How Christian Authors Can Expand Their Reach: 5 Opportunities to Market Your Book and Build Your Platform

From Edie: Susan U. Neal helps writers discover five opportunities for Christian authors to market their books, build their platforms, expand their reach, and connect with more readers.

How Christian Authors Can Expand Their Reach: 5 Opportunities to Market Your Book and Build Your Platform

by Susan U. Neal @SusanNealYoga

Someone needs the encouragement, instruction, or biblical truth God gave you to share. When you intentionally market your book, you help that message travel beyond your immediate circle and into the lives of people you may never meet. So ask God to direct your steps, choose the opportunities below that fit your calling, and then move forward in faith.

The benefits of author associations include access to opportunities that can increase your visibility, build your platform, and expand the reach of your book. Look at some of the excellent opportunities below as you prayerfully consider where God may be leading you next.

How Christian Writers Can Finish the Year Strong: 5 Ways for Writers to Refocus and Move Forward

From Edie: Dr. Kennita Williams shares five ways Christian writers can refocus, release distractions, overcome perfectionism, and faithfully finish the year strong.

How Christian Writers Can Finish the Year Strong: 5 Ways for Writers to Refocus and Move Forward

by Dr. Kennita (Kay) Williams

September always feels like an interesting month to me.

We are far enough into the year to know which New Year’s resolutions did not make it past February, but there’s still enough year left to do something meaningful.

The calendar begins filling again. Fall schedules start moving. Conferences, ministry commitments, family responsibilities, writing deadlines, speaking engagements, and end-of-year goals all start competing for our attention.

When Writing Stops Being Fun: How to Rediscover the Joy of Writing

From Edie: Dr. Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes helps writers the joy of writing when deadlines, publishing, and pressure steal the fun. Learn how to reconnect with creativity and enjoy writing again.

When Writing Stops Being Fun: How to Rediscover the Joy of Writing

by Dr. Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes @KHutch0767

Not long ago, I sat down at my piano for the first time in what felt like forever. There was no special occasion on the calendar, no audience waiting, and no piece of music I had promised to perform. I wasn’t preparing for anything at all. I just sat down, opened some music, placed my hands on the keys, and started playing. I was rusty, and there were moments when my fingers seemed to have forgotten things I was certain they once knew. But after a while, I realized I was enjoying myself in a way I hadn’t experienced at the piano in years.

11 Things Writers Should Stop Doing in 2026

From Edie: Discover 11 things writers should stop doing in 2026, from chasing trends and comparing careers to letting fear, numbers, and distractions take control.

11 Things Writers Should Stop Doing in 2026

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

I spend a lot of time telling writers what they need to do—from learning the craft to building relationships. I remind writers it’s important to develop an online presence, attend conferences, and write consistently. And that’s just what I suggest. If we do a search for things writers should do the list gets much longer.

While I agree that all of those things are important, I think we can get overwhelmed and end up spinning our wheels. So lately I’ve taken a slightly different approach and asked myself what are some things I shouldn’t do in my writing life. 

Now all these things are subjective. Some will make sense for you and some won’t. My point is to give you a jumping off point and permission (if you need it) to NOT try to do everything!

How to Write a Great Hook: 4 Ways to Grab Readers from the Very Beginning

From Edie: Martin Wiles shares how to write a great hook with four practical strategies that grab readers from the beginning and keep them turning pages.

How to Write a Great Hook: 4 Ways to Grab Readers from the Very Beginning

by Martin Wiles @LinesFromGod

She wasn’t a writer or an editor, but her hooks hooked. 

My maternal grandmother loved to fish. Yes, she did all the typical things most women of her generation did—cooked, cleaned, had and cared for children, washed clothes—but she fished in her spare time and sold those fish to neighbors. 

Grandmammy was not a fancy fisher. She sported a wooden (later aluminum) boat, a small motor, and cane poles (a large one for catfish and a small one for bream).

Why Writing Feels So Stressful: When Writing Competes with the Rest of Your Life

From Edie: Beth Vogt shares why writing can feel so stressful when it competes with work, family, health, and other priorities—and how writers can navigate those choices.

Why Writing Feels So Stressful: When Writing Competes with the Rest of Your Life

by Beth K. Vogt @BethVogt

Does writing ever stress you out?

I typed that question, sat back, and tried to imagine people’s various responses. 

Does writing ever stress me out? 

Are you kidding, Beth? Do you know how difficult it is to find time to write when I work a fulltime job?

I just finished a brutal editing deadline and I'm still stressed out!

You can’t begin to imagine the daily struggles I face with a chronic illness. My dreams of publication seem further and further away. Some days I just want to give up. 

Every writer I know, no matter how much they love writing, gets stressed out by writing.

The mental anxiety is unavoidable. 

Why?

The easy answer: Life.

Here’s another answer: Competing values. 

Does that term sound familiar? Competing values is a fiction technique used to develop tension in novels. Example: We determine our heroine values both her small-town roots and the love of a man who travels the world. Then we force her to choose between the two. Doing so causes tension because no one likes to choose between two things that are equally important to them. 

We have personal values in real life too—what we judge is important in our life. Values can include:

• Courage
• Kindness
• Honor
• Perseverance
• Success
• Wealth
• Health

Let’s circle back to writing being stressful, shall we?

As creatives who express our giftedness through words, it’s obvious we value writing. Just go ahead and put “writing” on a mental list of personal values. Here’s another question for you:

What else would you add to your list of personal values? What else is important to you? Family? Your “real” job? Church? Volunteering? Caregiving? Exercise?

When we’re forced to choose between writing and (fill in the blank with one of those other things you judge is important in your life), that’s when stress ramps up. The reason we have to choose? We only have so much time in our day, money in the bank, mental and physical energy to expend.

Do I have an answer to resolve this tension?

No.

This is more of a reality check kind of blog post. 

We all value more than one thing. We are creatives who reflect God to the world through our words. We also value other things (and people) and use the gifts God has given us in those facets of our life too. 

Sometimes we juggle writing and everything else. 

That’s stressful.

Sometimes we temporarily pause some things—like meeting friends for coffee or exercising like we need too—while we write. Or we pause writing while we do the other stuff—like facing a health crisis or adjusting to being a newlywed.

Also stressful.

We will always face choices between competing values, day in and day out. Let’s also remember to ask God to guide us as we make our choices and to weave His lavish grace through it all.

TWEETABLE

Why Writing Feels So Stressful: When Writing Competes with the Rest of Your Life from @BethVogt on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Beth K. Vogt believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” She’s authored 15 novels and novellas, both contemporary romance and women’s fiction. Beth is a Christy Award winner, an ACFW Carol Award winner, and a  RITA® finalist. Her newest contemporary romance novel, Dedicated to the One I Love, released June 20, 2023. Her novel Things I Never Told You, book one in her Thatcher Sisters Series by Tyndale House Publishers, won the 2019 AWSA Golden Scroll Award for Contemporary Novel of the Year. An established magazine writer and former editor of the leadership magazine for MOPS International, Beth blogs for Learn How to Write a Novel and The Write Conversation and also enjoys speaking to writers group and mentoring other writers. She lives in Colorado with her husband Rob, who has adjusted to discussing the lives of imaginary people. Connect with Beth at BETHVOGT.COM.

When Your Writing Isn’t Working: How Embracing Change Can Open New Writing Opportunities

From Edie: Lilka Raphael shares how embracing change can refresh your writing, open new opportunities, and help you grow your skills, reach, and writing career.

When Your Writing Isn’t Working: How Embracing Change Can Open New Writing Opportunities

by Lilka Raphael @Lilka_Raphael

“Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change.” — Jim Rohn

Autumn is my favorite time of year. Not only because the air is cooler, but because the transition is distinct. Yet, unlike seasonal color, recognizing the need to alter our writing routines isn’t always as easy to identify. If your writing has become stagnant or unproductive, perhaps it’s time to do something different. Like trees embracing a new season, there are times we need to shed things that no longer serve us.

After a Writing Conference: 11 Things Every Writer Should Do Next

From Edie: Julie Lavender shares what to do after a writing conference with 10 practical follow-up steps to build connections, submit your work, and keep your writing moving forward.

After a Writing Conference: 11 Things Every Writer Should Do Next

by Julie Lavender @JLavenderWrites

A Writer’s Post-Conference Pondering

If you attended the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, you’re now three months post-conference. Or maybe you attended another stellar conference offering in the Christian community in spring or early summer. 

If you’re like me, when I’m there at a conference, my plans for my post-conference time seem literary-grand. “I’m going to do this when I get back home … and this .. and that. I’ll turn in this manuscript and write that devotion and read that how-to book. 

How Christian Writers Can Trust God with Their Writing Journey

From Edie: Author Heidi Gray McGill teaches us how Christian writers can trust God with their writing journey, surrender the results, overcome comparison, and faithfully follow His calling.

How Christian Writers Can Trust God with Their Writing Journey

by Heidi Gray McGill @HeidiGrayMcGill

What you bring to the room matters less than who sent you there.

How to Start Writing Again After Rejection, Failure, or Disappointment

From Edie: Learn how to start writing again after rejection, failure, or disappointment with practical steps to rebuild confidence, find courage, and move forward.

How to Start Writing Again After Rejection, Failure, or Disappointment

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Writing takes courage.

We don't always talk about that part of this business. We talk about learning the craft, finding an agent, building a platform, marketing our books, and meeting deadlines.

How to Back Up Your Manuscript: The 3-2-1 Backup Strategy Every Writer Should Use

From Edie: Ginny Cruz teach writers the 3-2-1 backup strategy every writer should use to protect manuscripts from corrupted files, computer crashes, theft, and other disasters.

How to Back Up Your Manuscript: The 3-2-1 Backup Strategy Every Writer Should Use

by Ginny Cruz

Many years ago, I plopped down at my computer to work on my book manuscript. I clicked on the thumb drive file to begin, and it would not open. The pop-up message informed me the file was corrupted. Sadly, that was my only copy of my book’s manuscript. Gone.

Jesus, the Word of God: Boundaries as Blessings

From Edie: Audrey Frank shares how God can use boundaries, rejection, delays, and interruptions in your writing life for your good—and how trusting His counsel can change your perspective.

Jesus, the Word of God: Boundaries as Blessings

by Audrey Frank @AudreyCFrank

Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me (Psalm 16:5-7).

A boundary is a way of saying “no.”

I used to watch our youngest son fly down the driveway on his scooter, so enamored with the thrill of speed that he forgot again and again to stop before dashing into the street. I tried putting cones up, and he crashed through them. I tied a rope from a tree to the mailbox. He bent the tree. I finally put myself there, squaring up my feet and blowing a whistle when he got close. It took only three blasts to startle him into trained attention.

When Your Writing Career Feels Stuck: What to Do When Other Writers Are Moving Ahead

From Edie: Feeling stuck in your writing career? Discover how to stop comparing your journey to other writers and find purpose and progress in the waiting.

When Your Writing Career Feels Stuck: What to Do When Other Writers Are Moving Ahead

By Edie Melson @EdieMelson

I don’t think there are many (actually any) people who read this blog who think publishing is easy. But within that difficulty, there’s a particular kind of hard that comes with watching someone else get the thing you’ve been praying for.

Especially when that someone is a friend.

We really are happy for them. We celebrate when they sign with an agent. We cheer when they announce their first book contract. We whole heartedly share their cover reveal and buy their book.

And we mean every bit of it.

Why Publishers Reject Books: 5 Reasons That Have Nothing to Do with Your Writing

From Edie: A.C. Williams shares five reasons publishers reject books that have nothing to do with writing quality, from marketability and audience to production costs and timelines.

Why Publishers Reject Books: 5 Reasons That Have Nothing to Do with Your Writing

by A.C. Williams @ACW_Author

Are you ever frustrated with publishers?

It’s okay. You can be honest. How can publishers keep putting out the same kinds of books over and over? Don’t they understand how many fresh, new authors are producing compelling, original stories? It’s easy to take rejection personally, and the more you pitch to different publishers, the more it feels like none of them are grasping your vision, your capacity, or your potential. 

How Christian Writers Can Find Joy When Writing Feels Like Work: The Fruit of the Spirit in Publishing

From Edie: Lynn Blackburn shares how Christian writers can hold on to joy when deadlines, expectations, and exhaustion make the writing life feel more like work than a calling.

How Christian Writers Can Find Joy When Writing Feels Like Work: The Fruit of the Spirit in Publishing

by Lynn H. Blackburn @LynnHBlackburn

Fruit Under Pressure: Deadlines, reviews, comparison, the silence after you hit send. We’re on month two of a nine-month exploration into what it looks like to live out the fruit of the Spirit as we navigate the pressure system of publishing.

This month, we’re talking about Joy.

How to Share a Message in Fiction Without Sounding Preachy

From Edie: Sarah Sally Hamer shares how to share meaningful themes in fiction without sounding preachy—and trust your story and your readers to discover the message naturally.

How to Share a Message in Fiction Without Sounding Preachy

by Sarah Sally Hamer @SarahSallyHamer

A conversation I had with a writer a while back has stayed with me, partly because we both have experienced a particular type of situation.

She was talking about a manuscript she'd been working on and mentioned that several of her critique partners had used the same word when describing parts of the story. They all felt certain scenes were becoming preachy. She wasn't upset because they were criticizing her work. She was upset because that had never been her intention.

Self-Editing for Writers: How to Know If Your Book Really Works

From Edie: PeggySue Wells shows writers how to self-edit your manuscript for structure, flow, clarity, character development, and reader impact before polishing the words.

Self-Editing for Writers: How to Know If Your Book Really Works

by PeggySue Wells @PeggySueWells

“Great writing. Great story. But what’s it about?”

That priceless feedback came from a skilled fellow author who kindly read my completed novel.

I spent so much time inside the manuscript that I understood connections the reader would not. There was what I meant, and there was what I wrote. Self-editing is the process of making sure what you meant and what you wrote are the same.

How to Use AI to Stay Safe Online (Part 2): Fact-Check Images, Posts, and Online Claims

From Edie: Learn how to use AI to fact-check images, social media posts, and online claims while protecting your personal information and verifying trusted sources.

How to Use AI to Stay Safe Online (Part 2): Fact-Check Images, Posts, and Online Claims

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Last time, we looked at using AI as a safety tool to help identify possible online scams.

But suspicious messages are only part of the problem.

Today we also need to deal with fake photographs, misleading social media posts, impersonation accounts, recycled stories, manipulated information, and posts that contain just enough truth to make the lie believable.

And I'll confess something. Sometimes I want the message to be true. Often the words confirm something I already believe. Maybe what I’ve written is a great story. Whatever emotion the message triggers, that reaction makes me more vulnerable.

How to Use AI to Stay Safe Online (Part 1): Detect Scams Before You Click

From Edie: Learn how to use AI to spot online scams, identify common red flags, analyze suspicious messages, and verify information before you click or respond.

How to Use AI to Stay Safe Online (Part 1): Detect Scams Before You Click

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

I’ve been online for a long time.

I remember when social media felt a lot like walking into a room filled with people we knew—or at least people who knew people we knew. Yes, there were problems, but most of us didn’t approach every friend request, email, direct message, or interesting post wondering whether someone was trying to steal our identity.

Those days are gone.

Scams have become more sophisticated, and artificial intelligence has made some of them even harder to recognize. Messages are better written. Images are more convincing. Fake accounts look more legitimate. And scammers have gotten very good at pushing the emotional buttons that make us react before we stop and think.

But there’s another side to AI.

Social Media Burnout for Writers: 8 Ways to Stay Visible Without Getting Exhausted.

From Edie: Feeling exhausted by social media? Discover 8 practical ways writers can avoid burnout, stay visible online, connect with readers, and protect their creativity.

Social Media Burnout for Writers: 8 Ways to Stay Visible Without Getting Exhausted

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

I know, I’m supposed to be the cheerleader of all things social media. But let’s get real here. Some days—some weeks—it just makes me tired.

And social media feels more exhausting now than it used to.

There are new platforms, new features, new algorithms, and new experts telling us what we absolutely MUST be doing if we want anyone to discover our books. We’re supposed to post consistently, make videos, engage with our followers, grow our email lists, learn the latest trends, understand what the algorithms want, and somehow still find time to actually write.