Finding the right tone in your writing is difficult. How do you balance knowledge with humility? Challenge with grace? Creativity with clarity?

Most people toggle between all of these, hoping their words land. But it feels like a guessing game. Today’s guest, Steve Carter, gives this helpful advice: Write to your former self. What do you wish you knew 10 years ago? An author of several books, including his most recent release, Grieve, Breathe, Receive, Steve chops it up with editor Will Parker Anderson about:

• Why writing in community will dramatically nurture your craft

• How to communicate on the page vs. stage

• How to focus and create time to write

• The importance of choosing your lane as a writer

Steve is a master communicator, whether speaking in front of a live audience or sharing through his books. As you listen to this episode, Steve’s pastoral wisdom, heart for people, and creativity as a communicator will impact you. You’ll feel like you’re at a coffee shop, sitting across from a friend. And you’ll walk away with a clearer vision of your calling to write.

EPISODE LINKS

Subscribe to Will’s weekly newsletter: willparker.me

Please rate this podcast: Apple | Spotify

Will’s Instagram: @willparkeranderson

Will’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willparkeranderson/

Steve’s new book: Grieve, Breathe, Receive

Steve’s website: https://www.stevecarter.org/

In this episode, Will Parker Anderson interviews Megan Hill, managing editor at The Gospel Coalition, about the intricacies of writing and getting published. They delve into crafting a winning article, avoiding common pitfalls, and valuing feedback. Megan shares tips on finding unique angles, structuring pieces, and creating compelling introductions.

She highlights the editor's role as a supportive ally and discusses balancing feedback with maintaining one's voice. They also explore the healing power of words, drawing from Megan's book on church hurt, and the challenge of blending honesty with hope.

Some key takeaways:

• How to pitch an article that gets noticed

• Most common mistakes writers make

• Why shifting your audience brings freshness to a concept

• How words have the power to heal

• How to balance honesty with hopefulness, especially when writing on difficult topics

EPISODE LINKS

Subscribe to Will’s weekly newsletter: willparker.me

Please rate this podcast: Apple | Spotify

Will’s Instagram: @willparkeranderson

Will’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willparkeranderson/

Good writing is provocative. It grabs your attention, not as click bait, but because it resonates with reality一it names the ache you feel in everyday life. It emboldens you to stay in the fight, to forgive, to grow.

Unfortunately, it’s easier to be predictable than prophetic. On one hand, some writers go over the top to gain attention, without offering people something of substance. But on the other hand, thoughtful writers sometimes come off predictable and, in the end, few people pay attention.

Today’s guest has the rare gift of both substance and style. Dr. Mason, who pastors Epiphany Fellowship in Philadelphia, shares with senior editor Will Anderson:

• Why followers of Jesus should write about topics that raise eyebrows

• How to interact and listen to your audience, to help you write better

• Why writing is one of the primary ways God changes the world

If you desire to fuel your own writing life and vision, make sure to listen to the end. Dr. Mason drops some encouragement that will inspire and fuel your craft.

EPISODE LINKS

Subscribe to Will’s weekly newsletter: willparker.me

Please rate this podcast: Apple | Spotify

Will’s Instagram: @willparkeranderson

Will’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willparkeranderson/

Dr. Mason’s website: https://www.pastoremase.com/

If you don’t market your book, don’t expect anyone to read it.

That sounds harsh, right? The problem is, most writers assume that good writing is enough to garner reader attention. They pour countless hours into creating content, but give little thought to packaging and marketing it. Readers won’t come to a book if they don’t even know it exists.

If we’re being real, few of us know how to market something in the first place.

That’s why today’s conversation with literary agent Don Gates is so crucial. Don comes to his work with a pastoral mindset, along with some serious marketing muscle. He shares with senior editor Will Parker Anderson how to find your audience while refusing to compromise your convictions along the way.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The basics of what a literary agent does

• Why writers even need agents

• How to successfully market your ideas

• How to build a platform with integrity

Stick with us through this whole episode, because at the very end, Don gives some sobering advice to writers that you should definitely hear.

EPISODE LINKS

Subscribe to Will’s weekly newsletter: willparker.me

Please rate this podcast: Apple | Spotify

Will’s Instagram: @willparkeranderson

Will’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willparkeranderson/

Don’s website: the-gates-group.com

Ever feel like social media is draining your soul? But you can’t let it go because you’re trying to build a platform to appease publishers? It’s a common conundrum.

A lot of writers invest hours posting on social, with limited results. It’s discouraging and draining. On the other hand, writers who ditch social feel left out一like they’ve committed career suicide.

Is there a way to build an author platform without being a victim to the merciless algorithm?

Today’s guests, Sandy Cooper and Mary Tiller, share their story about struggling to get noticed on social media. Ultimately, when they recognized it was distracting them from their calling一things like family, writing, and stewarding time well一they both did something very countercultural: They walked away from social media altogether.

Along the way, they discovered dozens of other writers experiencing the same disillusionment, who lacked an alternative approach to building a readership. So they pioneered a movement called Writing Off Social.

In this episode, Sandy and Mary share with Will Parker Anderson:

• Effective ways to build a platform without social media

• How to evaluate if social is helping or hindering your happiness

• Encouragement that your writing matters, even when publishers dismiss you

By the end of this episode, you will have a treasure trove of new ideas for building your platform. This is not a hit piece on social media一it’s a thoughtful conversation that will provoke honest self reflection, and nudge your mind, body, and soul toward health.

EPISODE LINKS

Subscribe to Will’s weekly newsletter: willparker.me

Please rate this podcast: Apple | Spotify

Will’s Instagram: @willparkeranderson

Will’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willparkeranderson/

Mary and Sandy’s website: https://writingoffsocial.com/

Why is it so hard to make time to write? With good intentions, we set out to create a regular rhythm, only to get distracted or discouraged, and it fades away.

If you struggle to write regularly, it’s probably because you haven’t discovered the secret to forming a lasting habit. No shame一it’s easier said than done.

Today’s guest, Justin Whitmel Earley, is uniquely qualified to help us. Professionally, Justin is the author of three incredible books, which he managed to write while working as a full-time corporate lawyer. Personally, he’s a husband, popular speaker, and father to three boys. Needless to say, he’s overqualified to instruct us how to cultivate the writing life in the midst of life’s chaos.

Justin shares with Will Parker Anderson about the following:

• How to make time to write, even when it feels impossible

• 3 key strategies that will improve your craft

• Why risk is crucial to the writing life

By the end of this episode, you will have practical steps to help you write more regularly. Away with good intentions (and the guilt we feel when we flake on them).

Together, let’s learn to steward our craft in a way that’s life-giving, even when our schedules feel maxed out.

EPISODE LINKS

Subscribe to Will’s weekly newsletter: willparker.me

Please rate this podcast: Apple | Spotify

Will’s Instagram: @willparkeranderson

Will’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willparkeranderson/

Justin’s Books:

The Common Rule

Habits of the Household

Made for People

Welcome to episode #1, with author and pastor, Rich Villodas, the lead pastor of New Life Fellowship in Queens, New York.

This one’s fun because Will Parker Anderson is Rich’s editor at Waterbrook, so they invite you behind-the-scenes to reveal the unique relationship between writer and editor—the good, the awkward, and everything in between.

They discuss the vulnerability and productivity of the editing process, as they worked together on Rich's forthcoming book, The Narrow Path.

Other highlights include:

• What is it like to pour so much energy and effort into a manuscript, to then receive it back from an editor, all marked up?

• How do we prepare our hearts to receive feedback well?

• Why is feedback essential to growth?

By the end of this episode, you’ll have way less fear about showing your work to others. And a renewed commitment to grow in your craft through the input of others.

EPISODE LINKS

Subscribe to Will’s weekly newsletter: willparker.me

Please rate this podcast: Apple | Spotify

Will’s Instagram: @willparkeranderson

Will’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willparkeranderson/

Rich’s books:

The Narrow Path

Good and Beautiful and Kind

The Deeply Formed Life

The Writers Circle is a podcast for nonfiction writers who want to sharpen their skills and publish their work for the glory of Jesus. Senior book editor Will Parker Anderson interviews authors and experts about the writing life.A podcast for nonfiction writers who want to sharpen their skills and publish their work for the glory of Jesus. Senior book editor Will Parker Andersons interviews authors and experts about the writing life.