Our Blog
Resurrecting a Writer
By Darlene Larson That’s worthless writing. You’ve got to be kidding me! You think you’re a writer? Ha! And on and on the verbal attacks hurl destructive words that stop…
Is My Topic Broad Enough?
By Joel Armstrong The Speak Up Conference has been blessed with many faculty members who are extraordinary publishing professionals. In this post Joel Armstrong, associate editor at Kregel Publications, addresses…
What’s a Platform and Why Is It Important?
By Jill Savage This email landed in my inbox this week: Hey Jill! I finished reading your No More Perfect Moms book this week and it has changed every aspect…
3 Surefire Ways to Engage Your Audience
By Rachel Wojo Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 You’ve attended conferences, taken notes, read books, and developed your…
The Blessings of a Tough Year
This morning I opened my Bible and considered the shepherds. “That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord…
Christmas Greetings from Gene, Carol, and Jason Kent
If you’ve struggled to find joy in 2020, you’re not alone. It’s been a year like nothing we’ve ever known. Disruptions in our lives, our jobs, our ministries, and our families have…
Overcoming Writer’s Block
By Faith McDonald Last winter, at the nearly-complete point of a writing project I’d been working on, my enthusiasm waned. The effort required to complete the manuscript and send it…
Tips to Switch from Live to Virtual: Part 2
By Yvonne Ortega I attended the first-ever Virtual Speak Up Conference July 8–10, 2020. One of my responsibilities was to facilitate virtual prayer sessions and a writer’s track session. With…
Tips to Switch from Live to Virtual Training: Part 1
By Yvonne Ortega The live training of the past is now virtual in many cases. It may remain so because of the pandemic, its side effects, and the savings from…
A New View on Race From a Mother’s Heart
By Sheila Qualls As the mother of three black sons, the tragic death of George Floyd cut me deep. As I watched Floyd cry out for help and struggle to…
Answering Your COVID Calling
My first conversation of the day began with a text among close friends. “It’s sobering to see how very quickly our world has been shaken. I often find that all…
The Importance of Building Audience Tension
If your audience finds your message irrelevant or struggles to see the relevance, they’ll likely tune it out. To avoid this, we need to make sure we’ve taken time to…