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

Ep 104: How Christian Writers Can Make the Best Use of AI with Cara Ray & Thomas Umstattd

I’ve been sitting with this conversation since we recorded it — and I keep coming back to the moment Thomas compared a well-written AI prompt to the book of First Timothy. Paul opens with identity (I, Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ), then establishes the recipient and their role, then gives detailed instructions. Thomas’s point was quiet but clarifying: the better you can articulate who you are, what you want, and what faithful execution looks like, the better any tool — human or AI — can serve your goals. That’s the spirit of this whole conversation. Thomas Umstattd Jr. is the CEO of Author Media, host of the Novel Marketing Podcast and The Christian Publishing Show, and someone who has spent nearly two decades helping writers build platforms and sell books with integrity. He’s also become one of the most grounded, practically wise voices I know on AI — not because he’s enthusiastic about every new thing, but because he understands the landscape clearly and isn’t afraid to name what’s actually happening. We talked about why AI is already embedded in every tool you use, why the question isn’t whether to engage with it but how, and — most helpfully for the writers in this community — what tools are actually worth your time and trust. A few things that stayed with me: the “paragraphs, not sentences” principle (most of us are prompting AI the way we Google, and it’s producing weak results because of it); the very real theological bias built into ChatGPT and Claude and why Grok’s commitment to truth-seeking makes it behave differently; and the story of Cosmo — an AI trained so thoroughly on the Western canon that it quietly became Christian without anyone intending it to. There’s also a sober, helpful section on ethics: what publishers allow, what none of them do, and why wisdom in this space requires thinking beyond permissions to what actually serves your readers and preserves your voice. Thomas shares where to find his Patron Toolbox (AI tools built specifically for authors), his free Micaiah Mode prompt, and the practical steps for moving from ChatGPT to a model that works better for your writing. Find Thomas at: * authormedia.com [https://authormedia.com/] — his main hub, including all three podcasts and the Patron Toolbox * novelmarketing.com [https://novelmarketing.com/] — the Novel Marketing Podcast * thomasumstattd.com [https://thomasumstattd.com/] — his personal site * social.authormedia.com [https://social.authormedia.com/] — where you can find the free Micaiah Mode project instructions This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersblocpod.substack.com/subscribe [https://writersblocpod.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

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 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersblocpod.substack.com/subscribe [https://writersblocpod.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

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/]   This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersblocpod.substack.com/subscribe [https://writersblocpod.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

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! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersblocpod.substack.com/subscribe [https://writersblocpod.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

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] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersblocpod.substack.com/subscribe [https://writersblocpod.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]