The Keep Writing Podcast

Latest Episodes:

155: A Prayer of Blessing for the Writer’s Heart Oct 10, 2023

Show notes

Sometimes, you just need a prayer of blessing spoken over you.

When you’re feeling overwhelmed, distracted, and discouraged, take comfort in the arms of the One who has all the answers.

Today, dear writer, join Nika as she prays a prayer of blessing over you and the message you are divinely appointed to share. Pray this prayer with her and find clarity and calm as you enter into the Lord's presence.

The writing life can often feel frustrating, confusing, and stagnant. When you're feeling stuck, find encouragement and motivation in these words to refresh your spirit and keep writing!

Show yourself grace and practice patience in this season as you commit your work to the Lord. Believe that He is using it to advance the Kingdom as He sees fit.

Instead of sitting in discouragement when it feels like God isn't moving, come back to this episode and pray this prayer with Nika. It will wash over you like a soothing balm.

Writer, you are anointed and appointed for such a time as this. Rise up and let your light shine bright through the message you are called to share!

If you’d like to download a free sample of Nika’s latest book, Page One to Page Done, go to https://www.pageonetopagedone.com/book to download it today!

Ready to finally write that book you've been dreaming about for so long? Nika’s 5-day challenge, the Bless Your Book Workshop, is the perfect place to start! Sign up now at blessyourbook.com.

Want Nika to be your writing coach? Visit nikamaples.com/coaching today to learn more!

The post 155: A Prayer of Blessing for the Writer’s Heart appeared first on Nika Maples.

154: How to Create the Perfect Book Outline Oct 03, 2023

Show notes

There are two main reasons why many authors don’t write a book outline before they start their project: they simply don’t know how or they don’t want to because it feels too restrictive.

The problem is, a good book outline organizes your thoughts and makes your topic easier to write about! Without one, your reader may not fully grasp your concept or they may lose interest in your book and never even finish reading it.

Learning how to write a book outline can make you much more effective at teaching your topic! It will also help your ideal reader more easily understand and utilize your content.

Join Nika in this episode as she shares her beliefs about the power of an outline and how you can make your outline serve you and your project the way it’s supposed to!

Come listen in as she discusses:

Why an outline is important
How to write a great book outline
Where people go wrong as they approach their outline
How to use your outline in your book
Where to begin with your outline
The 7 P’s of how to create the perfect outline for you
A practical action step you can take right now to get started!

If you’d like to download a free sample of Nika’s latest book, Page One to Page Done, go to https://www.pageonetopagedone.com/book to download it today!

Ready to finally write that book you've been dreaming about for so long? Nika’s 5-day challenge, the Bless Your Book Workshop, is the perfect place to start! Sign up now at blessyourbook.com.

Want Nika to be your writing coach? Visit nikamaples.com/coaching today to learn more!

The post 154: How to Create the Perfect Book Outline appeared first on Nika Maples.

153: When You Feel Called to Write an Autobiography Sep 26, 2023

Show notes

Curious about how to write an autobiography?

Are you feeling prompted by the Holy Spirit to share your life story? Maybe God is encouraging you to share the experiences you’ve walked through with Him!

Whether you’ve lived through life-shattering events or you’ve met God in the small, everyday moments, your story has been anointed for such a time as this.

In this episode, Nika shares an excerpt from her memoir, entitled Twelve Clean Pages, to help give you a vision of what your own memoir could be.

In it, she shares about the difficulties her own family members have gone through. Their stories have inspired a life of courage and faith in her, which has rippled outwards to many others.

Your story doesn’t have to be full of tragedy in order to help the ones who will read it.

It simply needs to be shared with a vision and a purpose.

Come listen in as Nika discusses:

How painful experiences can lead to greater joy
How your own pain and trauma can be just the thing to help others who are going through or who have been through the same experiences
How to dig through the experiences that have showed you who God is
How to create maximum impact on your readers
How to decide what you want your readers to believe

If you’d like to buy a copy of Nika’s book to have in your home, your car, your office, or wherever else you may need a dose of encouragement, you can buy it at https://shop.nikamaples.com/, or wherever you buy your books online!

Ready to finally write that book you've been dreaming about for so long? Nika’s 5-day challenge, the Bless Your Book Workshop, is the perfect place to start! Sign up now at blessyourbook.com.

Want Nika to be your writing coach? Visit nikamaples.com/coaching today to learn more!

The post 153: When You Feel Called to Write an Autobiography appeared first on Nika Maples.

152: Finding Hope When the Writing Life Feels Discouraging Sep 19, 2023

Show notes

There's always an abundance of hope for writers when we know where to look.

The writing life can sometimes feel a bit discouraging, especially when you haven’t finished your first book or any big writing project you’re working on.

As a Christian writer, it can be easy to wonder if God even remembers you when you just can’t seem to catch the break you’ve been praying for and you’re starting to lose hope.

It’s easy to feel forsaken when you’re lost in rejection and loneliness.

It’s easy to feel forgotten when your scars are constantly reminding you of your most painful experiences.

But we can find hope once more when we remember that we are His scars and that we are engraved on the palms of His hands.

Jesus is the perfect hope for writers. All we have to do is look to Him.

Friend, find encouragement today in the fact that God has not forgotten how much He loves you.

Instead, maybe you’ve forgotten how much He loves you. It’s okay to need a reminder.

Come join Nika as she reads an excerpt from her book, Hunting Hope, and shares some wild tales of how she got some of her own scars and came face to face with God’s divine grace in the midst of them!

Ready to finally write that book you've been dreaming about for so long? Nika’s 5-day challenge, the Bless Your Book Workshop, is the perfect place to start! Sign up now at blessyourbook.com.

Want Nika to be your writing coach? Visit nikamaples.com/coaching today to learn more!

The post 152: Finding Hope When the Writing Life Feels Discouraging appeared first on Nika Maples.

151: How to Write a Book in Three Steps with Holly Compton Sep 12, 2023

Show notes

As writers, we often tend to overthink the process of writing a book.

We like to have things neat and tidy, having the entire outline and storyline mapped out and organized.

Or we can tend to feel like a complete mess because the project feels too big and we have no idea where to start.

Friend, it’s time to simplify the process.

In this week’s episode, we learn all about how "Keep Writing" student, Holly Compton wrote her entire book, front to back, in just six weeks!

She did this by following a simple 3-step process that we teach inside of the Anointed Writers program.

Having loved writing ever since she was a child, Holly mainly focused on poetry with the hopes of writing a book one day, but never knowing what that might look like.

She spent years holding the idea of a book within her missionary’s heart and dreamed of sharing the message that God had planted in her. She just didn’t know how to start.

Early in January 2022, Holly came across an ad for the "Keep Writing" course and knew it was exactly what she needed!

Combining the guidance she received in the course with the guidance and anointing she received from the Lord, Holly was able to finish her book and begin her journey to publication!

Come join us as we discuss:

Why creating an outline is crucial to writing your book
The differences between self-publishing and traditional publishing
The 3 simple steps to writing any book
Trusting God to lead you on your writing journey
What to do when the journey doesn’t look like you thought it would
How surrendering and obeying are the keys to experiencing God’s blessing
How valuable it is to have a community and a coach to lean on for support

If you've been wondering how to write a book, this is an episode you don't want to miss!

Ready to finally write that book you've been dreaming about for so long? My 5-day challenge, the Bless Your Book Workshop, is the perfect place to start! Sign up now at blessyourbook.com.

Want me to be your writing coach? Visit nikamaples.com/coaching today to learn more!

The post 151: How to Write a Book in Three Steps with Holly Compton appeared first on Nika Maples.

150: Let the Ink Soak Through Sep 05, 2023

Show notes

For all the teachers that are making their way back to school and welcoming new students on campus this year, take a few moments to be encouraged.

In this episode, Nika reads an excerpt from her daily devotional book for educators and administrators entitled “Keep Teaching,” in the hopes that you will turn to these messages of encouragement and faith throughout the school year.

Coming straight from the heart of a teacher, Nika shares about the insights and lessons she learned from the Lord during her time teaching in the public school system, and uses those experiences to bless the hearts of other teachers.

Whether you are about to enter into a tough teacher-parent conference, dealing with a difficult concept to teach on, or just want to prepare for your day, you are invited to spend some quiet time with God and draw strength and refreshment through these quick messages.

Let the Word of God soak through your life and into your heart.

Read His Word out loud, proclaim it with your mouth, and let your ears hear what your heart believes.

Come sit in the presence of the Lord as Nika shares five messages from her book, including:

What to do when you feel like God doesn’t hear you
Allowing God to guide your words
Giving encouragement to your students, even when you don’t have much to give
Letting God’s Word bloom in your heart when it’s meant to
Caring for your health and focusing on healthy habits

We hope you feel encouraged today and will Keep Teaching!

Verses referenced: 1 John 4:16; Matthew 10: 19-20; Ephesians 4:29; James 1:21; 1 Corinthians 9:24

If you’d like to buy a copy of Nika’s devotional to have in your classroom, your home, your car, or wherever else you may need a dose of encouragement, you can buy it at https://shop.nikamaples.com/products/signed-copy-of-keep-teaching, or wherever you buy your books online!

Ready to finally write that book you've been dreaming about for so long? My 5-day challenge, the Bless Your Book Workshop, is the perfect place to start! Sign up now at blessyourbook.com.

Want me to be your writing coach? Visit nikamaples.com/coaching today to learn more!

The post 150: Let the Ink Soak Through appeared first on Nika Maples.

149: How to Grow Your Audience with Short Kindle eBooks with Shelley Hitz Aug 29, 2023

Show notes

Whether you’re just getting started as a writer or have published several books already, writing short eBooks can help you grow your audience and your business as an author!

Shelley Hitz helps writers of all levels share their stories with the world, reach their publishing dreams, and make an impact on the kingdom of God. Having written many books over the course of ten years, she's learned all the ins and outs of what it takes to get past the fear, share your God-given message, and grow your business.

Here's the thing:

You have a story to tell and God wants you to share it! But what do you do when you feel too afraid or overwhelmed to start writing that book? Or, how do you grow your writing business once you’ve already published a full-length novel?

Shelley answers these and many more questions as she talks all about how to make a big impact with short kindle eBooks!

Come join us as we discuss:

How publishing a short eBook can give you the confidence boost you need to write your full-length novel
How to use eBooks to market your business as an author
How to use eBooks to grow your audience and find new readers
How to write and publish your first eBook in 90 days or less
Why publishing your eBook on Amazon is important
Why it’s important to stay focused on one thing as a writer instead of trying to offer too much

Connect with Shelley on her podcast, Kingdom Writers Podcast, or at her signature membership, christianbookacademy.com.

Ready to finally write that book you've been dreaming about for so long? My 5-day challenge, the Bless Your Book Workshop, is the perfect place to start! Sign up now at blessyourbook.com.

Want me to be your writing coach? Visit nikamaples.com/coaching today to learn more!

The post 149: How to Grow Your Audience with Short Kindle eBooks with Shelley Hitz appeared first on Nika Maples.

148: The Body Revelation with Alisa Keeton Aug 22, 2023

Show notes

Alisa Keeton is on a mission to help people experience their bodies as a revelation. God loves your body! If you have stored trauma and mental and emotional pain from the past, it is showing up in your body. In her groundbreaking book, The Body Revelation, Alisa offers a path to true healing, and it is not through aggressive exercise or dieting. Come and take a gentle path to trauma release.

Topics discussed:

The reason why we know what we need to do but struggle so much with doing it
How the adversities, troubles, and traumas we live through change the organization and structure of the brain
The feet-up approach
How to re-wire your brain
What causes inflammation in the body and how to get rid of it
Simple movements you can do throughout your day to get your body up and moving
There’s no such thing as trauma that’s too small or inconsequential

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147: How to Start or End a Chapter Jun 27, 2023

Show notes

You get to be the one to decide what goes into the chapters of your book. You are the author, and that means you have the authority. But so many people hesitate to get started writing their manuscript because they worry that there is some hard and fast rule about how what goes into a chapter.

I get it. I used to wonder the same thing.

But any question tat stops you from the act of writing is just an excuse in disguise. What if you just decided to write this week and see what turns out? It could be that you like your chapters short or long, and that those chapters were supposed to be according to your preference all along.

Let go of the rules and keep writing.

Get your ticket to the next Bless Your Book Workshop here. >> http://www.blessyourbook.com

The post 147: How to Start or End a Chapter appeared first on Nika Maples.

146: How to Write About Sensitive Memories Jun 20, 2023

Show notes

Many clients come to me with overwhelming concern that if they write about certain sensitive memories, it might cause a fallout in their family relationships or friendships.

That is definitely something you want to think about at length because writing about some things is a huge risk. In this excerpt from my book Page One to Page Done, I offer a framework and simple questions that can help you consider whether writing about your sensitive memories is the right thing to do at this time.

Listen and ask God what He wants you to do next.

Take the next step to write your book. Get your ticket to the next Bless Your Book Workshop here. >> http://www.blessyourbook.com

The post 146: How to Write About Sensitive Memories appeared first on Nika Maples.

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