Your Best Writing Life

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Do you use alliteration in your writing? Ruth Coghill shares the story behind Women of War and, of course, writing tips to help you succeed. 
Welcome to Your Best Writing Life, an extension of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference held in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of NC. I’m your host, Linda Goldfarb. Each week, I bring tips and strategies from writing and publishing industry experts to help you excel in your craft. It’s great to have you listening in. 
Ruth Coghill is a Christian author, speaker, Bible teacher, and founder of Words To Inspire. Through outreach in Nepal, Mexico, Angola, and around the world, she encourages women to grow in faith, embrace God’s Word, and live with purpose. A retired teacher, Ruth is married to Bob, mother of four, and Nana to fourteen outstanding grandchildren.
We all want to know the story behind Women of War – give us some background
·      A group of women who were teaching the WOW series met to pray with me. Michelle prayed with fervor that God would bless and encourage Ruth, this woman of war.  Another WOW study, Lord? I thought I was finished with the series.
·      I was inspired by our seventeen-year-old grandson, Benjamin, who purchased all pieces of the armor as mentioned in Ephesians 6 and taught, in full garb, the research he discovered on this Biblical text. 
·      His interest prompted me to include some of his insights in my teaching and has motivated women to be more aware of ‘putting on’ the armor of God. 
·      More inspiration came when our flight to Nepal through Doha on February 28, 2026, was turned back because the war with Iran had begun. A physical battle was unfolding. I wanted to know how the Iranian believers would cope. The desire to develop a fifth study to help equip others to dress properly for the spiritual war began when we arrived safely home. The longing to complete the project has been growing ever since.
Writer’s tips. 
* Start with worship.
* Ask the Holy Spirit to guide my fingers, for it is His book.
* “Watch” for and write down the miracles along the way.
* Write while practicing the presence of God, listening for His whispers.
What Listeners Will Gain - They will be reminded that we are in a battle, an unseen spiritual war. We will study Ephesians 6 and explore every piece of God’s armor: what each piece means, why we need it, and how to ‘put on’ the whole armor. True personal stories of those who have faced insurmountable struggles yet found the truths God’s word provides are exactly what they needed to be prepared, equipped, and ready. 
 Learn more about Ruth below.
SOCIAL LINKS:
Ruth Coghill Website 
FB Ruth Coghill
https://www.amazon.ca/Woman-Worth-Lifelong-Empowerment-Psalm/dp/0986598097/
https://www.amazon.ca/Woman-Word-Ruth-Coghill/dp/0986598054/
https://www.amazon.ca/Woman-Wisdom-Ruth-Coghill/dp/1068800208/
https://www.amazon.ca/Woman-Worship-Ruth-Coghill/dp/0986598070/
https://www.amazon.ca/Unborn-Untold-Stories-Abortion-Healing/dp/1486618936/
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Your host - Linda Goldfarb
#4 Podcast 2026 "Million Podcasts Top 30 Christian Writers Podcasts"
#1 Podcast 2024 "Top 50+ Must-Have Tools and Resources for Christian Writers.
Awarded the Spark Media 2023 Fan Favorites Best Solo Podcast
Awarded the Spark Media 2022 Most Binge-Worthy Podcast

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What happens when a writer begins asking what success really means? Today, Bible teacher and author Andy Lee joins me with the story behind From Failure to Faith and what writing it taught her. Your Best Writing Life begins right now.
Welcome to Your Best Writing Life, where Christian writers and speakers learn to write with excellence, navigate publishing with wisdom, reach readers with integrity, and steward the message God has entrusted to them. I’m your host, Linda Goldfarb.
My guest is Bible teacher, author, speaker, and host of the Beloved and Becoming podcast, Andy Lee. She encourages believers to rest in God’s love and live out their calling with faith. Today, we’re talking about her devotional, From Failure to Faith. 
We all want to know the story behind From Failure to Faith: A 40-Day Journey to Renew Your Faith and Reclaim Your Calling
Devotional - “Faithfulness and obedience are God’s measuring stick for success.” 
“God called you. He appointed you.” “Our deepest heartache will be our greatest ministry.”
Writer’s tips. 
·      Attend one conference a year. (It’s about the relationships!)
·      Switch hands if what your doing isn’t working. (Ehud)
·      Find your why—what breaks your heart.

Giveaway - 
A 22-Day devotional on Psalm 119: Finding the Beauty{full} in God’s Word
LINKS
Website: https://wordsbyandylee.com/
Instagram: @wordsbyandylee
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@belovedandbecomingpodcast
ApplePodcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beloved-and-becoming-podcast/id6785648400
Book Link (Amazon): https://tinyurl.com/4unxb6sw
Visit Your Best Writing Life website.
Join our Facebook group, Your Best Writing Life
Your host - Linda Goldfarb
#4 Podcast 2026 "Million Podcasts Top 30 Christian Writers Podcasts"
#1 Podcast 2024 "Top 50+ Must-Have Tools and Resources for Christian Writers.
Awarded the Spark Media 2023 Fan Favorites Best Solo Podcast
Awarded the Spark Media 2022 Most Binge-Worthy Podcast

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Has life interrupted your writing? Or has a disappointment made it harder than you expected to return to the page?
Edie Melson joins Linda Goldfarb on Your Best Writing Life to discuss how to jump-start your creativity after a lull. We talk about beginning again, finding a writing rhythm that fits your current season, and pitfalls to watch for along the way.
Edie also shares how fun field trips can feed your creativity. Sometimes stepping away from your desk helps you notice something fresh and enjoy writing again.
Download both free handouts: Jump-Start Your Creativity After a Lull and Fun Field Trips to Feed Your Creativity. You’ll find a simple restart plan and 34 ideas for creative outings.
Welcome
Welcome to Your Best Writing Life! I’m Linda Goldfarb. Are life’s interruptions wreaking havoc on your writing? Maybe you’re ready to begin again, but the words aren’t coming. Edie Melson is back to help us take that next faithful step—and share some fun ways to feed our creativity away from the desk.
Guest Bio
Edie Melson is an author, speaker, and photographer who encourages others to recognize and follow their God-sized calling. Through her blog, The Write Conversation, she offers encouragement and practical help for writers. Find her at EdieMelson.com.
Episode Content
Sometimes life disrupts our writing routine. Sometimes writing itself brings disappointment. Returning to the page can take more than clearing a space on the calendar.
Edie and I talk about restarting creativity and finding fresh inspiration through experiences outside our usual routine.
Our conversation includes:
·       Why creativity may need a restart.
·       Returning to writing after an interruption or disappointment.
·       Ways to get your creative juices flowing.
·       Warnings and pitfalls to watch for as you begin again.
·       Fun field trips that help you observe, explore, and gather ideas.
Edie’s handouts help you carry the conversation into your week. Her restart plan offers questions to help you choose a manageable writing step. Her field-trip guide includes 34 outings and activities to enjoy alone or with friends.
We also highlight her book, Soul Care for Writers.
Free Listener Handouts
Jump-Start Your Creativity After a Lull
Fun Field Trips to Feed Your Creativity
Soul Care for Writers 
Connect with Edie
EdieMelson.com
Your Next Step
Choose one idea from Edie’s handouts and make room for it this week.

Visit Your Best Writing Life website.
Join our Facebook group, Your Best Writing Life
Your host - Linda Goldfarb
#4 Podcast 2026 "Million Podcasts Top 30 Christian Writers Podcasts"
#1 Podcast 2024 "Top 50+ Must-Have Tools and Resources for Christian Writers.
Awarded the Spark Media 2023 Fan Favorites Best Solo Podcast
Awarded the Spark Media 2022 Most Binge-Worthy Podcast

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Have you waited so long to publish that you wonder whether you’ve missed your opportunity?
Welcome to Your Best Writing Life! Award-winning author and illustrator Nancy Haack joins Linda Goldfarb on Your Best Writing Life to share the story behind her children’s picture book, In the Night Watch. Nancy’s dream of illustrating children’s books began in college and took decades to see the light of day.
We talk about waiting on God’s timing, recognizing preparation, and following an opportunity that feels beyond your abilities. Nancy also shares how her book became part of a mission trip to Peru—and what that experience taught her about success as a Christian writer.
If you’re discouraged by your publishing timeline, this conversation offers encouragement and practical questions to consider before your next step.
Have you ever looked at your publishing timeline and wondered, “Did I miss it?” My guest, Nancy Haack, knows what it’s like to carry a writing dream for years. Today, we’re talking about the waiting—and what happened when it was time to move forward.
Guest Bio
AWSA Golden Scroll Award winner Nancy Haack lives in upstate New York with her husband and dog, Henry. She enjoys her grandchildren, volunteers with teens at church, and pursues her lifelong dream of writing and illustrating children’s books and writing romance novels.
Episode Content
Nancy studied children’s book illustration in college, but her path to creating books took longer than she expected. Along the way, she continued developing her craft and working with children.
In this Story Behind the Story conversation, Nancy takes us behind In the Night Watch, an encouraging children’s bedtime picture book. We explore how her earlier experiences shaped the work and how a mission trip to Peru opened an unexpected opportunity to share it.
Our conversation includes:
What waiting can feel like when you dream of publishing.
Recognizing how earlier work and experiences prepare you.
How to discern which writing is meant to be shared publicly.
Responding to an opportunity that stretches your confidence.
Considering what faithfulness and success mean in your writing life.
Nancy also answers our signature question: What’s one thing you can do this week to move toward your best writing life?
Connect with Nancy
Website: writingbynancy.com
Instagram: @writingbynancy
Facebook: Nancy E Haack
Look for In the Night Watch and Nancy’s other books through Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Spanish editions of her children’s books are also available.
Share This Episode
Know a writer who’s wondering whether the waiting has been wasted? Share this episode with them.
Visit Your Best Writing Life website.
Join our Facebook group, Your Best Writing Life
Your host - Linda Goldfarb
#4 Podcast 2026 "Million Podcasts Top 30 Christian Writers Podcasts"
#1 Podcast 2024 "Top 50+ Must-Have Tools and Resources for Christian Writers.
Awarded the Spark Media 2023 Fan Favorites Best Solo Podcast
Awarded the Spark Media 2022 Most Binge-Worthy Podcast

What did you think of this episode?
What if Facebook limited the links you can share as a writer? Would you have to pay to reach readers—or could a better conversation do more than another link ever did? Today, Edie Melson helps us sort through Meta One, check what actually applies to our accounts, and make it easier for interested readers to find us. 
Edie Melson is an author, speaker, and photographer. Her blog, The Write Conversation, reaches thousands of writers and has been recognized among Writer’s Digest’s Top 101 Sites for Writers since 2017. She’s also the executive director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and serves on the board of the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. Edie, welcome to Your Best Writing Life! 
Questions we cover:
When writers see a post saying Facebook is becoming “pay to play,” what should they understand before they panic or purchase a subscription? 
In your post, you distinguish Facebook Pages and Professional Mode profiles from ordinary personal profiles. What should a listener check on her own account, and what remains uncertain? Are groups part of the same reported test? 
What is happening with external links on Facebook, as far as you can verify today? If a writer sees a limit, does it affect posts, comments, or both on her particular account?
Your response was “I’m not panicking.” What have you been teaching writers about social media that helps you stay calm?
Walk us through a real example from The Write Conversation. How do you turn an article into a Facebook post that invites conversation and stands on its own?
You have often placed the link in the first comment. Does that still work for you? Why might a listener need a backup route if comments are restricted on her account?
You wrote that writers must watch their focus because “it’s never all about me.” How can we tell whether a post offers something useful to the reader or merely asks for a click?
You call social media “rented property.” For the writer who has never built a link hub, what is it, and why might a links page on her own website be useful? 
Read Edie's post on Meta One here
Edie Melson
Contact Edie Melson
Visit Your Best Writing Life website.
Join our Facebook group, Your Best Writing Life
Your host - Linda Goldfarb
#4 Podcast 2026 "Million Podcasts Top 30 Christian Writers Podcasts"
#1 Podcast 2024 "Top 50+ Must-Have Tools and Resources for Christian Writers.
Awarded the Spark Media 2023 Fan Favorites Best Solo Podcast
Awarded the Spark Media 2022 Most Binge-Worthy Podcast