The Writer’s Desk

Making Work You're Proud of, No Matter the Response with Chelsey DeMatteis

On today’s episode, Chelsey DeMatteis joins The Writer’s Desk! Chelsey is an author, speaker, wife, and mom living in central Ohio. She’s written for a variety of publications, including Lifeway’s Journey Magazine, iBelieve, and Christianity.com. Chelsey published her first book, More of Him, Less of Me, through a small publisher in 2021. Then, she self-published an Advent devotional in 2024. Her forthcoming book, Mercy in the Margin, published with B&H, releases in August. During this conversation, Chelsey makes a strong case for why self-publishing is no longer inferior to traditional publishing, why social media matters less than you think it does, and why you should be proud of your work regardless of the response you do or don’t receive. As always, I also share an update on my own writing journey. I’m currently writing a Christian nonfiction book geared toward women in their 20s. You can read more about it on my Substack [https://lydiagjohnson.substack.com/]. For episode visual guides and other resources, follow The Writer’s Desk on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/writersdeskpodcast]! Links: Chelsey’s website [https://chelseydematteis.com/] Preorder Chelsey’s forthcoming devotional: Mercy in the Margin [https://www.bhpublishinggroup.com/mercy-in-the-margin/] Chelsey’s Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/chelseydematteis/]

Don't Wait for Permission to Write with Katy Boatman

Today, I’m welcoming Katy Boatman to The Writer’s Desk! Katy is an author, speaker, and mentor. She is the author of two devotionals, You Can Rest, a devotional for preteen girls, and You Can Trust, a devotional for preteen boys. In addition to her personal writing pursuits, she works alongside author and podcaster Annie F. Downs, helping create resources that connect people to fun, purpose, and Jesus. During our conversation, Katy shared how a 10-day devotional originally written for her niece as a 10th birthday present went from a personal gift to a traditionally published 100-day devotional, practical tips for how she managed writing a book while working a full-time job, and her best advice for writers who are interested in traditional publishing but don’t necessarily have the platform to catch the eye of literary agents and publishers. I had such a fun time talking with and learning from Katy, and I’m so excited for you to learn from her as well. As always, I also share an update on my own writing journey. I’m currently writing a Christian nonfiction book geared toward women in their 20s. You can read more about it on my Substack [https://lydiagjohnson.substack.com/]. For episode visual guides and other resources, follow The Writer’s Desk on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/writersdeskpodcast]! Links: Katy’s website [https://www.katyboatman.com/] Katy’s Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/katyboat] Katy’s devotional for preteen girls: You Can Rest [https://www.amazon.com/You-Can-Rest-Devotions-Heart/dp/1087748704/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2Q4U9H19PV7R6&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.VPu06jNFl1Ga77hWOTT014QUjP_DXSffzRe_m0jL2rTM4a1KLbiupQXUokg_fzB44oy5AkvEI7J9FoFhqmJbZw.ozNVCFKkpuVasZ5fQ2yIZp9s0iasOydENzP0lFFY1EQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=katy+boatman&qid=1776359289&sprefix=katy+boatman%2Caps%2C140&sr=8-1] Katy’s devotional for preteen boys: You Can Trust [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1087787491?ref=emc_s_m_5_i_atc]

You Aren't Just One Thing with Caroline Lunne

On today’s episode, Caroline Lunne joins The Writer’s Desk! Caroline is a content creator, founder of Migrate Marketing, a boutique marketing agency based in Charleston, South Carolina, and author of Noticing, a weekly newsletter on Substack. For years, Caroline felt like the creative world was passing her by, but now she treats the Internet like an art form and inspires others to do the same. In our conversation, we discussed Caroline’s writing journey, why she loves Substack, her best tip for writers just getting started, and, in a gracious gesture, she even pulled back the curtain on how she landed a literary agent. I’m so grateful for Caroline’s openness and willingness to share her wisdom and knowledge about writing, marketing, and pathways to traditional publishing. As always, I also share an update on my own writing journey. I’m currently writing a Christian nonfiction book geared toward women in their 20s. You can read more about it on my Substack [https://lydiagjohnson.substack.com/]. For episode visual guides and other resources, follow The Writer’s Desk on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/writersdeskpodcast]! Links: Caroline’s website [https://carolinelunne.com/] Caroline’s Substack [https://carolinelunne.substack.com/] Caroline’s Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/carolinelunne]

Building a Writing Community with Mary Spencer Veazey

Today, I’m welcoming Mary Spencer Veazey to The Writer’s Desk! Mary Spencer is an author and speaker who published her first book, Cul-de-sac Crossroads in 2024. Her book serves as a guide for how young adults in their twenties can navigate life’s twists and turns with courageous clarity. Mary Spencer continues to write on topics relevant to young adults on her Substack. If you’re interested in learning more about writing and publishing a book, how writers can use Substack to build a platform, and how to seek out community with other writers and authors, then this is an episode you don’t want to miss. For episode visual guides and other resources, follow The Writer’s Desk on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/writersdeskpodcast]! The Writer’s Desk episode #1: Deciding to Write a Book and How an Outline Can Help [https://pod.link/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5jYXB0aXZhdGUuZm0vd3JpdGVycy1kZXNrLw/episode/NGUxODBlOGItNTAxMC00MWYwLWJlOTQtNzFjYmIyMTg2YTZh] Mary Spencer Veazey’s website [http://www.maryspencerveazey.com/] Mary Spencer Veazey’s book [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D8RWVC7F?ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_BDC7P342XNXQY3PF2KPX&ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_BDC7P342XNXQY3PF2KPX&social_share=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_BDC7P342XNXQY3PF2KPX&skipTwisterOG=2] Mary Spencer Veazey’s Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mencervz] Mary Spencer Veazey’s Substack [https://maryspencerveazey.substack.com/]

What You Can Learn from 10 Years of Online Writing and Self-Publishing with Courtney Hope Jones

Today, I’m welcoming Courtney Hope Jones to The Writer’s Desk! Courtney is an author, speaker, entrepreneur, and podcast host. In 2018, Courtney released It Is Written, a devotional that teaches you how to use Scripture to speak truth over lies. Since then, she started Little Creative Company, which provides website design and SEO for creatives and service providers. She’s also the host of the newly relaunched podcast Vessels, which shares conversations that equip multi-passionate Christian women in their calling. Courtney is truly a rockstar in all areas, and I’m so excited to share our conversation. If you’re interested in writing and publishing a book (whether through self-publishing or traditional publishing) and learning more about best practices for building a platform, this is the episode for you. As always, I also share an update on my own writing journey. I’m currently writing a Christian nonfiction book geared toward women in their 20s. You can read more about it on my Substack [https://lydiagjohnson.substack.com/]. For episode visual guides and other resources, follow The Writer’s Desk on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/writersdeskpodcast]! Links: Courtney’s website [https://courtneyhopejones.com/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/courthopejones/], and book [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0692081585/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0692081585&linkCode=as2&tag=courthopewils-20&linkId=69cf14fac6d6a3e78c774eb99d181311] Courtney’s podcast [https://courtneyhopejones.com/episodes-and-shownotes] (Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vessels-with-courtney-hope-jones-a-christian-podcast/id1521339978], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3tptUZuHIGonOySHr6JME8]) Courtney’s web design and SEO company’s website [https://www.littlecreativecompany.com/] Courtney’s self-publishing course [https://courtneyhopejones.com/selfpublishcourse] Courtney’s self-publishing podcast series (traditional vs. self-publishing [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/traditional-publishing-vs-self-publishing-s3-e40/id1521339978?i=1000564993614], is self-publishing worth it? [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/is-self-publishing-worth-it-s3-e41/id1521339978?i=1000565881078], 5 things I wish I knew before self-publishing [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/5-things-i-wished-i-knew-when-self-publishing-s3-e42/id1521339978?i=1000566627728])