Perhaps you like your hero to be the ‘strong silent type’ or your female protagonist to be introverted and bookish, exuding “black cat energy.” Perhaps you enjoy taking your readers on a scenic meandering of a town or vista, and wonder, “who needs dialogue, anyway?” But guess what? Without dialogue, you couldn’t even wonder such a thing! On today’s episode, we’re going to show you what else dialogue can do for the betterment of your story.
284: Writing the Villain: Can a Bad Guy Point to Christ?
In this episode, we explore the art of crafting compelling villains in faith-driven fiction. We start by unpacking what separates a simple antagonist from a true villain — and why villains are often essential to driving a story forward. From Shakespeare’s Iago to Star Wars’ Darth Vader, we look at iconic villains across literature and film and ask: what makes them unforgettable?
[Read more…] about 284: Writing the Villain: Can a Bad Guy Point to Christ?
Jenifer Carll-Tong is the best-selling author of historical Christian romances and co-host of the Christian Indie Writers’ Podcast.
283: 5 Ways to Save Your Characters Without Ruining Your Story
So, we’ve convinced you to heap trouble upon your characters, and now you’ve gotten them into a real fix! The question is, how do you untangle this mass of complications, peril, or genuine disaster you’ve created? This week, the ladies have five techniques you can use to save your characters while preserving the believability and relatability you have worked so hard to cultivate earlier in the story.
[Read more…] about 283: 5 Ways to Save Your Characters Without Ruining Your StoryJenifer Carll-Tong is the best-selling author of historical Christian romances and co-host of the Christian Indie Writers’ Podcast.
282: The Meta Piracy Controversy
If you’re anywhere on social media, you’ve likely encountered The Atlantic’s article about META scraping millions of books and scientific papers to train its AI, without giving a dime of compensation to the authors. One of our hosts has fallen victim to this scheme, and we’re going to talk about it today. Ready or not, AI is here, and it’s coming after our creative works. What are the ramifications, and what can the Indie Author do about it?
Jenifer Carll-Tong is the best-selling author of historical Christian romances and co-host of the Christian Indie Writers’ Podcast.
281: From Idea to Manuscript: How a Book Coach Can Help with Elyse Seal
In this follow up to our ‘Should you hire a book coach’ episode, we will be talking to Tina’s book coach Elyse Seal from Author Accelerator. Come join us as we discuss the benefits and details of hiring a book coach.
Jenifer Carll-Tong is the best-selling author of historical Christian romances and co-host of the Christian Indie Writers’ Podcast.
280: How to Add Conflict to Your Story
This week we’re exploring conflict in the second of two episodes about this meaty topic. At the end of these two shows, it is our hope that you will learn to embrace conflict as an author. This week, we’re talking all about the basics of conflict – why is it necessary? What does it add to your story? It’s sure to be an episode you do not want to miss.
Jenifer Carll-Tong is the best-selling author of historical Christian romances and co-host of the Christian Indie Writers’ Podcast.
279: The Importance of Conflict
This week we’re exploring conflict in the first of two episodes about this meaty topic. At the end of these two shows, it is our hope that you will learn to embrace conflict as an author. This week, we’re talking all about the basics of conflict – why is it necessary? What does it add to your story? It’s sure to be an episode you do not want to miss.
Jenifer Carll-Tong is the best-selling author of historical Christian romances and co-host of the Christian Indie Writers’ Podcast.
277: Top 10 Romance Tropes and Why They Work
In this Valentine’s edition of the Christian Indie Writers’ Podcast, we dive into the top 10 most popular romance tropes and explore why they continue to captivate readers. From the sizzling tension of Enemies to Lovers to the heartwarming journey of Friends to Lovers, we break down what makes these classic story elements so effective. Whether you’re a romance writer looking for inspiration, a non-romance writer looking to add a little love to your story, or a reader who can’t get enough of these beloved tropes, this episode is packed with insights, writerly wisdom, and, as always, a few laughs along the way.
Jenifer Carll-Tong is the best-selling author of historical Christian romances and co-host of the Christian Indie Writers’ Podcast.
276: Should You Hire a Book Coach?: How to Get Started
In this episode, Tina shares the lowdown of having a Book Coach, including how to find one and what to expect in the first days. Bring your questions to the live chat or send them to us in the Facebook Group!
Jenifer Carll-Tong is the best-selling author of historical Christian romances and co-host of the Christian Indie Writers’ Podcast.
275: Baby Steps Back to Writing Part 4: How Did You Do?
In this episode, the ladies issue the third challenge designed to get you back into your story! We hope you enjoyed weeks one through three of the challenge, and are eager to share the results! We hope this challenge inspired you to get over the first few hurdles lurking between you and your 2025 goals!
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Sprint Prompt: page, mourning, normal, photograph, constellation
Jenifer Carll-Tong is the best-selling author of historical Christian romances and co-host of the Christian Indie Writers’ Podcast.
