The Writers Bloc Podcast

As writers, we will eventually be asked to speak. Your message matters and your voice is needed. But how do we transition our written words into a live speaking experience that leaves our listeners encouraged and ourselves joyful? Join us in this conversation with Marissa Bondurant as we discuss practical steps we can take to craft our spoken message from what we have already written onto paper. This conversation will encourage you to boldly step into new ministry opportunities the Lord may call you to.

Are you a caregiver in need of encouragement? Marissa offers gospel hope to caregivers and is the author of Who Cares For You? A 4-Week Bible Study for Caregivers

Find encouragement in your caregiving by following Marissa on her website at https://marissabondurant.com/ or her Substack Gospel Hope for Caregivers

Are you interested in joining the Writers' Bloc? Our free community offers quarterly enrollment. To learn more and join the waitlist, visit www.mywritersbloc.com. 

Writing fiction is Melanie Dobson’s excuse to immerse herself in the past by reading old books, interviewing new friends, and exploring fascinating places around the world. She is the award-winning author of almost thirty historical, time-slip, and romantic suspense novels. Five of her novels (Memories of Glass, Chateau of Secrets, Catching the Wind, The Silent Order, and The Stranger) have received Carol Awards, and Catching the Wind received the Inspirational Fiction Audie Award and was a finalist for the Christy. The Black Cloister, her novel about a dangerous cult, was named the ForeWord Religious Fiction Book of the Year.

Melanie also loves encouraging writers and stopped by for a fun chat on the Bloc. Writers of all skill levels will appreciate and benefit from this interview.

To learn more about Melanie, visit her website at https://melaniedobson.com/

Well-told stories are powerful. They ignite our imagination, inspire us to action, and enable us to absorb greater truths. Understanding the building blocks of fiction will empower your writing, whether you craft novels, blogs, memoirs, or non-fiction. Rachel will help us share our stories and add sparkle to our writing by teaching us the must-have ingredients of a good story, the power of word pictures, and the tools to develop a plan and start writing.

Rachel is the author of several books, including her most recent The Girl on the Tube. You can learn more about Rachel, her ministry in London, and her other books on her website at https://rachelallord.com/

You can access Rachel's complete teaching, and a host of other resources and make new writing friends by joining the Writers' Bloc.

In June 2024, the Writers' Bloc hosted an in-person writing retreat in Showlow, Arizona. However, before the retreat, we were blessed to get to know our retreat speaker, Charisse Compton, and hear her heart for writers. Listen to this casual conversation with Charisse Compton and our members.

Charisse lives in Minneapolis, where she works for Bethlehem College and Seminary. She teaches freshman Grammar and Comp, directs the Seminary Wives program, and often writes on DesiringGod.org. Charisse's heart is to help writers realize their potential for kingdom impact and cooperation in the Great Commission. While some of our conversations included discussion about our retreat, the encouragement applies to all who desire to be useful for the Kingdom.

Are you interested in joining the Writers' Bloc? Our free community offers quarterly enrollment. To learn more and join the waitlist, visit www.mywritersbloc.com. 

Traditional publishing is often romanticized and idealized for writers longing to put their words into the world. But the journey is often filled with twists and turns that range from delight to disappointment. Join Amy and Ronne as they discuss how to better "define the relationship" with traditional publishing. Consider how you can set realistic expectations and prepare for a traditional publishing journey.

Ronne Rock is the author of several books, including One Woman Can Change the World. She writes what's true and trustworthy to help you hold on to hope. To learn more about her writing and ministry, visit her website: https://ronnerock.com/ or follow her on Instagram at https://ronnerock.com/ or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ronne

Are you interested in joining the Writers' Bloc? Our free community offers quarterly enrollment. To learn more and join the waitlist, visit www.mywritersbloc.com. 

As writers of Bible Study materials, we desire to write relevant and useful materials that are true to God's Word and accessible to all who desire to study. Writing an approachable and applicable Bible study begins with the author's personal study. From the wellspring of the writer's Bible observations, accurate interpretation and quality direction can flow week after week of study. In this conversation, Ann teaches us what is behind solid Bible study questions and how to reach for the application that truly matters to a woman's heart.

If you've ever desired to write a Bible study, you need to listen to this conversation about writing Bible studies to reach your reader's heart.

Ann has written several Inductive Bible studies available on Amazon, including Heirs in Exile, a Study of 1 Peter, Sovereign God: A Study of the Book of Esther, and Worthy: A Study of Philippians.

Are you interested in joining the Writers' Bloc? Our free community offers quarterly enrollment. To learn more and join the waitlist, visit www.mywritersbloc.com. 

Being a writer today requires us to do much more than just write the words, and it's easy to lose track of which tasks are most important on that endless list. When everything feels urgent and overwhelming, progress can come to a crashing halt!

Join us for this fun conversation with Rachel, who will teach us how to get the swirling chaos out of our heads so we can walk away with a clearer picture of how to take our next best steps. You do not want to miss this conversation steeped in biblical principles about making grounded decisions with clarity and peace! 

Follow Rachel on her website: racheldbaker.com

or Instagram @rachel.d.baker

Do you want to be a part of an ongoing conversation about the art and heart of writing? Do you want to link arms with other writers going in the same forward direction as you are? Guess what? Now you can! Join the Writers' Bloc for FREE now through the end of August 2024. Don't miss out! Did we mention it's free? 

When you're writing about your life, sooner or later, you have to answer the question, "What does it all mean?" In this conversation, Mara shares a surprisingly simple exercise to help you identify the central themes that can provide purpose and direction for your written narratives. Listen in on how you can discover clarity in your story and how you can use that clarity to write an infinite number of powerful pieces. You won't want to miss it!

Mara helps writers craft stories that change the world.  You can work with Mara and follow her on her website, maraeller.com, or on Instagram @mara.eller

Do you want to be a part of an ongoing conversation about the art and heart of writing? Do you want to link arms with other writers going in the same forward direction as you are? Guess what? Now you can! Join the Writers' Bloc for FREE now through the end of August 2024. Don't miss out! Did we mention it's free? 

As writers, we focus on growth: personal growth, our readers’ growth, growth of platform, influence,  and more. What happens when growth slows - or even “worse” - appears to diminish? Do we spin our wheels harder and faster or recognize we may be in a pruning season? In this episode, Cara helps us consider what pruning may look like and how we can be honest about its difficulty. It's in these seasons of pruning that we gain the courage to continue by looking at Scriptural examples that remind us of His higher ways and better purposes for our lives and writing endeavors. 

You can follow Cara on her website at: theonethingdesired.com

or on Instagram at @the_one_thing_desired 

Do you want to be a part of an ongoing conversation about the art and heart of writing? Do you want to link arms with other writers going in the same forward direction as you are? Guess what? Now you can! Join the Writers' Bloc for FREE now through the end of August 2024. Don't miss out! Did we mention it's free? 

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!