The Writers Bloc Podcast

Ep 92 Thinking Small- Kristin Couch on Craft, Calling, and Faithful Writing

What if the most fruitful writing life isn’t about going bigger—but going smaller? In this conversation, author Kristen Couch (Deep Roots, Good Fruit) shares how “thinking small” has shaped her craft: trading platform chasing for prayerful presence, social scrolling for noticing, and grand gestures for steady obedience.

Kristen opens up about her process and her weekly workflow. She shares editorial tips, such as the power of reading aloud, choosing stronger verbs, cultivating specificity, and guarding sacred writing hours. She also offers gracious counsel on life rhythms and what it means to write for an audience of One while serving the many.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why “small faithfulness” produces deep fruit in your writing
How to protect creative focus in a distracted world
Practical editing moves: read aloud, feel the “potholes,” strengthen verbs
The surprising reach of specificity (how small stories touch universal nerves)
A simple analog system for capturing ideas that won’t get lost
How to build a sustainable weekly writing rhythm without guilt

Connect with Kristin
Website & newsletter: the-palest-ink.com (The Good, the True, the Beautiful)
Audio course: Write the Truth Beautifully (details on her site)
Book: Deep Roots, Good Fruit (The Good Book Company)

To access Kristin's teaching in the Writers’ Bloc, consider becoming a premium member here: https://writers-bloc.mn.co/plans/3029...
If this encouraged you, share it with a writer who needs a nudge toward steady, quiet faithfulness. Subscribe for more craft-forward, gospel-hearted conversations, and join our community to grow in the art and heart of writing—together.

Ep 91 God's Call to a Reluctant Writer with Vaneetha Risner

How do you write honestly about pain, without despair, and with real gospel hope? In this episode of The Writers’ Bloc Podcast, Vaneetha Rendall Risner shares her journey from childhood polio and profound loss to a ministry of writing that comforts the suffering. We talk about lament, journaling, discernment about what (and when) to share, and how God often calls “reluctant writers” to faithful words.

Key takeaways for writers

Lament is candid grief with trust—bring your full heart to God and let the turn to praise arise honestly.

Write from processed pain: journal now; publish later.

Measure faithfulness, not metrics. Obedience beats “virality.”

Your plain, unadorned voice can be precisely the vessel God uses.

Resources mentioned

Scripture: John 9; Romans 8:28; the Psalms of lament

On lament: Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy by Mark Vroegop

Mentors referenced: John Piper; Joni Eareckson Tada; Ann Voskamp; Paul Tripp

Writing tool: Dragon NaturallySpeaking (voice-to-text)

Connect with Vaneetha

Website: vaneetha.com (aka “Dance in the Rain”)

Books: Watching for the Morning (devotional); Walking Through Fire (memoir); The Scars That Have Shaped Me; This Was Never the Plan (forthcoming, April 1)

Stay connected with The Writers’ Bloc

Subscribe for more conversations that help you grow in the art and heart of writing.

Share this episode with a friend who’s writing through hard places.

Want community and craft support? Join us inside The Writers’ Bloc.

If this episode encouraged you, drop a comment with a one-sentence lament or prayer let’s bear one another’s burdens and point each other back to Christ.

Ep 90 Writing from Scars and Stories with Lori Ann Wood

In this episode of The Writers’ Bloc Podcast, Cara Ray sits down with Lori Ann Wood, author of Divine Detour: The Path You’d Never Choose Can Lead to the Faith You’ve Always Wanted. Lori Ann shares how an unexpected heart failure diagnosis became the catalyst for her writing journey, leading her to process suffering through journaling and eventually publish a traditionally published, award-winning book.

She opens up about walking through seasons of deep uncertainty, how she wrote her story in small, faith-anchored pieces, and how God meets us on the detours we didn’t plan for.

If you’ve ever wondered how to write from scars instead of wounds—or how to trust God when your life takes an unplanned turn—this conversation is for you.

📖 Connect with Lori Ann Wood:
Website & book trailer → https://loriannwood.com/books

Instagram & Facebook → @LoriAnnWood

✍️ The Writers’ Bloc Podcast is a place for Christian writers to grow in craft, faith, and community.

Ep 89 Mary DeMuth on the Agent–Author Relationship + Book Deal Tips

Welcome to The Writers’ Bloc Podcast! In this episode, Cara sits down with Mary DeMuth—a powerhouse in the Christian publishing world. Mary is a literary agent, a daily podcaster of Pray Every Day, a Scripture artist, a speaker, and the author of over 50 books.

🎙️ In this conversation, we talk about:

What makes a strong agent–author relationship

How to build a meaningful platform that truly connects with readers

Common publishing myths (and what agents are really looking for)

Why great writing and original ideas still matter most

Tips for craft, mentorship, and marketing that help authors stand out

Mary also shares personal insights from her decades-long career, from writing in journals as a young girl to mentoring writers around the world.

📚 Learn more about Mary: marydemuth.com

📖 Her latest book: The Freedom of Surrender (IVP)

🪴 Writers, be encouraged: God does impossible math with your loaves and fishes. Steward your words well, and trust Him with the reach.

Ep 88 Imposter Syndrome, Perfectionism, & Purpose_ Mindsets Every Writer Must Face with Amy Simon

Writing isn’t just about fighting distractions—it’s about facing the mindsets that keep us stuck. In this episode of the Writer’s Bloc Podcast, Cara Ray and Amy Simon (host of The Purposeful Pin Podcast and writer of the Pen Points newsletter) talk about building a sustainable writing routine rooted in discipline, grace, and truth.

We dig into:

Why writing is a spiritual discipline

How to spot (and replace) unhealthy mindsets like imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and “all-or-nothing” thinking

Balancing God’s role and our role in the writing process

How to write faithfully, even when numbers or recognition don’t come

If you’ve ever felt stuck, distracted, or discouraged in your writing, this conversation will give you hope, clarity, and practical steps for moving forward.

👉 Don’t miss Amy’s premium teaching inside the Writer’s Bloc, where she’ll go even deeper into mindsets and strategies for writers. Join us at www.mywritersbloc.com.

You can follow Amy at @amylynnsimon.com and The Purposeful Pen Podcast.

Ep 87 Praying for Your Writing with Jenn Soehnlin

Can you really pray for your writing? In this episode of The Writer’s Bloc Podcast, I sit down with author Jenn Soehnlin to talk about the power of prayer in the writing life.

Jen shares her journey from resisting God’s call to write to discovering how praying Scripture transformed not just her motherhood and faith but also her words on the page. We explore:

How prayer shapes and sustains the writing process

The surprising lessons Jenn learned about praying Scripture

Practical ways writers can pray for their words, ministry, and readers

Why prayer changes us even before it changes our circumstances

Whether you’re wrestling with imposter syndrome, longing for direction in your calling, or simply wanting to align your words with God’s will, this conversation will encourage you to see writing as a ministry, rooted in prayer.

📖 Connect with Jen: embracing.life

📖 Download her 25 Scriptures to Pray for Your Writing: https://prayerempoweredwriter.substac... https://jennembracinglife.substack.com/ https://embracingthisspeciallife.subs...

Ep 86 Adorning Christ's Work Through Our Words with Cara Blondo

What does it mean to adorn Christ’s work with our words? In this heartfelt episode of The Writers’ Bloc Podcast, I’m joined once again by my dear friend Cara Blondo. Together, we explore the biblical call to adorn the gospel—not through outward beauty, but through the hidden beauty of the heart and the good works that flow from it.

We talk about:
💡 The meaning of the word adorn in Scripture and its connection to our writing lives
💡 How writers can point others to the beauty of Christ instead of themselves
💡 The difference between striving for a platform and offering our words as worship
💡 Why suffering and vulnerability can become a fragrance of Christ to others

This conversation will encourage you to see your words—whether written, spoken, or lived—as a way of magnifying the beauty of Jesus.

👉 Stick around until the end to hear how Cara will go even deeper with our Writers’ Bloc members in a special follow-up session.

You can follow Cara's work on her website: https://theonethingdesired.com/ and on Facebook and Instagram @theonethingdesired

Ep 85 Why Every Writer Needs to Know How to Write a Book Proposal with Lara d'Entremont

Resources Mentioned In This Episode
Join the Write Your Book Proposal in 6-Week Challenge here: https://writers-bloc.mn.co/plans/1878...

Whether you dream of landing a traditional publishing deal or simply want to clarify the vision for your next book, a strong book proposal is your non-negotiable first step. Join us for this Gathering where we sit down with writer and editor Lara D’entremont to demystify the proposal process—what it is, why it matters, and how to approach it without overwhelm.

Lara shares insider tips from the publishing world, common mistakes to avoid, and the elements that make a proposal irresistible to agents and editors. You’ll learn how a proposal not only sells your book but also helps you refine your message, audience, and structure before you write a single chapter.

If you’ve ever thought, “I’ll figure out the proposal later,” this conversation will show you why later is now. You won't want to miss this discussion and our forthcoming challenge, "Write Your Book Proposal in 6-Weeks"

Here are the details Write Your Book Proposal in 6 Weeks

Dates: Sept 15-Oct 27
When: Weekly lessons and live meetings over Zoom (Mondays 11 CST)
Where: On the Writers' Bloc! When you join, you'll get access to an exclusive space with all our course materials and meeting links.
Why: Because your idea is worth pursuing!
Investment: Only $149 (Writers' Bloc premium members pay only $75--look for your sign-up link in the Writers' Bloc Premium Space: 'The Coffee Shoppe').

Join us here: https://writers-bloc.mn.co/plans/1878...