The Writers Bloc Podcast

Ep 103: How Collaboration Can Change Your Life with Cara Ray & Becky Beresford

What If the Key to Growing Your Platform Is Linking Arms Instead of Striving Harder? Becky Beresford never planned to be a writer. A special needs mama navigating postpartum depression, she found herself with a passion for discipling women and no way to get out of the house to do it. So she picked up her pen — and everything changed. In this conversation, Cara sits down with Becky Beresford — writer, speaker, coach, and author of She Believed He Could, So She Did (Moody, 2024) — to talk about one of the most underutilized tools in a Christian writer’s toolkit: collaboration. Becky shares how intentional partnerships with other writers helped her grow her platform, build her email list, land a literary agent, and launch her book — not through hustle, but through the simple, biblical conviction that we are better together than we are alone. In this conversation, you’ll discover: * How writing became a ministry when Becky couldn’t leave her home * Why your email newsletter outperforms social media every time * Practical, low-pressure ways to start collaborating — including email swaps, giveaways, bundles, and launch teams * How to find trustworthy creative partners who share your values * Why collaboration is obedience, not just strategy “We don’t have to do it alone. We’re not supposed to.” Whether you’re just starting out or years into your writing journey, this conversation will encourage you to take one small, faithful step toward another writer this week. 🎧 Listen now — and don’t miss Becky’s extended solo teaching inside the Writers’ Bloc Teaching Archives, where she goes even deeper into the practical architecture of Christian collaboration. Follow Becky at www.beckyberesford.com For more information on the Writers’ Bloc, visit: www.mywritersbloc.com Get full access to The Writers' Bloc Podcast at writersblocpod.substack.com/subscribe [https://writersblocpod.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Ep 102: What Writers Must Get Right First With Cara Ray & Kimberly Grabas

What if building your writer platform didn’t have to feel fake, forced, or exhausting? In this conversation with Kimberley Grabas, we talk about: • Why most writers approach platform-building backward • The difference between platform, branding, marketing, and tactics • How to identify your ideal reader • Why “niching down” can feel impossible for creative people • How to market your work without becoming pushy or performative • and why the best brands are built from authenticity, not imitation One of my favorite moments was when Kimberley said creative people naturally resist being squeezed into “a tiny little box.” Instead of flattening your personality, a healthy platform helps you clarify what threads already run through your work. This episode will especially encourage writers who feel overwhelmed by social media, unsure of their message, or afraid they have “too many interests.” Watch now and let us know in the comments: What part of building a writer platform feels hardest for you right now? To connect with Kimberely about how to position your writer platform, visit her at: https://yourwriterplatform.com/ [https://yourwriterplatform.com/]   Get full access to The Writers' Bloc Podcast at writersblocpod.substack.com/subscribe [https://writersblocpod.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Ep 101: Habits of a Prolific Writer with Cara Ray & Trevin Wax

If you want to become a better writer… Read more. Not just to produce something. Not just to “get content.” But because over time, it builds something inside you. A kind of file cabinet in your mind— filled with ideas, illustrations, and insights you didn’t even know you’d need. And when it’s time to write… you’re not starting from empty. You’re drawing from a life that’s been paying attention. 🎙️ Listen to Habits of a Prolific Writer with Cara Ray & Trevin Wax on The Writers’ Bloc podcast  ➡️ Join a community of writers growing in both craft and calling! Get full access to The Writers' Bloc Podcast at writersblocpod.substack.com/subscribe [https://writersblocpod.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Ep. 100: Lessons From Writing My First Book With Cara Ray

What does it really take to write, edit, and launch your first book while juggling real life, family, and faith? In this special episode of The Writers’ Bloc, the tables are turned as Cara Ray is interviewed by writer and educator Keri Willis about her debut book, The Pursuit of Holy Leisure: Enjoying God in Everyday Places. Together, they pull back the curtain on the real journey of writing a book from the first spark of an idea to the long road of proposals, rejection, revision, and ultimately, publication. This is not a highlight reel; it’s an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about faith, perseverance, and the quiet work God does in the process. ✨ In this episode, you’ll discover: How the concept of holy leisure transformed Cara’s relationship with God What surprised her most about the writing and publishing process The realities of book proposals, rejection, and finding the right publisher How to navigate the “messy middle” of writing The role of community, prayer, and obedience in finishing a book What Cara wishes she had known before launching Cara also shares how this message grew out of her own struggle wanting to enjoy time with God, but feeling like she was constantly falling short and how a simple phrase changed everything. Whether you’re dreaming of writing your first book, stuck in the middle of one, or simply longing for a deeper, more joyful walk with God, this conversation will encourage and equip you. 📘 Get the Book: The Pursuit of Holy Leisure: Enjoying God in Everyday Places (Available April 14 – preorder now!) 🌿 Join The Writers’ Bloc Community: Mywritersbloc.com [http://mywritersbloc.com] Get full access to The Writers' Bloc Podcast at writersblocpod.substack.com/subscribe [https://writersblocpod.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Ep: 99: Seasons Of The Creative Life with Bette Dickinson

What if fruitfulness in your creative life isn’t about producing more but about cultivating a deeper life with God? In this conversation, Cara Ray welcomes prophetic artist, writer, and speaker Bette Dickinson to explore the surprising parallels between vineyards, creativity, and the spiritual life. Drawing from the rich imagery of John 15, Bette shares how learning from a real-life vine dresser reshaped her understanding of seasons, fruitfulness, and abiding in Christ. Together, they discuss how writers and creators can move from a productivity-driven mindset to a flourishing approach, learning to embrace seasons of dormancy, pruning, growth, and harvest. If you’ve ever felt pressure to constantly produce, this conversation will encourage you to slow down, remain connected to Christ, and trust the deeper work God is doing beneath the surface. You’ll discover how creativity, spiritual formation, and the rhythms of creation intersect—and why the health of the vine matters far more than the quantity of the fruit. Whether you're a writer, artist, or creative believer seeking direction, this conversation will help you recognize your current season and learn to cultivate a life of abiding, creativity, and faithful growth. What You'll Learn in This Episode: * Why do vine dressers focus on the health of the vine, not the fruit * The four creative seasons: dormancy, pruning, growth, and harvest * How abiding in Christ shapes your creative life * The difference between productivity and flourishing * Why creative “winter seasons” are necessary for deeper fruitfulness * How writing and art become tools of spiritual formation Connect with Bette Dickinson: 🌿 Website: bettedickinson.com [http://bettydickinson.com/] 🌿 The Art of Vine Making: theartofvinemaking.com [http://theartofvinemaking.com/] About The Writers’ Bloc Podcast: Hosted by Cara Ray, The Writers’ Bloc podcast equips Christian writers and creators to grow in their craft, deepen their faith, and build meaningful creative work that serves others. Get full access to The Writers' Bloc Podcast at writersblocpod.substack.com/subscribe [https://writersblocpod.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]