My Friend Writes

You wrote the book, celebrated its release, and maybe even enjoyed a little success. Then someone asked, "So, what's next?"

I'm flying solo this week on My Friend Writes, exploring a question I've been asking myself lately: What if that was my only book?

I'm sharing what it's like to write in the shadow of Reflections of Joy, why my next book, What Now, God?, has taken a few unexpected turns, and how easy it is to lose the joy of writing somewhere between publishing, promoting, and planning what comes next.

We'll also talk about five simple ways to pick up the pen again, why every idea doesn't have to become a book, and the freedom to grow into a different kind of writer.

If you've ever wondered whether you have another story worth telling, this conversation is for you.

A question to consider: If your next piece of writing didn't have to live up to anything you'd written before, what would you write?

Barbara Howlin didn’t begin writing Can It Be That Easy? A Practical Guide to Rewild Your Intuition because she had everything figured out. She began because a flash of jealousy made her ask herself an honest question: Do you want to write a book? The answer was yes.

In this episode of My Friend Writes, Barbara talks about moving from burnout and self-doubt toward creativity, curiosity, and intuitive trust. We talk about Morning Pages, imposter syndrome, Human Design, Reiki, sharing the messy middle, and what it means to “rewild” the parts of ourselves we learned to silence.

Barbara also shares how writing her first book became one of the biggest exercises in intuitive trust she’s ever experienced, and why she believes creativity becomes easier when we stop demanding the whole plan and begin trusting one step at a time.

Can It Be That Easy? eleases November 1. Listen and then grab her links and more info on Substack at My Friend Writes

What happens when writing your story helps you finally recognize yourself?

This week on My Friend Writes, I’m talking with author and creative director Shonda Ramsey about the journey from poetry to nonfiction to clean and wholesome romance, and what each book has taught her about herself.

We talk about plotting fiction, building a writing life around a full-time career, creating characters readers care about, and the unexpected healing Shonda found while writing Authentically Anchored.

That process also changed the way she lives. Shonda shares how she’s learning to trust herself, become more intentional with her “yes,” and say “no” to the things that don’t align with who God created her to be.

Listen to our conversation, then find Shonda’s follow-up reflection on Substack.

A technical writer and paranormal investigator walks into a 165-year-old jail… and eventually writes a book about it.

This week on My Friend Writes, I’m talking with my longtime friend Edward Quentin, author of Historical and Haunted Tales of the 1859 Jail. What began with paranormal investigations led Edward deep into the history of Independence, Missouri, uncovering stories involving Frank James, Harry Truman, the Civil War, and more than a few things that are harder to explain.

We talk about research rabbit holes, moving from technical writing to storytelling, the realities of publishing, and what Edward learned when he decided to find out if he could actually write the book.

Listen to the episode, then head over to My Friend Writes Substack for Edward’s follow-up essay and a little more of the story behind the story.

Writers do a strange thing. We spend months, sometimes years, writing a book, and then we get uncomfortable telling people about it.

In this solo episode of My Friend Writes, Kim reflects on receiving an award for Reflections of Joy and the reminder it gave her to stop, look around, and appreciate the work that brought her there. She talks about why writers struggle to celebrate their accomplishments, why promoting your book does not have to feel like bragging, and why the story you worked so hard to tell still deserves to be shared long after launch day.

If you wrote the book, share the review. Celebrate the milestone. Post the picture. Tell people about the award. Your book may feel familiar to you, but someone who needs it may simply not know about it yet.

And every once in a while, before asking, “What now, God?” give yourself a moment to say, “Thank You for this.”

For more of the story, including Kim’s acceptance speech from the Gala and her reflections on the moment, read the companion essay on her Substack My Friend Writes.

What happens when you know God has called you to write, but you do not yet know what story He is asking you to tell?

In this episode of My Friend Writes, I talk with Jennifer Longenecker, co-author of Held in the Dark, about writing alongside her daughter, Heather, and telling the story of their family’s journey through eating disorder recovery.

Jennifer shares how the writing process helped her see her daughter’s experience differently, release some of the guilt she carried as a mother, and trust the story that was unfolding. We also talk about rewriting a manuscript when the story needs more of you, letting go of perfection, and taking the next step when you believe God has called you to write.

Jennifer knew she was called to write nearly a decade before she knew what the book would be. After you listen, visit My Friend Writes on Substack to read her follow-up and discover how years of journaling, blogging, learning, waiting, and saying yes prepared her for the story she eventually understood she was meant to tell.

What happens when the story you never expected to live becomes the story you need to write?

This week on My Friend Writes, I’m talking with Erin Copeland, author of Welcome to Caregiving: The Things Caregivers Never Talk About. Erin shares how her husband’s cancer diagnosis, liver transplant, and frightening complications changed the course of both of their lives, eventually leading her to sit down at her laptop and begin telling the stories she could no longer keep to herself.

We talk about the parts of caregiving people rarely say out loud, the cost of losing yourself while caring for someone else, and the surprising way writing helped Erin reclaim her voice after years of being afraid to put her private thoughts on paper.

Erin also offers beautiful encouragement for anyone who feels the pull to write but is already worrying about where the story will lead: start with what is in front of you. Write what you know today. You do not have to know what it will become before you begin.

After you listen, jump over to My Friend Writes on Substack to read Erin's follow-up piece! You'll be glad you did!

For the final special August episode of My Friend Writes, I’m sharing one more glimpse into my own writing life and what learning a new formatting program has reminded me about being a beginner. After years of becoming capable and confident in the things we do, starting something new can feel surprisingly uncomfortable.

This week, I’m talking about staying teachable, giving ourselves grace to learn slowly, and remembering that we aren’t expected to know something we haven’t learned yet. Maybe the question worth carrying into this next season is simply this: What are you willing to be a beginner at?

For more thoughts, check out my Substack at My Friend Writes

What happens when a writer misses her own deadline? This week, Kim reflects on The Gift of a Little Wiggle Room and the freedom that comes with building a creative life with space to wander. From doctor’s appointments and babysitting the grands to an unexpected Sunday drive on a Friday, sometimes stepping away from the schedule gives us the experiences, perspective, and joy that make our writing richer.

How do you grow as a writer without losing your voice along the way? In this solo episode of My Friend Writes, Kim talks about honoring your reader by showing up authentically, choosing the right publishers, editors, coaches, and collaborators, and learning the difference between improving your writing and replacing your voice.