Gracewriters Podcast: Recent Episodes
Belinda Pollard - Author, Editor, Gracewriter
Discussions and interviews that encourage and equip Christian writers who are called to influence popular culture through books, blogs, songwriting, poetry, scriptwriting, copywriting and other forms - whether writing for Christian or mainstream audiences.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Donita Bundy and Alison Joy interview Kirsten Holmberg, ghostwriter, editor and author of devotionals for Our Daily Bread Ministries. Kirsten, an introvert, has grown to love speaking at retreats and conferences, and coaches other public speakers, including pastors and TedX speakers. She shares practical tips and inspiration for the value of speaking aloud in a variety of contexts, even for the most introverted of writers.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
Episode summary:
- How Kirsten got into devotional writing. How she researches and writes her devotionals.
- How Kirsten became a public speaker despite being an introvert. The enjoyment she now gains from public speaking.
- The value of public speaking for writers, both in terms of using it for marketing and developing your use of language.
- Creating little videos for online marketing. Being okay with being ordinary at first, and practising, and growing.
- Writing out speeches word-for-word and learning them by heart -- versus using bullet points. Which parts to write in full; which parts to bullet-point.
- Ideas for speaking that are tailored for the topics you write about. Looking for themes that encourage even a person who is not your target reader.
- The causes of fear in public speaking, and tips for overcoming the fear, and reframing it as excitement. The biological responses for fear and excitement are the same.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Donita Bundy and Alison Joy interview Lisa Stilwell, a veteran of Christian publishing. She rose to the position of senior acquisitions editor with major Christian publishing houses, and then moved into authoring devotionals and ghostwriting memoir for Christian leaders and people from the music industry.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
Episode summary:
- How Lisa first moved into writing, unexpectedly, after stepping down from her long career as an acquisitions editor to care for her husband who had Parkinson’s.
- The initial uncertainty Lisa felt about her ability to write, despite so many years of working with words, and her tips for others who long to write but are not sure if they have the ability.
- How Lisa sets herself deadlines, which helped her cope by establishing a sense of routine during the years of caring for her husband.
- Counting back from the deadline to work out how much needs to be written per day, but also allowing grace for when things don’t go to plan.
- How Lisa – reluctantly at first! – moved into ghostwriting. Lisa hadn’t ghostwritten before and thought the timing was wrong for her to work on this project because her husband had just moved to hospice, but God knew what He was doing.
- The process of being selected to work with Helen Smallbone, mother of singers Rebecca St James and the duo For King & Country.
- The gentle and respectful process for Lisa of working with Helen Smallbone, welcomed into the home, and guiding Helen regarding how much she asked her children vs her own memories of what happened.
- How to set word count targets relevant to the project, and stick to them.
- Connection and trust as the core of a relationship when ghostwriting someone’s memoir. Having the courage and skill to ask probing questions, while respecting the person’s right not to answer.
- You have to write in their voice, not your own. Listen constantly, for key phrases and the pace of their speech, for formal vs casual expression, for seriousness vs humour and how the two moods interact.
- Transcribing interview recordings is a painful task, but it’s a process where you can really absorb elements of the story and see what extra questions you need to ask.
- Protecting yourself, because ghostwriting is draining work.
- The initially rocky and then smooth road to getting The Heavens Proclaim His Glory published – a coffee table book with Hubble telescope images combined with excerpts from authors and pastors Lisa had worked with across her editing career.
- How Lisa worked her way up to the senior position of Acquisitions Editor.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Donita Bundy and Alison Joy interview Kelly Needham – podcaster, mother of five, women’s minister and author of PURPOSEFOOLED and FRIEND-ISH. Kelly has a personal, powerful and honest message about how to resist the pressures popular culture puts on our writing goals, and where and how to find contentment.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
Episode summary:
- How Kelly’s first non-fiction book about friendship emerged organically from a ten-year journey of blogging about a topic important to her, and for which she couldn’t find the right book.
- The process of converting blog posts to a book – it ended up forming an outline rather than the actual content.
- The relief of getting the book out of her, and the process of choosing a publishing path: traditional vs self-publishing.
- Finding a literary agent, and choosing one who connected with her project.
- Finding a publisher who cared about the content and was invested in it.
- How Kelly’s existing marketing platform on her blog and social media was appealing to a publisher, but also not necessarily a huge platform.
- Finding the balance between making sales – which does matter a little bit, partly because it shows us what people need – vs having an enduring impact on the lives of individual people.
- Why chasing our dreams is unsatisfying, and yet we will still do it.
- Giving ourselves the freedom to “fail” as writers.
- False narratives from popular culture about what successful writing looks like, and how we can counter those by intentionally being good stewards of our minds.
- How to cope when our achievements don’t match our goals, and when we get post-partum depression after publishing a book.
- How much Kelly struggled with writing her first book, and how much we should be encouraged that we persevered through that.
- The value of making great Art as Christians.
Belinda Pollard, Donita Bundy and Alison Joy celebrate four years of the podcast with another classic episode, AM I CALLED TO WRITE? – a question that confronts and confuses many Christian writers. We discuss ways to discern calling and strategies to help us choose who we listen to as we decide the way forward.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
Episode summary:
- The value of partnering with God in our work, whatever it may be.
- Everyone’s story of how they got into writing is different.
- When the opinions of others about our writing might provide clarification, and the times when we should NOT listen to them.
- The value of community, and support from other writers.
- There will be times in your life that you don’t write, but it doesn’t mean you aren’t a writer – it’s a season.
- If you have a long-term yearning to write, it’s probably not a mistake.
- The story of Moses, who didn’t really find out that he’d fulfilled his calling until the end of the process.
- Writing vs other things we waste time on.
- The value of enjoying our writing.
Belinda Pollard, Donita Bundy and Alison Joy celebrate four years of the podcast with this short series of classic episodes. Today, we go back to our discussion of TACKLING IMPOSTER SYNDROME – that feeling that we are maybe not very good writers and may also be letting God down. The problem with self-doubt is not so much how it makes us feel – although that does matter – but how it can deter us from following our calling as Gracewriters. We share some strategies that might help.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
Episode summary:
- What is imposter syndrome, and why does it affect creatives so much?
- Quotes from famous creatives showing that even “successful” people suffer from imposter syndrome
- Does it affect Christian writers? (Spoiler alert: yes!)
- The fear of not honouring God, or that perhaps we are not actually called to write
- How can we tackle imposter syndrome to stop it interfering with our calling as Gracewriters?
- The role of false concepts of other people’s apparent successes, as well as misunderstandings of the value of our own work
- The value of momentum and keeping going as a writer
- Giving ourselves permission to be ordinary at first, and expecting to develop across a writing career
- The value of prayer, meditation and focusing on God’s glory and His purposes for our writing, which may have little to do with worldly “success”
Belinda Pollard, Donita Bundy and Alison Joy celebrate four years of the podcast by going back to the beginning… our very first episode, WHAT IS GRACEWRITING?, which continues to be one of our most popular. At this time in history, for some reason God seems to be moving in a new way among creatives, using us to reach places and people that might not be open to other forms of communication. Whether you’ve joined Gracewriters recently or been with us from the start, we hope you enjoy touching base with who we are and what we’re all about.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
Episode summary:
- How did Gracewriters begin, and what is Gracewriting?
- Changing the way Christians – and Jesus! – are portrayed and perceived in popular culture.
- How the idea for a Gracewriters Podcast developed, and the value of looking at the writing process, in fellowship, from a Christian perspective.
- How Belinda, Alison and Donita got involved in writing in the first place.
- Why we can sometimes find it hard to pray about our writing - worrying that we are "bothering God" - when in reality he loves to hear from us.
- The particular opportunities and difficulties for Christians who write for mainstream markets, and how we can work as a team.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Donita Bundy and Alison Joy interview Buck Storm, the critically-acclaimed award-winning author of 8 literary Americana novels, who is also a songwriter and recording artist. Buck dives deep into the issues of engaging with biblical and cultural research, and writing from the heart about God’s extraordinary love.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
Episode summary:
- Buck’s process of starting with a blank page and seeing where the story takes him.
- How creating cadence in songwriting transfers across to cadence in fiction, especially in dialogue.
- Buck’s habit of reading his books aloud to a family member once the draft is complete, and how seeing their reaction to the story informs his further work on the manuscript.
- How Buck wrote and researched The Light, the story of a broken, powerless person in the 50 days between the Resurrection and Pentecost – and how the process differed to his more intellectual book The List which looked at Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea coming to faith through prophecy. Authenticity and the power of research, plus the reactions of readers to the characters.
- Working at avoiding using a Western lens to understand biblical background.
- The relevance of OT prophecy today, and the power of how Jesus united Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, who were from opposing parties.
- Changing popular culture as a writer, one person at a time, by sharing your heart with them on the page.
- Not writing to “teach a theme” but just to tell a story and share the love of God. Not knowing the theme until the book is finished, or even until the reader tells you what it means to them.
- Writing on automatic pilot vs the times when God really digs deep into the writer. Taking time out when it gets too mechanical.
- Praying for our writing, and the practice of praying without ceasing.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard and Donita Bundy interview romance novelist (and podcast co-host) Alison Joy. Alison writes romance novels set in Australia and the South Pacific. She shares a variety of research techniques she has developed to help her create fictional locations, events and characters that ring true.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
Episode summary:
- How Alison got an idea for a novel series from an exercise class.
- Creating small town communities on the page using a combination of research and personal experience.
- Different ways to use recurring characters in a series.
- Using actual locations, buildings, sites, facilities to inspire authentic fictional ones.
- How Alison produced an actual country song for book promotion.
- Different research techniques used by Belinda and Donita – interviews, travel, experiences, googling, historical research.
- The benefits and pitfalls of research – how it enriches your writing and your life, but you can end up down rabbit holes!
- Coping with the uncertainty of whether we should be writing, especially when we don’t write “Christian” books.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Donita Bundy and Alison Joy interview Billie Jauss, author of the books MAKING ROOM and DISTRACTION DETOX. Billie speaks across America and hosts the Family Room Podcast. She shares what she’s learned about finding God’s purpose in our writing – even when it’s surprising – and finding real solutions to toxic busyness, self-doubt, shame and distraction.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
Episode summary:
- Being “dragged kicking and screaming” into writing. How Jesus opened unexpected doors and provided support.
- How 10 years of writing devotionals for a baseball website evolved into authoring a book.
- The secret blog Billie began when she became an empty nester.
- Adapting the devotional structure and content to create chapters of a book.
- Learning new writing skills through reading books and blogs, and observing what she liked and didn’t like about other people’s writing.
- Tackling imposter syndrome after the too-fast publication of her first book, and how it stopped her writing with purpose.
- Writing a list of negative thoughts that arose, realising she was her own worst bully as she would never say those things to someone else. Challenging each negative thought with the truth of scripture.
- Being too busy, and how to learn to say no so that there is time for God to speak into our lives. How we get in the way of someone else’s calling if we do the thing they are supposed to be doing.
- Finding moments of pause and listening to God. Listening to the Bible while exercising or driving.
- Changing popular culture by loving our neighbour.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Donita Bundy and Alison Joy interview Jodie McCarthy, who writes quiet, contemplative words in the midst of a noisy and painful world. Her books of poetry and prayers are transparent expressions of grief and loss, but also hope and healing. Jodie is also honest about the times when creative writing needs to take a back seat for a season.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
Episode summary:
- Journaling as a way of processing life, and how that led into blogging.
- How poetry helped Jodie process the emotions of infertility, miscarriage and grief.
- Becoming an “accidental author” when people shared her first book of poetry, and later an “accidental self-publisher”.
- Talking about hard things gives people permission to talk to you about their own hard things. Learning to hold other people’s heavy stories lightly helps you avoid overwhelm.
- How the content influenced Jodie’s production decisions, such as hardcover over paperback for a sense of solidity.
- Software (Scrivener) that helps with the process of organising a book and overcoming writer’s block. Also using old-school techniques and moving around handwritten or printed pages.
- Writing more poems than needed to allow choosing the best.
- The poetry market that is emerging on Instagram.
- Taking time from creative writing to work on analytical writing during a study program in Spirituality. A season of input rather than a season of output.
- The blessing of writing gracenotes in a time when the news is so heavy and everyone is feeling heavy.
- Jodie’s beautiful “prayer for creatives”.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard and Alison Joy interview our co-host, urban fantasy author, writing teacher, and preacher, Donita Bundy. Donita writes the Armour of Light series of spiritual warfare stories set in near-future versions of Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities of Revelation. She has useful tips for those writing on ‘Last Days’ themes, and encouragement for all of us who Gracewrite in an increasingly hostile and difficult world.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
Episode summary:
- What End Times, End of Days and Last Days mean, and why these themes are so attractive to storytellers, both Christian and secular.
- How physical illness ‘accidentally’ led into Donita writing on these topics, and how her own health challenges have influenced the way she writes her characters.
- How Donita draws plot inspiration from Scripture and also from historical events and situations from the ancient world.
- The role of Bible study and prayer in apocalyptic writing, and in fact, all Gracewriting.
- The fear of getting it wrong, and how to persevere in spite of that.
- Encouraging readers as they feel seen and heard by what’s happening in the story. Writing with openness and honesty about genuine human struggles. Helping readers to feel less alone in their own battles.
- Encouraging readers to pay attention, and not become complacent in a world that is changing rapidly. Inspiring them to ‘choose God’ even when it’s hard.
- Entertaining readers with a good story.
- Thinking about what message your reader is going to go away with, no matter what genre or topic you are writing. How to open a fissure for the Holy Spirit to flow into someone’s heart through story.
- Giving readers (and us) the courage to stand in the challenges to come.
- Whether to make writing a priority in stressful times. Why our voice is needed.
- How the content of our writing might change in the Last Days. How our writing might be set apart from the world’s writing.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Donita Bundy and Alison Joy interview book publicist Jason Jones, who works with authors and publishers around the world, producers and editors at some of America’s major news outlets and hundreds of faith-based media outlets. Host of the Book Publicist podcast, he has led campaigns for 11 New York Times best-sellers. He shares insights on the changing face of book promotion, including the rise of social media and podcasts.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
Topics in this episode:
- Jason’s unexpected career progression into book publicity.
- How book publicity has changed in recent years – the rising importance of social media over traditional media and news outlets.
- Start very early with book promotion.
- Be prepared to do the work yourself and don’t expect your publisher to do all the marketing.
- Start small, start local.
- How the publicity cycle has changed in recent years – not all of it has to be at launch time.
- Promoting non-fiction vs fiction.
- Seasonal promotion at Christmas, and Christmas-themed books.
- The rising possibilities of being interviewed on podcasts.
- The value of perserverance.
In this episode, Donita Bundy and Alison Joy interview Belinda Pollard, author of crime novels, light memoir, devotionals and non-fiction. She is also founder of Gracewriters. Belinda shares what she learned from revising and republishing both a devotional book, MEET THE REAL JESUS, and her first crime novel, POISON BAY.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Donita Bundy and Alison Joy interview Jack Countryman, author of 35 books based on Bible promises, blessings and prayers, which have sold more than 27 million copies. At 93, Jack has just released another book. He encourages all Christian writers, and especially those writing devotionals, and those who fear they are “too old”.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Donita Bundy and Alison Joy interview Christian non-fiction author Jo Swinney. Jo’s books cover important and sensitive topics from dating to depression, but her most challenging project yet was co-writing a book on hospitality with her mother, Miranda Harris, after she had passed away.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Donita Bundy and Alison Joy interview spy-thriller author Mazzy Adams. Mazzy shares her writing practices, the joy and complexity of defying genre norms, and how writing actually helped rehabilitate her brain after a stroke.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Donita Bundy and Alison Joy interview Roma Flood, who has lived through the loss of a mother, daughter, husband and granddaughter, but has found a way to bless people with her story of loss and grief. For others who are writing from painful personal experience, she shares about lives that have changed as a result of her book… including her own.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Donita Bundy and Alison Joy interview Jubilee Lipsey, who writes biblical fiction based on Old Testament narratives. Jubilee shares the methods she uses to invite readers deeper into the stories that form the backbone of Christian faith, while also being changed by the Bible in the process herself.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Donita Bundy and Alison Joy interview Lisa Boucher, who has trained polo horses, worked as a flight attendant, hairdresser and bartender, and then reconstructed her life as a registered nurse. Lisa’s books help women overcome alcoholism, and she draws from her rich life experience to encourage readers to stop micromanaging and surrender to God.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Donita Bundy and Alison Joy interview Steven James, author of 18 bestselling thrillers and winner of 4 Christy Awards. His non-fiction titles include STORY TRUMPS STRUCTURE and TROUBLESHOOTING YOUR NOVEL for Writer’s Digest, and he challenges us to defy the so-called “rules” of writing fiction.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Donita Bundy and Alison Joy interview author and speech pathologist Andrina Rijken about the value of an “ordinary person’s” inspirational writing, and how God can use each one of us.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Donita Bundy and Alison Joy interview pastor and author Donny Abbott about his book inspired by Rembrandt’s painting, Christ in the Storm. Donny shares his process, and the disappointments and blessings of writing and publishing.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Donita Bundy and Alison Joy look back on the writing year that was, look forward to the writing year that’s coming, and look up to the One we write for. An honest conversation with some vulnerable moments, full of encouragement for Gracewriters living in a difficult world.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Donita Bundy and Alison Joy interview Kathy Escobar, pastor and author of the Advent resource A Weary World. Kathy has for many years helped provide a Blue Christmas event for those struggling at this time of year, but its meaning became intensely personal after her teenage son’s death by suicide. (Content warning: suicide)
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard and Donita Bundy interview Nikki Florence Thompson, who teaches creative writing at the Australian Catholic University in Brisbane, Australia. Nikki has an MA in creative writing, a PhD in Literature, and is a blogger and published author. Her memoir, Fight, Flight and Faith tackles grief and anxiety at a very personal level.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard and Donita Bundy interview Alison Joy, who writes romance novels set in fascinating travel locations. She talks about finding inspiration in location and culture, managing “heat levels” in romance, and the challenge of working out what God wants her to write.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy interview Lynne Castelijn, who writes stories about life in a Philippine jungle for social media. Lynne reveals her unique style and format, and how vulnerability, though terrifying, has created deep connections with other people.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy interview Bible translator Albert Castelijn, who has spent 28 years as a missionary worker in a remote village in the Philippine jungle. Albert shares both the practicalities and the miraculous moments of working with words across culture and language barriers.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy interview Karen Kepert, Christian songwriter and author of the children’s picture book Scruffy and Silk. Karen talks about the challenges of packing a lot of meaning into a small word count, and how her songwriting began seemingly from nowhere and grew in surprising ways.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy interview Nicci Toomey, author, blogger, and Instagrammer. Nicci began blogging her way through a very difficult time in her life, and her writing grew into a book and a ministry.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy interview writing coach and author Laura Thomas, who describes herself as a late bloomer in her writing career. Laura speaks about facing rejection and finding support on the path to publishing 9 books across non-fiction, romantic suspense and teen and children’s fiction.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy interview Chrissy Garwood, author of the River Wild Christian Romantic Suspense series and the YA Fantasy River series. Chrissy talks about being a ‘genre butterfly’ and how she dealt with the idea that someone in Christian ministry doesn’t sit around inventing stories.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard and Alison Young interview Donita Bundy, author of the Armour of Light Christian urban fantasy series, former Somerset Writer in Residence, high school creative writing teacher, blogger and preacher, on writing multiple first-person POV and the challenges of faith-driven creativity.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard and Donita Bundy interview Nikki Florence Thompson, writing teacher and author of the memoir Fight, Flight and Faith. Nikki shares how an unusual partnership with a good editor helped strengthen and refocus her book, and about God’s tenderness in comforting and encouraging the fearful.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy interview multi-award-winning singer songwriter Colin Buchanan, well-known for his hilarious children’s songs and country music. Colin shares his discoveries about navigating the insecurities of a creative career, and how to write fun and kooky material while also being soberminded with God’s truth. Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy interview Kristen Young, author of speculative fiction and non-fiction, whose debut novel Apprentice won the 2021 Realm Award. Kristen has abundant insight to share into the writing and traditional publishing process, and how we can make a difference with our words, no matter how we might struggle. Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy interview biographical author, speaker and nuclear medicine physician Dr Ernest Crocker, whose three books include Nine Minutes Past Midnight. Ern discusses his writing process, his path to traditional publication, and the medical event that set him on the path of exploring God’s role in healing today.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy interview writing coach, author, speaker and blogger Elaine Fraser on planning for the new writing year. Elaine talks about creating a process, setting priorities, and creating the physical, psychological and spiritual space we need to write.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy interview bestselling author of 170 books, Elana Johnson, who also writes as Liz Isaacson, about her extensive experience writing Christmas-themed romance. Elana gives insightful, practical, and generous tips for Gracewriters who write on any topic.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy discuss some of the scams that abound in today’s self-publishing, and how to navigate your way through the sharks to find the “dolphins” who can help you.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for useful links and factsheets, a transcript of each episode, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy discuss three basic components of self-publishing: the words, the design, and the technology. They summarise the importance of each and how they have tackled them in their own projects.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for useful links and factsheets, a transcript of each episode, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy discuss how self-publishing can be used as a hobby, a career, or to support a business or cause.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy discuss new technologies that have revolutionised self-publishing, including their experiences of the benefits and difficulties.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy discuss why they each chose self-publishing for particular book projects… experiences and choices, challenges and opportunities.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy discuss the benefits and disadvantages of both traditional publishing and self-publishing, how the industry has changed in recent years, and how our faith might influence our choices.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy interview Amanda Viviers, non-fiction author, blogger, radio presenter, co-founder of Kinwomen, and creator of the online writer’s workshop, Write Hard. Amanda shares her writing and publishing experiences, and provides generous inspiration for fellow Gracewriters.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy discuss strategies for developing an approach to social media that maximises usefulness while minimising the time-drain.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy discuss their own attitudes to social media, seeking solutions that suit their situations and personalities.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy discuss ways to use social media to build an online platform that is ethical and honouring to God.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy interview Kristen M. Fraser, author of 14 Christian romance novels, including several in the Potter’s House series. Kristen talks about how she manages her writing life as a busy mother of four children, and where she finds inspiration.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for show notes, transcript, useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy discuss what they’ve learned from research and personal experience about getting traffic to our blogs, and ask: how can we be God-honouring in the process?
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy troubleshoot each other’s blogging plan and practice. Pick up useful ideas for your own blog from these three very different examples.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy discuss the pros and cons of having an author blog. What are the benefits, and do they outweigh the cost of the time and energy taken to blog? Are there special considerations for us as Christians?
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy interview Kara-Glenn Bolger, who unexpectedly wrote a children’s book on the Trinity during lockdown. Kara-Glenn is a life coach, meditation practitioner and poet who always hoped she’d write epic fiction, but God had other plans.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy discuss collective wisdom and personal experience about how to create content to send our email lists. What are the spiritual and ethical implications of the process?
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy share their own progress and challenges with building an email list for their writing, and workshop ideas and potential solutions with one another.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy discuss why everyone says writers need to build an email list… and look at practical tips for how to go about it. They also share personal experiences, practical tips, and spiritual principles.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy discuss whether writers need a website – including the online consensus and the perspective of publishers. They also share personal experiences, practical tips, and spiritual principles.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com for useful links and factsheets, and to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy discuss practicalities, personal experiences, and spiritual ethics of marketing our writing online.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy discuss whether we need an editor for our writing, what the editing process entails, and how to find an editor who is a good fit.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy discuss why self-editing is so much more than a spellcheck, and how it develops not just the manuscript, but the writer.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy discuss the value of feedback in strengthening our manuscripts and us as writers. How does feedback help, how do we get feedback that’s useful, and what are the spiritual principles guiding the process?
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy discuss the value of calling to mind what we have achieved despite difficult circumstances in the year just ended, and showing gratitude. What will we plan for this new year, and how will we create strong spiritual foundations for our writing goals?
Go to gracewriters.com to connect with our online community. We would love to welcome and encourage you.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy discuss the potential and possibilities of writing on Christmas themes, in various genres, and for various audiences. They consider deeper truths that can underlie our writing, and how to gain clarity, courage and sensitivity for the task.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy interview pastor, scriptwriter, poet and stand-up comedian Adam Ryan on his writing process for church plays and online episodes for kids. His stories start with characters, and he shares some unique ways of coming up with characters.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy discuss the realities of earning income from writing and publishing in today’s world. They consider the practical side for both traditionally published and self-published writers, and also the spiritual side of whether and how we earn.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy discuss the impact of disappointment on a writer’s career. They examine how common it is among writers, discover practical tips to deal with it, and explore the spiritual implications.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com to connect with our online community.
In this episode, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy interview Bill Brockmeier, who reveals how his adventure in historical fiction has detoured into writing an opera libretto! Bill also speaks about the non-profit Hearts Need Art, which uses creativity to help hospital patients combat anxiety, depression and loneliness.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com to connect with our online community.
In this ninth episode of the Gracewriters Podcast, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy discuss how to meet publishing deadlines, including self-publishing deadlines. What are the practicalities, the psychology, and the spirituality of getting our writing finished on time?
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com to connect with our online community.
In this eighth episode of the Gracewriters Podcast, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy discuss how to find time to write in our busy schedules. What are the practicalities, the psychology, and the spirituality of setting aside time for our writing practice?
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com to connect with our online community.
In this seventh episode of the Gracewriters Podcast, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy discuss whether we need to improve as writers, and practical steps we can take to do so. How does our faith intersect with this goal, and how do we tackle perfectionism and negativity?
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In this sixth episode of the Gracewriters Podcast, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy discuss how to work out what to write. First we must decide the form of writing we will explore, from books to blogs to poetry, journalism, copywriting and more. Then we need to develop a stockpile of ideas for our writing.
Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com to tell us about topics you’d like discussed, and writers you’d like us to interview.
In this fifth episode of the Gracewriters Podcast, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy discuss Perseverance – or, should Christian writing be this hard?! New writers often think they are failing if they find writing hard, but the fact is, it’s a common complaint. We discuss ways to place a reality check on the difficulties, and how to push past them to the writing that we love to do.
Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com to tell us about topics you’d like discussed, and writers you’d like us to interview.
In this fourth episode of the Gracewriters Podcast, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy discuss Procrastination – why can’t we seem to actually sit down and do the writing that we love! We share tips, suggestions, and observations, as well as the Christian angle… how do we get God involved in building momentum, and does He care that we are not writing?
Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com to tell us about topics you'd like discussed, and writers you'd like us to interview.
Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy discuss how a sense of calling - or perhaps the fear that we're not called - can affect a Christian writer's confidence and effectiveness. They share personal experiences, as well as spiritual and practical tips.
Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com to join our monthly Zoom catch-up or chat with other Christian writers in our private online community.
In this second episode of the Gracewriters Podcast, we discuss Imposter Syndrome - the feeling that you are not a good writer, and will soon be found out. Many creatives seem to experience these feelings. Christian writers have an extra problem in that we sometimes fear we are failing God... but we also have His powerful help as we follow our calling.
Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com to tell us about topics you'd like discussed, and writers you'd like us to interview.
In this very first episode of the Gracewriters Podcast, Belinda Pollard, Alison Young and Donita Bundy discuss how the Gracewriters movement got started, and how God has drawn Christian writers together online during the pandemic. They also share personal experiences about feeling reluctant to "bother God" about their writing problems... and how they are learning that He really does want to be involved.
Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast! And go to gracewriters.com to tell us about topics you'd like discussed, and writers you'd like us to interview.