Podcast di Christian Indie Writers

Sparked by a recent discussion in their Facebook group, the ladies discuss why you should give your book away for free, as well as reasons to not give it away. 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MGR7431 Our new Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/liste... Visit our website: https://christianindiewriters.net/…

Summer is finally here, and you know what that means… summer vacation! And as happy as those two words make most children, it can bring an amount of stress to parents…especially those parents who are trying to keep to a writing schedule. In this episode, Jen and Tina discuss strategies to fit your writing into your summer plans. 30 Days of Writing …

What makes Christian fiction, well… Christian? Is the definition of Christian fiction dependent on genre? How do you add spirituality to your novel if you are writing a Christian novel? Join the ladies as they answer these questions and more in this episode! Our new Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/liste... Visit our website: https:/…

Is your dialogue falling flat? Do your characters talk a lot, but not say anything worth listening to? In this episode, Jen and Tina discuss some of the pitfalls of writing dialogue and offer suggestions on how to improve your characters’ conversations. Reedsy article on dialogue: https://blog.reedsy.com/guide/how-to-... 30 Days of Writing Sprint P…

You may not enjoy conflict in real life, but how about in your story? In this episode, the ladies discuss why conflict is important and how you can add it to your novel for a better story. 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MGR7431 Our new Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/liste... Visit our website: https…

Do you know your characters? I mean really know them? One of the best ways to write authentic characters is to write what you know, and if you don’t know your characters as well as you think you do, it will show up in your writing, whether you realize it or not. In this episode, the ladies discuss how to know your characters better. 30 Days of Writ…

We are so excited to have Kirsten Holmberg on the show today! Kirsten is a devotional writer and public speaking coach and communication consultant and she will be talking about what makes authors good speakers, the common mistakes we make as writers and more! Find more about Kirsten at https://kirstenholmberg.com/ 3 Hacks for nerves (faith): https…

If you write fantasy, lore is a very important part of your novel. But what if you write another genre? Can lore be used outside of fantasy, and if so, how? The ladies will address these questions and more in this episode. 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MGR7431 Our new Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups…

The word "Shenanigans" goes hand in hand with St. Patrick's day... and with the ladies of this podcast! So this episode will be full of fun and frolic!Di Christian Indie Writers

Writing a novel can on some levels seem mysterious, especially if you are new to writing or new to a particular genre. Responding to a discussion item posted in their Facebook group, the ladies will attempt to answer the question How do you write an excellent book? 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MGR7431 Our new Face…

You’ve finished your manuscript. You’ve edited it and have a blurb and a cover. So, dear friend, why haven’t you published? Bring your answers to this episode, because the ladies have questions for you. 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MGR7431 Our new Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/liste... Visit our …

Burnout is real. Guilt is real. Guilt resulting from burnout is real. In this episode, we’re on a mission to save you from both. 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MGR7431 Our new Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/liste... Visit our website: https://christianindiewriters.net/ Learn more about the hosts... …

Adding a little romance to your story could be just what it needs to be complete, but how exactly do you do that correctly? In this episode, Jen shares some insight into the topic. And, as always, the ladies share what’s going on in their lives as well as a sampling of their writing. 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08M…

This week we are returning to our Writing Craft series with an episode focused on curing the dreaded tendency to info dump in your work. What is Info Dumping? How do I avoid Info Dumping? This and more will be discussed by the ladies in this episode. 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MGR7431 Our new Facebook Group! htt…

Sometimes writing loses its charm and becomes a chore. We’ve all felt it, including Christian writer Jessica Glidden who messaged us recently and asked, “Why not dig in and re-discover the joy of writing, the reason you write in the first place?” And that is exactly what we did in this episode! 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.…

Last week on the podcast, the ladies discussed their goals for the new year. On this episode, they give you some ideas on how to reach your own goals. Harvard Business Review Article: https://hbr.org/2022/04/4-ways-to-mak... 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MGR7431 Our new Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/grou…

New year, new goals...or not? In this episode, the ladies will discuss what 2023 looks like for their writing careers. 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MGR7431 Our new Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/liste... Visit our website: https://christianindiewriters.net/ Learn more about the hosts... Jamie: htt…

Join Jamie and Tina as they explore together what storytelling tips are available to us in the book of Job. Tune in for a wonderful discussion about story structure and other tips for independent authors. 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MGR7431 Our new Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/liste... Visit ou…

This is our last episode before Christmas, and so we are going to be talking about the holiday! We’re going to examine the story from the perspective of writers and see if we can agree on where and how the elements of story are presented in it. Where does the tale begin? How does it end? What are the disasters? What are the pinch points of this oft…

Christina Cattane fills us in on what we missed at 20Books Vegas. We also reach out to our writer community to glean even more advice for independent authors. Tune in for curated tips and advice for writers of all genres. 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MGR7431 Our new Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/…

With National Novel Writing Month in the rearview mirror, we can all take a collective deep breath and relax...or can we? In this episode, the co-hosts discuss their own experiences with NaNoWriMo 2022 as well as share the triumph (and not-so-glorious moments) of our listeners. 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MGR7431…

Come join the ladies as they celebrate the 200th episode of the podcast. In this episode they’ll take a look back at the past 4 years and reveal what they’d tell their Episode #1 selves if they could go back in time. There will be some fun giveaways, some trivia, video clips, and the girls will each read a sprint from the past. You won’t want to mi…

A plot point is a scene, a chapter, or even just an event that directly affects what happens next in your story. But if you have a story and know where it is going, are plot points really that important? Can’t you just write a good story and be done with it? In this episode of the Christian Indie Writers’ Podcast, the hosts dive into this topic, sh…

With National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) quickly approaching, our thoughts and planning have migrated toward preparing for it. If you are prepping for NaNo like us, then you’ll want to tune in for this episode. The ladies will be discussing characters and character sketches, as well as sharing ideas on how to craft compelling characters. 30 Da…

If someone asks you "What do you write?" what do you say? If you write historical Christian romance, you would say just that...historical Christian romance. But what if you're not so sure what genre your book fits into. If this is you, you're not alone. In this episode, the ladies discuss genre, why and if genre is important, and how you can discov…

We’ve discussed ad nauseum the fact that good editing is important, and we know you wouldn’t dare publish a piece without having it edited. But if this is your first book, you might be wondering, “how do I find an editor?” In this episode, the ladies will answer that very question! 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MGR…

What is the difference between a line editor and a copy editor? What about a proofreader? Content editor? Developmental? How does an author know where to begin? Join the ladies as they discuss a simplified list of necessary editing steps, as well as share where they are on their writing journey and take questions and comments from the live chat. 30…

Last week’s Cover Clinic was so much fun, we thought why not continue the good times with a Blurb Clinic! Join the ladies as they discuss what makes a good blurb, what makes a bad blurb, and what you need to make yours better! They’ll also look at their own blurbs as well as those of some volunteer listeners, so you’re going to want to tune in for …

Is your cover in need of an overhaul? Does it still match your genre? Is your current cover thwarting book sales? Can it be resuscitated, or is it DOA? Bring it into the cover clinic and find out! 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MGR7431 Our new Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/liste... Visit our websit…

What is the common advice given in regards to writing groups? Find a writing group with other writers from your genre, right? But as our friend Becca Syme is always saying, QTP! Question the premise! In this episode, the ladies discuss the pros and cons of being in a genre-specific writing group as well as take questions and comments from the live …

In this final installment on writing groups, Jen and Tina be offering constructive criticism on a piece submitted by our very own J.R. Nichols, or as you all know her, Jamie. Unlike our usual “positive only” feedback, we’ll be delving into how to give feedback that will make your piece better. 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.c…

While most writers would not argue the importance of Self-Editing, we still find ourselves asking… exactly what is self-editing and how do I do it? Just like everything else, our hosts have differing opinions and processes, but agree that Jenifer has the most approachable, systematic method. So if you have no clue where to begin, this episode is fo…

How hard is it to become a successful writer? Have you always dreamed of becoming a successful author but worried you could never reach that lofty goal? What does it even mean to be successful? In this episode, Jen and Tina discuss the idea of “Success” and how it shapes our opinions and actions as writers. Plus they take a look at what the Bible h…

In this episode, we are continuing our discussion on writing groups. Specifically, we’re covering how to give and receive critiques. We’ll be offering constructive criticism on a piece submitted by Jenifer Carll-Tong. Unlike our usual “positive only” feedback, we’ll be delving into how to give feedback that will make your piece better. 30 Days of W…

On this episode, the ladies continue their Writing Group series with a live example of how they critique. We’re putting a piece of Tina’s writing on “the chopping block.” Tune in to watch Jamie and Jen critique Tina’s piece. 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MGR7431 Our new Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/grou…

On this episode, Jen and Jamie perform sans Christina Cattane, who somehow thinks her son's WEDDING is more important than our podcast! Can you imagine?! * ANYWAAYYY.... For our "Questions from a Hat" episode, we chose questions submitted in our Facebook group, plus some we devised on our own, and put them into each of our hats to be pulled and ask…

Having Becca Syme on our podcast as our very first guest ever was an amazing honor. Now, she’s coming back, ready to present for us the idea that we as writers may be what is known as, “Intuitive.” She joins us live to discuss her book, “Dear Writer, Are You Intuitive?” and to answer questions in our Live Q&A chat. Becca's book, Dear Writer, Are Yo…

In this episode, we are continuing our discussion on how to start a writing group. The key to good writing groups is clear rules…or is it? We’ll discuss rule setting and expectations as well as how to avoid the pitfalls of being a toxic writing group. 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MGR7431 Our new Facebook Group! ht…

“I just can’t find a good writing group.” If we’ve heard it once, we’ve heard it a bazillion times. Although many of our listeners desperately want to be part of one, good writing groups are difficult to find. So why not start one yourself? In this first part of our new series, learn how to start a writing group, why establishing a culture for the …

How do writers deal with bad reviews? Like it or not, you are going to have to deal with bad reviews as an author. Negative criticism comes with the territory, as each of our hosts can attest to. Join us Friday at 10am ET for this episode as we share our own experiences and give you some tips on how to handle negative reviews and criticism. And the…

You’ve published your book to Amazon, but have you set up your Author Page on Amazon Author Central? If you said no, you’re not alone. Many new authors have no idea that Amazon provides a FREE platform for you to not only publish your bio and image, but so much more! In this episode, the ladies discuss Amazon Author Pages and give a tutorial on how…

Join us as we celebrate the release of “Alone In the Land of the Midnight Sun,” by Christina Cattane. That’s right, book two of the Angelica Series is available now on Amazon! On today’s episode, we’ll cover book launch parties, book marketing strategies, newsletter promos and more, so be sure to tune in! Alone in the Land of the Midnight Sun: http…

How much does it cost to publish a book? The answer…it depends. In this 2nd part of our 2 part series, the ladies discuss the cheapest way to publish a book, whether you want to publish on Kindle Direct Publishing exclusively or to publish wide with all retailers. There are so many options that will be discussed, as well as great input from our Liv…

How much does it cost to publish a book? The answer…it depends. On this episode of the Christian Indie Writers’ Podcast, the ladies discuss the cheapest way to publish a book, whether you want to publish on Kindle Direct Publishing exclusively or to publish wide with all retailers. There were many options that were discussed, as well as great input…

What is vanity publishing? Well, the definition has changed over the last decade or so. Nowadays, there are so-called vanity presses that prey on indie authors, especially Christian indie writers. So, is vanity publishing bad? What’s the difference between vanity publishing vs self-publishing? Are there vanity publishers to avoid? All these questio…

What is the difference between self-publishing and traditional publishing? Is it better to self-publish or is it better to get a publisher? On this episode, we discuss the pros and cons of self-publishing and share our own experiences and reasons for our choice to self-publish. 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MGR7431…

Once upon a time an indie writer wanted to write a book but didn’t know how to begin. Want to find out what writing advice we would give? How would you tell them how to self publish a novel? Join us in the live chat Friday morning at 10am EST to share your experience! Episode 10: Inspiration https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwW77... Episode 93: Art …

Everyone needs a little advice sometimes, including your faithful hosts of the Christian Indie Writers Podcast. (Take note...It's April Fool's on the show today!) Tune in Friday morning at 10 am EST and help the ladies answer some heavy questions in the live chat. 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MGR7431 Visit our web…

Our conversation in this episode is the last in our series about book marketing, and it’s about ways to use your newsletter including swaps and other multi-author strategies. Join us every week in the live chat at 10 am EST and share your tips and experiences. 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MGR7431 Visit our website…

Maybe you've heard of Paid Email Marketing Websites, or promo sites or reader deal sites, but just don't know exactly what they are or where to begin. Whether you are marketing books for children, publishing your own book of short stories, or are you just starting to look at book promo strategies for your indie published book, you'll want to tune i…