Drawing Themes from Your Own Life

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/) 

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/) 

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/) 

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/) 

No matter what you’re writing, your book is meant for someone, whether yourself or a specific group of people. But at what point should you decide who your target audience is? And how does that choice affect your writing process?

In today’s episode, Lori, Mariposa, and Daeus dive into these questions and discuss Christian vs. secular audiences, when writing for yourself is helpful, and more.

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/) 

What keeps a reader turning page after page? Unique and surprising plot twists. But how do you pull them off? In today’s episode, Lori, Mariposa, and Daeus give practical and inspiring advice to superpower your ability to create plot twists that shock and delight again and again.

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/) 

Some of the most memorable, enduring literature portrays tragic heroes and deep, powerful themes. So how can you depict these characters from a Christian perspective? In today’s episode, Lori, Gabby, and Josiah discuss negative arcs and give insightful advice on how to write the climax of a tragic arc.

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/) 

Human beings were created by God as unique individuals and have been given the ability to create. 

So where do we find the balance between creating something completely new and original, and fitting in with today’s publishing world? Genre expectations are deeply established, but if God has called us to explore new directions within our work, how can we navigate that and still have a publishing career? 

In today’s episode, Josiah, Lori, and Gabby share clear and practical thoughts that illuminate many sides of this issue.

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/) 

You’ve probably heard the saying that “someone who wants to write a great story must first live a great story.” But how do you tackle the questions and struggles you’ve faced through your characters and plot? Where should you draw the line between fiction and reality?

 In today’s episode, Lori, Gabby, and Josiah discuss a big topic: how writers can find inspiration in their own personal stories while still being servant-hearted.

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/) 

How do you structure a chapter? Where should a scene start and end? In today’s episode, Gabby, Daeus, and Hope dive into the fundamentals of crafting chapters and scenes, including choosing the right pacing to create powerful effects.

Show notes:
- Comment on this episode on our blog!
- Become a supporter and get access to exclusive Story Embers updates, swag, and more!

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