Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Blogging for the Bible Study Writer

Edie here. Today I'm really excited to introduce the newest team member here on The Write Conversation, Katy Kauffman. I've known Katy for several years and watched her blossom into an amazing writer. Her specialty is Bible studies, and her current book is FAITH, COURAGE AND VICTORY; The Stories, struggles, and triumphs of 24 Characters of the Bible. I know you'll want to join me in welcoming her to our community!

Blogging for the Bible Study Writer
By Katy Kauffman @KatyKauffman28

I sat nervously in James Rubart’s marketing class and wanted to raise my hand. At the 2010 Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, Jim wanted to show us how to create a blog, using someone in the class as a guinea pig. So he asked for a volunteer. I knew that if I ever wanted to start a blog, it needed to be then, and with his help. But I hesitated, and another lady volunteered. 

Disappointed, I watched as he tried to sign into Google (which owns Blogger) with her username and password. It didn’t work. When he asked for another volunteer, my hand shot up, and so my adventures in blogging began.

Blogging once a week or more can seem like a daunting task. Especially for the Bible study writer. Our focus is sharing messages of hope and encouragement from the Word of God, and that requires some study time. Plus, blogging takes time away from writing books. So why is it worth it?

We can reach people instantly. Instead of waiting twelve to eighteen months for a publishing house to publish our book, we can reach people immediately through a blog. Yes, we want that book deal, but through a blog and social media, we can instantly encourage, inspire, and instruct.

So what should we write about? The world may seem like our oyster—Scripture is quite long, and there’s so much to write about! Or we may feel overwhelmed because there are too many possibilities to pick from. I’d like to give you five ideas of what to write about, and I hope this whittles down the possibilities a bit.

5 Ideas of What to Blog about:
1. Topics that speak to your audience—Who do you want to minister to—Christian women, moms of young children, teens, those suffering with a chronic illness, or business professionals? Tailor your posts or devotions to target your intended audience, and provide both encouragement from the Bible and practical help for real-life struggles.

2. Lessons learned in your quiet time—What is God teaching you in your personal time with Him? Some of the best material I’ve written about, has come from the passages of Scripture I’ve studied in my quiet time. Share insights about a particular verse, or dissect a passage in a fairly short, to-the-point post. Don’t overwhelm the reader with too many facts or notes. Include just enough to give some needed background on a passage, and share relevant application for life today.

3. A series on a Biblical topic—For three or four weeks, blog about peace, joy, or hope. Ask other bloggers to guest post for you, so your readers benefit from their insights and experiences as well.

4. A special quote you heard in a sermon or Sunday school lesson—If you hear something in a message that resonates with you, it may resonate with those who don’t go to your church. You can quote public speeches without having to get permission, but it’s a courtesy to ask. Always give credit to the pastor or teacher who said the quote you want to write about, and expound on it in the post.

5. Principles from your book—Pick a principle from your Bible study to write about, or post a short excerpt from your book if you have permission from your publishing house. If your book is under contract or review by a publishing committee, seek your agent’s or editor’s advice about when and how much to write about your book. Share with readers why you wrote it, and give a glimpse of what’s in it.

If you are a Bible study writer or a Christian living writer, what topics do you like to blog about? What ideas do you have for posts and where do you find them? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Join the conversation!

TWEETABLES


Katy Kauffman is an award-winning writer and a co-founder of Lighthouse Bible Studies, a ministry which seeks to connect people to God through His Word. She has taught the Bible to women and teens, and has two published Bible studies for women, 2 Timothy: Winning the Victory and Faith, Courage, and Victory. Her heart’s desire is for women to know and love God, understand the richness of His Word, and fulfill His plan for their lives. Katy is also the designer of Broken but Priceless: The Magazine. She makes her home near Atlanta, Georgia. Connect with her further on Facebook and Twitter.

18 comments:

  1. Welcome Katy, I am looking forward to future posts from you. These are all great points. Thank you.

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    1. Thank you, Cherrilynn! It's a blessing to write for Edie. I am glad you liked the points. Life stories would be another idea, based on your blog post I read recently. Happy Blogging.

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  2. My blog is about overcoming negative emotions and circumstances with the grace of God. Thanks for your tips and ideas. This is a big help when I am struggling with what to share or how to approach the topic.

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    1. Barbara, I believe your blog would hit home with a lot of readers. Thanks for sharing your topic, and I am glad you liked the tips!

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  3. Welcome Katy! It was nice meeting you at Edie's table for one of the Blue Ridge meals. These are great tips and I look forward to reading your future posts as well as following you on Twitter. Blessings!

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    1. Thank you, Cathy! I hope you were as blessed by the conference as I was. I hope we can keep in touch, and thank you for the Twitter follow. God bless you!

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  4. Welcome, Katy! I am in preparation stages to becoming a Bible study/Christian living blogger and self-published writer, so I look forward to your future posts along these lines! Thank you for the tips. :)

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    1. Thank you, and it's nice to meet you, June! I wish you well in your blogging and publishing adventures. Please keep in touch, and I am glad you liked the tips today.

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  5. Thanks Katy! I write the same and this was great advice. I love reading about success stories. It gives me encouragement to keep writing and moving forward. Blessings!

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    1. Thank you for your comment, Erin, and I pray a blessing for your writing. Keep at it! It's nice to find other Bible study bloggers to share the writing journey with.

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  6. Thanks, Katy. You have been a blessing to me on my writing journey and I'm excited God has opened a door that others might benefit from your heart for Him and your servant's attitude toward helping others. Great insights.

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    1. Thank you, Carol! You are very gracious. Thank you for being a constant blessing and encouragement to me.

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  7. Great ideas Katy! You are a blessing for sure!

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  8. Katy, these are wonderful suggestions. Thank you. Big thanks also for being a blessing and encouragement to me in my writing adventure. I have loved getting to know you and sharing in this journey. I look forward to more of your posts on this blog.
    My blog reflects my passion for God's Word. I like to encourage others to know and love Jesus and the Bible, which is why I love to write Bible studies and hope to publish someday.
    Also, I have self published some children's books, having been inspired by the Lord and my grandchildren. God bless you, Katy!

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    1. Thank you, Connie, for what you said. I am very grateful to know you, and your passion for God's Word helps me to continue to write about it and to have a voice for God. I wish you many blessings for your blog, and may God continue to bless many people through you!

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  9. Katy, I'm so glad you're blogging! I always enjoy reading your posts. Thanks for the great tips on this blog too. My blog isn't about my Bible study per se, but I do like to blog about what God is teaching me. May you be blessed as you continue to minister through the written word.

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    1. Thank you so much, Lyneta! I am glad we are connected online, and may God continue to teach you as you share with others. I like your honest, encouraging voice on your blog. I am glad you liked this post. Keep blogging! :)

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