Story Embers Podcast Story Embers

Cliffhangers entice you to turn pages long into the night. But how do you write in a thrilling way that avoids disappointment and boredom? What actually keeps readers invested in a story when they encounter a dangling plot point?
 In today’s episode, Josiah, Mariposa, and Daeus show you how to engage readers with scenes that close at a nerve-wracking moment and later reach a satisfying conclusion.
 
Show notes:
- Comment on this episode on our blog!
- Become a supporter and get access to exclusive Story Embers updates, swag, and more! (https://www.patreon.com/storyembers)

Music credits:
Positive Motivation - Purple Planet Music (https://www.purple-planet.com/) 
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We live in a world that’s become increasingly focused on fame, and “success” for a writer means having thousands of followers, signing with a large publisher, and hitting the bestseller list. The goal is to be in the spotlight and make a hefty income.
But, as Christians, we write for God’s glory, not our own.

Knowing this, we wrestle with moral questions about our dreams and ambitions. What if we want to be published by the Big Five? How do we grow an audience but not our pride? If we’re not seen, are we truly having an influence? 

In this episode, Josiah, Mariposa, and Daeus discuss serving God through writing—whether with a huge platform or a small one.


Show notes:
- Click here to purchase Lori Z. Scott's new book, Offsides!
- Click to discover more about Lori Z. Scott on her website.
- Comment on this episode on our blog!
- Become a supporter and get access to exclusive Story Embers updates, swag, and more! (https://www.patreon.com/storyembers)

Music credits:
Positive Motivation - Purple Planet Music (https://www.purple-planet.com/) 
Support the show

Jesus said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” As writers who intend for others to read our work, we desire to be leaders, and as Christians that means we must lay ourselves down and seek to serve our audiences. But what does the application of that look like?
Listen as Josiah, Gabby, and Daeus unpack the motivations and actions of a servant-hearted writer, why it’s such an important mindset to have, and how building relationships with readers can be like inviting them into a warm house on a rainy day.

Show notes:
- Discover more about Traitor by Laurie Lucking here!
- Comment on this episode on our blog!
- Become a supporter and get access to exclusive Story Embers updates, swag, and more! (https://www.patreon.com/storyembers)


Music credits:
Positive Motivation - Purple Planet Music (https://www.purple-planet.com/) 
Support the show

Like Tolkien’s depiction of The Shire, portraying moments of warmth and joy can be a powerful way to convey that Christ’s path is vastly different from the darkness in the world. How can showing characters’ potential to thrive give hope to readers? And how can writers do that while still being honest about sin and the hardships we all go through?
Listen as Josiah, Gabby, and Daeus explore the concept of wholeness, its importance within fiction, and whether hope comes from waiting for heaven’s completeness or if we can experience it here on earth as well.


Show notes:
- Comment on this episode on our blog!
- Become a supporter and get access to exclusive Story Embers updates, swag, and more! (https://www.patreon.com/storyembers)

Music credits:
Positive Motivation - Purple Planet Music (https://www.purple-planet.com/) 
Support the show

What role does a writer play as a member of Christ’s Body? How do we respect others and their gifts, even when their purpose looks vastly different from ours? And how do we respond when we feel like our value is misunderstood?
 Listen as Josiah, Gabby, and Daeus tease out where our identity comes from, how our actions involve much more than simply the task of writing, and how we can be a blessing to others both within the Body of Christ and outside it.


Show notes:
- Comment on this episode on our blog!
- Become a supporter and get access to exclusive Story Embers updates, swag, and more! (https://www.patreon.com/storyembers)

Music credits:
Positive Motivation - Purple Planet Music (https://www.purple-planet.com/) 
Support the show

Famous writers throughout the ages attribute their growth to short stories. But is this literary form relevant to modern novelists?
Listen as Lori, Mariposa, and Daeus discuss how short stories have (or haven’t) helped them, when a writer is ready to begin longer works, and how to hone your craft using short stories.
Show notes:
- Comment on this episode on our blog!
- Become a supporter and get access to exclusive Story Embers updates, swag, and more! (https://www.patreon.com/storyembers)

Music credits:
Positive Motivation - Purple Planet Music (https://www.purple-planet.com/) 
Support the show