If you’re feeling overwhelmed or frustrated when it comes to writing and marketing your book, know that you’re not alone.

Every published author I’ve ever met has had to deal with fluctuating emotions, doubts, time constraints, decision fatigue, and information overload throughout the various stages of their writing journeys.

Yet it is estimated that 500,000 new self-published books were released last year by U.S. authors alone. Assuming that some authors wrote multiple books in one year, that means at least a quarter of a million people were able to push past all the challenges and overwhelm to successfully write and self-publish their books.

You can, too.

On today’s episode, I’m going to share a SIMPLER way to write – and market – your book.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Bookworthy Academy Waitlist
• Self-Publishing Checklist - FREE 2-page resource
• Your Path to Publishing - FREE 9-page guide to help you determine if traditional, hybrid, or self-publishing is right for you.
• The Inkwell membership - weekly writing sessions and monthly Craft Chats
• Oswald Chambers's My Utmost for His Highest devotional * (affiliate link) *

Additional Writing/Self-Publishing Resources:

• 1:1 Coaching Session - gain strategy and clarity; limited slots available

Connect with Your Host, Dalene Bickel:

• Email: info@inkandimpact.com
• Instagram: @‌dalenebickel
• Website: inkandimpact.com

Thanks for listening! Join the FREE Ink and Impact Facebook community for Christian writers.

Want FREE promotion? Send an audio recording of your favorite thing about this podcast to info@inkandimpact.com (be sure to include your name, book title, and website URL!).

At the outset, writing and self-publishing a book sounds straightforward - just write it and upload it to Amazon or whatever online retailer you choose.

Easy-peasy, right? 😃

Weellll…behind every overarching topic (writing, editing, publishing, and marketing) are MANY tasks and corresponding sub-tasks.

Compounding the problem is that when writers begin to search for answers to their questions and challenges, they’re inundated with so much information, it’s often overwhelming. 😳

In fact, the realities of authorship cause many aspiring authors to become one of three types of writers.

Ready to learn what they are? Listen in!

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Self-Publishing Checklist - FREE 2-page resource
• The Inkwell membership - weekly writing sessions and monthly Craft Chats
• 1:1 Coaching Session - gain strategy and clarity; limited slots available

Connect with Your Host, Dalene Bickel:

• Email: info@inkandimpact.com
• Instagram: @‌dalenebickel
• Website: inkandimpact.com

Thanks for listening! Join the FREE Ink and Impact Facebook community for Christian writers.

Want FREE promotion? Send an audio recording of your favorite thing about this podcast to info@inkandimpact.com (be sure to include your name, book title, and website URL!).

In today’s episode of the Ink and Impact podcast, I’m going to cover 5 Essential Networking Tips for Writers.

As a book coach who serves Christian indie writers throughout their self-publishing journeys, I’ve learned that one of the biggest challenges they face is promoting and marketing their brand and their books.

Yet one of the best ways to promote oneself is the very thing that many writers avoid like the plague: networking.

Listen in to discover the 5 Essential Networking Tips for Writers.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Self-Publishing Checklist - FREE 2-page resource
• The Inkwell membership - weekly writing sessions and monthly Craft Chats

Additional Writing/Self-Publishing Resources:

• 1:1 Coaching Session - gain strategy and clarity; limited slots available

Connect with Your Host, Dalene Bickel:

• Email: info@inkandimpact.com
• Instagram: @‌dalenebickel
• Website: inkandimpact.com

Thanks for listening! Join the FREE Ink and Impact Facebook community for Christian writers.

Want FREE promotion? Send an audio recording of your favorite thing about this podcast to info@inkandimpact.com (be sure to include your name, book title, and website URL!).

Compromise as a Christian writer isn't something many people talk about ... but it's something that can easily creep into our author life if we're not careful.

What kinds of things might cause you to compromise?

Listen in to discover a few examples and discover how you can prevent - or remedy - a compromising situation.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Self-Publishing Checklist - FREE 2-page resource
• The Inkwell membership - weekly writing sessions and monthly Craft Chats

Additional Writing/Self-Publishing Resources:

• 1:1 Coaching Session - gain strategy and clarity; limited slots available

Connect with Your Host, Dalene Bickel:

• Email: info@inkandimpact.com
• Instagram: @‌dalenebickel
• Website: inkandimpact.com

#christianwriters #christianauthors #writingtips

Thanks for listening! Join the FREE Ink and Impact Facebook community for Christian writers.

Want FREE promotion? Send an audio recording of your favorite thing about this podcast to info@inkandimpact.com (be sure to include your name, book title, and website URL!).

You may recall that back in episode 68, I asked, Is There Still a Market for Christian Books?

Well, thanks to a recent 41-page 2024 State of Christian Retail report by The Parable Group, I can conclusively say YES there is still a market for Christian books, particularly within independent Christian retailers.

On today's episode, I'm going to share:

• Highlights from the 2024 State of Christian Retail report,
• What those results mean for Christian authors, and
• 9 strategies indie Christian authors can use to potentially get their books into indie Christian bookstores.

Listen in and be sure to SUBSCRIBE!

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Self-Publishing Checklist - FREE 2-page resource
• The Inkwell membership - weekly writing sessions and monthly Craft Chats
• How Do I Get My Christian Book Listed on CBD (Christian Book Distributors) - blog post by Christopher D. Schmitz

Additional Writing/Self-Publishing Resources:

• 1:1 Coaching Session - gain strategy and clarity; limited slots available

Connect with Your Host, Dalene Bickel:

• Email: info@inkandimpact.com
• Instagram: @‌dalenebickel
• Website: inkandimpact.com

Thanks for listening! Join the FREE Ink and Impact Facebook community for Christian writers.

Want FREE promotion? Send an audio recording of your favorite thing about this podcast to info@inkandimpact.com (be sure to include your name, book title, and website URL!).

I recently had the honor of interviewing Becca Wierwille, author of the middle grade novel, Road Trip Rescue.

On today's episode, we address how to incorporate your own experience into a fictional story ... and why it matters.

Regardless of what genre of fiction you're writing - and even if you're writing nonfiction - today's episode offers practical advice, tips, and lots of encouragement to guide you in this topic of incorporating your own experience into your writing.

I'm just excited to share it with you. Listen in!

Connect with Becca Wierwille:
Website - https://beccawierwille.com/
Book - Road Trip Rescue (*affiliate link)
Email Newsletter - Becca Wierwille's Email Newsletter (subscribepage.com)
Social Media -

• Amazon Author Page
• Goodreads
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Pinterest
• Twitter

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• The Inkwell membership - weekly writing sessions and monthly Craft Chats

Additional Writing/Self-Publishing Resources:

• Your Path to Publishing - a free guide that compares self-publishing, hybrid publishing and traditional publishing so you can make the right choice for your book.
• 1:1 Coaching Session - gain strategy and clarity; limited slots available

Connect with Your Host, Dalene Bickel:

• Email: info@inkandimpact.com
• Instagram: @‌dalenebickel
• Website: inkandimpact.com

Thanks for listening! Join the FREE Ink and Impact Facebook community for Christian writers.

Want FREE promotion? Send an audio recording of your favorite thing about this podcast to info@inkandimpact.com (be sure to include your name, book title, and website URL!).

How is your writing coming along? How about your marketing?

Are they going as well as you had hoped they would at the beginning of the year?

If not, know you're not alone. New habits can be difficult to establish, and mindset plays a big factor in how successful you'll be.

Do you want to learn how to develop an effective, God-honoring mindset?

if so, be sure to listen to today's episode of the Ink and Impact podcast, where I share four practical ways to cultivate a Christian author's mindset.

#inkandimpact

Author Spotlight
R.M. Ruiz, author of The Chosen Kids. Visit her website.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Ink & Impact Facebook Community - free private group
• The Inkwell membership - weekly writing sessions

Additional Writing/Self-Publishing Resources:

• Your Path to Publishing - a free guide that compares self-publishing, hybrid publishing and traditional publishing so you can make the right choice for your book.
• 1:1 Strategy Session - gain strategy and clarity; limited slots available
• 1:1 (4-week) Coaching Package - includes select manuscript critiques!

Connect with Your Host, Dalene Bickel:

• Email: info@inkandimpact.com
• Instagram: @‌dalenebickel
• Website: inkandimpact.com

Thanks for listening! Join the FREE Ink and Impact Facebook community for Christian writers.

Want FREE promotion? Send an audio recording of your favorite thing about this podcast to info@inkandimpact.com (be sure to include your name, book title, and website URL!).

Regardless of whether or not you like Costco, the 7 strategies I'm going to share with you today can help you reach - and retain - your readers.

Book marketing, after all, is all about serving your readers.

This is one of several great topics I have lined up for you in Quarter 1 this year, along with some fabulous guest interviews. I can’t wait to share them all with you!

But now, it’s time to dive into today’s topic. Let’s go!

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• The Inkwell membership - 8 weekly writing sessions + a group craft chat every month (all virtual).
• Costco - "Costco is a membership warehouse club, dedicated to bringing our members the best possible prices on quality brand-name merchandise."

Additional Writing/Self-Publishing Resources:

• Your Path to Publishing - a free guide that compares self-publishing, hybrid publishing and traditional publishing so you can make the right choice for your book.
• 1:1 Coaching Session - gain strategy and clarity; limited slots available
• Ink & Impact Facebook Community - free private group

Connect with Your Host, Dalene Bickel:

• Email: info@inkandimpact.com
• Instagram: @‌dalenebickel
• Website: inkandimpact.com

Thanks for listening! Join the FREE Ink and Impact Facebook community for Christian writers.

Want FREE promotion? Send an audio recording of your favorite thing about this podcast to info@inkandimpact.com (be sure to include your name, book title, and website URL!).