It’s 2023, and we are finally seeing the comeback of in-person writers conferences! Some beginning writers are new to the writing community. If you began your writing journey during the pandemic, you might never have had the opportunity to take part in a real, live, in-person writers conference. That’s right, in ye olden precovid days, writers attended conferences in person.  In-person writers conferences are not cheap, so you want to be sure to get the most out of your time. You may be feeling nervous about attending your first conference. Perhaps you’re wondering what to expect, how to ..read more

Thirty days. That’s all you’ve got. Do it wrong, and you’re toast. Do it right, and it’s crème brûlée that will last for months, maybe even years.  What 30 days are we talking about? The first 30 days after you make your book available to the world.  During the first 30-60 days after your release, bookstores decide whether to keep your book on the shelves. If you have a strong launch, bookstores will continue to stock your book and order more copies. If you have a bad launch, even the books you think you sold will be returned unsold.  Only during the first 30 days post-release c ..read more

The Christian Publishing Show is the podcast for writers who want to advance Christ’s kingdom through excellent writing. Whether you’re writing Bible studies, dragon fantasies, devotionals, or cozy mysteries, you can advance Christ’s kingdom through your writing. But what does it mean to advance the kingdom through writing? How can authors do it? When we abide in Jesus and meditate on his word, the natural result is that the life of Christ will overflow from our hearts into our writing. The more we read and study the Bible, the more it reflects in our writing. If you read the Bible enough, it ..read more

On the memorial stone of C.S. Lewis in Westminster Abbey, this quote is engraved:  “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen, not only because I see it but because by it, I see everything else.” For Lewis, Christianity was the lens through which he saw the world and wrote his books. Lewis had much to say in his various books, and as an author his Christian worldview influenced everything in his fiction.  Many authors’ understanding of theology doesn’t go much beyond the sinner’s prayer, and their stories reflect that shallow understanding. They end up writi ..read more

As the old chestnut goes, those who fail to plan can plan to fail. But in order to create a plan, you first need a goal. And authors need to set writing goals. How do you set a motivating goal that’s realistic but not overwhelming and still challenges you to accomplish more? One of the most prolific goal-setters I know is Mary DeMuth. She’s a bestselling author who has written more than 40 books. She’s a literary agent and a nationally acclaimed speaker.  I’ve asked her to share her reasons and methods for goal setting. Why do authors need to set writing goals? Thomas: Why do author ..read more

Do you know the feeling of arriving home after a party only to look in the mirror and discover you’ve had food on your face the whole night, and nobody told you?  Everybody saw it, but you didn’t.  Writing can be like that. We often lack the perspective to see where our writing needs to be. You can hire an editor, and eventually you should. But if you’re still working to improve your craft, you’re not quite ready for an editor. Instead, you need a critique group. I have been recommending critique groups for years. I hear the same excuses when I ask authors why they’re not in a critiq ..read more

We live in a world that has been cursed with thorns and thistles. We get food out of the earth through toil and sweat. Writing is a job just like any other, and that curse applies, which means that writing success will require work. Hard work. Sweat and tears kind of work. And, as with farming, you won’t see results right away. After a day of plowing a field full of dirt, all you have is a field full of dirt.  Being an author means working at writing, editing, publishing, and marketing. But many authors burn out before they achieve success. What causes burnout? Why does it kill so m ..read more

What would you do with two extra hours every day? Have lunch with a friend? Pick up a 10-hour-per-week, part-time job? Exercise? Read? Pray? Begin learning a new language? Write a book? Today, I’m sharing an episode from another podcast because it is relevant and important for authors.  We recently had a long discussion about Leaving Social Media at AuthorMedia.social. So many people are evaluating social media and its effects on their sales, platforms, families, mental health, and Christian growth. I’ve even recorded an episode about why most authors don’t need social media and ho ..read more

In the beginning, Adam’s first job was to care for the Garden of Eden and to use his God-given creativity to name the animals.  You could say humans were created to create. Authors understand that, but the chaos of life can squelch our creativity. Sometimes we feel like we’re drowning in a sea of doubt. How do we connect with God and continue to pursue creativity, even when life feels chaotic?  How do we get unstuck and move forward to fulfill the purpose God has created us for?  To find out, I interviewed Allen Arnold, who is passionate about awakening people’s hearts to ..read more

How do you write a book that people are already dying to read? You choose an existing genre. Do you know how to choose a genre? Readers generally want to read the kinds of books they already like. Romance readers rarely go into the horror section of the bookstore.  If you’re trying to write a romance novel for people who hate romance or a sci-fi novel for readers who hate sci-fi, you’re doing it wrong. Books are divided into genres and subgenres because readers want to know what kind of book they’re buying.  Each genre has its own rules, which are also called genre conventions. When ..read more