The Writing at the Red House Podcast

You have a book on your hard drive. Maybe it's been there for months. Maybe years. You're passionate about it, you believe in the story, and yet somehow it just won't get finished. Sound familiar? In this episode of Writing at the Red House, Kathi sits down with prolific author and ghostwriter Julie Lyles Carr to unpack why finishing feels so impossibly hard—even when we desperately want to cross...

Do you feel like your writing dreams are always stuck on "someday"? You're not alone. Many writers struggle to move from dreaming about their book to actually making progress—especially when life is full of other responsibilities. In this episode of the Writing at the Red House podcast, Kathi Lipp sits down with Tenneil Register to pull back the curtain on the quarterly planning process used insid...

Every writer or creative entrepreneur has faced it: that gut-punch moment when the numbers take a nosedive. Whether it's email subscribers disappearing, podcast downloads plummeting, or engagement grinding to a halt, the temptation to panic—or quit altogether—is real. In this episode of the Writing at the Red House podcast, Kathi Lipp and her husband Roger Lipp tackle the uncomfortable topic of wh...

You've been doing the work. Showing up. Posting. Writing. Sending newsletters. And yet... the numbers aren't moving. Maybe they've even dipped. If you've ever wondered whether flat growth means you're failing—or if God is closing a door—this episode is for you. What You'll Learn in This Episode Kathi and Roger Lipp tackle one of the most emotionally loaded topics for Christian writers and creative...

Have you ever felt like your opinions don't matter? Like you should just keep quiet and not rock the boat? If you grew up in certain church or cultural contexts, you may have learned that being a "good woman" meant making yourself smaller. But what if that's not what Jesus modeled at all? In this powerful conversation, Kathi sits down with author and friend Susy Flory to explore what it really tak...

Have you ever dreamed of seeing yourself on local TV promoting your book or message—but had no idea where to start? You're not alone. Many writers feel overwhelmed by the idea of pitching media, building relationships with producers, and finding that newsworthy angle that gets them booked. In this episode of the Writing at the Red House podcast, Kathi Lipp sits down with Tenneil Register, a writer...

Do you find yourself hitting a new quarter and realizing you have no idea what you should be working on? You're not alone. Writing is a long game, and without intentional planning, it's easy for your creative dreams to fall to the bottom of your to-do list. In this episode, Kathi Lipp and Tenneil Register pull back the curtain on the quarterly planning process they use inside the Red House Writers...

If you're planning to pitch a book this year, you might be surprised to learn that the strategies that worked just a few years ago may not cut it anymore. The publishing landscape has shifted dramatically, and understanding these changes could make all the difference in whether your book finds its audience. What You'll Learn in This Episode In this episode of the Writing at the Red House podcast,...

Have you ever felt stuck trying to narrow down your target reader? What if your book naturally speaks to two very different audiences? In this episode of Writing at the Red House, Kathi Lipp sits down with bestselling author and acquisitions editor Jennifer Dukes Lee to explore what happens when you break the "one ideal reader" rule. Jennifer opens up about the challenge she faced while writing he...

You're sending newsletters faithfully, but it feels like they're disappearing into a black hole. No opens. No responses. Just silence. If you've ever wondered whether anyone actually reads what you write, this episode is for you. Kathi Lipp and Tenneil Register dive into the real reason people aren't opening your emails—and it's probably not what you think. Spoiler alert: it's not about clever tri...

Do you find yourself staring at a blank page when it's time to write your newsletter? You know you should be connecting with your readers regularly, but between writing your book, managing social media, and all of life's other responsibilities, the newsletter keeps slipping through the cracks. In this practical episode, Kathi and Roger Lipp dive into three specific ways AI can remove the friction...

Life doesn't pause for our writing schedules. Between long COVID, emergency surgery, a tree crashing through the house, and a week without power, Kathi Lipp and Roger Lipp have navigated one of their most challenging seasons yet—all while keeping the podcast going and even submitting a new book proposal. If you've ever wondered how to maintain your creative momentum when everything feels like it's...

You've probably seen it a hundred times—an author posts their book cover on Instagram with a "Buy my book!" caption, and... crickets. If you've ever wondered why simply showing up with your book cover doesn't translate into sales, this episode is for you. Social media strategist and author Ruthie Gray joins Kathi Lipp to share the real secret to Instagram book marketing: it's not about the launch...

Have you ever poured your heart into a book idea, only to wonder if anyone will actually want to read it? What if there was a way to know—before you write a single chapter—that your message will resonate with readers? In this episode of the Writing at the Red House podcast, Kathi Lipp and Cheri Gregory reveal the approach that separates successful authors from those whose books gather dust: writin...

Have you ever tried to pitch a book and felt like you were throwing spaghetti at the wall? Or maybe you've described your audience as "everyone who needs hope" and wondered why agents and publishers weren't biting? Here's the truth that might sting a little: if your book is for everyone, it's really for no one. In this episode, Kathi Lipp and Tenneil Register dive deep into the concept of audience...

Have you ever felt the tension between what you genuinely believe and what Christian publishing seems to expect? You're not alone. In a world where church culture and gospel truth don't always align, finding your authentic voice as a faith-driven writer can feel overwhelming. What You'll Discover in This Episode In this honest conversation, Kathi Lipp and twenty-time author Dr. Susy Flory explore...

Do you ever sit down to write only to realize you've forgotten that brilliant idea you had in the shower? Or maybe you've captured dozens of notes at conferences that are now buried under layers of paper on your desk, slowly dying from neglect? If you've ever felt like you struggle more with starting than with actual writing, this episode is for you. Kathi Lipp and Roger Lipp dive into the unsexy...

Ever find yourself scrolling through 11,000 photos on your phone, desperately searching for that one picture that actually looks like you? You're not alone. For authors and creators trying to build a consistent presence online, the photo hunt can feel like a second job. In this episode, Kathi Lipp sits down with branding expert Tenneil Register to introduce a game-changing concept: the branding ba...

Do you ever stare at a blank screen, knowing you have something to say but feeling paralyzed by the pressure to be brilliant? What if you could create meaningful, compelling content in just five minutes—without spiraling into overthinking? In this episode of the Writing at the Red House podcast, Kathi Lipp and storytelling expert Tenneil Register unpack a simple four-part framework that will trans...

Do you find yourself overthinking every social media post, waiting for the perfect story, or saving your best moments for "someday"? You're not alone. Many writers and creators feel paralyzed when it comes to content creation, believing everything needs to be big and polished to matter. In this episode, Kathi Lipp and Tenneil Register introduce a game-changing framework called Micro Message Mappin...

Have you ever found yourself in the middle of writing a book, feeling like you should be further along? Like everyone else writes faster, thinks clearer, and somehow has it all figured out? You're not alone—and you're probably measuring the wrong things. In this episode, Kathi Lipp and Roger Lipp introduce a powerful framework from Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy's book The Gap and the Gain an...

Have you ever wondered what it really takes to go from self-published author to landing a traditional publishing contract? If you've been dreaming of seeing your book on shelves with a traditional publisher's backing, this episode pulls back the curtain on exactly what that journey looks like. What You'll Discover in This Episode Sue Donaldson joins the podcast to share the real, unfiltered story...

You've finally finished your book—congratulations! But here's the truth many authors discover too late: the finish line of writing is really just the starting line of getting your message into readers' hands and hearts. When Your Book Needs More Than Pages In this encouraging episode, Kathi sits down with Lori G Melton, author of Journey with a Giant and member of the Writing at the Red House Coll...

You've finished your manuscript, and now you're facing one of the biggest decisions of your writing journey: Should you pursue traditional publishing or take the indie route? If you've ever felt paralyzed by this choice, you're not alone—and this episode is exactly what you need. Literary agent Sherri Wilson Johnson brings a unique perspective to this conversation. As both an agent at Gardner Lite...

Are you stuck trying to figure out whether to self-publish or pursue traditional publishing? You're not alone. This decision can feel overwhelming, especially when you're juggling life responsibilities while pursuing your writing dreams. In this special replay from last year's Path to Publish conference, Kathi Lipp sits down with Sherri Johnson—a literary agent with the Gardner Agency who has also...