Pastor Writer: Conversations on Reading, Writing, and the Christian Life

Alan Baker, a pastor, author, and coach, joins the host to discuss the impact of books on ministry and the spiritual life. They share recommendations, explore classic and spiritual books, and discuss the power of biographies. They also touch on the importance of coaching for young ministers and the challenges of finding new books.

The podcast explores the journey to becoming a writer, challenges the pursuit of personal desires for destiny, and discusses how writing and preaching intersect. The speakers share their experiences of juggling multiple roles, recommend books on writing craft, and preview the guest's book.

Mary DeMuth, a well-known Christian writer with over 30 books written, discusses finding your voice, sustaining passion, building relationships in the writing community, and staying hopeful throughout the writing process. She also shares about her writer's intensive program and the impact of her Pray Every Day podcast.

Reflecting on their obsession with getting published, the speaker talks about the sacrifices made and the impact on Sabbath. Surrendering control and offering their work to God is discussed. The struggle between commitment and the desire for something new is explored. The importance of attention and commitment in the writing process is highlighted.

Dick Foth, a missionary, pastor, coach, and writer, discusses the importance of friendships in being a pastor and a writer. He explores the significance of relationships in various aspects of life, the power of storytelling in building connections, the role of grandparents in the lives of their grandchildren, and the value of deep friendships.

Dr. Joy Qualls joins to discuss communication trends in the church. Topics include the importance of effective communication for pastors, understanding rhetoric, the commodification of everything, the exhaustion and expectations of pastors, and the act of writing as an act of faith.

Blake Atwood, writer and conference speaker, joins the host to talk about the importance of editing. They discuss the stages of editing, the process of writing and launching a book, the need for deadlines and hiring an editor, and finding beta readers for writing. They also emphasize the significance of continuous learning and the value of clean and compelling manuscripts in the competitive publishing industry.

Michelle DeRusha, author, discusses the challenges of writing a memoir, finding God in the ordinary, and the importance of vulnerability and honesty in tackling challenging questions. They also talk about the process of developing the theme and argument of a memoir, as well as offering advice for aspiring writers on the writing process.

Mick Silva, a freelance editor and writing coach with nearly 20 years in the Christian publishing industry, discusses the spiritual aspect of writing, the challenges, and rewards of writing, the importance of honesty, refining the purpose of a book, developing characters, understanding the reader, recognizing oneself through writing, and the power of honest writing in connecting with readers.

The podcast explores the challenges of getting started writing and the irony of wanting to be a writer. It reflects on the significance of crafting a single sentence and shares childhood memories. The hosts discuss discovering the power of words and overcoming self-doubt. They emphasize the importance of choosing words of depth and truth. The podcast also explores the intersection between writing and the pastor's role.