Novel Writing For Christians/ How to Write a Book, Christian Author, Writer, Empty Nester, Trauma-Informed

Kathleen Guire, Author
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Have you always wanted to write a book, but don’t know where to start? Is it hard to stay focused with so many distractions pulling at your time? Do you wonder if it’s too late to finish the novel on your heart? Are you struggling to build a consistent writing habit — no matter how badly you want to? I’m so glad you’re here! This podcast will help you finally finish your first clean, faith-aligned novel, glorify God through your writing, and build confidence in your voice — one simple, step-by-step episode at a time. Hey, I’m Kathleen — a Christian author, writing mentor, and former homeschool mom who knows what it’s like to carry a story in your heart for years. I started late, battled distraction and self-doubt, and wondered if I’d missed my chance — but God had other plans. I tried forcing myself into secular writing spaces, following industry advice that left out faith, and pretending I could figure it out alone — but none of it worked. I felt lost, frustrated, and like maybe I wasn’t cut out for this after all. What finally worked? I stopped waiting for the perfect conditions, studied how to write a book, and built a step-by-step process to help me finish my first clean, Christian novel — without compromising my faith, values, or voice. If you’re ready to finally write the clean, Christian novel that’s been on your heart for years… If you want step-by-step support, faith-rooted guidance, and a process that fits your real life — not someone else’s  — this podcast is for you. Grab your notebook and a fresh coffee  — it’s time to start writing.

  1. 3d ago

    Empty Nester, Finally Have Time to Write a Book but Don’t Know Where to Start?

    Your kids are grown and flown, you finally have a little more time, and that book you’ve been thinking about writing for years keeps coming back to you. But where do you actually start? Once you tell people you’re going to write a book, everyone has advice. Your family, friends, people at church, other writers—everybody wants to help. And that’s a good thing. But getting advice and talking to other writers is not writing your book. In this episode of Novel Writing for Christians, I’m sharing five practical things you can do to move from thinking about your book to actually getting ready to write it. We’ll talk about: How to create your main character and get those ideas out of your head Why you need to know what your character wants—and what’s standing in their way How to create a backstory using mind mapping and character interviews Why your story needs a blackest moment and how to start figuring out what it is Why even a pantser needs some sort of outline before writing a first novel How studying books in your genre can help you understand what readers expect Why you don’t need to stop writing while you learn the craft How to schedule your writing time so the book actually gets written I’ll also share some of what I learned when I started writing cozy mysteries after writing thrillers, why I still study the books I’m reading, and why research can be helpful—but you can’t let research take your writing time. You don’t have to know everything about writing a novel before you begin. Do some pre-writing. Create your character. Figure out what they want. Give them an obstacle. Create their backstory. Decide on their blackest moment. Make some sort of outline. And then write. Resources mentioned in this episode: Middle Grade Magic Workbook — Use the character interview, mind mapping, and other exercises to start developing your characters and story.  https://kgauthor.myflodesk.com/middlegrademagic How to Write a Cozy Mystery by Natasha C. Sass Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody Sponsored by Winter Wedding Murder -https://www.amazon.com/Winter-Wedding-Murder-Maplewood-Goldendoodle-ebook/dp/B0FSK57NJV You finally have the time to write your book. Now it’s time to start.

  2. Oct 7

    3 Benefits of Self-Publishing For Authors

    Thinking about self-publishing your first book but wondering if it’s the right choice for you? In this episode of Novel Writing for Christians, I’m sharing 3 benefits of self-publishing for authors and why being an indie author gives you more freedom than you may realize. We’ll talk about taking ownership of your author business, choosing the editors and cover designers you want to work with, and setting a writing and publishing schedule that actually works with your life. I’m also sharing some of the things I’ve learned as a full-time indie author—including the business side of writing that I’m still learning! And if you’ve been waiting for an agent, publisher, or someone else to tell you that you’re ready to write and publish your book, I have a bonus reminder for you: There are no gates anymore. In this episode: Why self-publishing means taking ownership of your author business The freedom to choose what you write and when you publish How to choose your own editor, cover designer, and marketing strategy Why indie authors need both freedom and self-discipline How to create a writing schedule around your real life and family Why your first book doesn’t have to be perfect Why you don’t need someone else’s permission to become an author If you’re a Christian woman wondering how to write a book, become a self-published author, and build an author business, this episode will help you understand some of the opportunities available to indie authors today. 🎧 Self-Publishing Made Simple: A Beginner's Guide Sponsored by Fatal Fixer-Upper -https://a.co/d/092EOCBN Your story matters. And it’s not too late to start.

  3. Sep 30

    3 Reasons Your Past Trauma Makes You a Better Writer

    Can your past trauma actually make you a better writer? If you’re a Christian writer trying to figure out how to write characters with more depth, your own experiences may have given you tools you don’t even realize you have. In this episode, I’m sharing 3 reasons your past trauma can make you a better writer — from the empathy you bring to your characters, to your understanding of trauma, triggers, and healing. As a trauma-informed Christian author, I’ve learned that we don’t have to give our characters our exact stories to use what we’ve experienced. We can take the emotions, understanding, and healing we’ve gained and use them to create realistic characters and powerful character arcs. We’ll talk about: Why empathy is a superpower when you’re developing fictional characters • How your own experiences with little-T and big-T trauma can help you write realistic emotional scenes • Why you don’t have to wait until you’re perfectly healed to write your book • How to use your experiences without giving your character your story • Why healing isn’t linear — and your character arc shouldn’t be either • How God can redeem the difficult parts of your story and use them in your writing If you’ve been wondering how to write a book with deeper, more relatable characters, your past doesn’t have to disqualify you from writing the story God placed on your heart. It may have equipped you to write it with more empathy, understanding, and hope. 📚 Mentioned in this episode: A Positive Adoption Story by Kathleen Guire https://www.amazon.com/Positive-Adoption-Story-Theology-Reality-ebook/dp/B07J2V3CX4 Trauma-Informed Character Workbook -https://kgauthor.myflodesk.com/traumacharacterworkbook Other Helpful Episodes: How To Create Characters With Depth: 3 Character Development Tips For Fiction Writers  How To Create A Trauma-Informed Character Readers Will Root For Your story matters. And it’s not too late to start.

  4. Sep 23

    Trauma Responses in Characters | How Christian Writers Show Emotional Wounds

    Does your character have a traumatic backstory—but somehow that trauma disappears when the actual story begins? If your character has experienced abandonment, abuse, neglect, loss, or another significant emotional wound, that history can affect how they think, react, build relationships, make decisions, and respond when something in the present bumps into a wound from the past. In this episode, we're talking about how Christian fiction writers can create trauma-informed characters without allowing trauma to become the character's entire identity. I'll share a little of what I've learned from my own trauma-informed training and why the difference between "I won't" and "I can't regulate right now" changed the way I think about behavior. Then we'll take those principles onto the page and look at Harper from my Cozy Corner Mysteries to see what trauma responses can actually look like inside a novel. We'll look at Harper's abandonment wound, what happens when Ben tells her he's leaving, the physical responses that show up when she reaches her "red zone," and the patterns Harper begins to recognize in herself. We'll also talk about her decision to go hiking even when anxiety shows up and the small moment when faith begins making its way back into her life. We'll talk about: How emotional wounds can create beliefs that affect your character's present-day choices The Five Bs—Brain, Biology, Body, Beliefs, and Behavior—and how they can help you think more deeply about your character How to use the formula: If my character believes _____, then they will _____ whenever _____ Why trauma responses should show up through behavior instead of living only in your character's backstory How fight, flight, freeze, or fawn responses can affect what your character does when they're triggered Why "won't" and "can't regulate right now" aren't necessarily the same thing How relationships can reveal your character's limiting beliefs and coping mechanisms Why trauma-informed doesn't mean trauma-defined How Christian writers can leave room for faith, resilience, hope, healing, and growth without rushing a character through an unrealistic healing arc Trauma-informed doesn't mean trauma-defined. Your character is more than what happened to them. Give them wounds, but also give them strength. Give them struggles, but also give them joy, relationships, purpose, faith, and room to grow. Wound → Belief → Behavior → Growth. When we write with truth and leave room for hope, we can create characters whose struggles feel real—and whose stories remind readers that the wound doesn't have to get the final word. 🔗 Resources Mentioned Creating Trauma-Informed Characters With Depth and Heart Workbook — https://kgauthor.myflodesk.com/traumacharacterworkbook Sponsored by Fatal Fixer-Upper -https://a.co/d/092EOCBN

  5. Sep 15

    How to Create Characters With Depth: 3 Character Development Tips for Fiction Writers

    Do your fictional characters feel like real people—or do they sometimes feel a little too perfect, predictable, or flat? Creating characters with depth means knowing more than what they look like, what they do for a living, or what role they play in your plot. Your character's backstory, relationships, fears, past experiences, and the lines they don't want to cross all influence how they react when the story gets difficult. In this episode, I'm sharing three character development tips that will help you create believable, layered characters your readers can connect with. I'll share what I learned when I first started writing stories where everybody got along and nobody had any real problems, why I create a backstory before I write the book, and how a mind map helps me understand what shaped my characters. We'll also talk about why your main character needs other people who can reveal things they would never say about themselves—and why sometimes the best thing you can do for your character is make them cross the line they swore they wouldn't cross. I'll also take you behind the scenes of my Cozy Corner Mysteries and show you how Harper's backstory, her best friend Sage, and everyone's favorite barista, Zoe, help me create a character with more depth. We'll talk about: Why your character needs a backstory—even when most of it never makes it onto the page How past experiences and trauma can affect the way your character reacts in the present How to use a character mind map to explore relationships, motivations, dreams, obstacles, and conflicts Why sidekicks and supporting characters can reveal things about your main character that they wouldn't reveal themselves How to avoid info dumping everything you know about your character into the first chapter Why your character needs a line they don't want to cross—and what happens when the story forces them to cross it How Character + Goal + Action + Obstacle can lead to meaningful change and growth How Disaster + Dilemma can create the difficult choices that make readers connect with your character You don't have to tell your reader everything you know about your character. But you need to know what shaped them. Because when you understand your character's past, relationships, fears, and motivations, you can create reactions and choices that feel believable on the page. We're not here for perfect characters. We're creating characters with depth, heart, struggles, and room to grow. 🔗 Resources Mentioned Middle Grade Magic Workbook — https://kgauthor.myflodesk.com/middlegrademagic Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody —  https://www.amazon.com/Save-Cat-Writes-Novel-Writing/dp/0399579745 Sponsored by Fatal Fixer-Upper -https://a.co/d/092EOCBN

  6. Sep 9

    The Number One Reason Writers Don't Finish Their Book—and How to Avoid It

    Have you been saying you want to finish writing your book — but somehow everything and everyone else keeps coming first? If you've been struggling to create a consistent writing habit, make time to write, or turn your book idea into a finished novel — you're not alone. The problem may not be that you don't know how to write. It may be that you don't consistently come back to your book. In this episode, I'm sharing the three reasons I believe so many aspiring authors don't finish writing their novels — including the one I've struggled with myself for years. We'll talk about people pleasing, guilt, writing motivation, learning novel structure, and why finding a writing community matters. I'll also share why I once thought my entire kitchen had to be clean before I could write, what The Big Leap taught me about making room for my writing, why watching another episode of Poirot isn't always "research," and what bad apples, brown bananas, and the first terrible song I ever wrote have to do with finding your writing people. We'll talk about: • Why putting everyone and everything else first can keep you from finishing your book • How to make time for writing even when the laundry, dishes, and life aren't finished • Why having a book idea isn't the same as knowing how to build a complete novel • How learning novel structure can help you move from an idea to chapters, conflict, dilemmas, and a finished story • Why guilt and shame aren't enough to create lasting writing motivation • How finding a supportive writing community can help you keep going when writing gets hard You don't have to finish your whole novel today. You just have to come back to your book. Stop looking backward at all the days you didn't write. Open the manuscript, find where you left off, and keep pressing forward. Your stories matter. And it's not too late to start. 🔗 Resources Mentioned Sponsored by Fatal Fixer-Upper -https://a.co/d/092EOCBN The Big Leap -https://www.amazon.com/Big-Leap-Conquer-Hidden-Level-ebook/dp/B0026772QU

  7. Sep 2

    When Your Editor's Comments Make You Feel Like an Imposter

    Have you ever opened your manuscript after your editor sent it back and thought, "Oh my gosh. Look at all these comments. Why am I even writing books?" If editor feedback, developmental editing, or revising your novel sends your imposter syndrome into overdrive — you're not alone. I've written more than twenty books, and I still get that wave of panic when I open an edited manuscript and see all those comments waiting for me. In this episode, I'm taking you behind the scenes of the editing process for Winter Wedding Murder and sharing actual comments from my editor — including one pretty big character-name oops! We'll talk about how to approach editor feedback without letting overwhelm or self-doubt convince you that you're not a "real" writer. I'll also share how I break novel edits into manageable pieces, why editing takes a different kind of brain power, and why you should actually celebrate when your manuscript comes back covered in comments. We'll talk about: • Why editor feedback can trigger imposter syndrome — even for experienced authors • How developmental editing helps uncover plot holes, missing clues, confusing details, and story problems • Why you don't have to tackle every editing comment at once • How to work through novel revisions at a pace that doesn't overwhelm you • Why an editor's suggestions don't mean you failed as a writer • The character-name mistake my editor caught in Winter Wedding Murder Your editor didn't write the book. You did. They're helping you polish the story you've already created — and sometimes they're helping you remember that you've already used the name Dale in another book. Your stories matter. And it's not too late to start. 🔗 Resources Mentioned This episode was sponsored by my free cozy mystery novella - Dead Quiet At The Library - Grab your copy - https://kgauthor.myflodesk.com/cozymystery Or listen on Audible -https://a.co/d/0bvwGD7f Save The Cat Writes A Novel - https://www.amazon.com/Save-Cat-Writes-Novel-Writing/dp/0399579745 How To Write A Cozy Mystery: Step By Step - https://www.amazon.com/How-Write-Cozy-Mystery-Reader-Favorite-ebook/dp/B0BLQF3PK3  Winter Wedding Murder : 👉 https://www.amazon.com/Winter-Wedding-Murder-Maplewood-Goldendoodle-ebook/dp/B0FSK57NJV

  8. Jun 10

    How to Write a Blackest Moment in Fiction & Why Your Character Needs to Fail

    Think your character has to be perfect for readers to love them? If you’ve been trying to write clean fiction with strong, likable characters — but your story still feels flat, predictable, or emotionally disconnected — you’re not alone. And honestly, the problem might be that your character’s life is just too easy. In this episode, I’m sharing why your character needs to fail, what a blackest moment actually is, and how disasters and dilemmas create the emotional depth readers connect with most. I’ll walk you through practical ways to raise the stakes in your middle grade or YA novel while still writing clean, faith-aligned fiction full of heart, growth, and emotional tension. We’ll talk about: • What a blackest moment is and why every story needs one • Why flawed characters are more relatable than perfect ones • How disasters and dilemmas create emotional depth • Why hard choices and consequences keep readers invested • How false confidence makes your blackest moment hit harder emotionally You do not have to write perfect characters to write meaningful stories. You can write characters who struggle, fail, grow, and keep going — and honestly, those are often the stories readers remember most. Your stories matter. And it’s not too late to start. 🔗 Resources Mentioned Grab the Middle Grade Magic Workbook: 👉 https://kgauthor.myflodesk.com/middlegrademagic Sponsored by Sera Craven Mystery #1 — The Case of the Missing Person: 👉 https://www.amazon.com/Case-Missing-Person-Craven-Mystery/dp/1727391764 Grab the FREE Social Media Safety Workbook: 👉 https://kgauthor.myflodesk.com/socialmediasafety

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Have you always wanted to write a book, but don’t know where to start? Is it hard to stay focused with so many distractions pulling at your time? Do you wonder if it’s too late to finish the novel on your heart? Are you struggling to build a consistent writing habit — no matter how badly you want to? I’m so glad you’re here! This podcast will help you finally finish your first clean, faith-aligned novel, glorify God through your writing, and build confidence in your voice — one simple, step-by-step episode at a time. Hey, I’m Kathleen — a Christian author, writing mentor, and former homeschool mom who knows what it’s like to carry a story in your heart for years. I started late, battled distraction and self-doubt, and wondered if I’d missed my chance — but God had other plans. I tried forcing myself into secular writing spaces, following industry advice that left out faith, and pretending I could figure it out alone — but none of it worked. I felt lost, frustrated, and like maybe I wasn’t cut out for this after all. What finally worked? I stopped waiting for the perfect conditions, studied how to write a book, and built a step-by-step process to help me finish my first clean, Christian novel — without compromising my faith, values, or voice. If you’re ready to finally write the clean, Christian novel that’s been on your heart for years… If you want step-by-step support, faith-rooted guidance, and a process that fits your real life — not someone else’s  — this podcast is for you. Grab your notebook and a fresh coffee  — it’s time to start writing.

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