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Sometimes writing loses its charm and becomes a chore. We’ve all felt it, including Christian writer Jessica Glidden who messaged us recently and asked, “Why not dig in and re-discover the joy of writing, the reason you write in the first place?” And that is exactly what we did in this episode! 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.…

Last week on the podcast, the ladies discussed their goals for the new year. On this episode, they give you some ideas on how to reach your own goals. Harvard Business Review Article: https://hbr.org/2022/04/4-ways-to-mak... 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MGR7431 Our new Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/grou…

New year, new goals...or not? In this episode, the ladies will discuss what 2023 looks like for their writing careers. 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MGR7431 Our new Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/liste... Visit our website: https://christianindiewriters.net/ Learn more about the hosts... Jamie: htt…

Join Jamie and Tina as they explore together what storytelling tips are available to us in the book of Job. Tune in for a wonderful discussion about story structure and other tips for independent authors. 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MGR7431 Our new Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/liste... Visit ou…

This is our last episode before Christmas, and so we are going to be talking about the holiday! We’re going to examine the story from the perspective of writers and see if we can agree on where and how the elements of story are presented in it. Where does the tale begin? How does it end? What are the disasters? What are the pinch points of this oft…

Christina Cattane fills us in on what we missed at 20Books Vegas. We also reach out to our writer community to glean even more advice for independent authors. Tune in for curated tips and advice for writers of all genres. 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MGR7431 Our new Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/…

With National Novel Writing Month in the rearview mirror, we can all take a collective deep breath and relax...or can we? In this episode, the co-hosts discuss their own experiences with NaNoWriMo 2022 as well as share the triumph (and not-so-glorious moments) of our listeners. 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MGR7431…

Come join the ladies as they celebrate the 200th episode of the podcast. In this episode they’ll take a look back at the past 4 years and reveal what they’d tell their Episode #1 selves if they could go back in time. There will be some fun giveaways, some trivia, video clips, and the girls will each read a sprint from the past. You won’t want to mi…

A plot point is a scene, a chapter, or even just an event that directly affects what happens next in your story. But if you have a story and know where it is going, are plot points really that important? Can’t you just write a good story and be done with it? In this episode of the Christian Indie Writers’ Podcast, the hosts dive into this topic, sh…

With National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) quickly approaching, our thoughts and planning have migrated toward preparing for it. If you are prepping for NaNo like us, then you’ll want to tune in for this episode. The ladies will be discussing characters and character sketches, as well as sharing ideas on how to craft compelling characters. 30 Da…

If someone asks you "What do you write?" what do you say? If you write historical Christian romance, you would say just that...historical Christian romance. But what if you're not so sure what genre your book fits into. If this is you, you're not alone. In this episode, the ladies discuss genre, why and if genre is important, and how you can discov…

On this episode of the CIAS Podcast Ross King and I talk about the 4th ingredient in his formula for music industry success- raw talent. Ross says that we are not able to do anything about the amount of raw talent we are given, however we can lean on the other ingredients (work ethic, suck meter, and how are you in a room) to cultivate the raw tale…

We’ve discussed ad nauseum the fact that good editing is important, and we know you wouldn’t dare publish a piece without having it edited. But if this is your first book, you might be wondering, “how do I find an editor?” In this episode, the ladies will answer that very question! 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MGR…

What is the difference between a line editor and a copy editor? What about a proofreader? Content editor? Developmental? How does an author know where to begin? Join the ladies as they discuss a simplified list of necessary editing steps, as well as share where they are on their writing journey and take questions and comments from the live chat. 30…

Last week’s Cover Clinic was so much fun, we thought why not continue the good times with a Blurb Clinic! Join the ladies as they discuss what makes a good blurb, what makes a bad blurb, and what you need to make yours better! They’ll also look at their own blurbs as well as those of some volunteer listeners, so you’re going to want to tune in for …

On this episode of the CIAS podcast Ross King and I talk about the work ethic it takes to go pro. You might be thinking we talk about things like working 100 hour weeks and do whatever you need to to make it happen, but we don’t! We wanted to give you a practical look at how we manage and schedule our time as a professional in the music industry. S…

Is your cover in need of an overhaul? Does it still match your genre? Is your current cover thwarting book sales? Can it be resuscitated, or is it DOA? Bring it into the cover clinic and find out! 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MGR7431 Our new Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/liste... Visit our websit…

What is the common advice given in regards to writing groups? Find a writing group with other writers from your genre, right? But as our friend Becca Syme is always saying, QTP! Question the premise! In this episode, the ladies discuss the pros and cons of being in a genre-specific writing group as well as take questions and comments from the live …

On this episode of the CIAS podcast, Ross King and I dive deep into the importance of how you are in a room. In a music career we will be in MANY different kinds of rooms, so having an understanding of how to be at our best in each situation is critical. We discuss many practical tips on what to do (and what not to do) Whether you are just getting …

In this final installment on writing groups, Jen and Tina be offering constructive criticism on a piece submitted by our very own J.R. Nichols, or as you all know her, Jamie. Unlike our usual “positive only” feedback, we’ll be delving into how to give feedback that will make your piece better. 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.c…

While most writers would not argue the importance of Self-Editing, we still find ourselves asking… exactly what is self-editing and how do I do it? Just like everything else, our hosts have differing opinions and processes, but agree that Jenifer has the most approachable, systematic method. So if you have no clue where to begin, this episode is fo…

On the latest episode of the CIAS Podcast I sat down with my good friend and 30 year music industry vet Ross King to discuss developing our personal quality control measure, a.k.a. our "Suck Meter" Knowing what is good, for the target you are aiming for, is critical for success in music. We develop our "suck meter" over time, but there are a few el…

How hard is it to become a successful writer? Have you always dreamed of becoming a successful author but worried you could never reach that lofty goal? What does it even mean to be successful? In this episode, Jen and Tina discuss the idea of “Success” and how it shapes our opinions and actions as writers. Plus they take a look at what the Bible h…

In this episode, we are continuing our discussion on writing groups. Specifically, we’re covering how to give and receive critiques. We’ll be offering constructive criticism on a piece submitted by Jenifer Carll-Tong. Unlike our usual “positive only” feedback, we’ll be delving into how to give feedback that will make your piece better. 30 Days of W…

On this episode, the ladies continue their Writing Group series with a live example of how they critique. We’re putting a piece of Tina’s writing on “the chopping block.” Tune in to watch Jamie and Jen critique Tina’s piece. 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MGR7431 Our new Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/grou…

On this episode, Jen and Jamie perform sans Christina Cattane, who somehow thinks her son's WEDDING is more important than our podcast! Can you imagine?! * ANYWAAYYY.... For our "Questions from a Hat" episode, we chose questions submitted in our Facebook group, plus some we devised on our own, and put them into each of our hats to be pulled and ask…

On this episode I had a great conversation with my friend Kevin Winebarger of Courage Studios. Kevin is a marketer, artist, songwriter, producer and an all around guru in social media and making big impact in the music industry. Kevin has been working in the industry for nearly a decade and has been serving many artists along the way. Kevin took a …

Having Becca Syme on our podcast as our very first guest ever was an amazing honor. Now, she’s coming back, ready to present for us the idea that we as writers may be what is known as, “Intuitive.” She joins us live to discuss her book, “Dear Writer, Are You Intuitive?” and to answer questions in our Live Q&A chat. Becca's book, Dear Writer, Are Yo…

In this episode, we are continuing our discussion on how to start a writing group. The key to good writing groups is clear rules…or is it? We’ll discuss rule setting and expectations as well as how to avoid the pitfalls of being a toxic writing group. 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MGR7431 Our new Facebook Group! ht…

“I just can’t find a good writing group.” If we’ve heard it once, we’ve heard it a bazillion times. Although many of our listeners desperately want to be part of one, good writing groups are difficult to find. So why not start one yourself? In this first part of our new series, learn how to start a writing group, why establishing a culture for the …

How do writers deal with bad reviews? Like it or not, you are going to have to deal with bad reviews as an author. Negative criticism comes with the territory, as each of our hosts can attest to. Join us Friday at 10am ET for this episode as we share our own experiences and give you some tips on how to handle negative reviews and criticism. And the…

You’ve published your book to Amazon, but have you set up your Author Page on Amazon Author Central? If you said no, you’re not alone. Many new authors have no idea that Amazon provides a FREE platform for you to not only publish your bio and image, but so much more! In this episode, the ladies discuss Amazon Author Pages and give a tutorial on how…

Join us as we celebrate the release of “Alone In the Land of the Midnight Sun,” by Christina Cattane. That’s right, book two of the Angelica Series is available now on Amazon! On today’s episode, we’ll cover book launch parties, book marketing strategies, newsletter promos and more, so be sure to tune in! Alone in the Land of the Midnight Sun: http…

Plugins are one of the most talked about aspects of recording music. There are so many to choose from and SO many companies who make them. Which ones do you need to make pro music? The questions and possibilities are truly endless. I wanted to walk through the top plugins I use on a daily basis. These are helpful tools and are also versatile and ca…

How much does it cost to publish a book? The answer…it depends. In this 2nd part of our 2 part series, the ladies discuss the cheapest way to publish a book, whether you want to publish on Kindle Direct Publishing exclusively or to publish wide with all retailers. There are so many options that will be discussed, as well as great input from our Liv…

Have you ever got a troll comment? There are so many positive parts about the internet. It helps us stay connected, share our lives and even create new relationships. But of course there are many negative sides to it as well. Whether virtually or in "real life" there are going to be people out there who may try to discourage us from chasing after o…

How much does it cost to publish a book? The answer…it depends. On this episode of the Christian Indie Writers’ Podcast, the ladies discuss the cheapest way to publish a book, whether you want to publish on Kindle Direct Publishing exclusively or to publish wide with all retailers. There were many options that were discussed, as well as great input…

There is so much noise and everyone seems to be trying to capture our attention these days. Social media is an incredible tool, but it can be difficult to figure out how to reach people with our music. Between endless scrolling and short attention spans, what is the secret sauce to finding people who are actually interested in being a part of your …

What is vanity publishing? Well, the definition has changed over the last decade or so. Nowadays, there are so-called vanity presses that prey on indie authors, especially Christian indie writers. So, is vanity publishing bad? What’s the difference between vanity publishing vs self-publishing? Are there vanity publishers to avoid? All these questio…

What if all of your imperfections, insecurities, pain, trials and weaknesses are where your BEST songs come from? On this episode of the CIAS Podcast I discuss why I believe our weaknesses actually make us stronger and our music better, and share a little of my testimony too (which is something I have never shared on the podcast before) Would love …

What is the difference between self-publishing and traditional publishing? Is it better to self-publish or is it better to get a publisher? On this episode, we discuss the pros and cons of self-publishing and share our own experiences and reasons for our choice to self-publish. 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MGR7431…

On the latest episode of the CIAS Podcast I had the privilege of interviewing Nashville based artist, singer, and songwriter Grace Graber. I felt called to reach out to Grace after hearing about her mission to bring attention to mental health issues in the Church and the Christian music industry. After experiencing both physical and verbal bullying…

Once upon a time an indie writer wanted to write a book but didn’t know how to begin. Want to find out what writing advice we would give? How would you tell them how to self publish a novel? Join us in the live chat Friday morning at 10am EST to share your experience! Episode 10: Inspiration https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwW77... Episode 93: Art …

Have you written an incredible song but every time you share it with people you don't get the response you were hoping for? I think this might be why… The best way to give your song a chance to make impact starts with a great demo. True, a great song is a great song no matter the quality of the demo, BUT a better sounding recording is always going …

Everyone needs a little advice sometimes, including your faithful hosts of the Christian Indie Writers Podcast. (Take note...It's April Fool's on the show today!) Tune in Friday morning at 10 am EST and help the ladies answer some heavy questions in the live chat. 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MGR7431 Visit our web…

Have you ever felt like you are stuck on your music journey? Like you can't get the ball rolling because it feels too heavy? Well, I think I've got something to help you with that… On this video I discuss 5 ways to keep going on your music journey. Get our music production course "Logic Pro X for Artists and Songwriters" here: https://www.bryanboli…

Our conversation in this episode is the last in our series about book marketing, and it’s about ways to use your newsletter including swaps and other multi-author strategies. Join us every week in the live chat at 10 am EST and share your tips and experiences. 30 Days of Writing Sprint Prompts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MGR7431 Visit our website…

In the music industry there are not many sure things. It can take a long time to achieve anything great and there are so many unknowns. Every story of success you hear will be unique to the person telling it. But what if there are some general steps you could take to set you up for success in music? I wanted to share 6 steps I took on my music jour…

Maybe you've heard of Paid Email Marketing Websites, or promo sites or reader deal sites, but just don't know exactly what they are or where to begin. Whether you are marketing books for children, publishing your own book of short stories, or are you just starting to look at book promo strategies for your indie published book, you'll want to tune i…

One of the most important pieces on our music journey is the relationships we have. Without relationships, success may not only be tough, but it's basically impossible. We need people to serve, and we need others to serve us to make impact. But how do we meet people? How do we build lasting relationships? Networking is a great way to build relation…