Ink and Impact for Christian Writers | How to Write a Book, Self-Publish, Christian Book, Book Marketing, Nonfiction Book

In this episode, your host Dalene Bickel shares 7 Things to Avoid When Writing Your Life Story (or memoir, or autobiography). When you follow these guidelines, your story will attract readers rather than repel them. Sometimes, it's not about what you do but what you DON'T do that makes the biggest impact. Listen and SUBSCRIBE! Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Book: One-Year Collectio...

Did you know that while booksellers are buying about 250 to 300 titles a month (if they're a large seller), there are almost 1 million new, traditionally published books and, on top of that, 2-3 million self-published books produced every year in the United States alone? That is a lot of competition, my friend. So how can you make your book stands out and have a chance at getting it in bookst...

In this episode, you'll learn not only about the Kentucky Christian Writers Conference and why you should attend, but special guest Gregg  Bridgeman also shares some excellent tips for how to best prepare for a conference AND key insights about the challenges we Christian writers face in today's culture . Also, I announce that the Ink and Impact podcast is moving to a bi-weekly schedule...

You have a message to share. But how you can do it in a way that offers hope and makes a difference in the lives of your readers? Today's guest, author James H. Belt III, joins me and shares the approach he took to do this - and the lessons he learned along the way - when writing his new book, Hope Realized . Be assured: No matter your message, you, too, can be a hope bringer. Resources Menti...

On today's episode, Dalene Bickel shares a self-check for writers:  four things you should consider throughout every stage of your writing life, not just when you’re embarking on a new project or entering a new calendar year. Can you guess what they are? You just might be surprised! Listen in to discover if you’re correct … and if any of them resonate with you. Resources Mentioned in this Epi...

Do you want to get word out about your self-published book?  If so, you'll want to land media coverage in outlets such as newspapers, podcasts, radio, and television. But getting those coveted interview spots isn't always easy. That's why I invited Jason Jones, founder of Jones Literary (a PR firm for authors and publishers), to come on Ink and Impact and share the best ways to land...

Whew - I cover a lot of important info in today's book industry update! Tune in to learn about: Recent Christian Bookstore Sales Data,  Foreign Market Opportunities,  KDP Changes,   The New Book Rating System in Texas  I'd love to hear your thoughts about what is shared in this episode - select from the options below to connect with me! Prefer to read the blog versions? Go here. Resource...

Today's episode concludes the Author Summer School series by sharing 6 Steps to Setting Up an Email List and Growing Your Platform. Whether you're just starting out as a writer or are already an established author, this episode will ensure your email list is set up correctly AND help you reach - and attract - new readers. Share this with a fellow writing friend and be sure to SUBSCRIBE!...

This week I'm continuing  my Author Summer School series , and today we're specifically talking about  the benefits of blogging, how to start an author blog, and how to market an author blog. Lots of tips are coming your way, so if you are, driving or exercising or somewhere that you can't take notes, don't worry. Just be sure to go to the blog at inkandimpact.com where I'...

Hey there, fellow pen pusher! The Author Summer School Series continues here on the podcast. Today I'm sharing how you can build an effective author website in 10 steps , whether you plan to build it yourself or hire a web designer. Already have a website? Wonderful! But you’ll still want to follow along to make sure you’re not overlooking any key components. AND you’ll want to be stay all th...

Not sure if it's time to publish your book? Listen in to today's episode where you’ll learn:  what led Rick and Jane McKinney to walk across America almost 20 years ago,  why they waited until now to publish a book about it, and  how the lessons they learned along their trek and throughout the writing and publishing of their book can benefit your author journey as well. Prefer to read th...

You're excited to write your book, so you immediately start typing. That's a good thing, right? Yes, but in your eagerness, you might be overlooking or dismissing two critical things that should be done at the outset of your author journey. Listen in to today's episode to discover 2 Important Things Authors Tend to Dismiss, why they're important, and how you can implement them....

Do you have these 6 things every author needs? Today's episode kicks off what I'm calling my Author Summer School series. Now through the end of July, I'm going to be focusing primarily on the fundamentals of authorship and the practical things you need to put in place. Whether you're an aspiring author needing step-by-step guidance or an established author looking for a quick...

Wondering how to do the thing ... that is, write your book? Unsure what to expect throughout the writing and publishing process? If so, then be sure to listen to this episode of the Ink and Impact podcast in which Rebecca George and I discuss her experience writing and publishing her recently released book, Do the Thing: Gospel-Centered Goals, Gumption, and Grace for the Go-Getter Girl . We specif...

Today I’m keeping it real by talking about comparison, specifically how it hinders us and what we can do to combat it, plus 5 ways that Jesus models effective marketing for our God-given messages. Ready? Listen in! Would you rather read the blog version? Go to the website . Looking for a Christian writing group? Join the Inkwell Collective ! Follow Dalene on Instagram . Send us Fan Mail Join my ne...

Starting a podcast as an author offers some unique benefits that other types of marketing just can't replicate. And starting a podcast doesn't have to be difficult, either. However, it does require a bit of planning and effort. On today's episode of the Ink and Impact podcast, I'm joined by Sarah Moffat, a podcast manager and launch specialist.   Together, we discuss how starti...

In this episode of the Ink and Impact podcast, we look at how King David's desire to build a house for the Lord compares to our motivation to write today by asking ourselves 3 important questions. We also consider our identity as writers based on the names and titles we use. Plus, there's an important reminder about the current book giveaway! Enter for a chance to win a free copy of Lori...

Have you ever wondered if your story is worth writing? Are you aware that not every book has to be written in narrative form? Would you like a chance to win a free book? Have I caught your attention yet? 😀 On today's episode of the Ink and Impact podcast, author Lori Ann Wood joins me to share the backstory behind her new book, Divine Detour: The Path You'd Never Choose Can Lead to the...

Have you ever wondered what the differences are between  autobiography,  biography,  memoir, and  genealogy? Sometimes they overlap, but each has a distinct purpose. If you plan to write one of these genres - or are in the midst of writing one - do you know what to include ... or NOT to include? In honor of May being Personal History Awareness Month, I'm continuing the personal history theme...

It's Personal History Awareness Month! This fact led me to update my opt-in offer for individuals wanting to write their life stories, which in turn made me think that maybe I should do a podcast episode on how to create an opt-in offer. And here we are! Note that this episode differs from Episode 12 (How to Create and Distribute a Reader Magnet) in that this one is specifically for nonfictio...

Have you ever wondered what the differences are between hybrid publishing and traditional publishing?  Have you considered using a hybrid publisher, but weren't sure if they were legitimate or worth the investment? After all, there are a lot of author horror stories about them out there.  The good news is that they're not all bad, and choosing one just might be the right fit for you. Tod...

Hey there, Pen Pusher. Welcome back!  This week's episode is going to be a bit shorter than usual, but still valuable.  Today, I'm going to share about Christian Book Month and reveal the potential financial differences between traditionally published authors and indie or self-published authors.  I also want to invite you to join the Inkwell Collective. It's a community that God has...

In this episode of the Ink and Impact podcast, host Dalene Bickel offers practical tips for authors to promote their backlist books. She shares ideas from the free resource, "Backlist Book Promotion for Busy Authors," by Christian author assistant Amanda Geaney that provides a wealth of tips and strategies to help you continue to market your books long after their new release status. Lis...

On today's episode of the Ink and Impact Podcast, I speak with author Jennifer Hand, whose most recent book is My Yes Is On the Table .  We specifically talk about what it was like for her to say yes to writing a book and the different things that she experienced through her author journey that many of us as fellow writers can relate to. I think that you'll be encouraged by all that she...

In today's episode, I discuss AI for writers and how it's affecting the publishing industry. I wanted to really dig into this because while everyone else seems to be so excited about it and diving into it and touting all the benefits, I have a little hesitation about it. Not that I don't think that it should be used, but that we should be aware of how to properly use it and be aware...