The Writing at the Red House Podcast

Kathi Lipp
  • 5.0 (70)
  • Books
  • Biweekly

Welcome to The Writing at the Red House Podcast where we gather at the table to break bread and tell tales with some of our favorite writers and speakers. Our heart is to equip and encourage men and women to be the communicators God has created them to be.

  1. 10h ago

    Coffee Mug, Notebook, Cell Phone: How to Choose Branding Shoot Props That Actually Tell Your Story, with Tenneil Register

    If the phrase branding photo shoot makes you want to hide under a throw blanket, you are not alone. Many writers know they need fresh, authentic photos for their website, book promotions, and social media, but the whole idea feels intimidating, expensive, and frankly a little awkward. In part two of this series on DIY branding shoots, Kathi Lipp returns to the table with Tenneil Register to make the process feel doable and even fun. This episode is all about preparation: what to wear, what to bring, how to plan the day, and how to get into the right mindset so you show up as the most relaxed, confident version of yourself. Kathi admits she still struggles with the intimidation factor, and her honesty makes this a practical, encouraging conversation for any writer who has been putting off photos. What You'll Discover in This Episode The wardrobe hack that saves your sanity: Kathi's simple base-layer trick lets you change looks quickly without running to a bathroom every few minutes.How to choose outfits that fit your brand: Why an "elevated version of you" beats stiff and formal, and how to work with your brand colors even if they don't match your closet.Props that tell your story: From notebooks and coffee mugs to a Bible, seasonal touches, flowers, an apron, or even a Wonder Woman t-shirt, learn how to choose intentional items that reflect what you actually do every day.Why your phone is more than a camera: How to use it as a mirror, a tripod tool, and a real-life prop in your shots.Timing tips you'll be glad you heard: When to schedule your shoot around haircuts and nails, and why you should never iron clothes or scout locations the morning of.The "hype crew" principle: Why bringing an honest yet encouraging friend matters, and why a critical voice can sink your photos.A freeing mindset shift: The photos you see online are often one out of fifty. You get to delete what you don't love, which frees you to try new things.Simple practice before the big day: Studying posing guides, practicing three poses, and picking your playlist so you can walk in feeling like yourself.Why This Matters for Writers Your readers want to connect with a real person. Kathi and Tenneil remind listeners that a branding shoot is not about looking perfect or looking your skinniest. It is about looking confident and relatable to the people you are called to serve. Kathi also encourages writers to try a DIY shoot even if they plan to hire a photographer someday. The more comfortable you get in front of the camera, the less you have to wait years between fresh photos. Key Takeaways Plan a month ahead, not a week ahead, so everything lines up.Choose outfits and props that reflect your reader's season of life and your own daily rhythms.Treat shoot day like a spa morning: move slowly, eat lightly, and care for yourself.Surround yourself with people who speak life into you.Remember that every photo is disposable until you decide to use it.Whether you're building your author platform from scratch or simply tired of using the same headshot from 2015, this episode will help you get ready to show up and share your story with confidence. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss part three, where Kathi and Tenneil walk through the actual day of the shoot.

  2. Oct 26

    Your Face Is Part of Your Platform: How to Plan a Branding Shoot Without the Overwhelm, with Tenneil Register

    Every writer has that one headshot. You know the one — taken three years ago, maybe four, in front of a bookshelf that isn't even yours anymore. And it gets dragged out for everything: the website, the newsletter, the podcast guest appearance, the book launch graphic, the conference program. It's tired. And honestly? So are you. In this episode of Writing at the Red House, Kathi Lipp kicks off a four-part series on planning and executing your own branding photo shoot. Joined by returning guest Tenneil Register, Kathi digs into why one photo will never be enough, and why the photos you need aren't about vanity — they're about hospitality. Why This Matters for Writers Who'd Rather Not Be Seen Here's the hard truth Kathi names right out of the gate: social media is just about everything right now, and there's no way around needing good pictures. Even if you don't feel like it. Even if you'd rather hide behind your words. Readers want to see the face behind the writing before they'll trust the words on the page. And there's a bonus that most writers don't expect — a branding shoot doesn't just get your face out there, it helps you get comfortable with your face being out there. As Tenneil puts it, that's half the battle right there. What Listeners Will Walk Away With Why a single headshot can't carry website banners, social posts, newsletter headers, media kits, and book launch graphics How many photos you actually need to build a working library (hint: it's more than you think, and less than you fear) The one brainstorming question that unlocks the right location for your shoot Why your messy, chaotic, full-of-people home might not be the problem — and what to do instead How to turn travel, conferences, and even a trip to Disney World into a photo bank opportunity The deal breakers that turn a gorgeous location into a terrible one Why your photos need to match the reader you're serving Photos as Hospitality The reframe at the heart of this conversation is a beautiful one. Tenneil describes multiple poses in multiple settings as "a gift of hospitality for our readers to say come in." For writers in the Christian space especially, readers need to feel at home with you before they'll lean into your words. Your photos are the front porch. Kathi and Tenneil also walk through the practical side — testing a location for comfort, understanding how lighting actually works, planning for weather backups, and building in a little B-roll video while you're at it. Because the goal isn't a perfect photo. The goal is a library of images that lets you say, "I'm not just my headshot. I'm also an auntie. I'm also a floral designer. I'm also a writer." Start Here If the idea of a branding photo shoot has been sitting on your someday list, this is the episode that moves it to the this-year list. Grab a notebook, brainstorm ten locations, narrow it to five or six, and listen in. Part two is coming next. Please note that the Photo Shoot Branding Guide will be posted on the Writing at the Red House facebook group on Tuesday.

  3. Oct 13

    Stop Pitching Ideas Nobody Is Searching For: The Discoverability Fix for 2026, with Barb Roose

    Conference season is here, and plenty of writers are walking into pitch appointments with a playbook that expired three years ago. In this episode of Writing at the Red House, Kathi Lipp sits down with literary agent and author Barb Roose to talk about what has actually changed about pitching a book in 2026 — and what hasn't changed at all. Kathi admits right up front that she hasn't pitched a book since 2023 and has a new one coming, so this conversation is part podcast, part free coaching session that listeners get to eavesdrop on. Barb names two big shifts every writer needs to understand: the influence of AI on the creative process, and the way readers now discover books. The AI Conversation Writers Aren't Having Neither Kathi nor Barb is anti-AI — both use it regularly in their businesses. But Barb flips the question most writers are asking. Instead of "What can AI do for me?" she challenges writers to ask, "How do I make sure AI doesn't undermine my book?" When an agent suspects a query was AI-generated, it raises a quiet question about whether the writer has the chops to carry a 55,000-word manuscript — and in the faith-based market especially, trust still matters. Why "Discoverability" Is the Word of the Year Most readers aren't browsing bookstore shelves anymore. With millions of books available and the vast majority of sales happening online, people now find books by searching for the specific problem they're trying to solve — not the broad category. Barb walks listeners through exactly how to research their own category on Amazon, what to look for in the top ten bestselling descriptions, and how to spot the repeated keywords that reveal what readers are truly hungry for. The Rule of Three Barb shares a simple, free piece of market research anyone can do this week: find three authors a few steps ahead of you in your lane, go to their social media, and read the comments. Not the posts — the comments. That's where writers find objective insight into what readers are connecting with and why they're buying. In This Episode, Listeners Will Learn: What's actually different about pitching a book in 2026 versus three years ago How to use AI in your writing business without handing over your voice (or your agency) Why a "niche felt need" beats a clever title every single time A step-by-step way to research your category on Amazon before you pitch The "rule of three" method for learning from authors ahead of you — without copying them The number one reason most pitches don't stand out to a literary agent A real-life example of how narrowing a book idea got it sold quickly The biggest encouragement of the episode? You don't have to be afraid that someone else has already written "your" book. As Barb reminds listeners, your story, your experience, and your language will always bring something no one else can. But you do have to do the research. If a pitch appointment, a proposal, or a half-finished idea is sitting on your desk right now, this is the conversation to listen to before you send it anywhere.

  4. Sep 28

    Crickets in Your Facebook Group? It's Not Your Content—It's Your Onboarding, with Tonya Kubo

    Your Group Isn't Quiet Because Nobody Cares Every writer who has ever started a Facebook group knows the feeling. You invite people in. You post something thoughtful — something you actually worked on. And then… nothing. Crickets. And the very first thought that shows up is, Nobody cares. I'm bad at this. I should shut the whole thing down and go eat some cheese. In this episode of Writing at the Red House, Kathi Lipp sits down with community expert Tonya Kubo to talk about why that silence usually isn't what writers think it is. Tonya's take: low engagement is rarely a content problem. It's almost always an onboarding problem. Why This Matters for Writers Most writers are told they need a platform, an audience, a group of "their people." What nobody explains is what to actually do once those people arrive. So writers keep producing more content, working harder, posting more often — and wondering why the room stays quiet. Kathi and Tonya unpack the simple, practical shifts that turn a silent group into a living community — without adding hours to an already full week. What Listeners Will Take Away Why people lurk instead of comment — and what that silence is actually saying The low-hanging fruit most group owners never handle (hint: it starts with notifications) How to make a group feel safe enough that members will ask the question they think is "dumb" A simple welcome email sequence that doesn't require a tech degree to set up Why a fuzzy group description invites exactly the members you don't want — illustrated by a 300,000-member cautionary tale How to turn a private DM into content that serves the whole group (and makes the asker feel like a VIP) The weekly rhythm that keeps members coming back without burning out the leader The one onboarding goal that changes everything six months down the road The Heart of It As Tonya puts it, the goal of a good onboarding process is to make it "easier for them to participate than it is to not participate." And Kathi sums up the why behind all of it: when people know what to expect, they feel safety and they feel freedom. For writers building an audience while juggling kids, jobs, caregiving, and a manuscript that keeps calling — this episode is a reminder that community doesn't have to be one more thing to carry. Done right, it carries you back. Listen now and find out what's really happening in that quiet little group of yours.

  5. Sep 14

    Memoir Plus: The Difference Between Your Journal and a Book People Will Actually Buy

    There's a sentence that has stopped more writers in their tracks than almost any other: "Memoir doesn't sell." If you've ever sat across from an agent or editor at a conference with a finished, polished manuscript in your lap, you may have heard it — and then watched the conversation end before it started. In this episode of Writing at the Red House, Kathi Lipp sits down with her neighbor (and New York Times bestselling author) Susy Flory, who got so frustrated with that myth that she did something about it: she founded Shake Ridge Press, a memoir-only publishing house. Together they dig into why memoir keeps getting rejected, what publishers are actually trying to say when they say no, and how a writer can take a personal story and turn it into a book a stranger will stay up all night reading. What Listeners Will Take Away Why "memoir doesn't sell" isn't the whole truth — and what's really happening behind that brick-wall response at writers conferences. The "memoir plus" framework — the single concept that separates a personal journal from a publishable book, and why every story can be developed into it. How to stop speaking a different language than publishers — how to lead with the bigger elements of your story so an editor leans in instead of shutting down. How to find your right reader — a simple, low-tech way to test what actually connects, using the faces of the people right in front of you. What a memoir-only publisher is actually looking for — and what a writer should have ready before she reaches out. Your Story Is Not Just Your Story One of the most freeing moments in this conversation comes when Susy explains the shift every memoirist has to make: seeing your life not just as what happened to me, but as a work of art you're creating — one where you have choices. Kathi shares how that shift played out in her own book, The Accidental Homesteader, a book that's about her… but isn't really about her. Susy also pulls back the curtain on three wildly different memoirs releasing this fall — a Green Beret nicknamed "Doom" writing about PTSD and leading with love, a grieving mother and her adult son with autism searching for clues about his dad, and a preacher's daughter who became the biggest fan of her professional-wrestler son. None of them are celebrities. All of them are proof. For the Writer Who's Been Told No As Susy puts it, "We're not here to be dream crushers." If you've been sitting on a story you believe God gave you — and you've been quietly wondering whether anyone in publishing will ever want it — this episode is the encouragement (and the practical next step) you've been waiting for. Listen in, and then go tell your only-you story of God's extravagant love in your life.

  6. Aug 31

    Author-Owned Marketing: What Your Publisher Will Never Do for Your Book (And What You Must)

    Every writer has imagined it: the book deal comes through, and suddenly a publishing house swoops in with a marketing team, a book tour, and a private jet waiting on the tarmac. (Okay, maybe not the jet.) But when the launch date arrives and the phone doesn't ring, a lot of authors are left wondering what went wrong. In this episode of Writing at the Red House, Kathi Lipp tackles one of the hardest — and most freeing — truths in publishing: your publisher is not your marketing department. Kathi talks with author and publisher Susy Flory, who now sits on both sides of the table, about what a publisher actually does, what belongs to the author, and why understanding the difference is the key to a launch that doesn't leave you crushed. Why This Conversation Matters for Writers If you've ever felt abandoned after your launch week, confused about why your book isn't on a featured table at the bookstore, or overwhelmed by the idea that marketing is now your job on top of everything else in your life — this episode is for you. Kathi and Susy talk honestly about disappointment, unrealistic expectations, and the very real ways authors can connect with readers without a five-figure marketing budget. In This Episode, Listeners Will Learn: The actual job description of a publisher — produce the book, make it available, distribute it — and where that job ends The difference between publicity (free, pitched, story-driven) and marketing (paid, transactional) — and why confusing the two sets writers up for disappointment Why publishers and agents are so focused on the size of your audience, and what that means for writers building a platform from scratch What "author-owned marketing" looks like in real life, and how to start it long before your book releases Why public speaking and teaching may still be the most effective connection tool an introverted writer has How to identify your unique advantages — the readers you can reach that your publisher never could What can go wrong even with a great publisher, and how to hold your expectations with open hands The question to ask before pitching yourself to another creator's audience (hint: it's not "here's what I want to talk about") Why setting aside your own marketing money matters — and what to ask your publisher before you sign the contract The Heart of It As Kathi puts it, this isn't about being cynical — it's about being protected. There's a world of difference between being perpetually disappointed and being genuinely empowered. Your publisher loves your book. They chose it. But they don't know your people. You do. Susy reminds listeners that readers don't buy books from HarperCollins. They buy from you — the writer they know, trust, and want to hear from. And that relationship isn't a burden to dread. It's the whole point. Listen to this episode for a clear-eyed, encouraging look at what's actually yours to carry as an author — and how to carry it well.

  7. Aug 17

    BEST OF: The DIY Author with Sherri Wilson Johnson

    Do you have a manuscript written that is ready to be published? Do you want to self-publish your book but have no idea where to begin? In today’s podcast, Kathi and literary agent and self-published fiction author Sherri Wilson Johnson talk about all things self-publishing. From covers to which software programs to use, Sherri answers the questions you have to answer to go from a manuscript to a published book. How to be your own publisher and make money on Amazon.Which software programs work best for the design and layout of your book.How to set a budget and invest a major portion of it in designing a cover.How investing in how to become a better writer will help you in the long run.Sherri and Kathi discuss the practical aspects of self-publishing, including the design process, editing, budgeting, the importance of cover design, and platforms and tools that make self-publishing accessible to authors. They highlight the differences between traditional and self-publishing, the advantages of retaining creative control, and the importance of platform building for indie authors. The conversation touches on real-life experiences, challenges in the publishing journey, and actionable advice for those ready to take publishing into their own hands.

  8. Aug 3

    The Long Game: How to Build a Writing Career That Lasts for Decades

    Have you ever wondered how some writers manage to stay in the game for decades while others burn out after one book? If you've been feeling overwhelmed, isolated, or unsure if you can sustain this writing journey, this episode is for you. What You'll Discover in This Episode Kathi Lipp sits down with longtime friend and fellow author Susy Flory to explore the secrets behind building a writing career that lasts. With combined decades of publishing experience, these two Gen X writers get real about the challenges of staying creative, motivated, and connected in an industry that can feel isolating. Four Keys to Writing Longevity Get Writing Friends: Discover why having a cohort of fellow writers is essential for surviving rejection, gaining perspective, and staying encouraged when the writing life gets hard. Pursue Deep Teaching: Learn why committing to one significant learning experience each year—whether a book, course, conference, or mentorship—keeps your craft sharp and your ideas fresh. Always Think About Your Next Project: Find out how to keep ideas percolating even while you're 50 feet deep in your current book, and hear Susy Flory's practical system for tracking and developing new concepts. Feed Your Imagination: Explore surprising places where creative ideas strike—including church!—and learn how to create a life culture dedicated to creativity and inspiration. Why Community Matters Both Kathi and Susy emphasize that writing doesn't have to be a solitary pursuit. Whether it's commiserating over rejection, sharpening each other's ideas, or simply being around creative people who "get it," having a writing community can make the difference between quitting and thriving. Key Takeaways for Your Writing Journey Rejection is normal—it's just part of the writing life, and having friends who understand makes it bearable. Being "aspirational" isn't a criticism—it's essential for growth as a writer. Your competitive side can push you forward if you harness it humbly and learn from others. Capture your ideas when lightning strikes—keep tools handy because you won't remember later. Speaking your ideas out loud to safe people gives them air and helps them breathe. Whether you're wrapping up your first book or your fifteenth, this conversation will encourage you to keep going, keep learning, and keep creating alongside others who share your passion for words.

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Welcome to The Writing at the Red House Podcast where we gather at the table to break bread and tell tales with some of our favorite writers and speakers. Our heart is to equip and encourage men and women to be the communicators God has created them to be.

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