Today Josiah, Brianna, and Gabrielle share their experiences with professional editing and how it has helped them grow as writers. They debunk common misconceptions that writers have about working with a professional editor and discuss the advantages of hiring one....
SE Podcast #34: Demystifying Subtext
Today Josiah, Rolena, Daeus, and Hope tackle one of the most powerful tools in a writer’s arsenal: subtext. What is it? Why is it important? What do you lose when your story lacks it? Listen to the panelists answer these questions and more below!
SE Podcast #33: How to Keep Your Readers in Mind
Almost every piece of writing advice is served with a side of “keep your readers in mind,” but what exactly does that phrase mean? And how can writers practice it effectively? In today’s episode, Josiah, Brianna, and Gabrielle share tips for how to focus on your readers during the writing and editing process.
SE Podcast #32: Should Christians Write Dismal Endings?
The eighth resolution of our Christian Storytellers Manifesto describes our commitment to “paint traces of hope in even the darkest situations.” However, this raises several questions. Why do Christian writers need to shine light into pitch-black moments? How do we achieve a balance between the two? And does this mean we shouldn’t write sad endings?
SE Podcast #31: Unsung Heroes of the Writing Process
Producing a novel isn’t a one-man show. Today Josiah DeGraaf, Brianna Storm Hilvety, and Gabrielle Pollack discuss the hidden heroes who help an author give readers a fully fleshed-out and polished story.
SE Podcast #30: Finding Time to Write with a Busy Schedule
At the end of last year, Story Embers sent out a survey to the Christian writing community. Nearly half of the respondents reported that their biggest challenge wasn’t plot, characters, theme, or style but finding time to write!
SE Podcast #29: How to Tactfully Portray Sinful Thoughts
In our Tricky Subjects for Christian Storytellers series, we briefly mentioned the challenge writers face when writing corrupt characters. Can writers ever safely immerse themselves in the mind of an evil character? How many of his thoughts should you reveal to your audience? And what advice does Scripture give about this topic?
SE Podcast #28: What Happens After the Climax?
In February, Josiah, Rolena, and Daeus discussed the elements of a satisfying climax, but what happens once the protagonist has survived the final conflict? Today Josiah, Hope, and Brandon explore what makes a story’s resolution effective and meaningful. They share their favorite examples of memorable endings and give tips on how to avoid common mistakes when tying off a story.
Fireside Reading & Interview with the Author of “A Heretic’s Sacrifice”
On our podcast, we talk a lot about writing quality stories. But what does that look like in practice? How do authors use the techniques we discuss to craft compelling themes, characters, and plots? Today we’re thrilled to introduce Michael Stanton as the guest host for a new experimental series of podcast episodes.
SE Podcast #26: Interview with Chris Fabry about The Promise of Jesse Woods
Welcome to the finale of our book study and article series on The Promise of Jesse Woods! In today’s episode, Josiah DeGraaf, Brianna Storm Hilvety, and Grace Livingston sit down with author Chris Fabry to discuss his experience while writing the novel. Fabry gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse at what inspired his ideas and how he developed his characters, plot, and theme.