EP 41: How to Make Progress as a Writer
Welcome
Hey, Sis! Welcome to the Daughter of Delight podcast. My goodness, I am so excited for today’s episode! This is a very special episode because it marks the beginning of many-to-come interviews with amazing people and resources that I genuinely believe will bless your life. Today’s interview is for all of you writers out there. Whether you are a journaler, someone who enjoys blogging just for fun, or you are looking to grow in your writing endeavors as part of your journey to becoming a published author, my conversation with Mary Kate Brown from Hope*writers is absolutely for you! If you are unfamiliar with Hope*writers, it is the most encouraging place on the Internet for writers to make progress. So, hang tight, because Mary Kate and I are diving into all the need-to-know details of this incredible resource and community for writers, and I cannot wait for you to learn more.
Meet Mary Kate, Hope*Writers' Enrollment Specialist
After overcoming numerous health challenges due to autoimmunity, Mary Kate is passionate about helping others find healing and wholeness. She leads an online group teaching the basics of an anti-inflammatory diet, and inspires others to incorporate simple, nourishing, real-food recipes in their own homes.Mary Kate and her husband Brian are high-school sweethearts who recently left their lifelong home in the Chicago suburbs for a rural property in Western Michigan. Together they homeschool their three daughters and are making plans for turning their new property into a small-scale homestead.Mary Kate is a contributor for the Kindred Mom Blog & Podcast, and she works on the growth team at hope*writers helping to champion the words of other writers. She writes online at www.marykateb.com, her work has been featured on The Mighty and Red Tricycle, and you can catch up with her on Instagram here.
What exactly is Hope*Writers? What is your specific role?
Hope*writers is an online community dedicated to helping writers make progress in their writing journey. We exist to help them successfully balance the art of writing with the business of publishing without feeling lost and overwhelmed, and totally discouraged. We partner that wonderful community side of it with tools and training to help our writers make progress.
My specific role is to speak with people who aren't members yet; people who are exploring what that next step is. I help people identify where they are at in their writing journey and where they would like to be, then I help them find clarity on what it is that will help them get to that point.
Could you tell us a little about your own writing journey?
Well, I had always written privately and filled my journals. I never really considered myself to be a writer. There was a certain article from a blogger I enjoyed keeping up called, "You Might Be a Writer If..." and that is what first introduced me to Hope*writers. I started learning more about Hope*writers after that through their podcast and after a few episodes, I was sold! I joined the community and will have been a member with them for four years this November.Since joining, I have had the opportunity to connect with The Kindred Mom blog and podcast. Last year, the nine of us collaborated and published a book of essays. This was really big progress we had made together. When I first joined Hope*writers, I never imagined I would have had the opportunity to work on a project like this! It has been so rewarding and fulfilling.I knew Hope*writers was my next best step. All it took was for me to take a deep breath and step out in faith in order to better steward the gift of writing God has given me.
What does making progress in your writing mean exactly? That could be different for everyone, right?
Our goal is to help writers make progress towards their writing goals – whatever they may be. We organize the writing life into six stages. These are fluid, and we often move between them as writers, but as soon as you join, you’ll identify which stage you’re in and know exactly what you need to do to move on to the next one.There’s no rush and no timeline. You can go at your own pace and design your writing life one step at a time. Anyone can find out their stage now by taking our 30-second quiz!
Is Hope*writers for everyone? Every writer?
If you are a writer who wants to share your words with a reader (no matter the format!), then Hope*writers is for you. We have writers from nearly every genre in our membership from fiction, to children’s, to speakers, to podcasters, published authors. And, yes, Hope*writers is for the newbie writer who is just declaring for the first time to the public that they have a dream to write. All are welcome and find support in our membership.
Could you tell me about your community membership? What all does it include?
- Weekly Tuesday Teaching trainings: Learn the most up-to-date information from editors, agents, authors, and marketing professionals.
- A supportive Facebook membership community: Ask the questions a search engine can’t find the answers to and get kind responses from writers who are with you and ahead of you on the path.
- Online library of video trainings and how-to articles organized by your specific stage on the writing path. As soon as you join, you’ll identify which stage you’re in and know exactly what you need to do to move on to the next one.
- Opportunity to join a small group of writers – what we call hope*circles – for feedback and direction.
- Hope*writers Member Directory profile - new benefit this year!
This is all SO exciting! And, as someone who is a member of the hope*writers community, I can personally attest to the truth that being a part of the Hope*writers community is just as wonderful as it seems.
Mary Kate, let’s talk about the fact that you all just opened the doors for new members until Friday, January 29th. I know that you only open the doors 3 times a year, so for someone considering joining the hope*writers community this go-around, how can they determine if it’s right for them?
The first thing I would say is this: If you are a person who feels that nagging feeling inside of you--that just have to write--and you know it's not going to go away; if writing is something you feel you have been called by God to steward well, then I say jump in! There is no risk. We offer to all of our memberships a 60-day tried-and-applied guarantee because we feel so confident that our tools, resources, and community will help you move forward in your writing journey. So, for those first 60 days of your membership, make the most of it! Join the Facebook group, attend the Tuesday Teachings, create a profile on your member directory, etc. If you don't feel as if it is for you after those 60 days, all you have to do is reach out to our team and we will give you a refund.For me, this brings complete peace because we stand behind what we offer. And we want you to have this same confidence!If you are still a little bit nervous and you desire more clarity, I would be more than happy to hop on a one-on-one complimentary coaching call to help you get this clarity.
Thank you so much for taking the time to have this conversation with me, sister. Before we wrap up our time together, I want to do things. First, can you tell me how the Daughter of Delight community can find and explore hope*writers, and how they can find you?
+ Hope*writers website+ Hope*writers Instagram+ Hope*writers quiz+ Hope*writers podcast+ Mary Kate's website+ Mary Kate's Instagram
Second, I’ve decided to ask all of the people I interview the same question, and you get to kick us off with this fun little tradition! The question is, what are you delighting in right now?
Great question! I live in Western Michigan and we are in the middle of January, so it's very snowy here. But I'm actually delighting in the upcoming growing season! I love gardening. In fact, my husband and I want to transform our property into a small-scale homestead. And so, I have a stack of gardening books and seed catalogs and all the things, so I have delighted in immersing myself in the preparation for the 2021 growing season.
Thanks For Tuning In!
Wasn’t this conversation a good one? Thanks for tuning it to learn about the blessing Hope*writers is. It really is such a great community to find accountability and to make progress in your writing journey. If you’d like to take the 30-second quiz to find out what stage of writing you’re in, if you would like to hear personal member testimonies or just go one and join the Hope*writers community, or if you would like to book a one-on-one consultation with Mary Kate to help clarify any questions you may have, you can find the links to each of these things in today’s show notes.Remember that you have until Friday, January 29th to join this amazing community. So be sure to join in on all the fun while you can! Alright Sis, I hope you have a wonderful rest of your week and I will talk with you next Wednesday!