned while on the trail.  If you ever want to go on a backpacking adventure of your own, hopefully this session will inspire you and give you some insights about what such an adventure would look like.

Crafting adventures of your own allow you to get out and experience the world.  Then you can translate those experiences into…wait for it…stories.  In other words, adventures enrich your writing!  

We’ll finish up this recap series tomorrow, and on May 17, I’ll share the super secret project I’ve been working on to help you start, finish, and publish your book.  For now, I’m transporting you back in time to the interview between me and Becky recorded on March 29.  Let’s go to Chile!

If you are an adventurous author who likes to hike, I've got a fun treat for you today.  While on my own hiking adventure with my college buddy Becky, we interviewed each other about our trip.  This is part one of the interview where we discuss tips, tricks and highlights that can help you on your own hiking trips.

You can also watch the video here if you want to see us bundled up in our tent while we chatted on that freezing cold evening.

Today I don’t want to talk to you about writing or publishing.  Don’t get me wrong.  Those topics are still close to my heart and will continue to be core topics of the show.  Just not today.  Or next week.

You see, while on my two-month sabbatical, a lot happened in this magnificent little life of mine.   I went on an epic backpacking adventure, finished reading a book on writing that is changing my approach to novel writing and started revolutionizing the way I think, the way I pray and the way I get work done.

And I learned that sometimes the most progress you make as a writer is when you are experiencing life.  Listen to this quick episode to learn what I've been up to and how that translates into great things for YOU.

Shoot me an email to say hi here: [email protected]

Check out the videos and pics from my backpacking trip on the blog.

Get on the email list to be notified first of the cool announcement coming on May 17.

Why do I want to take a break from producing this podcast in March?

Listen in to find out.

I'll be back on April 5.  Until then, keep writing!

Connect: [email protected]

We’re in week three of our write a novella in 18 weeks series.  

In week one and episode 43, we did some initial market research and sketched out our covers.  

In week two and episode 45, we came up with our plot premise and purpose premise.  We also did some work on imagining our place or setting.

This week, we’re going to start working on developing our main characters.  My guest host Bonnie Jean Schaefer will share some normal and important things you need to know about your people.  Then she’ll challenge you to answer five random and somewhat ridiculous questions about your characters that will make each of them interesting.

Visit the Blog

It’s Fantasy Fiction Friday!

Today I’m bringing you chapter 27 of The Dragon Collector entitled The Zandadorian Portal.

Do you ever wish you could transport yourself from one place to another with merely a thought? Think of the time you would save and the traffic you would avoid. Plus money would no longer be a barrier to travel, so you could experience endless adventures.

Well, teleportation is a real thing in the Land of Zandador…for the Dawn Stalkers, that is.  Humans can’t teleport, but they have learned to utilize that teleportation power and create portals to different regions in the land.

But what you don’t learn in this chapter is that King Omri has banned the use of the portals because he doesn’t want people traveling.  He doesn’t want them to explore.  To have adventures.  To see the world.  He wants them to remain contained and compliant.  That makes him feel in control and powerful.

However, he doesn’t have as much control as he thinks he does.  In today’s chapter, Astor and Javan activate the portal and instantly  travel to…you’ll have to listen to find out.

Let’s get to the Land of Zandador!

Get Your Free DK Drake Starter Library here.

Snag one or all of the Dragon Stalker books here.

Here we are in week 2 of the novella writing process.  If you are one of those people who would prefer to speed up write your entire novella in a week or a month instead of the four-ish months it’s going to take me, go for it.  I applaud you.  

In other words, I’m not leading a fast and furious writing challenge.  This is more of a slow-and-steady write-well-with-depth challenge.  Why?  Because it plays to my strengths and availability.

Today we’re discussing the exact steps to take in week 2, and these steps will take 3-5 hours to complete.  Let’s dive in to find out what you need to do this week to make progress on your novella.

Get Your Free DK Drake Starter Library here.

Snag one or all of the Dragon Stalker books here.