Do you want to get better at reading and understanding poetry? Does poetry sometimes intimidate you? Who better to help us appreciate poetry than Ashley Anthony? She's a seminary student at Westminster Theological Seminary and teaches English at a university in Missouri. She loves words, stories, and poetry and shares her love with us in this fun conversation about how to read both Christian and Scriptural.  

You can follow Ashley's writing at ashleyganthony.com

Through August 2024, we're offering free membership to the Writers' Bloc. Join us as we grow in the art and heart of writing together! Join for free today!

Space Welch has been managing a small business since 2007, yet never considered herself a business owner. Her philosophies are unconventional. She sees Space Cadet Soaps as God's business rather than her own and her product as an opportunity to bless others rather than just to make money. She sees vending as a covert missionary operation and an opportunity to offer counseling to those in need rather than an opportunity to sell things. Her upside-down way of viewing her business has enabled her to view her writing the same way. By side-stepping the pressure to "sell" her words, she's been able to see them as a means of tending souls and also believes that if she simply walks in faithful obedience to make the art God created her to make, she can trust Him to do with it what He wills. Listen in on this fun conversation and consider how your writing and/or business can be unconventional for the sake of the kingdom.

Check out Space's business, Space Cadet Soaps: spacecadetsoaps.com 

You can follow Space and her writing at spacewelch.com

Did you know you can now join the Writers' Bloc for free? Enrollment is open now through the end of August 2024. Come be a part of this exciting and growing community and grow with us in the art and heart of writing! Join us today!

Trends are always changing, and it's no different in the writing world. Right now, Substack is the place to be as a creative writer. But this trend is different from the dancing and pointing trends of IG Reels—this trend is actually for writers and can provide them with a better way to connect with their audiences without needing to jump through hoops, as social media forces us to do. Lara will show us how to harness Substack to grow our readership in a way that doesn't feel tacky or icky.

Are you interested in joining this dynamic online writing community? Click here to join our free community today.

Do you ever wonder how to connect with your audience? Have you ever wished you knew how to dig into their felt needs and reach them with your words? Join us for this conversation with Lisa Schell who helps large and small businesses and entrepreneurs connect to their target audiences with conversational messaging that builds trust and rapport using the principle of empathy. We'll consider how Jesus modeled this and how you can understand your audience more deeply and uncover their needs beneath "the need." You can learn more about Lisa's work at LisaSchell.com.

Are you interested in learning more about the Writers' Bloc? We're an online community of Christian women writers seeking to grow in the art and heart of writing together. Learn more about how you can be involved at www.mywritersbloc.com.

As Christian writers, we're sensitive to the pitfalls of pride and self-promotion, yet we understand the value of building a platform. Jesus showed us how to faithfully glorify God and serve our audience without caving under pressure. Jana will walk us through Biblical examples and practical encouragement to equip us to maximize our gifts for the good of others and the glory of God.

Jana writes to encourage women in the Word and equip Christian writers to write for God's glory. You can follow her work at www.janacarlson.com.

Do you want to build your own writing platform? Whether you're a beginner, intermediate, or a published author, there's more to learn and new friends to be made at the Writers' Bloc. Join us and become our new neighbor at www.mywritersbloc.com.

Ruth Chou Simons is a bestselling and award-winning author of several books and Bible studies - including Gracelaced, Beholding, and Becoming, and When Strivings Cease. She's an artist, entrepreneur, podcaster, and speaker, using each of these platforms to spiritually sow the Word of God into people's hearts. 

She dropped in to talk to us about writing, calling, platform-building, and remaining true on and offline. Enjoy this special episode with Ruth Simons and Writers' Bloc founder Cara Ray.

You can follow Ruth on her website at https://gracelaced.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/ruthchousimons/

Do you want to grow in the art and heart of writing? There's no better place to do that than among your neighborly friends at the Writers' Bloc. Learn more and join us here at: www.mywritersbloc.com

From mental stimulation to deep breathing, the word “inspiration” feels like magic. In this session, Melissa will demystify the what and how of sustaining inspiration in our creative work. Deeply rooted in divine guidance and easily practical, inspiration is as simple as looking at the SON. Join us to learn the three paths to sustaining inspiration in our writing lives.

Melissa is a speaker, writer, and coach. You can follow her work at www.framedinjoy.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/framedinjoy/. 

Be a part of the neighborhood by joining Melissa and all our teachers and members at the Writers' Bloc. To learn more and join us, visit: www.mywritersbloc.com

We writers use words to paint illustrations, share encouragement, and impart wisdom. The process of pouring out as a writer can be tedious and draining. Therefore, writers must be able to lean into the Author of Life and be filled themselves. Having come to the Lord from atheism, Mariel knows firsthand the power of the Word of God and how to lean into it for herself. Through her TEND method of Bible study, she will enable other writers to tend their own souls with the powerful Word of God, too. This teaching will walk the writer through a passage of Scripture while guiding them through the TEND method. You will walk away refreshed from time in the Word and empowered to continue spending time with the Lord for yourself to write for God’s glory.

Mariel writes to help women TEND their souls in the Word of God. You can follow her work at www.marieldavenport.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/marieldavenport/

Join Mariel and her other writing neighbors on the Bloc! As Mr. Rogers once said, 'Won't you be our neighbor?' You can be when you join at www.mywritersbloc.com.

Whether Scripture, stories, or anything else, what we intake transforms us as writers, but it also transforms who we are as individuals. Sometimes, we are so desperate to create that we don't always allow ourselves to rest in a good book, to allow the Scripture we're reading to change us or to read for enjoyment. This teaching will encourage writers to first read well and intentionally as part of the creative process: (1) Read Scripture well, (2) Read stories well, (3) and allow what we read to transform us as writers.

Ashley's featured writer on Risen Motherhood, Gospel-Centered Discipleship, and Journeywomen Blog. You can follow her work at www.ashleyganthony.com

Join Ashley and her writing friends on the Writers' Bloc! Learn more about the art and heart of writing with us at www.mywritersbloc.com.

As writers, we long to feel comfortable in our calling. We look forward to developing and sticking to a routine, overcoming imposter syndrome, and settling into our preferred methods. All of these are wonderful goals and assist us in the ultimate goal of stewarding our words unto the Lord. But what if we get too comfortable? What happens when we settle in and STAY settled? In this session, Cara will answer these questions by exploring why we crave the comfort zone, the common challenges we face in stepping out of them, and why they hinder our growth. As we look at biblical examples of those who stepped out of "the zone" and into new growth, we will learn how to identify areas we, too, are called to step out.

Cara Blondo is a gifted writer and Bible teacher! You can follow her work and writing at www.theonethingdesired.com and find her on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/the_one_thing_desired/

Join Cara and all her friends by becoming a neighbor on the Writers' Bloc! You can learn more by joining us at www.mywriterbloc.com.