Christian Indie Writers

Podcast Home

writing a novel

Episode 43: Writing the Blurb

Proverbs 15:22 New International Version (NIV) 

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. ~ Proverbs 15:22 

I spent quite a while working on the blurb for my upcoming release, Avoiding Esther, the second book in my Love in Lansing series. But, no matter how many tweaks I made on it, I just wasn’t happy. There was something off, yet I couldn’t put my finger on the problem. Fortunately, I have the ladies of the Christian Indie Writers’ Podcast to turn to. 

In this week’s episode, not only do you get to hear the ladies critique, and ultimately improve, my book synopsis, you get a sneak peek into what our Postcast looks like. You can watch on YouTube or listen on iTunes. If you like what you see and would like to see more Postcasts, as well as support our ministry for as little as $2 a month, you can become a patron of our Patreon page. We would be so grateful for your support. 

One final note…next week’s podcast will air LIVE on Monday (rather than our usual Thursday.) All four of the ladies will be together podcasting from Blondies, a coffee shop in Lapeer, Michigan, the inspiration town for our upcoming Christmas project we are working on. If you are in the area, come by and say hello. It’s sure to be a lot of laughs! 

May you have a blessed week, 

Jen 

 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7AqxuXGPEE 

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/christian-indie-writers-podcast/id1434482933 

Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/christianindiewriters 

 

Episode 41: Back On Track

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

I think I’m a pretty encouraging person. Others might call me critical or blunt. They are probably right. But, understand, no matter how poorly I may at times articulate my ‘encouragment,’ it always comes from a place of wanting what’s best for others. My heart is to encourage you. Truly. I think it’s important to say that before continuing.

While perusing Twitter lately (yes, I realize the irony,) I have noticed a number of writers spending A LOT of time playing twitter games (i.e. autocomplete the following sentence, or, what’s your character’s favorite pie flavor.) I’ve also noticed a lot of Author Instagram posts with pictures of their workspaces…their immaculate, nothing out of place workplaces. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with any of these activities, but I have noticed it so often with some writers that it makes me wonder…are you actually getting any writing accomplished? I’m not posting any pictures of my workspace. It is a wreck…because I am writing there, not positioning my pencils properly.

So, here is my loving ‘encouragement’… stop wasting time! Sit down and actually write the words! (Was that too harsh? Reread first paragraph, please.)

In today’s episode, titled “Back on Track,” the ladies and I discuss the topic of distractions. We all have them, but if we are going advance our writing careers, we need to acknowledge those things that we allow to pull us away from our writing and learn how to avoid those traps.

If you missed the live broadcast, you can watch the replay HERE, or listen on iTunes HERE. But not if you haven’t written yet today. Go write first, then tune in!

Lovingly submitted,

Jen

Episode 33: Camp Nano…Should You Participate?

There were several title suggestions for today’s episode: Rhonda’s Inquisition, Three Tarts on the Spot, Convince Me…I could go on. The fitting title was “Convince Me” because I put them to the task today and they did convince me I should participate in Camp Nano for the first time.

If you’re on the fence about committing your valuable time to Nano for the second time in the last five months, watch our discussion and see if it will help you decide.

Episode 30: Reader Reviews; The Good, The Bad, and The Totally Awesome

This weeks Podcast topic is focused on reader reviews. (stay tuned for future episodes focused on third party reviews) In this episode we discuss the importance of reviews to an author in order to sell books, where and how to get them, and how NOT to get them.
Reader reviews were never on my radar before I started this whole process. Honestly, I didn’t really think about the marketing, selling books, publishing side of things at all. I just thought, I’ll write this book, it will be my magnum opus, people will read it and hopefully I will make lots of money. It wasn’t until the F.L.A.W.S. writing group got together that anything other than that even crossed my mind.
If you’re where I was, don’t panic. Take a deep breath and watch our podcast. We are by no means claiming to be experts. We are working through these things right there with you. With each step each of us take towards publication we learn something new, and we will pass it on to you. We are in this together.
If you have an experience on your journey toward publication you want to share with us, please reach out and let us know. If you’ve learned something invaluable pass it on for others to benefit from your experience. We are better together. We can do this.
In Him, Christina Cattane

Episode 24: Bullet Journals for Authors

This week our encouragement for writers is all about time management. We take on the task in a fun and creative way. Tune in to the podcast each week for more encouragement for writers and self-publishing tips!

Bujo…not just for the Boujee

I’ll be honest. When I first heard the term “Bujo,” I thought it must be something trendy and frivolous, like branding irons for your steak, or bat poop coffee. I can tell you now that I was so totally wrong. A “Bujo,” cutesy as it sounds, is actually an extremely practical, endlessly adaptable, and completely personalize-able way to manage and organize your life. What writer couldn’t use a giant helping of THAT? Am I right?!

The word “Bujo” is simply a mashup of the words “bullet” and “journal”. The idea originated as journaling via bulleted lists, instead of in the traditional longform paragraph style. Early versions were basic, black and white, ink on paper, practical tools. Now they can be simply that, or so much more, depending on the owner’s tastes and needs.

Join us this week as Rhonda and Tina cover the basics of Bujo, and then we discuss ways to make your Bujo as Boujee (or not) as you like.

–

Jamie

Episode 21: Author Beware

This week our encouragement for writers comes in the form of a reminder about internet safety. Tune in each week for more encouragement, support, and great self-publishing tips!

 

Hi, Christian indies!

When I was a child, the Publisher’s Clearing House (PCH) entry form was still sent by U.S. Mail. It was a glorious, fat envelope, with promises of potential for great fortune stamped across the front. Inside was an enormous sheet of perforated, full color lick-and-stick stamps, each representing a magazine subscription one could purchase by affixing the stamp to the appropriate place on the order form, which doubled as an entry form for the Sweepstakes. My Mother would never even open this alluring piece of mail-into the trash can it would go. Somehow, one day, I discovered this fascinating packet. Maybe I saw the mail before my Mom got to it. More likely, I saw the captivating red letters beckoning me to “enter to win” peeking out from the can when I was asked to take out the trash. Whatever the case, I was immediately intrigued and excited about this correspondence.

You see, I had watched the PCH people in commercials on tv, showing up at someone’s house with a gigantic cardboard check made out for millions of dollars. I could not believe my Mother would just throw away this chance at winning big bucks!

[Read more…] about Episode 21: Author Beware

Are you a plotter…or a panster?

Good morning Christian Indies!

What a crazy month October is turning out to be! We’ve been so busy over here at the Christian Indie Writers’ Podcast, not only prepping our own stories for National Novel Writing Month (lovingly referred to as NaNoWriMo around the world), but we’ve been hard at work with our #Preptober series [Read more…] about Are you a plotter…or a panster?

Inspiration



Hi, Christian indies!
Jamie here, with a dose of weekly encouragement!

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. –  Genesis 2:7 

When I learned the topic for this week’s podcast was “inspiration”,  I immediately thought I remembered learning once that the word had something to do with God’s breath, or God’s breathing. So, when I set to write this article, I just had to go and look it up. 

From The Online Entomology Dictionary: 

“c. 1300, “immediate influence of God or a god,” especially that under which the holy books were written …The sense evolution seems to be from “breathe into” to “infuse animation or influence,” thus “affect, rouse, guide or control,” especially by divine influence.” 

How wonderful! 

I’d like to believe that when I am seeking inspiration, I am literally asking for a breath of life from our heavenly Father, a sort of “spiritual resuscitation.” But, it feels rather presumptuous for me to then say “this story was brought to you by the Holy Spirit,” or some such thing, as that feels awkwardly close to comparing my own works to holy writ (All scripture is given by inspiration of God,  – 2 Timothy 3:16a ) 

But, I do believe that it is appropriate to acknowledge that God created all things, even, ad perhaps, especially, the things that we look to for inspiration, as the word is commonly used. Also, the Great God and Our Creator was responsible for our formation – for our flesh and bones, and for the very gray matter inside of our skulls that churns out all these ideas. For these things, and for a great myriad of other reasons, He alone is worthy of our worship and praise. 

Check out this week’s podcast to find out where, in God’s creation, we seek out inspiration for our writing.

We love encouraging others! Drop us a line and let us know how we can encourage you today!

Facebook
RSS