Dear Christian Indies,
We are always so excited to hear from a listener, so it was quite a treat to receive a message from listener Jessica Glidden, who reached out to us with a topic idea for an upcoming episode. Her suggestion that we go “back to basics” was a good one, we thought, and when we asked her for clarification, she did not disappoint!
Jessica asked, “why not dig in and re-discover the joy of writing, the reason you write in the first place?”
Dear Christian Indie,
If you tuned in to the podcast last week, you heard from the hosts about what they hoped to get out of the year 2023.
I am writing this in the moments following that episode, and I’ll be honest, in the days leading up to planning today’s episode, I experienced more anxiety than I have in a long time. Why? Because, dear Indie, I had no idea what I was going to say.
It was difficult for me to think about going into the new year without goals to crush, without a mission to accomplish, without the next step forward clear.
Dear Christian Indie,
Are you a resolutions person? Do you earnestly set goals at the beginning of each new year? Or are you someone who is the equivalent of the Grinch or Ebeneezer Scrooge when it comes to the concept of, “New Year, New Me?”
Whichever type of New Year celebrant you are, you’ll find this week’s episode of the podcast relatable, because the entire spectrum of New Year Resolutions attitude exists not only among the co-hosts as a group, but in the case of myself, all of it is in there, beneath the surface, somehow.
I mean, I just adore the idea of starting with a fresh new year ahead of me… like a blanket of freshly fallen snow before the mailman comes or Billy moves his truck out of the way so Aunt Beatrice can get in closer to the porch with her Subaru. I like all the potential and possibility that January 1 seems to hold.
Dear Christian Indies,
This week we will air the last pre-Christmas 2022 episode of The Christian Indie Writers’ Podcast, so we have dedicated this episode to the story of Christmas. We’ll be talking about how we can see all the important elements of storytelling in these portions of the New Testament. We’ll also discuss how this narrative can inspire and/or shape our own writing.
See you there,
Jamie
Dear Christian Indies,
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 miss out on the fun, the shenanigans, and a look at where the podcast has been in this 200th Episode celebration!
See you there!
Tina
Dear Christian Indies,
Today on the podcast we are going to be talking about plot points.
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, share why “disasters” are important, and help you discover the moments in your story that turn your characters’ lives upside down.
So come and join us on today’s podcast. If you can, join us live and give us your two cents in the chat!
See you there!
Tina
In today’s episode of the Christian Indie Writers’ Podcast, we will discuss writing compelling characters with the help of a character sketch.
Readers need to connect with the characters. Why? Because, without a connection, they will likely put your book down. Characters need to be loved, hated, cheered or wished to fall into a pit of snakes by the reader. A reader who doesn’t care about your characters is likely a bored, disinterested reader.
We’re here to help. So join us today and see how we handle the hard work of getting to know and care about our characters so that they will come through on the page when we write them.
See you there!
Tina
Dear Christian Indies,
Many first-time authors write the Novel that’s in their heart, and when it’s finished find out that to market it, they need to know what genre it falls in.
Like me, maybe you wrote a book without a specific genre in mind and discovered afterward that your book doesn’t fit perfectly into any category. Perhaps you want help understanding how to know what genre is the best fit for your book.
In today’s episode, we hope to help you find clarity about what genres your book fits into and where you should market it.
See you there!
Tina
Dear Christian Indies,
If you’ve listened to us for very long at all, you’ll notice we focus a ton on the importance of good editing. Good editing can make all the difference in the world when it comes to getting those all important reviews, and, let’s face it, can be the determining factor as to whether or not a reader continues on with your series.
But where do you find an editor? Not only that, where do you find a good editor, particularly when you’re in the position of pinching your publishing pennies?
That’s what we’ll be discussing on today’s episode. We’ll cover our own methods of finding editing help, and we’ll also talk a little bit about what hasn’t worked for us in the past. After all, what’s the good of making a mistake if you (and others!) can’t learn from it?
Of course, before you start your hunt for an editor, you’ll want to refer back to our tips from episode #190, which is all about how to perform a good self-edit, and why there is wisdom in doing so (hint-it will save you money!).
It’s an episode you won’t want to miss.
See you there!
Jamie
Dear Christian Indies,
We’ve covered Self-editing in depth on the podcast, most recently in episode #190. We’ve discussed how doing a good self-edit can save you money when it comes to having your book professionally edited.
What we haven’t covered recently is the fact that there are several different kinds of editors out there, and each has their own particular purpose. It is important that when you start looking for someone to edit your book, you understand what you are paying for, and have a clear expectation of the kind of work the editor will do for you.
That’s what we’re covering on this week’s podcast. It’s an episode that is sure to save you hassle and headache as you move forward on your writing journey, and you surely will not want to miss it.
See you there,
Jamie
