Why Writers Grow Outside Their Comfort Zone: The Power of Discomfort in the Writing Life

From Edie: Discover why writers grow most outside their comfort zones and how embracing discomfort can strengthen your craft, confidence, and publishing journey. Learn practical ways to turn awkward, uncertain moments into meaningful creative and professional growth.

Why Writers Grow Outside Their Comfort Zone: The Power of Discomfort in the Writing Life

by Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes by Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes @KHutch0767

Growth rarely announces itself politely. More often, it shows up as a racing heart, a knot in the stomach, a shaky yes, or the uneasy realization that we’ve stepped into territory where we don’t quite belong yet. For writers and publishing professionals, those moments of discomfort are not detours from success. They are often the very path to it.

In the writing and publishing world, we talk a lot about craft, platform, and strategy. We attend conferences, read blogs (like this one), and listen to podcasts, hoping to find the next clear step forward. What we don’t always talk about is the quiet, persistent discomfort that comes with growth—and how essential it is.

How Writers Can Finish the Year Strong: Simple December Newsletter Tips That Actually Work

From Edie: Discover simple, effective December newsletter tips to help writers finish the year strong without added stress. Learn how to reflect, connect with readers, and set up a purposeful plan for January—all with one thoughtful, manageable email.

How Writers Can Finish the Year Strong: Simple December Newsletter Tips That Actually Work

by Kate Huff @KateOliviaHuff

December is a hard month for writers, at least it is for me. Schedules are full, routines are disrupted, and creativity often takes a back seat to obligations and celebrations. For many authors, newsletters are the first thing to slip through the cracks.

Let me be the first to remind you that it's okay. My personal author email has been a week late the past two months! And honestly, no one has noticed. It's only late to me.

Writing Through Life’s Hard Seasons: Finding God’s Strength When Creativity Feels Impossible

From Edie: Discover how writers can navigate life’s hardest seasons with faith, resilience, and creativity. Learn how caregiving, grief, and unexpected challenges can shape your writing, deepen your spiritual growth, and reveal God’s strength when words feel impossible.

Writing Through Life’s Hard Seasons: Finding God’s Strength When Creativity Feels Impossible

by Martin Wiles @LinesFromGod

Seasons pass, but one of ours has hung around longer than we anticipated. But no one ever said writing through the seasons would be easy. 

The spring of our season arrived, and Mom fell, breaking her wrist. Since my stepfather had Alzheimer’s and could barely care for himself, we made plans to place Mom in a skilled nursing facility. She wasn’t excited, and neither were we, but we had no choice. Neither she nor my stepfather could afford round-the-clock care.

Writers, Focus on Your One Significant Word in 2026

From Edie: Discover how choosing One Significant Word for 2026 can refocus your writing life and deepen your spiritual walk. Learn practical tips for selecting your word, anchoring it in Scripture, and using it to inspire your creativity, discipline, and purpose throughout the new year.

Writers, Focus on Your One Significant Word in 2026

by Beth K. Vogt @BethVogt

Writers, do you know what your word count is?

“Umm, Beth,” you’re probably wondering, “which word count do you mean?”

Whether we write fiction or nonfiction—or both—we’re all about word count, right? We track it day by day, celebrating when we hit the magic number. We keep an eye on our manuscripts’ overall word count. 

Discovering Your Writing Gifts: Why Writers Must Stop Comparing and Start Creating with Purpose

From Edie: Learn how to recognize and embrace your unique writing gifts instead of comparing yourself to others. This encouraging reflection helps writers rediscover purpose, use their talents to serve others, and create with confidence during the season of giving.

Discovering Your Writing Gifts: Why Writers Must Stop Comparing and Start Creating with Purpose

by Lilka Raphael @Lilka_Raphael

How sad that we often diminish our best gifts by struggling valiantly to develop in someone else's area of ability. It is better to focus on your uniqueness and do that with excellence than to end up with mediocrity in several areas." ~ Dan Miller

Advent for Christian Writers: Turning Luke 1 into Powerful Writing Ideas

From Edie: Discover how Christian writers can use the Advent season and Luke 1 to spark meaningful writing ideas. Explore an ADVENT acrostic, a 20-day Scripture journey, and practical inspiration for creating Christmas articles, devotionals, and stories for the year ahead.

Advent for Christian Writers: Turning Luke 1 into Powerful Writing Ideas

by Julie Lavender @JLavenderWrites

What does ADVENT mean to you? What do you think of when you hear the word? Have you incorporated advent into your writing this season?

My 2026 Writing Bucket List: How My Creative Goals Have Evolved Over a Decade

From Edie: Explore how a writer’s creative goals evolve over time in this updated 2026 writing bucket list. Discover inspiration, process-focused insights, and practical encouragement for shaping your own writing dreams in the year ahead.

My 2026 Writing Bucket List: How My Creative Goals Have Evolved Over a Decade

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Do you have a writing bucket list?

I do. I started one back in 2014, and I even wrote about it here on The Write Conversation in a post titled One Writer’s Bucket List. I’ve kept up with my list over the years, but until recently, I’d forgotten that I’d actually shared it publicly.

So why write a new one?