Writing Off Social: The Podcast | Build Your Platform and Grow Your Email List Without Social Media

After nearly 100 podcast episodes, more than 50 guest interviews, and 3 years of coaching writers, we've learned a few things we definitely did NOT know at the beginning. Some of them surprised us. Some challenged our assumptions. And a few have completely changed the way we think about writing, marketing, and platform building. It's our Season 7 Finale and we're discussing the bigg...

What would it feel like to stop chasing an audience and start trusting that faithful work in small places is enough? Our guest today, Rachel Allord, has lived that question for over twenty years — through freelance writing, missionary life in London, and eventually a book deal. Her story is a permission slip for every writer who's tired of performing, and a beautiful reminder of the differenc...

If you've ever color-coded a brand new planner only to abandon it eleven weeks later, set a boundary around your time and felt like you could finally breathe again, or found yourself trying to figure out how to fit writing time, summer with your kids, and cleaning your own house into the margins of your day — this episode is for you. This week we are pulling back the curtain on our current wo...

If you've ever felt guilty for not posting enough, or wondered whether you're falling behind because you're not showing up consistently online — this episode is for you. We talk a lot on this show about the freedom that's possible when you step off the social media treadmill, but sometimes what we really need is to hear from someone who's actually done it and come out the...

Lately, we have been having the same conversation over and over again with exhausted writers--women who love writing and feel a holy calling to their work… but who also love their families, their churches, their communities, and the real lives they’ve been called to steward. Women who are trying to create out of bodies, minds, and schedules that already feel stretched thin. Today we want to talk h...

If you've ever typed "Should writers be on YouTube?" into a search bar and walked away more confused than when you started — this episode is for you. We've never had much to say about YouTube, but today we're diving deep with someone who has done the work. Thomas Umstattd Jr. joins us for his third time on the show, and we're finally going to tackle the YouTube questi...

Today, we're thrilled to speak with Lauren Groves, an acquisitions editor and children's author with B&H Publishing, an imprint of Lifeway Christian Resources . Listen in as we discuss what it takes to communicate big ideas in clear, simple language—and what that skill can teach every writer, no matter their genre. Plus, Lauren pulls back the curtain on what makes an acquisitions edi...

Today we’re diving into your questions — specifically, how to make the most of the opportunities right in front of you, whether that’s growing your email list, connecting with readers in real life, or building meaningful relationships in the writing world. We're sharing real stories, and answering your biggest questions so you can stop spinning your wheels — and start making strategic, sustai...

Today, we welcome author and acquisitions editor with Elk Lake Publishing, Jane Daly, where we pull back the curtain on what really makes an editor lean in instead of move on—from the first three chapters to the subtle signals in your proposal that say, “I understand this industry.” We talk about why following submission guidelines matters more than you think, how to answer “Why this publisher?” w...

Leaving social media is a huge step that takes a lot of courage. And for many writers, that step can feel less like a strategy shift—and more like a threat to your calling, your identity, and your future as a writer. This week, we chat with author, podcast host and certified brain coach Ashriel Huber , where we unpack the very real anxiety behind that feeling, what’s happening in your brain when t...

What if one of the most effective ways to grow your audience as a writer is something you’ve probably overlooked—or maybe even dismissed as outdated? Before social media took over everything, writers built their platforms by showing up on other people’s platforms, guest posting and contributing.  And guess what. That strategy? It still works! Grace Thomas is a writer and podcaster who has written...

Today, we are thrilled to speak with best-selling, award-winning author, poet, educator, and founder of The KidLit Lab, Laura Wifler , where we dive into all things children’s books. Listen in as we discuss what it looks like to write for one audience while marketing to another, and whether or not it’s possible to market a children’s book without social media. For show notes, go to https://writing...

What if ditching social media didn't mean starting from scratch — it just meant finding the right pathways for you ? Today we're pulling back the curtain on the ten strategies we teach inside our course — what they are, how they work, and the kinds of writers they're the best fit for. And we even brought a quiz to help you find yours. For show notes including the link to that quiz,...

It's our SEASON FINALE! What do you do when the rhythm that used to work… suddenly doesn’t anymore? When life shifts so drastically that your old schedule just won’t hold? Today, we’re pulling back the curtain and sharing how we’ve rebuilt our work rhythms from the ground up in two totally different seasons of life. Today we’re unpacking the real processes we use to shape our schedules, find...

Ever look at your kid’s school books and think, “Who writes all this stuff—and are they getting paid?” Today we’re talking to Megan Conner, an editor, author, writing consultant, and graduate of Writing Off Social: The Course who has built a thriving writing career in places most writers never think to look—educational publishing, work-for-hire projects, devotionals, technical writing, and those “...

If you’ve ever thought, “There’s no way I can land a book deal without a massive platform,” this episode is going to mess with that narrative in the very best way. Our guest, best-selling novelist Sarah Damoff, sold her debut novel, The Bright Years , to Simon & Schuster with no writing background, no industry connections, an Instagram following of about 300 friends and family, and a tiny emai...

What if your email list wasn’t just a marketing tool—but a ministry? In this conversation with business coach Cienna Kopischke, we explore how Christian writers can move away from hustle-driven tactics and instead steward their readers with care through email. Cienna shares how she shifted her business from Instagram-dependence to a Kingdom-centered model rooted in funnels that disciple, not manip...

Imagine building a successful, profitable business without posting a single reel, chasing trends, or spending hours trying to trick the algorithm. If this sounds impossible, think again. As an anger management coach and podcaster, Elizabeth Andreyevskiy walked away from social media entirely, and in doing so, built a flourishing coaching practice that not only serves Christian moms all over the wo...

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s truly possible to land a traditional publishing deal without a massive following--or without much of a social media presence at all—today’s episode is for you. This week, we're celebrating our friend, WOS student, retreat leader, spiritual director, and debut author Lori Melton on the launch of her first book, Journey with a Giant. She shares how she secur...

If you’re stepping away from the noise of social platforms, knowing exactly who you’re writing for and what she needs becomes even more essential. Today, writer, podcaster, and writing coach Amy Simon shares how to identify your ideal reader, uncover the problems she’s trying to solve, and use that clarity to shape your message with purpose and confidence. Whether you’re writing a blog, a book, or...

Today’s episode is a little different… because our very own Mary K. Tiller is stepping out from behind the hosting mic and into the guest chair!  That’s right — the woman you know as co-host and co-founder of Writing Off Social is here to spill the beans on her brand-new venture: Tiller Editing . We’re talking about how she’s building an editing business from the ground up (without social media),...

If you’ve ever thought, “I’d love to build a paid community around my writing… but where would I even start?” you’re not alone. In this episode, we’re sitting down with Angie Baughman, who has walked that road step by messy step. She’s pulling back the curtain on what it really takes to launch and run a membership that actually serves people — from pricing and platforms to beta groups and burnout....

Is your writing a ministry, a business—or both? Today we sit down with Kent Sanders, ghostwriter, coach, and host of The Profitable Writer Podcast, to explore what it really looks like to merge calling with career. Kent shares how he built a profitable ghostwriting business without relying on social media, why generosity flows best from abundance, and the simple, old-school strategies that still w...

God calls us to peace, but most of the writers we know struggle to find time to write, balance writing with other responsibilities, and manage writing and marketing time. If that sounds familiar, take a breath. What if productivity isn’t about doing more but finally knowing what to say yes to? What if the clarity you’ve been craving has been within reach all along? And what if the very thing holdi...

If you’re a writer, chances are you’ve felt the tension between timeless craft and ever-changing technology. On one hand, your voice and perspective are irreplaceable. On the other hand, new technology is reshaping the way books are written, marketed, and read. Is AI a threat to creativity or a partner that can free you to do your best work? What role can social media play in this new landscape? A...