The Writers Bloc Podcast

The Writers' Bloc Podcast
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This podcast is for Christian writers who want to grow in the art and heart of writing. Join us each week as we seek to encourage and equip one another to love God, words, and our readers. writersblocpod.substack.com

  1. 2h ago

    Ep 114: How (And Why) To Host a Virtual Summit with Cara Ray & Tara Borgonah

    Could hosting a virtual summit help you grow your community, expand your reach, and connect with other Christians?In this episode of The Writers’ Bloc Podcast, Cara talks with writer, speaker, and ministry leader Tara Borgonah about what it really takes to plan and host a successful virtual summit.After hosting the Call to Create Summit, Tara learned firsthand what works, what takes longer than expected, and what she would do differently next time. She shares practical advice on choosing a focused topic, finding the right speakers, creating clear expectations, building a marketing team, structuring free and paid access, and deciding whether you actually have the capacity to take on a summit in this season.They also talk about why collaboration matters for Christian creatives and how one event can lead to lasting relationships, new opportunities, and a stronger community.If you’ve ever wondered whether a virtual summit could be a good fit for your writing, ministry, or creative work, this conversation will help you understand what’s involved before you begin.Connect with Tara:Women’s Global Support Network: womensglobalsupportnetwork.orgJoin The Writers’ Bloc:Come grow with a community of Christian writers who care about both the art and heart of writing. Visit mywritersbloc.com. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersblocpod.substack.com/subscribe

    Ep 114: How (And Why) To Host a Virtual Summit with Cara Ray & Tara Borgonah

  2. Sep 25

    Ep 113: Writing Through Perimenopause With Consistency & Compassion With Cara Ray & Aimee Joseph

    What does it look like to keep writing faithfully when your body, attention, energy, and capacity are changing? In this episode of The Writers’ Bloc Podcast, Cara talks with author Aimee Joseph about writing through perimenopause with what Aimee calls “consistency with compassion.” They talk about the very real ways midlife can affect memory, focus, sleep, creativity, and productivity—and why those changes don’t mean your most fruitful writing years are behind you. Along the way, they explore the importance of paying attention, resisting comparison, honoring your limitations, and staying faithful to the work God has given you in the season you’re actually in. Aimee also shares encouragement from her forthcoming book, Midlife Plot Twist: Trusting God Through the Turbulence of Perimenopause, along with wisdom from her books Look, Listen, Live and Made to Rest. If your writing life looks different than it used to, this conversation will remind you that changing capacity doesn’t mean diminished calling. Sometimes faithfulness looks like continuing the work—with consistency, compassion, and trust in the God who holds every season. Learn more about Aimee and her work at aimeejoseph.blog. Looking for a community of Christian writers who want to grow in both the art and heart of writing? Join us inside The Writers’ Bloc for conversations, encouragement, writing accountability, live gatherings, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersblocpod.substack.com/subscribe

    Ep 113: Writing Through Perimenopause With Consistency & Compassion With Cara Ray & Aimee Joseph

  3. Sep 11

    Ep 112: How Writers Can Use Pinterest To Grow Their Audience With Cara Ray & Heather Farris

    Marketing your writing can sometimes feel like tossing good work into the social media void and hoping someone sees it before it disappears. But Pinterest works differently. In this episode of The Writers’ Bloc Podcast, Cara talks with Pinterest marketing strategist and educator Heather Farris about how writers can use Pinterest as a search engine to help readers discover their work—and keep discovering it long after it’s published. Heather shares practical strategies for using Pinterest to promote blog posts, Substack newsletters, podcast episodes, books, and email freebies without turning Pinterest into another social media platform you have to constantly maintain. You’ll learn: * Why Pinterest functions more like a search engine than social media * How to find the keywords your readers are already searching for * How one piece of writing can become multiple Pinterest pins * What makes an effective Pinterest image, title, and description * How to organize Pinterest boards around the topics you write about * How Pinterest can help grow your email list * How bloggers, Substack writers, podcasters, and authors can use the platform * A simple way to start using Pinterest without adding hours to your weekly workload * Why evergreen discovery may make Pinterest especially valuable for writers tired of the constant social media cycle Heather also walks through what she recommends for writers who are brand new to Pinterest—including how to set up your profile, choose your first boards, create reusable templates, and evaluate what’s working. If you’ve wondered whether Pinterest still matters—or whether it could actually help more readers find your work—this conversation will give you a practical place to begin.You can learn more and even hire Heather at www.heatherfarris.com If you want to learn more about the Writers’ Bloc, join our community, or learn more about growing your writing platform, visit www.mywritersbloc.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersblocpod.substack.com/subscribe

    Ep 112: How Writers Can Use Pinterest To Grow Their Audience With Cara Ray & Heather Farris

  4. Aug 28

    Ep 111: Grief To Growth: How Journaling Helps Us Lament with Cara Ray & Kristin Vanderlip

    What do we do with grief when the words won’t come—or when they won’t stop coming? In this episode of The Writers’ Bloc Podcast, I’m joined by writer, journaling guide, and founder of The Pen and Mend Collective, Kristin Vanderlip, for a thoughtful conversation about grief, lament, journaling, and the healing power of putting words on the page. After experiencing the devastating loss of her first child, followed closely by the death of her father and other seasons of deep grief, Kristin discovered journaling as one part of a larger journey toward healing and hope. We talk about why biblical lament gives Christians permission to bring our whole hearts before God, how journaling can help us notice and name what we’re feeling, and why healthy processing requires more than simply rehearsing our pain. We also explore the connection between our inner lives and our creative lives—including the possibility that writer’s block isn’t always a craft problem. Sometimes fear, grief, exhaustion, insecurity, or an unprocessed emotion may be asking for our attention first. In this conversation, we discuss: • Why lament is not the opposite of faith • How journaling can help us process grief and difficult emotions • The difference between healthy reflection and rumination • Why our emotions aren’t the enemy—but shouldn’t be our ultimate guide • How to move from emotional honesty toward hope in God • Writing for catharsis vs. writing for an audience • Why writers may need to “write it for themselves” before crafting it for others • What writer’s block may reveal about our internal lives • Giving ourselves permission to write differently in seasons of grief • Kristin’s Rest: A Journal for Lament and Rise: A Journal for Perseverance If you’ve ever wondered how writing can help you process what you’re carrying—or how to bring grief honestly before God without getting stuck there—this conversation is for you. CONNECT WITH KRISTIN VANDERLIP Kristin Vanderlip: https://kristinvanderlip.com/ The Pen and Mend Collective Explore Kristin’s journals, resources, and free journaling tools on her website. JOIN THE WRITERS’ BLOC Come write, learn, and grow alongside a community of Christian writers: mywritersbloc.com If this conversation encouraged you, subscribe to The Writers’ Bloc Podcast, leave a comment, and share this episode with another writer who might need it. #ChristianWriters #Journaling #ChristianWriting #WritingCommunity #BiblicalLament #GriefAndHealing #WritersBlock #FaithAndWriting #ChristianCreatives #TheWritersBloc This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersblocpod.substack.com/subscribe

    Ep 111: Grief To Growth: How Journaling Helps Us Lament with Cara Ray & Kristin Vanderlip

  5. Aug 21

    Ep 110: The "Secret" Writing System Behind 90+ Books with Cara Ray & Tricia Goyer

    How does an author write 4–5 books a year, work across multiple genres, collaborate with bestselling authors, and still have creative energy left?In this episode of The Writers’ Bloc Podcast, I’m talking with USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Tricia Goyer about the habits, systems, and mindset behind her remarkably prolific writing life.Tricia shares how she has learned to follow where God is leading rather than feeling pressured to stay in one writing “lane.” We talk about how she manages multiple ideas and projects, collaborates with other authors, protects her mental bandwidth, and uses structure to make the writing process faster and more effective.We also get into:✍️ How Tricia produces 4–5 books a year✍️ Why she writes across so many different genres✍️ Her collaborations with authors like Max Lucado, Ken Blanchard, and Robin Jones Gunn✍️ Her wonderfully simple “plop method” for drafting nonfiction✍️ Why understanding structure can make you a faster writer✍️ How she decides which opportunities to say yes—and no—to✍️ Why worry can become a major drain on your creative energy✍️ Writing in focused 20–25 minute blocks✍️ Listening to readers to discover what they actually need✍️ Trusting God with both open and closed doors in your writing lifeIf you’ve ever wondered how prolific writers actually get the work done—or you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the ideas, responsibilities, and distractions competing for your attention—this conversation will encourage you to simplify, trust God, and faithfully work on the next thing in front of you.CONNECT WITH TRICIA GOYERWebsite: https://triciagoyer.com/Instagram: instagram.com/triciagoyerFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/authortriciagoyer/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/triciagoyerTHE FINISH LINE INTENSIVETricia and Amber Lia are hosting an in-person writing intensive October 22–25, 2026, in Benton, Arkansas, designed to help writers start, sustain, or finish their books.Learn more: https://form.jotform.com/261874550064055—ABOUT THE WRITERS’ BLOCThe Writers’ Bloc is a community for Christian writers who want to grow in their craft, pursue publication faithfully, and use their words in service to God and others.Learn more and join us at: https://mywritersbloc.com/ Subscribe for more conversations with authors, editors, publishers, and writing professionals who can help you become a better and more faithful writer.#TriciaGoyer #ChristianWriters #WritingTips #ChristianAuthors #WritingCommunity #Authors #WritingLife #TheWritersBloc This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersblocpod.substack.com/subscribe

    Ep 110: The "Secret" Writing System Behind 90+ Books with Cara Ray & Tricia Goyer

  6. Aug 14

    Ep 109: Lead Magnets That Actually Grow Your Email List With Cara Ray & Rachael Adams

    In this episode of The Writers’ Bloc Podcast, Cara Ray talks with author and The Love Offering Podcast host Rachael Adams about one of the most important tools writers can use to grow their audience: lead magnets.But a great lead magnet isn't simply a way to collect email addresses. It's an opportunity to serve your readers, solve a real problem, begin a relationship, and invite people into your community.Rachael shares what's worked for her—from collaborative devotionals and quizzes to seasonal resources, QR codes, email sequences, and evergreen freebies—and how writers can start building an email list without overcomplicating the process.In this conversation, we talk about: * What a lead magnet is and why writers need one * How to discover what your audience actually wants * Lead magnet ideas you can create without starting from scratch * Why your email list matters more than social media followers * How collaborations can help introduce you to new audiences * Quizzes, devotionals, checklists, calendars, challenges, and other freebie ideas * What to send after someone downloads your freebie * Why unsubscribes aren't necessarily bad * Building an audience slowly, faithfully, and sustainably * If growing your platform feels overwhelming, Rachael offers a helpful reminder: start small, serve people well, stay consistent, and play the long game.ABOUT RACHAEL ADAMSRachael Adams is an author, speaker, and host of The Love Offering Podcast. She is the author of A Little Goes a Long Way and Everyday Prayers for Love, and her work has appeared in outlets including Crosswalk, Proverbs 31 Ministries, YouVersion, and more. You can find her at rachaelkadams.com or on Instagram and Facebook at @rachaeladamsauthor🎙️ ABOUT THE WRITERS’ BLOCThe Writers’ Bloc is a community for Christian writers who want to grow in their craft, connect with other writers, and faithfully steward the words God has given them.Subscribe for more conversations with authors, editors, publishers, and writing professionals—and practical encouragement for your writing life. You can learn more about us and join as a FREE or PREMIUM member at mywritersbloc.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersblocpod.substack.com/subscribe

    Ep 109: Lead Magnets That Actually Grow Your Email List With Cara Ray & Rachael Adams

  7. Aug 7

    Ep 108: Why Writers Get Stuck & How to Keep Creating Anyway With Cara Ray & Ashriel Huber

    What if the reason writing feels so hard has less to do with discipline and more to do with the way God designed your brain? In this episode of The Writers’ Bloc Podcast, Cara sits down with Ashriel Huber — founder of Called and Curious, host of the Called and Curious podcast, and creator of Love Moves, a six-minute inside-out makeover that helps women reconnect with peace, beauty, and truth through gentle movement, guided reflection, and faith-rooted encouragement. Ashriel calls herself “the neuroscience girl for normal people on Tuesdays,” and in this conversation she shows why faith and neuroscience belong in the same room. Scripture tells us to renew our minds, and neuroscience offers a glimpse into how God designed that renewal to actually happen. Together we explore why so many writers get stuck, how to move from the fear brain into the love brain, and why real transformation begins with identity long before it shows up on the page. We also talk about building something beautiful in the middle of the wilderness — starting, like the tabernacle, from the inside out — and why no writer needs another motivational quote to keep going. In this episode: — How a kindergarten classroom sent Ashriel on a decade-long journey into behavioral neuroscience — Why faith and neuroscience are companions rather than competitors — The difference between your fear brain and your love brain — How identity, not effort, becomes the source of lasting change — Practical ways to reset your body and brain before you write Connect with Ashriel: Website: calledandcurious.com Explore her free Love Moves, the Called and Curious podcast, and her membership — a portable “Love Moves gym” for your nervous system. Join us inside The Writers’ Bloc: Ashriel returns for a live teaching where we’ll build a Creative Writer’s Mission Statement together and walk through a creative reset you can use before every writing session. Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and share this one with a writer who needs the encouragement to keep creating what God has called her to make. Join the Writers Bloc at www.mywritersbloc.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersblocpod.substack.com/subscribe

    Ep 108: Why Writers Get Stuck & How to Keep Creating Anyway With Cara Ray & Ashriel Huber

  8. Jul 24

    Ep. 107: Chronic Pain, Prayer, & Writing Through it All with Glenna Marshall

    In this episode of The Writers’ Bloc Podcast, I sit down with author and Bible teacher Glenna Marshall to talk about her newest book, Praying in Pain, and the sixteen-year journey with chronic illness that shaped it. Glenna shares what it was like to go from running and full health to years of undiagnosed, agonizing nighttime pain — and how those long nights taught her to keep praying when healing didn’t come. We talk about why writers so often write the books they once needed, how Glenna wrote Praying in Pain for her twenty-nine-year-old self, and what it means to steward well your suffering so that it serves others. Glenna Marshall is the author of six books, including Everyday Faithfulness, Memorizing Scripture, Known and Loved, and Praying in Pain. She is married to her pastor, William, and is a member of Grace Bible Fellowship in Sikeston, Missouri, where they have served for over twenty years. She teaches a weekly women’s Bible study and leads a discipleship group for teen girls. You can connect with Glenna and join her newsletter at: https://www.glennamarshall.com/newsletter/ Grab Glenna’s Book, Praying in Pain here. If you enjoyed this conversation, would you do us a favor and subscribe, share, and/or leave a review? Every bit helps us spread the message of writing with art and heart to more people! Be sure to subscribe to the Writers’ Bloc Podcast here and never miss an episode! This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and episodes, be sure to subscribe to the Writers’ Bloc Podcast below! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersblocpod.substack.com/subscribe

    Ep. 107: Chronic Pain, Prayer, & Writing Through it All with Glenna Marshall
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This podcast is for Christian writers who want to grow in the art and heart of writing. Join us each week as we seek to encourage and equip one another to love God, words, and our readers. writersblocpod.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    The Writers' Bloc Podcast
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    112
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © The Writers' Bloc Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Writers Bloc Podcast