I think it would be easy to see what our second-year apprentices do—publish books, release weekly content, be guests on podcasts, launch new projects, share the Gospel—and to think, “Gosh, I could never do that.”

“I could never launch a podcast.”

“I could never write a novel from scratch in ten weeks.”

“I could never be vulnerable in my writing and just put it out there like that.”

Well, they couldn’t either. But they were brave enough to say “yes” to the first step and then keep showing up.

Apprentices grow little by little just like anyone else, but those little steps happen at a much faster rate, because of one word, “Today.”

In this episode, you will learn:

• An invaluable tip for making faster progress in your writing and platform-building

Prefer to read it? Find a similar article on The Company Magazine here: https://writers.company/the-magic-word-for-making-big-progress-fast-with-your-writing/

LINKS:

Learn more about The Company’s writing and publishing apprenticeship: https://writers.company/training/full-time-apprenticeship/

Become a member of The Company: https://writers.company/membership/

The post The magic word to make big writing progress (Episode 151) appeared first on The Company.

If you start your story well, you can get away with a lot later on.

Readers need to be grounded by the setting and the narrative voice. But if you do this effectively, it buys you a lot of liberty in your storytelling later on.

Brad Pauquette, bestselling author of The Novel Matrix, and Alli Prince, author of Top New Release Copper Lies, critiqued four short stories and novel chapters from The Company’s community of writers.

Listen here or watch the full video on YouTube:

In this critique, you’ll find invaluable tips and tricks to make your own writing the best that it can be.

You can download these four stories and read them yourself here: https://writers.company/january-28th-procritique-materials-now-available/

Take the time to read the stories and critique them yourself before you listen. Compare your critique to Brad and Alli’s notes to grow in your ability to articulate issues and opportunities in your own writing.

At this live critique session, we discussed:

• “Calvin Loses the Girl” by Scott Morehead

Thank you to the brave souls who volunteered their work to be publicly critiqued.

Learn more about our ProCritiques and other events on The Company’s website: https://writers.company/

OTHER LINKS:

• Copper Lies on Amazon: https://amzn.to/42CwCXK

The post The Value of a Great Story Opening: January 2025 ProCritique Recording appeared first on The Company.

Alli Prince graduated from The Company’s apprenticeship in August and released her debut YA novel, Copper Lies, on December 12.

Before she came to The Company, she was just a hobby writer like you.

What did she learn and do that moved her from amateur to professional?

In this podcast episode, you will learn:

• How do you go from aspiring amateur to professional writer?

Grab a copy of Copper Lies on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/40q3uAg

Learn more about Alli and connect with her on her website: https://alliprince.com/

Ready to get serious about your writing? Learn more about The Company’s full-time writing and publishing apprenticeship here: https://writers.company/training/full-time-apprenticeship/

The post When are you a real professional writer? – Interview with Alli Prince, author of Copper Lies (Episode 149) appeared first on The Company.

When you want to deliver a message to your readers, where do you start? How do you capture their attention and not come off preachy?

Michelle Nezat is the author of A Seat at the Table, which she wrote with the help of the Novel Matrix method and one-on-one coaching with Brad Pauquette. By committing to write a great story first, Michelle earned the right to the reader’s heart, and she earned the right to include the messaging and philosophical ideas that inspired the project.

In this episode, you will learn:

• How to earn your right to share your message with a great story

Michelle utilized the apprentices at The Company for her book production.

Michelle Nezat is a 10-year veteran podcaster and Bible teacher. Check out her podcast, More than a Song, on all major platforms. She’s a Cajun girl born in Idaho and living in Louisiana, and she has the best gumbo and sweet tea in the neighborhood (according to her husband and two daughters). Her passion is God’s Word and inspiring others to discover and interact with Scripture for themselves.

MICHELLE’S LINKS:

• Connect with Michelle: https://www.michellenezat.com/

MORE LINKS:

Want help with your book project? Learn more about The Company at https://writers.company
Connect with Brad: https://bradpauquette.com
Get The Novel Matrix on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3BSAqcd

The post Great story earns your right to preach — Interview with Michelle Nezat: Author of A Seat at the Table (Episode 148 appeared first on The Company.

Brighten your Christmas with six family-friendly holiday stories, featuring the writing and voice talent of The Company’s apprentices.

A Cambridge Christmas is hosted by Brad Pauquette.

Featuring the voice talent of:

• Lucy Grecu as Stitch

Featuring the voice talent of:

• Brad Pauquette as Pig

Featuring the voice talent of:

• Noah J. Matthews as Fake Prancer

Featuring the voice talent of:

• Brad Pauquette as Sargent

Featuring the voice talent of:

• Alli Prince as Spirit and Mrs. Fezziwig

Featuring the voice talent of:

• Alli Prince as Young Girl

Merry Christmas from the staff, apprentices, and volunteers of The Company. May God bless you in the coming year!

The post A Cambridge Christmas – 2024 Holiday Radio Show appeared first on The Company.

How does your release strategy need to change for your second book?

Some of the assets and energy behind your first book won’t transcend to your second book release, but what new opportunities open up to you?

Thirzah is the first-ever apprentice graduate from The Company and the author of the Adventures in Eldnaire trilogy. The second book, A Traitor’s Vow, hit store shelves in August. Look for book three this spring!

Grab A Traitor’s Vow on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3VvvjW0

Or start at the beginning of the series with The Librarian’s Ruse: https://amzn.to/3BnDuNj

In this interview, she shares her experience writing book two of this series and advice for pushing through feelings of failure.

Learn more about Thirzah and subscribe at ThirzahWrites.com

Watch the video on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/goLkPzgIbuQ

The post Adjusting Your Release Strategy for Book Two – Interview with Thirzah: Author of A Traitor’s Vow (Episode 146) appeared first on The Company.

We tell our apprentices that they’re coming here to become professional writers. I mean that’s true and we really do that, but it’s not what’s most important to me.

The most important thing to me is to see their lives change and to see them radically on fire for Jesus and filled with the Holy Spirit.

We’re not just raising up keyboard warriors. We’re raising up disciples of Jesus who can do the work of the gospel. And who can do it without having a panic attack.

The work that we’re doing at The Company is changing lives. It changes our apprentices (dramatically). It brings the gospel to places it wasn’t reach before. And we also provide support and resources for the greater community of Christian writers. It’s a win-win-win.

And we want you to be a part of it.

LINKS:

Become a member of The Company: https://writers.company/membership

Support The Company: https://writers.company/give/

Shop The Company’s Store: https://writers.company/store

The post It’s a bait and switch… (Episode 145) appeared first on The Company.

Ever heard of a 6th century monk who could shoot fire out of his fingertips?

How about a 20th century revivalist who saw limbs materialize from thin air?

These aren’t your typical Halloween ghost stories.

Spirit Stories presents the work of four storytellers, each an apprentice at The Company, sharing a true story of the supernatural.

Our 2024 feature includes the work of RJ Catlin, Lucy Grecu, Vella Karman, and Noah Matthews. Each storyteller was asked to perform their story in one take, as if in front of a live audience.

If you enjoy this feature, please like, review, subscribe, and share!

Learn more about these storytellers:

RJ Catlin – RJCatlin.com

Vella Karman – VellaKarman.com

Noah Matthews – NoahJMatthews.com

The post Spirit Stories 2024 – True Stories of the Supernatural appeared first on The Company.

As usual, there’s a lot going on at The Company, and we don’t want you to miss anything. Here are the big things you’ll want to keep an eye on this fall:

Come hang out with us The Company HQ in Cambridge, Ohio on November 1-2. Spend a day hanging out with the apprentices, writing, and worshipping Jesus. What’s better than that?

Details and register here: https://writers.company/join-us-for-our-fall-retreat-november-1-2-2024/

Ready to take your writing to the next level?

With an Arche Year Cohort, you’ll write a novel and launch an author’s platform in less than ten months. You’ll meet weekly with other aspiring writers and be led by a published author.

Learn more and register here: https://writers.company/archeyear

Pumpkin Spice. Details forthcoming within the next week. Make sure you’re a member of the newsletter so that you don’t miss it: https://writers.company/subscribe/

There will be more, too! Make sure that you’re a part of The Company’s newsletter and that you follow us on social media so that you don’t miss anything.

In the meantime, please take advantage of these opportunities.

The post Special Edition: Fall News (Episode 143) appeared first on The Company.

Join Brad Pauquette and Alli Prince as they reflect back on her time as an apprentice at The Company. They discuss how Alli has grown spiritually and as a writer, sharing stories of the miracles she witnessed, the novel she wrote in less than three months, and the challenges of building an author platform.

Originally from Las Vegas, Alli Prince is the mastermind of The Company’s Lawless project. Check out her book on Amazon, and visit her website where she provides hope, good humor, and encouragement for authors.

If you enjoyed listening to this episode, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe and leave a review on your favorite app.

The post Interview with Alli Prince: Happy Alli Day! (Celebrating The Company’s Newest Graduate) (Episode 142) appeared first on The Company.