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Conversations with Christians about the world’s most pressing problems and how you can impact them during and after university. More at www.ChristiansforImpact.org
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Ink and Impact - Book Coaching for Christian Writers | How to Write and Publish a Book That Makes a Difference
Dalene Bickel
Welcome to Ink and Impact – Book Coaching for Christian Writers. I’m your host, Dalene Bickel - book coach and ghostwriter with more than 25 years in the self-publishing industry. Whether you’re working on your first or fiftieth book, I’m here to help you become the writer God called you to be. Each week you’ll receive rotating content full of practical information and tangible tips as well as occasional expert interviews and industry insights, all from a Biblical perspective. Get ready to d ...
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Caroline Oliveira is the Finance and Development Director at Sinergia Animal, one of the world’s top-rated animal charities. Caroline shares her journey from a corporate career at Nestlé to becoming a leading advocate and fundraiser for animal welfare. See here for a full transcript with links. Highlights include: 03:42 Career Transition: From Nest…
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Send me your feedback! You know when you set out to write a book and it seemed so straightforward - just transfer the message or story in your head into a typed document and then send it to a publisher and boom! You're a published author! But then you sat down to write and you experienced writer's block, so you turned to Google, joined some FB grou…
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Send me your feedback! ✍ WRITING YOUR FIRST BOOK? Get 1:1 book coaching with me! https://dalenebickel.com/bookworthy-coaching Are you an aspiring indie author wondering exactly how to self-publish your book? These 5 steps are critical for your book's success! ✅ SELF-PUBLISHING CHECKLIST - free 2-page comprehensive checklist that helps you self-publ…
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Send me your feedback! Are you a risk taker or a resolution maker? If you're tired of putting "write a book" at the top of your resolutions year after year and it never getting done, it's time to take some strategic risks as a writer. Listen in for 5 ways to take strategic, micro-risks that will help you write and publish your book in 2025. Resourc…
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Celebrate Your Writing Journey, the New Year, and the 100th Episode of Ink and Impact! (Bonus Episode)
13:53
Send me your feedback! Congratulations, my writing friend! You've accomplished much to get where you're at today and there's even more to look forward to in the new year! Listen in as I celebrate your journey with you, provide some celebratory ideas, and share how far the Ink & Impact podcast has come over the last two-and-a-half years. I couldn't …
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Send me your feedback! In this episode, Dalene highlights 12 topics from the Ink & Impact podcast to help you reach your writing goals in the new year. If writing and publishing a book is one of your new year's goals, you definitely want to listen to this episode! Want to be featured on the upcoming 100th episode on December 31st? Simply submit you…
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6 Marketing Considerations for Christian Writers [Part 3 of A Season for Holiness: A Renewal Plan for Writers]
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Send me your feedback! It's time to fulfill your calling by putting your faith in action! Now that we’ve laid the foundation (Ep. 96) and erected the structure of our writing lives (Ep. 97), it’s time to open wide the doors to both invite readers in and to go out and meet them where they’re at. We shouldn’t consider marketing as our enemy. It’s a n…
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Send me your feedback! Today, Dalene shares 6 ways to build your faith as a Christian writer. We tend to bypass God – the source of unlimited strength, wisdom, and nourishment – as we rush to create things that we think will satisfy. Most of the time, it’s not done intentionally. Often, it’s because we get so wrapped up in the busyness of life that…
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6 Essential Habits for Christian Writers [Part 1 of A Season for Holiness: A Renewal Plan for Writers]
31:48
Send me your feedback! Is your soul thirsting for more of Christ this Christmas season? Do you have a sense that you’re supposed to be doing something more for God with your writing, but you just don’t know what or how? Are you ready to jump off the holiday hamster wheel and into the arms of God? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, I i…
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Send me your feedback! If you're a writer who wants to publish a book in 2025, then be sure to listen to today's episode to discover the 5-step publishing process you need follow. PLUS, you'll learn about my Black Friday deal that enables you to join Bookworthy Academy at a 40% discount for 4 days only! ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Your Path to Publishing…
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Send me your feedback! This episode dives into the what, why, and how of audiobooks for authors. If you've ever wondered if you should create an audiobook, this episode is for you! Not only does guest Linda Goldfarb share the benefits of audiobooks, she also offers tips and strategies for how to best create and market your audiobook. Resources Dale…
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Send me your feedback! Schedule your 1:1 coaching call with bonus CTA audit! If you really want to write a book, there are 5 things you need to stop doing right now to make significant progress, become more confident, and sell more books. And if you'd like to learn even more tips and develop a custom action plan that gets you unstuck, motivated, an…
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Send me your feedback! Schedule your 1:1 coaching call with bonus CTA audit! Do you wish you got more engagement on your blog posts, social posts, and newsletters? Have you ever wondered how some authors manage to sell more books, receive more book reviews, and get more people to recommend their books than others? There are many reasons, and many s…
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Send me your feedback! I got the idea for today's episode after reading an article about how Scholastic, the popular children's book distributor, selects their titles and marketing campaigns. That got me to thinking about what successful authors do to sell more books, regardless of whether they're traditionally or indie published. It will probably …
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Send me your feedback! Are you a Christian author who struggles to effectively market your book? If so, you'll want to listen to the entire episode to discover practical and proven ways to balance your faith with your book marketing efforts from guest Cathy McIntosh. Listen in! Resources Mentioned in this Episode: 1:1 Coaching Session with Dalene B…
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Send me your feedback! In today's episode, host Dalene Bickel discusses the nitty gritty about book reviews. Topics covered include: The big myth around a certain # of book reviews on Amazon and why reviews really matter The recent FTC ruling about reviews Two often overlooked places to find new book reviewers How to ask for book reviews from your …
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Send me your feedback! In today's episode, I define what a book coach is, explain what a book coach does, and share 3 questions you should ask yourself to determine if you need a book coach. Bonus: You'll also walk away motivated and emboldened as a Christian writer! 🎧 So tune in and don't forget to leave some feedback using the link above! Resourc…
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Send me your feedback! There is no universal right or wrong way to publish your book. Self-publishing will be better for some authors while traditional publishing will be better for others. In today's episode, I'm going to share the TOP THREE factors you should take into consideration when trying to decide which publishing model is right for YOU. I…
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Send me your feedback! Today I'm sharing 7 effective self-editing techniques for each stage of the self-publishing process. Whether you're a first-time aspiring author or a seasoned indie writer, be sure to listen in to discover how to self-edit your manuscript, and have fun in the process! Don't just write a book. Make an impact. P.S. If you're a …
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Send me your feedback! Timing is everything when it comes to launching your book, ESPECIALLY if you're a self-published author. In fact, there are 2 times you should avoid at all costs as an indie author. Ready to learn what they are? Listen and SUBSCRIBE! Resources Mentioned in this Episode: 1:1 Coaching Session - single breakthrough session to ga…
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Send me your feedback! Writing a God-honoring book isn't a task that you should take lightly, but neither should it paralyze you. Sometimes you just need some help getting started! That's what I'm going to do on today's episode: I'm going to help you get crystal clear on your book's content. Ready to learn what to write as a Christian aspiring auth…
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Send me your feedback! Earlier this week, we celebrated Labor Day here in the U.S., which honors all the workers who enable our country to function. It also made me think of all the hard work we writers put in to create a book. But sometimes we get overwhelmed and work harder than we need to. So today, I'm going to share 3 ways to simplify the book…
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Summary: We speak to Nicolas Laing, a doctor from New Zealand. Nick has managed rural Health Centers for 10 years in Northern Uganda through his charity, OneDay Health. He first became passionate about unreached areas after seeing the huge numbers of rural citizens in Northern Uganda not covered by either the private or public healthcare system. Ni…
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Send me your feedback! It’s hot in the summer, so it’s nice to slow down a bit and drink something refreshing that quenches the thirst. This got me to thinking: why not offer a summer refresher for authors? That’s what this espisode is about - striking a refreshing balance between productive writing and enjoying some laid-back summer vibes. Be sure…
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Send me your feedback! Romance is today’s most popular genre of fiction, by far. And that includes the Christian market. if you feel called to write a Christian romance novel, this episode is for you! Be sure to listen the whole way to the end because my guest expert, Sara Turnquist, author of 23 clean historical romance novels, shares lots of prac…
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Send me your feedback! I think it’s safe to say that everyone has procrastinated at some point in their lives. But it seems to be a recurring theme among writers. Why is that? I recently had an a-ha moment about this very question that I’m going to share with you today, along with 6 practical tips to help you procrastinate less and write more. List…
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Send me your feedback! Ready to write your life story but not sure how? On today’s episode of the Ink and Impact podcast, I share my 4-step process that will help you get your story out of your head and onto the page, regardless of your age or perceived writing abilities. Your story is important, and you CAN write it. Listen in to learn how! Resour…
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Send me your feedback! If you’re feeling overwhelmed or frustrated when it comes to writing and marketing your book, know that you’re not alone. Every published author I’ve ever met has had to deal with fluctuating emotions, doubts, time constraints, decision fatigue, and information overload throughout the various stages of their writing journeys.…
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Send me your feedback! At the outset, writing and self-publishing a book sounds straightforward - just write it and upload it to Amazon or whatever online retailer you choose. Easy-peasy, right? 😃 Weellll…behind every overarching topic (writing, editing, publishing, and marketing) are MANY tasks and corresponding sub-tasks. Compounding the problem …
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Send me your feedback! In today’s episode of the Ink and Impact podcast, I’m going to cover 5 Essential Networking Tips for Writers. As a book coach who serves Christian indie writers throughout their self-publishing journeys, I’ve learned that one of the biggest challenges they face is promoting and marketing their brand and their books. Yet one o…
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Send me your feedback! Compromise as a Christian writer isn't something many people talk about ... but it's something that can easily creep into our author life if we're not careful. What kinds of things might cause you to compromise? Listen in to discover a few examples and discover how you can prevent - or remedy - a compromising situation. Resou…
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Send me your feedback! You may recall that back in episode 68, I asked, Is There Still a Market for Christian Books? Well, thanks to a recent 41-page 2024 State of Christian Retail report by The Parable Group, I can conclusively say YES there is still a market for Christian books, particularly within independent Christian retailers. On today's epis…
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Send me your feedback! I recently had the honor of interviewing Becca Wierwille, author of the middle grade novel, Road Trip Rescue. On today's episode, we address how to incorporate your own experience into a fictional story ... and why it matters. Regardless of what genre of fiction you're writing - and even if you're writing nonfiction - today's…
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Send me your feedback! How is your writing coming along? How about your marketing? Are they going as well as you had hoped they would at the beginning of the year? If not, know you're not alone. New habits can be difficult to establish, and mindset plays a big factor in how successful you'll be. Do you want to learn how to develop an effective, God…
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Send me your feedback! Regardless of whether or not you like Costco, the 7 strategies I'm going to share with you today can help you reach - and retain - your readers. Book marketing, after all, is all about serving your readers. This is one of several great topics I have lined up for you in Quarter 1 this year, along with some fabulous guest inter…
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Send me your feedback! Creating content out of thin air is never a great idea. What's the source of YOUR writing? Listen to today's episode to discover three distinct yet unified sources you can use right away to become a better writer! Resources Mentioned in this Episode: 1:1 Coaching Session - gain strategy and clarity; limited slots available Th…
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Send me your feedback! If you're like me, you might be eagerly anticipating the new year on one hand, but also hesitant about it on the other hand. In today's episode, I share how to prepare for 2024 as Christian writers and authors, and that revolves around the acronym R.A.C.E. Listen in to discover what RACE means and be encouraged in your writin…
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Send me your feedback! With so many U.S. Christian bookstores that have gone out of business over the last ten years, is there still a market for Christian books? And if so, what can indie authors do to reach that market and sell more books? That’s what I’m going to discuss on today’s episode of Ink and Impact! Register for the Self-Publishing Unpa…
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Send me your feedback! Happy Thanksgiving, fellow writer! Just like Thanksgiving dinner, there are a multitude of moving parts associated with self-publishing. To ensure that the book gets done on time AND that it satiates your hungry readers' expectations, you need to do a lot of advance planning and prep work. That’s what I’m going to share with …
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Send me your feedback! Remember how the saying used to be, “There’s an app for that”? Well, today there seems to be a coach for everything, too. A quick online search reveals dozens if not hundreds of different types of coaches: life coaches, business coaches, fitness coaches, executive coaches, health coaches, acting coaches, even travel coaches. …
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Send me your feedback! In the last episode, I shared how you can find time to write your book. Today, I’m going to share the ONE thing you need to sell more of that book. As I’ve mentioned before, we need to market our books at all stages of the author journey – from just starting out to long after publication. There are many practical tips and str…
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Send me your feedback! One of the biggest challenges I hear from writers is a variation of time: There’s no time to write in my crazy busy life. It takes too long to grow a platform. There’s not enough time to juggle everything you’re supposed to do for writing and marketing your book. It takes too much time to learn how to use a particular tool or…
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Summary: In this episode, we speak to Liz Hixson. Liz works at New Incentives, a GiveWell top-rated charity that provides small cash incentives to caregivers in order to increase childhood vaccination rates. And it works. In Nothern Nigeria, New Incentives has saved thousands of lives from preventable diseases like whooping cough, measles, and pneu…
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Send me your feedback! In this episode, your host Dalene Bickel shares 7 Things to Avoid When Writing Your Life Story (or memoir, or autobiography). When you follow these guidelines, your story will attract readers rather than repel them. Sometimes, it's not about what you do but what you DON'T do that makes the biggest impact. Listen and SUBSCRIBE…
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Summary: In this episode, we speak to Rose Gottemoeller, the first woman to hold the position of Deputy Secretary General of NATO, the highest-ranking international civil servant role within the organization. Rose is known especially for her role in negotiating the 2010 New START Treaty, which led to a significant reduction in deployed nuclear weap…
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Send me your feedback! Did you know that while booksellers are buying about 250 to 300 titles a month (if they're a large seller), there are almost 1 million new, traditionally published books and, on top of that, 2-3 million self-published books produced every year in the United States alone? That is a lot of competition, my friend. So how can you…
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In this episode, we speak with Jason Dykstra. Jason is a jack of all trades. He has experience in the medical field being a medical doctor and a radiologist. On top of that, he runs a house church network called World Wide House Church. He also founded Blessbig, a charity evaluator founded on Christian principles, which has advised GiveWell and Cha…
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Yes, You Should Attend the KY Christian Writers Conference - Here's Why (with Gregg Bridgeman, Ep. 61)
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Send me your feedback! In this episode, you'll learn not only about the Kentucky Christian Writers Conference and why you should attend, but special guest Gregg Bridgeman also shares some excellent tips for how to best prepare for a conference AND key insights about the challenges we Christian writers face in today's culture. Also, I announce that …
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In this episode, we speak to Brian Green. Brian holds a doctorate degree in ethics and is currently the Director of Technology Ethics at the Markulla Center for Applied Ethics, at Santa Clara University in California. His work is focused on the ethics of emerging technology. Some things we touch on in this episode: The relationship between Christia…
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Send me your feedback! You have a message to share. But how you can do it in a way that offers hope and makes a difference in the lives of your readers? Today's guest, author James H. Belt III, joins me and shares the approach he took to do this - and the lessons he learned along the way - when writing his new book, Hope Realized. Be assured: No ma…
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