Christian Publishing Show

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 word-of-mouth recommendations
Common mistakes that weaken your novel’s impact
If you want to grab your reader’s attention from page one and leave them with an unforgettable conclusion, listen in or read the blog version.

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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 pants"?

In this month's episode, I interviewed bestselling author Steven James, who shared his secrets for discovery writing—the art of writing "by the seat of your pants" while creating gripping stories.

He shared

✔️ Four questions that can solve any plot problem

✔️ What truly drives a great story to a satisfying ending

✔️ How to use pivots to surprise and satisfy your readers

If you've ever struggled with outlining or wondered if "pantsing" could work for you, this episode will give you the guidance and courage to give it a try. Listen in or read the blog version to learn more.

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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 beginning, your ending, and everything in between

Whether you’re a plotter or a pantser, listen in or read the blog version of this episode. It will change how you approach your next novel.

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If you want your readers to connect with your writing, you need to immerse them deeply into the mind of your characters. Your readers need to hear, see, and experience everything that your character experiences. But how do you do this? The answer is deep point of view. We have a guest on the show [...]

You can listen to this episode How to Write Deep Point of View with Karen Witemeyer on Christian Publishing Show.

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As you’ve heard me say many times before, the key to writing books people want to read is writing books that people already want to read.

It’s easier to write a book that people want than to change someone into the kind of person who wants to read the book you wrote.

It’s hard to change yourself and your own desires, but it’s nearly impossible to change someone else. You’ve probably learned from your marriage and relationships that changing other people is impossible. It’s even harder for authors to change their readers into people who like to read what they’ve written.

In fact, you can’t change your readers, but you can change your book.

The key to success is to know your readers, but many Christian authors find that challenging.

They wonder:

• Where do I find my readers?
• How do I make friends with my readers?
• What if I have no place to connect with my readers?

If only there were a place where Christian readers gathered for regular meetings, perhaps even several times each week.

Well, guess what? There is! It’s called church.

For the last 2,000 years, Christians have gathered in meetings where they pray, sing, read the Bible, and fellowship. And if you are writing for Christians or even churchgoers, your readers gather at church.

That is until recently.

There’s been a decline in church attendance that started before the pandemic. I went to a pre-COVID writers conference and was stunned that nearly half of the faculty at the Christian writers conference, who were teaching about Christian writing, were not churchgoers.

In many Christian publishing companies, only a small fraction of the team attends church, and the trend holds steady among authors.

Over the years, I’ve noticed that Christian authors who stop attending church experience decreased sales. The decrease isn’t due to supernatural forces, as some might want you to believe.

As a marketer, the cause for decreased sales seems obvious to me. Christian authors who don’t regularly attend Christian churches lose touch with Christian readers. It’s just that simple. They lose touch with what their readers want.

• How do you know what questions Christians ask if you don’t attend church and interact with them?
• How can you write a novel in tune with the music and someone’s soul if you can’t hear the music?

Books written by non-church-going Christian authors often feel tone-deaf to readers because the authors are out of touch with the music.

In this article, we’ll talk about church and how your church attendance can help you write a better, more popular book that will help more people.

Who better to consult than a pastor and writer like Chase Replogle? He is the pastor of Bent Oak Church in Springfield, Missouri, and the author of The Five Masculine Instincts. I previously interviewed Chase about his book; and since its publication, he’s been featured on many popular platforms, including Good Morning America, Christianity Today, and The Gospel Coalition.

He also hosts the popular Pastor Writer podcast, where he interviews Christian authors on topics of faith and writing.

Thomas Umstattd, Jr.: We talked a lot about patience in our first interview. What have you learned about it since?

Chase Replogle: I remember talking a lot about patience. I would like to say that once your book’s in hand, you’re done with the lesson of patience. But I’m in the process of publishing book two right now, and I’m learning more patience. Patience is the name of the game in writing and publishing.

From your perspective as a pastor and writer, why is attending church important for Christian authors?

Chase: If you call yourself a Christian, you’re partly under obligation to Christ to not neglect the gathering together of believers. That’s part of what we’re called to do as Christ’s body. The ...