Why do some books keep readers up all night while others fall flat? If you've ever wondered whether your novel is gripping enough, you're not alone. One of the biggest challenges writers face is keeping readers hooked to the end. In this week’s episode , we dive deep into what truly drives great storytelling. Whether you're writing legal thrillers, Amish fiction, or epic fantasy, tension is your secret weapon, and knowing how to dial it up or down can make or break your story. In this episode, y...
Jun 10, 2025•58 min•Ep. 165
Did you know the Apostle Paul didn’t write the book of Romans by hand? He dictated it to a someone else who wrote it down, and he’s not the only famous author to do so. In this week’s episode , we explore how authors from Cicero to Agatha Christie to USA Today bestselling author Misty M. Beller have used dictation to write faster, better, and with more freedom. In this interview with Misty, you’ll learn: ✅ How to overcome the intimidation of hearing your own voice ✅ Which dictation tools are mos...
May 13, 2025•40 min•Ep. 164
Most authors start writing from the beginning. But what if the beginning is the wrong place to start? In our most recent episode, I talk with bestselling author and writing teacher James Scott Bell about one of his most powerful ideas: the mirror moment . You’ll learn ✅ Why the midpoint is more than just the halfway mark ✅ How to turn a sagging middle into your novel’s strongest moment ✅ What Casablanca, Goodnight Moon, and The Cat in the Hat have in common ✅ How one scene can help you fix your ...
May 10, 2025•47 min•Ep. 163
The term "pantser" has been used to describe writing a book without an outline. At writers conferences, outlining and "pantsing" (also known as discovery writing) are often framed as rivals. However, most writers fall between the two extremes. I've seen successful authors across that spectrum. What truly matters is finding the method that works best for you. While there are countless books on outlining, there are very few on discovery writing. So how do you learn to "write by the seat of your pa...
Mar 11, 2025•48 min•Ep. 162
Have you ever started a book but struggled to get past the first few chapters? Or maybe you finished one, only to feel let down by the ending? The truth is, beginnings and endings can make or break a novel. In this week’s episode , I sit down with Christy Award-winning author Angela Hunt to unpack what makes a strong opening that hooks readers and a satisfying ending that keeps them talking. We’ll cover: How to craft an opening that keeps readers turning pages The secret to endings that spark wo...
Feb 11, 2025•52 min•Ep. 161
Have you ever dreamed of writing a novel but don’t know where to start? Maybe you've tried before, but the story just didn’t come together—or you’re staring at a blank page, unsure of what to do next. In our latest episode , we’re talking to Steve Laube, seasoned literary agent and co-author of Write Your First Novel . Steve shares actionable advice on: Creating characters your readers will love. Crafting a plot that keeps readers hooked. Overcoming fear and embracing the writing process. You’ll...
Jan 20, 2025•47 min•Ep. 160
Imposter syndrome sometimes tells you the truth.Sometimes, you really do need to get better at the task in front of you to succeed. Many gurus will tell you that you already have everything you need. You just need to pay them money so you can be successful. But in the real world, success requires the hard work of improving your craft. Now, it's true, sometimes imposter syndrome lies, but deep down, you know you can improve.But how do you know where you need to improve? And once you find out, how...
Dec 10, 2024•47 min•Ep. 159
In college, I took a class on entrepreneurship, where our big project was to write a business plan. That same semester, I was also working on a book proposal, and I realized that book proposals are business plans. Fundamentally, they serve the same purpose. A business plan helps you convince investors to invest in your business, and a book proposal helps you convince publishing companies to invest in your book. To be traditionally published, you need to think like an entrepreneur and to be indep...
Nov 12, 2024•42 min•Ep. 158
I'm excited to announce that tickets are now for sale for the 2025 Novel Marketing Conference. The conference will be held in Austin, Texas, on January 17th and 18th. This event is not a typical writer's conference where you learn how to write and publish a book. Our conference is focused on book marketing, and our goal is to help you make 2025 the best year of your author career so far! In this episode , you'll find out · Three special ingredients that make the Novel Marketing Conference unique...
Oct 08, 2024•23 min•Ep. 157
You've likely heard the advice that writers should show instead of tell. Sometimes, it's good advice and can make your scenes better and your story more compelling. But it can also be terrible advice that will make your book unbelievably long and hard to get through. If you show every single thing in the room or on the journey where your story takes place, then the plot, characters, and even the dialogue get crowded out. But how do you know when you should and shouldn't show? In this month's epi...
Sep 10, 2024•49 min•Ep. 156
Stories communicate truth in ways that facts and statistics cannot. They touch places in our souls that sermons cannot reach. When you open your Bible, the very first thing you find is not the Ten Commandments but a story. Even biblical instruction is often couched in a story because a story is a powerful tool for communicating truth. God knows that. He created in us a desire for story. Christian authors can leverage story to communicate truth, but sometimes, whether by mistake or on purpose, we...
Aug 13, 2024•49 min•Ep. 155
Discover what makes a romance novel appeal to a Christian readership and how you can write Christian romance books your readers will love. Support the show
Jul 09, 2024•41 min•Ep. 154
Some authors just want to get their book "out there." They don't plan on writing additional books or becoming professionals. But others want to make writing a career and maybe pay the bills with income earned from their writing. If you want to have a career as a professional writer, you have to do at least two things. First, you must become an amazing writer. Second, you need to start acting like a business owner. Regardless of whether you're independently or traditionally published, you'll need...
Jun 11, 2024•42 min•Ep. 153
If you've ever transcribed a conversation between two people, you know the resulting text is a bunch of incomprehensible, run-on sentences and fragments. Natural conversation does not translate well onto the written page. When we write novels, we need to realize that good, written dialogue does not imitate the way real people talk. We also don't want our written dialogue to sound contrived and awkward. How do you write good dialogue? In this episode , Angela Hunt teaches us How to handle dialect...
May 14, 2024•36 min•Ep. 152
Most humans try to avoid conflict as much as possible, but novelists love conflict. Without conflict, a novelist has no story. Conflict keeps your novel moving forward and your readers turning pages. As Vladimir Nabokov once said, "The writer's job is to get the main character up a tree, and then once they are up there, throw rocks at them." But how do you get your protagonist up a tree? What kind of rocks should you throw? In this week's episode, I interview professional fictional rock-thrower,...
Apr 09, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 151
You’re probably tired of hearing that you need a large platform to be a successful author. Some industry professionals believe having a large platform is equivalent to having a large social media following. If you’ve been listening to the Christian Publishing Show or Novel Marketing, you know that having a social media following doesn’t necessarily mean you have a platform. Nor does it mean you’ll sell more books than someone not on social media. In fact, sometimes people sell more books by spen...
Mar 12, 2024•46 min•Ep. 150
When authors attend writers conferences, they often have big expectations but make common mistakes that squash their goals and diminish the return on their investment in the conference. In this episode , you’ll learn 11 common mistakes authors often make and how to avoid them How to avoid missing opportunities The right time to attend your first conference Listen in or read the blog version to find out how to make the most of your first (or next) writers conference. Support the show...
Feb 13, 2024•30 min•Ep. 148
The stories we ingest shape the morality we develop, but only to a point. If a story’s morality strays from reality or gets too twisted, the story fails to resonate with readers. Moral confusion is why movies and TV shows are less entertaining than they used to be. But what is morality? Why is it so important for good stories? How do you put a message into your book without being preachy? In this month’s episode , you’ll learn: Why you must carefully consider your own moral system before writing...
Jan 09, 2024•15 min•Ep. 147
God often calls authors into periods of waiting. Learn how to improve your writing and your chances of success by making the most of the wait. https://www.christianpublishingshow.com/how-to-prepare-for-success-as-a-new-author-with-laura-richmond/ Support the show
Dec 12, 2023•43 min•Ep. 146
If you don't test your book ideas, you may write a book no one wants to buy. Learn how a podcast can help you test your ideas so you can write a commercially viable book. Support the show
Nov 14, 2023•48 min•Ep. 145
Professional authors often struggle to find health insurance coverage, but healthcare for Christian authors is readily available. Support the show
Oct 06, 2023•28 min•Ep. 144
Public speaking is historically one of the best ways to sell books. Find out how you can turn your book into an engaging and memorable talk. Support the show
Aug 30, 2023•47 min•Ep. 143
Award-winning author Angela Hunt shares her reproducible revision process that has helped her write, revise, and publish more than 150 books. Support the show
Aug 05, 2023•45 min•Ep. 142
Liz shares how she became a writer, what she learned from her victories and failures, and how new authors can learn from them as well. Support the show
Jul 11, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 141
Find out why attending a local church in person can benefit your physical and spiritual health as well as your book sales. Support the show
Jun 03, 2023•53 min•Ep. 140
How to Write Books Boys Will Love With Tim Shoemaker Support the show
May 09, 2023•52 min•Ep. 139
The director of the Write to Publish Christian writers conference shares what to expect from your first in-person conference. Support the show
Apr 04, 2023•36 min•Ep. 138
Thirty days. That’s all you’ve got. Do it wrong, and you’re toast. Do it right, and it’s crème brûlée that will last for months, maybe even years. What 30 days are we talking about? The first 30 days after you make your book available to the world. During the first 30 days after your release, bookstores decide whether to keep your book on the shelves. If you have a strong launch, bookstores will continue to stock your book and order more copies. If you have a bad launch, even the books you think...
Mar 27, 2023•41 min•Ep. 137
Learn how and why Bible study is important for authors and how it improves your book as well as readers' lives. Support the show
Mar 14, 2023•35 min•Ep. 136
Learn how Christian authors can organically incorporate their worldview without writing preachy novels that fall flat. Support the show
Feb 14, 2023•55 min•Ep. 135
