What did you think of this episode?

Are you interested in ghostwriting? Linda Goldfarb and her guest, Twila Belk, will share more information than you thought possible about it.

Also known as The Gotta Tell Somebody Gal, Twila Belk is an author, speaker, editor, and champion for writers. Since 2007, she has worked closely with veteran author Cecil Murphey as his personal assistant and associate, which has provided her with a wide range of industry knowledge and writing experience.

We cover a lot in today's encore episode.

What is ghostwriting, and who uses ghostwriters?

•  What makes a good ghostwriter?
•   What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of ghostwriting?
•   How do you break in?
•   Tell us a bit about the process 

LINKS
Twila Belk
Ghostwriting: The Murphey Method
Ghostwriting Resource PDF

If you enjoy Your Best Writing Life's content- consider a monthly donation through Patreon. Support Your Best Writing Life podcast

About your host - Linda Goldfarb
Besides hosting Your Best Writing Life, Linda Goldfarb is a multi-published award-winning author, audiobook narrator, international speaker, board-certified Christian life coach, co-owner, co-founder of the LINKED® Personality System, and co-author of the LINKED® Quick Guide to Personality series. Linda also hosts the Staying REAL About Faith & Family podcast - Check it out!

Visit  Your Best Writing Life website.
Join our Facebook group, Your Best Writing Life
Your host - Linda Goldfarb
#1 Podcast in the "Top 50+ Must-Have Tools and Resources for Christian Writers in 2024".

Awarded the Spark Media 2022 Most Binge-Worthy Podcast
Awarded the Spark Media 2023 Fan Favorites Best Solo Podcast

What did you think of this episode?

While the New Year holds much promise and excitement, there will also be difficult times. Today’s guest helps us prepare for these challenges by developing healthy writing practices.

Welcome to Your Best Writing Life, an extension of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference held in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mts of NC. I’m your host, Linda Goldfarb. Each week, I bring tips and strategies from writing and publishing industry experts to help you excel in your craft. I’m so glad you’re listening in. During this episode, you’ll learn 23 Best Writing Practices.  

Welcome Edie Melson.
Edie is a woman of faith with ink-stained fingers observing life through the lens of her camera. As a popular speaker, she encourages and challenges audiences to understand the necessity of Soul Care and leads workshops throughout the world on staying connected to God.
Her numerous books, including the award-winning Soul Care series and Unruffled, Thriving in Chaos (co-authored with Rhonda Rhea), reflect her passion for helping others develop the strength of their God-given gifts and apply them to their lives. Since 2017, Edie’s industry blog, The Write Conversation, has been recognized as a Writer’s Digest Top 101 Sites for Writers.
She’s the director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and a board member of the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. She and her husband Kirk have been married for 40+ years and raised three sons. They live in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and can often be found hiking—with Edie clinging to the edge of a precipice for the perfect camera angle and Kirk patiently carrying her camera bag and tripod. Please welcome Edie Melson to Your Best Writing Life. It’s great to have you here, my friend.

Download the episode 23 Things below.

Edie Melson
The Write Conversation Blog for Writers
Listener giveaway PDF Link for 23 Things to Do for Your Writing Self 
Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference Scholarship Info
Best Writing Life Life January Tip Sheet for Writers

Visit  Your Best Writing Life website.
Join our Facebook group, Your Best Writing Life
Your host - Linda Goldfarb
#1 Podcast in the "Top 50+ Must-Have Tools and Resources for Christian Writers in 2024".

Awarded the Spark Media 2022 Most Binge-Worthy Podcast
Awarded the Spark Media 2023 Fan Favorites Best Solo Podcast

What did you think of this episode?

Do you utilize the Writing Cube concept in Novel writing? Get ready to learn a few aspects of story you may not be familiar with.

Join our host, Linda Goldfarb, and her industry expert, the critically acclaimed, best-selling author Steven James. Steven has served as a contributing editor to Writer’s Digest Magazine and is the author of the groundbreaking nonfiction books Story Trumps Structure and Troubleshooting Your Novel. When he’s not working on his next book, Steven teaches Novel Writing Intensive retreats across the country with New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni.

In this encore episode, Linda and Steven discuss the writing cube, pivot, and payoff. Steven provides a clear insight into the aspects of believability, escalation, causality, twists, and surprises along the way.

LINKS
Steven James
Preview downloads for The Art of the Tale - free
Steven James Books
The Art of the Tale book

Best Writing Life Life January Tip Sheet for Writers

Visit  Your Best Writing Life website.
Join our Facebook group, Your Best Writing Life
Your host - Linda Goldfarb
#1 Podcast in the "Top 50+ Must-Have Tools and Resources for Christian Writers in 2024".

Awarded the Spark Media 2022 Most Binge-Worthy Podcast
Awarded the Spark Media 2023 Fan Favorites Best Solo Podcast

What did you think of this episode?

Are you prepared to make the most of your interview?  

Today’s episode provides strategies to make the most of every interview in ways that may surprise you– stick around!

Welcome to Your Best Writing Life, an extension of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference held in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mts of NC. I’m your host, Edie Melson, Director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. I’m sitting in for Linda Goldfarb today, and I’m very happy to be here with you. Each week, we bring you tips and strategies from experts in the writing and publishing industry to help you excel in your craft. We’re so glad you’re listening in. During this encore episode, you’ll learn about Five Interview Tips to Help Writers Succeed.

Today’s industry expert is our very own Your Best Writing Life host, Linda Goldfarb. Linda is the award-winning co-author of the LINKED® Quick Guide to Personalities series, an international speaker, professional actress, and an audiobook narrator. She is a traditionally and independently published author who holds a board-certified advanced diploma in Christian life coaching.

Linda enjoys drinking frothed coffee with friends, hiking and playing golf with her hubby, and relaxing with family and friends as often as possible. She and Sam have four adult children and many, many grandbabies. They live in the Texas hill country with two country dogs.

Today's five strategies include the following:

1 - Preparation
2 - Engagement
3 -Takeaways
4 - Promotion
5 - Thankfulness

[bctt tweet="“As a guest, it’s good to be prepared for your host’s interview style and not surprised by it.” Linda Goldfarb" #writersrock #podcastsrock " username="@BRMCWC @LindaGoldfarb @EdieMelson"]

LINKS
Linda Goldfarb
Linda's 5 Gifts to Offer Your Interview Host PDF with Bonus Gift #6

Best Writing Life Life January Tip Sheet for Writers

If you enjoy Your Best Writing Life's content- consider a monthly donation through Patreon. Support Your Best Writing Life podcast

About your host - Linda Goldfarb
Besides hosting Your Best Writing Life, Linda Goldfarb is a multi-published award-winning author, audiobook narrator, international speaker, board-certified Christian life coach, co-owner, co-founder of the LINKED® Personality System, and co-author of the LINKED® Quick Guide to Personality series. Linda also hosts the Staying REAL About Faith & Family podcast - Check it out!

Visit  Your Best Writing Life website.
Join our Facebook group, Your Best Writing Life
Your host - Linda Goldfarb
#1 Podcast in the "Top 50+ Must-Have Tools and Resources for Christian Writers in 2024".

Awarded the Spark Media 2022 Most Binge-Worthy Podcast
Awarded the Spark Media 2023 Fan Favorites Best Solo Podcast

What did you think of this episode?

Do you struggle to organize your writing? Are you searching for practical tips to help with your writing workspace, time, and materials?

Each week, Linda Goldfarb brings tips and strategies from writing and publishing industry experts to help you excel in your craft. We're so glad you’re listening to this encore episode, Organized Writing Equals Higher Productivity, with her guest, Liana George.

Before becoming a novelist, Liana George was a professional organizer and the owner of By George Organizing. Her first two novels are based on her experiences as an organizer and her time living in China. She is also the Co-founder of The Author’s Write Hand, a marketing/virtual assistance agency for Christian authors.

 Linda and Liana discuss organizing your space, time, material, and mind to be more productive as a writer.

LINKS
Liana George
Writer Info Spreadsheet download

Book Info Template Download 
How to Organize Your Writing Space

Best Writing Life Life January Tip Sheet for Writers
If you enjoy Your Best Writing Life's content- consider a monthly donation through Patreon. Support Your Best Writing Life podcast

About your host - Linda Goldfarb
Besides hosting Your Best Writing Life, Linda Goldfarb is a multi-published award-winning author, audiobook narrator, international speaker, board-certified Christian life coach, co-owner, co-founder of the LINKED® Personality System, and co-author of the LINKED® Quick Guide to Personality series. Linda also hosts the Staying REAL About Faith & Family podcast - Check it out!

Visit  Your Best Writing Life website.
Join our Facebook group, Your Best Writing Life
Your host - Linda Goldfarb
#1 Podcast in the "Top 50+ Must-Have Tools and Resources for Christian Writers in 2024".

Awarded the Spark Media 2022 Most Binge-Worthy Podcast
Awarded the Spark Media 2023 Fan Favorites Best Solo Podcast

What did you think of this episode?

Regarding devotionals, are you asking, “Where’s the beef?” Would you like to go deeper when writing devotionals yet dread the time trap for your readers? 

Today’s encore episode offers a way for you to write deeper while offering a shorter study time to your reader. 

Linda Goldfarb's industry expert is Kathy Howard. Kathy is a treasure hunter. She hunts for the creamiest chocolate and richest coffee. She searches for cherished stories of faith that still impact hearts. And, she digs deep into God’s Word, mining His eternal truths for herself and to share with others. With more than 30 years of experience, Kathy has taught in dozens of states, internationally, and in various venues, including multi-church conferences and large online events. 

She has a Masters of Christian Education and a certificate in Women’s Ministry from the Canadian Baptist Theological Seminary. Kathy is the author of 12 books, including five Bible studies and the “Deep Rooted” devotional series. She also serves on the LifeWay Women’s Ministry Training Team. Kathy and her husband live near family in the Dallas/Ft Worth area. They have three married children, six grandchildren, and one accidental dog. Kathy provides free discipleship resources and blogs regularly at www.KathyHoward.org.

Discover what a hybrid devotional study is and how you can begin writing meaty devotionals without breaking the time bank.

LINKS
Kathy Howard
How to Write a Deep Devotional PDF
Kathy Howard's Books
Best Writing Life Life January Tip Sheet for Writers

If you enjoy Your Best Writing Life's content- consider a monthly donation through Patreon. Support Your Best Writing Life podcast

About your host - Linda Goldfarb
Besides hosting Your Best Writing Life, Linda Goldfarb is a multi-published award-winning author, audiobook narrator, international speaker, board-certified Christian life coach, co-owner, co-founder of the LINKED® Personality System, and co-author of the LINKED® Quick Guide to Personality series. Linda also hosts the Staying REAL About Faith & Family podcast - Check it out!

Visit  Your Best Writing Life website.
Join our Facebook group, Your Best Writing Life
Your host - Linda Goldfarb
#1 Podcast in the "Top 50+ Must-Have Tools and Resources for Christian Writers in 2024".

Awarded the Spark Media 2022 Most Binge-Worthy Podcast
Awarded the Spark Media 2023 Fan Favorites Best Solo Podcast

What did you think of this episode?

During this encore episode, Linda Goldfarb and Thomas Umstattd Jr. get to the business of building your author platform.

Does author platform building confuse you? You're not alone.

Author platforms! What a platform is. And how to build your platform. Linda Goldfarb's guest, Thomas Umstattd Jr., is here to answer platform-building questions.  Thomas is the founder of Author Media and the host of the Novel Marketing Podcast. He travels the world speaking at events to help authors build their platforms, sell more books, and change the world with writing worth talking about. Thomas, welcome to your best writing life!

During this encore episode, Linda and Thomas get to the business of building your platform.

• Top two ways to weaponize your platform.
• Always include this element in your blog.
• One preventable mistake writers make.
• The skills you need to write good articles.

LINKS

• Author Email Onboarding Sequence Guide
• Author Media

Best Writing Life Life January Tip Sheet for Writers

Visit  Your Best Writing Life website.
Join our Facebook group, Your Best Writing Life
Your host - Linda Goldfarb
#1 Podcast in the "Top 50+ Must-Have Tools and Resources for Christian Writers in 2024".

Awarded the Spark Media 2022 Most Binge-Worthy Podcast
Awarded the Spark Media 2023 Fan Favorites Best Solo Podcast

What did you think of this episode?

 Christians should be writing Speculative Fiction! Science Fiction and Fantasy writing is a great genre for faith-based writers.
 
Linda Goldfarb here. I’m so glad you’re listening to this encore episode with award-winning author Amy A.C. Willims.  Amy is a coffee-drinking, sushi-eating, story-telling nerd who loves cats, country living, and all things Japanese. She’d rather be barefoot, and if she isn’t, her socks will never match. With books in space opera, superhero adventure, and action-comedy, Amy loves helping authors discover the genre-defying joy of speaking truth in fiction.
 
Our time together is a little longer than usual, but you will be so happy you stuck around as we talk about Writing Faith-based Speculative Fiction

• What are the genre expectations for speculative fiction?
• What is “world-building”?
• Can you write science fiction without aliens?
• Can you write fantasy without being a linguist?
• Why should Christians write speculative fiction?

LINKS

• Amy (A.C.) Williams
• Amy's Speculative Fiction Recommended Reading PDF Download
• For more recommendations and reviews, check out www.amycwilliams.com.
• To find out about Amy’s coaching - https://www.amycwilliams.com/coaching/ 
• Email [email protected] 
• Havok Story Podcast 

Visit  Your Best Writing Life website.
Join our Facebook group, Your Best Writing Life
Your host - Linda Goldfarb
#1 Podcast in the "Top 50+ Must-Have Tools and Resources for Christian Writers in 2024".

Awarded the Spark Media 2022 Most Binge-Worthy Podcast
Awarded the Spark Media 2023 Fan Favorites Best Solo Podcast

What did you think of this episode?

Did you know the shoes we wear play a huge part in getting more speaking gigs? Award-winning authors Erica Wiggenhorn and Linda Goldfarb explore in detail five ways to get invited back as a speaker.

Linda's guest, Erica, is an award-winning author and international speaker. She has published five books with Moody Publishers and 3 On Demand Video Teaching Series. She writes for P31 Ministries on their First 5 app. She lives in Phoenix, AZ, with her BFF Jonathan and their four children. Only two are of the human variety, and the others are furry and adorable.     
At first glance, these secrets seem fairly obvious. It's what Erica shares in this encore episode that takes each secret deeper.
Secret 1 - Put yourself in the event planner's shoes - these are the right shoes!
Secret 2 - Know your audience   
Secret 3 - Don't make your talk a guessing game
Secret 4 - Make prayer a priority
Secret 5 - Be teachable and grateful

LINKS
Erica Wiggenhorn
An Unexpected Revival    
Free - The Busy Woman's Bundle to Connecting with God           

If you enjoy Your Best Writing Life's content- consider a monthly donation through Patreon. Support Your Best Writing Life podcast 

Visit our website, Your Best Writing Life website
Join fellow writers in our Facebook group, Your Best Writing Life

I'd love to hear your thoughts about this episode --Linda
About your host - Linda Goldfarb
Besides hosting Your Best Writing Life, Linda Goldfarb is a multi-published award-winning author, audiobook narrator, international speaker, board-certified Christian life coach, co-owner, co-founder of the LINKED® Personality System, and co-author of the LINKED® Quick Guide to Personality series.

Linda also hosts her brand new Staying REAL About Faith & Family podcast - Check it out!

Linda and her hubby, Sam, are empty nesters leading full lives. With four adult children and 15 grandbabies– life is a new adventure every day. She loves sipping frothed coffee with friends, traveling the countryside with Sam, and sharing transparent truth to help others take their next best step-- personally and professionally.   Visit the website of our host, Linda Goldfarb

Visit  Your Best Writing Life website.
Join our Facebook group, Your Best Writing Life
Your host - Linda Goldfarb
#1 Podcast in the "Top 50+ Must-Have Tools and Resources for Christian Writers in 2024".

Awarded the Spark Media 2022 Most Binge-Worthy Podcast
Awarded the Spark Media 2023 Fan Favorites Best Solo Podcast

What did you think of this episode?

Are your devotions written effectively?

Writing devotions with excellence is what Cindy Sproles helps us understand better in this encore episode of Your Best Writing Life.

Cindy Sproles is the cofounder of Christian Devotions Ministries and the cowriter of the popular He Said, She Said Devotions written with her cofounder, Eddie Jones. As a teacher and speaker for Christian Writers Conferences, Cindy teaches writing skills and how to write, placing God in the forefront.  She is a contributing author to CBN.com and is the Executive Editor for www.christiandevotions.us, and a freelance editor for Ironstream Media. Cindy is the director of the Asheville Christian Writers Conference, held each February at the Cove, the Billy Graham Training Center, Asheville, NC.  She is the mother of four adult sons and lives in the mountains of East Tennessee with her husband. Cindy can be contacted at www.cindysproles.com or by emailing [email protected].

In this encore episode, Linda and Cindy Sproles discuss the concepts many preachers use in preparing their sermons: Hook, Book, Look, and Took.
Find out how asking questions in your devotion can lose readers.
Everyone shares stories, but the reason telling a story in devotion is so important may surprise you.
Learn how to perfect your devotion by submitting it online to Christian Devotions.

LINKS

• Cindy Sproles
• Submit your devotion to Christian Devotions dot us
• Download your Hook, Book, Look, and Took PDF

If you enjoy Your Best Writing Life's content- consider a monthly donation through Patreon. Support Your Best Writing Life podcast

About your host - Linda Goldfarb
Besides hosting Your Best Writing Life, Linda Goldfarb is a multi-published award-winning author, audiobook narrator, international speaker, board-certified Christian life coach, co-owner, co-founder of the LINKED® Personality System, and co-author of the LINKED® Quick Guide to Personality series. Linda also hosts the Staying REAL About Faith & Family podcast - Check it out!

Visit  Your Best Writing Life website.
Join our Facebook group, Your Best Writing Life
Your host - Linda Goldfarb
#1 Podcast in the "Top 50+ Must-Have Tools and Resources for Christian Writers in 2024".

Awarded the Spark Media 2022 Most Binge-Worthy Podcast
Awarded the Spark Media 2023 Fan Favorites Best Solo Podcast