In this episode of Created to Write, Michelle Dennis Evans tackles one of the most avoided conversations in the Christian writing community… how do you actually pay for your writing career?

From editing costs to publishing expenses, the financial reality of being a Christian author is real. Michelle reframes it around creative stewardship - managing your time, energy and resources as gifts entrusted to you for a purpose.

For Christian writers juggling career and calling, she offers practical strategies for finding time to write. Because writing as a Christian means carving sacred space out of an already full life.

She also shares her personal journey through home-based businesses, from candle making to her current wellness venture, making a compelling case for supplemental income that buys you the freedom to write without financial stress.

Christian creativity flourishes when the practical foundations are in place.

https://michelledennisevans.com/contact/

In this episode of Created to Write, Christian author Susan J. Bruce takes us on a fascinating journey from veterinary science and science journalism to writing uplifting cozy mysteries that leave readers with hope, warmth, and a renewed sense of empathy.

For anyone exploring writing, Susan's story is a masterclass in playing to your strengths. Her unique blend of theology, science, and storytelling gives her fiction a grounded authenticity that's hard to manufacture and her mission is refreshingly clear... produce high-quality stories that help real people face real challenges.

Susan also gets honest about the mistakes many beginners make early on - namely, getting so consumed by marketing and technical tasks that the actual writing gets pushed aside. It's a trap she's navigated herself, and her advice is practical and direct.

One of the standout moments of this conversation is her passionate case for writing communities - not just for peer support and accountability, but as a vital safeguard against predatory vanity publishers.

Susan's warm, grounded approach to faith-based writing is a reminder that stories rooted in hope are never small, they're some of the most powerful tools we have.

What separates writers who finish from writers who dream? According to writer and editor Kiara Thomas, it starts with one non-negotiable: you have to be a reader first.

In this episode, Kiara brings sharp, experienced insight into the craft, from beating writer's block through meticulous planning and outlining (and why "pantsing" might be quietly sabotaging you), to her fascinating reframe of the editor's role. Forget red pen and ruthless cuts, Kiara sees the editor as a "book midwife," walking authors through four essential stages: appraisal, structural editing, line editing, and proofreading. Each one exists to deliver your best work into the world.

But Kiara doesn't stop at craft. She gets honest about what actually builds a sustainable literary career, formal education, real community over hollow networking, and the kind of intentional growth most writers skip in their rush to publish. Her challenge to anyone waiting for the right moment? A blank page gives you nothing to work with. Start writing - then make it brilliant.

If you're serious about the craft, this episode is required listening.

Kiara Thomas is a communications specialist focusing on writing and editing. Kiara is particularly interested in editing faith-inspired works of all genres, writing and editing children’s literature and editing non-fiction, including memoirs and biographies. Website: https://kiarathomaswriter.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581688283636LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiara-thomas-261b35370/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576049229424