The Writers Bloc Podcast

Often, writers are intimidated by the tech behind self-publishing. Be assured, dear writer, if you've written a book, you've done the hard part. Now, it's time for a little fun! Join Kelda as she shares some of her experiences publishing nine books on Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing platform.  

Listen to the conversation and come away feeling empowered to get your book uploaded on KDP!

Do you want to join a growing community of Christian writers growing in the art and heart of writing? Sign up to join our mailing list to enroll in our next free open enrollment at www.mywritersbloc.com

Amy Bonebright has a unique perspective on journalism and writing in today's world. As a journalism professor at Liberty University, she's seen how the profession is changing and how writers must adapt and understand what it requires today. Join Writers' Bloc teacher and member Keri Willis and Amy as they discuss writing, journalism, and truth-telling in today's world.

Do you want to learn more about the Writers' Bloc and stay in the loop for our next open enrollment in the Writers' Bloc? Learn more and join the waiting list at www.mywritersbloc.com

Join us for a special recap of our 2024 Writers' Bloc Retreat, "Establish the Work of Our Hands."

In June 2024, eight women from all over the U.S. and Canada came together for a special weekend in Show Low, Arizona. Our time was special as online friends became IRL friends! We enjoyed a fabulous property, ate good food, worshipped the Lord, and sat under the teaching of the Word. Here's what we learned and how God worked in our hearts!

Do you want to learn about future retreats and how to be a part of our growing community of writers? Join our waiting list for updates about our next open enrollment in the Writers' Bloc at www.mywritersbloc.com

In June 2024, our 2:2 Launch Lab mentorship program celebrated its completion! After six months, our first cohort of mentees completed their course of study. In this episode, mentors Jana Carlson, Amy Simon, and Cara Ray and our mentees share their big wins and how the program transformed their writing journeys. Listen to this episode as we recap the Launch Lab and share what the mentors and mentees experienced and thought about the Launch Lab.

If you're interested in learning more about the Launch Lab and how you can grow (and launch) your own writing platform, join us by registering for our upcoming webinar here: https://mywritersbloc.com/launch-lab/

We hope to see you there! Now, onto the show...!

If you learn more about the what, how, and why of writing a book proposal, this episode is for you! Ariel knows something about the publishing world, such as writing and reading proposals. Ariel was an acquisitions editor for over a decade, ran her own business as Ariel Curry Editorial, and now works for Source Books as a Senior Acquisitions editor. Having worked with many authors and authored books herself, Ariel brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the discussion of writing and publishing books. Join us for this insightful conversation as we talk all things book proposals with Ariel Curry.

Check out Ariel's new book, Hungry Authors: The Indispensable Guide to Planning, Creating, and Publishing a Nonfiction Book.

You can also learn from her podcast Hungry Authors and check out her website www.arielcurry.com

"Why would he do that?" "How could she say that?" "I just don't understand some people!" God created every human being, but we have different temperaments. An understanding of how people tick, especially if they are not like us, helps us to understand our neighbors so we can love them better. In addition, as writers, we need a deep understanding of people to write well. Fiction writers need to create believable characters, and nonfiction writers need to awaken an understanding of their topic or the subject of their biography in readers. Understanding the temperaments is an eye-opening (sometimes mind-blowing) way to achieve this. Come learn how to use knowledge of the temperaments to improve your relationships and enrich your writing!

Follow Rosemary on Substack at: https://rosemarymcguireberry.substack.com/ and Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/rosemary.writer/

Join us for a special conversation with Will Anderson, a senior editor at Waterbrook Multnomah. As a publishing professional, Will understands what publishers seek in writers who want to get their books published. He sympathizes with the struggle to build a platform and offers great suggestions for writers who wish to develop their platforms without relying too heavily on social media. Join us for this insightful conversation about how to build your writing platform, test your book ideas, and grow in the craft of writing. You'll come away refreshed and encouraged!

You can follow Will on his podcast, The Writers Circle, or his website at www.willparkeranderson.com.

Do you consider the act of writing as worship?

You don't have to raise your arms or voice to worship the Lord. Writing is a spiritual offering; we can give to the Lord and ask him to receive it as worship and bless his people. Keri Willis understands this concept well. As a teacher, she knows that when she's excited and engaged in a lesson, her students are too. This kind of engagement yields far more results than a simple lecture or worksheet. The same is true for our writing. Whether fiction, non-fiction, devotionals, Bible study, or memoir, our attitudes as we write, the word pictures we present, and our correct representation of Scripture can serve our readers, moving them from spectator to participant. Keri Lynn Willis joins us for this conversation about how we can serve our readers and honor the Lord by using writing as worship.

Keri Willis writes to encourage thirsty souls to drink deeply from the fountain of living water. You can follow her work at www.kerilynnwillis.com

The Writers' Bloc is a podcast and an online community for Christian writers who desire to grow in the art and heart of writing. Love God, love words, and love readers with us. Join the waiting list for our next open and free enrollment. www.mywritersbloc.com

Meg Wallace is a writer, author, speaker, dreamer, creator, wife, and mother to seven! She's also a self-taught photographer, part-time homeschooler, 22+ year pastor's wife, life coach, potty training expert, hair and fashion guru, Bible obsessed, people-loving ballet/sports mama, puppy parent, chicken keeper, sourdough lover, and official homemaker for a not so little family.

Meg first began blogging in 2015 as an "expression of art" after their church, Mars Hill Huntington Beach, closed down. She wrote posts geared toward moms, with a desire to strengthen women and communicate the gospel. Her writing gained the attention of millions, and her work has been seen on Focus on the Family, The Courage with Kirk Cameron, Faith Wire, Faith It, and many more.

As a woman who juggles a lot, her prayer hasn't been, "Lord, please help me lessen my load," but, "Lord, expand my capacity." Join us for this fun conversation about certain seasons that require addition, not subtraction. If you've ever felt that way in juggling writing, family, and responsibilities, you'll find fresh gospel encouragement in this conversation with Meg and Cara.

You can learn more about Meg on her website: https://www.megmariewallace.com/. She is the author of With all Joy. Meg talks all things motherhood on her Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/megmariewallace/

More and more writers are choosing to leave social media because it's not life-giving, they're tired of battling the algorithm, or they find that the return on their investment isn't worth their time and energy.

Leaving social media as a writer is an emotional decision. You’re probably asking yourself, “How will people find me? Will I fade into obscurity? Is it irresponsible of me to even consider shutting this down? What if I leave and then regret it?” Sandy and Mary K. get it! They both decided to leave social media and haven't looked back. If you are a writer considering leaving social media, this conversation is for you. Sandy and Mary K will offer several viable alternatives to social media, so if you choose to leave it, you can do so without regret.

You won't find Sandy and Mary K. on social media, but you can find them on their website: https://writingoffsocial.com/ or subscribe to their podcast. 

Another way to grow your following is to learn and grow in community with other writers. If you want to join the Writers' Bloc, sign up for our waitlist here: www.mywritersbloc.com.