Episode 08

Mary DeMuth

Finding Your Writing Voice

Mary DeMuth is one of the best known Christian writers, having written over 30 books and mentoring hundreds of writers through her site, Book Launch Mentor. Our discussion moves from learning to trust your voice to surrounding yourself with good advice.
Mary DeMuth is one of the best known Christian writers, having written over 30 books and mentoring hundreds of writers through her site, Book Launch Mentor. Our discussion moves from learning to trust your voice to surrounding yourself with good advice.
00:00 36:10

Show Notes:08. Mary DeMuth — Finding Your Writing Voice: Staying Hopeful

In today’s podcast, I had the privilege of speaking with Mary Demuth. If you are new to Christian writing, it won’t take you long to come across Mary’s work. She is a prolific writer with a heart to help mentor new writers.

Mary has been a missionary church planter and also hosts two podcasts. You can find all her resources at marydemuth.com.


We spent time in our conversation discussing voice. I think its one of the first challenges writers face. How do you discover your voice? How do you trust your voice? How do you learn to use it? Mary gives honest and encouraging advice about embracing who you are as a writer.

“Most writers struggle to unearth voice — not only because one’s own voice is simply too familiar, but also because to speak from your voice means confronting your world, your dreams, and your entire life raw and unsoftened by explanations.” — Thaisa Frank and Dorothy Wall

  • The Cultivation of Christmas Trees
T.S. Eliot

There are several attitudes towards Christmas,
Some of which we may disregard:
The social, the torpid, the patently commercial,
The rowdy (the pubs being open till midnight),
And the childish – which is not that of the child
For whom the candle is a star, and the gilded angel
Spreading its wings at the summit of the tree
Is not only a decoration, but an angel.

The child wonders at the Christmas Tree:
Let him continue in the spirit of wonder
At the Feast as an event not accepted as a pretext;
So that the glittering rapture, the amazement
Of the first-remembered Christmas Tree,
So that the surprises, delight in new possessions
(Each one with its peculiar and exciting smell),
The expectation of the goose or turkey
And the expected awe on its appearance,

So that the reverence and the gaiety
May not be forgotten in later experience,
In the bored habituation, the fatigue, the tedium,
The awareness of death, the consciousness of failure,
Or in the piety of the convert
Which may be tainted with a self-conceit
Displeasing to God and disrespectful to children
(And here I remember also with gratitude
St.Lucy, her carol, and her crown of fire):

So that before the end, the eightieth Christmas
(By “eightieth” meaning whichever is last)
The accumulated memories of annual emotion
May be concentrated into a great joy
Which shall be also a great fear, as on the occasion
When fear came upon every soul:
Because the beginning shall remind us of the end
And the first coming of the second coming.
  • Will’s first South Dakota pheasant trip.
  • Lemu Emu and Doug. Their idea for trick or treating… @libertymutual
  • Another successful tournament for Will. This kid trains five nights a week at Jiu Jitsu. His work ethic, discipline, and toughness amaze me. And a special things to @treycarterjj at @dynastyjiujitsu . Best coach and best gym there is.
  • Horse fieldtrip today. Ashley getting to nerd out on horses.
  • Wear a fake mustache and get free tickets to the Springfield Cardinals. We were in.
  • Free hotdog night. Will did damage and the cardinals won in extra innings.
  • Last day and the best cup of Turkish coffee.
The Cultivation of Christmas Trees
T.S. Eliot

There are several attitudes towards Christmas,
Some of which we may disregard:
The social, the torpid, the patently commercial,
The rowdy (the pubs being open till midnight),
And the childish – which is not that of the child
For whom the candle is a star, and the gilded angel
Spreading its wings at the summit of the tree
Is not only a decoration, but an angel.

The child wonders at the Christmas Tree:
Let him continue in the spirit of wonder
At the Feast as an event not accepted as a pretext;
So that the glittering rapture, the amazement
Of the first-remembered Christmas Tree,
So that the surprises, delight in new possessions
(Each one with its peculiar and exciting smell),
The expectation of the goose or turkey
And the expected awe on its appearance,

So that the reverence and the gaiety
May not be forgotten in later experience,
In the bored habituation, the fatigue, the tedium,
The awareness of death, the consciousness of failure,
Or in the piety of the convert
Which may be tainted with a self-conceit
Displeasing to God and disrespectful to children
(And here I remember also with gratitude
St.Lucy, her carol, and her crown of fire):

So that before the end, the eightieth Christmas
(By “eightieth” meaning whichever is last)
The accumulated memories of annual emotion
May be concentrated into a great joy
Which shall be also a great fear, as on the occasion
When fear came upon every soul:
Because the beginning shall remind us of the end
And the first coming of the second coming.
The Cultivation of Christmas Trees T.S. Eliot There are several attitudes towards Christmas, Some of which we may disregard: The social, the torpid, the patently commercial, The rowdy (the pubs being open till midnight), And the childish – which is not that of the child For whom the candle is a star, and the gilded angel Spreading its wings at the summit of the tree Is not only a decoration, but an angel. The child wonders at the Christmas Tree: Let him continue in the spirit of wonder At the Feast as an event not accepted as a pretext; So that the glittering rapture, the amazement Of the first-remembered Christmas Tree, So that the surprises, delight in new possessions (Each one with its peculiar and exciting smell), The expectation of the goose or turkey And the expected awe on its appearance, So that the reverence and the gaiety May not be forgotten in later experience, In the bored habituation, the fatigue, the tedium, The awareness of death, the consciousness of failure, Or in the piety of the convert Which may be tainted with a self-conceit Displeasing to God and disrespectful to children (And here I remember also with gratitude St.Lucy, her carol, and her crown of fire): So that before the end, the eightieth Christmas (By “eightieth” meaning whichever is last) The accumulated memories of annual emotion May be concentrated into a great joy Which shall be also a great fear, as on the occasion When fear came upon every soul: Because the beginning shall remind us of the end And the first coming of the second coming.
4 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
1/9
Will’s first South Dakota pheasant trip.
Will’s first South Dakota pheasant trip.
Will’s first South Dakota pheasant trip.
Will’s first South Dakota pheasant trip.
Will’s first South Dakota pheasant trip.
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
2/9
Lemu Emu and Doug. Their idea for trick or treating… @libertymutual
Lemu Emu and Doug. Their idea for trick or treating… @libertymutual
3 months ago
View on Instagram |
3/9
Another successful tournament for Will. This kid trains five nights a week at Jiu Jitsu. His work ethic, discipline, and toughness amaze me. And a special things to @treycarterjj at @dynastyjiujitsu . Best coach and best gym there is.
Another successful tournament for Will. This kid trains five nights a week at Jiu Jitsu. His work ethic, discipline, and toughness amaze me. And a special things to @treycarterjj at @dynastyjiujitsu . Best coach and best gym there is.
Another successful tournament for Will. This kid trains five nights a week at Jiu Jitsu. His work ethic, discipline, and toughness amaze me. And a special things to @treycarterjj at @dynastyjiujitsu . Best coach and best gym there is.
4 months ago
View on Instagram |
4/9
Horse fieldtrip today. Ashley getting to nerd out on horses.
Horse fieldtrip today. Ashley getting to nerd out on horses.
4 months ago
View on Instagram |
5/9
Wear a fake mustache and get free tickets to the Springfield Cardinals. We were in.
Wear a fake mustache and get free tickets to the Springfield Cardinals. We were in.
6 months ago
View on Instagram |
7/9
Free hotdog night. Will did damage and the cardinals won in extra innings.
Free hotdog night. Will did damage and the cardinals won in extra innings.
Free hotdog night. Will did damage and the cardinals won in extra innings.
Free hotdog night. Will did damage and the cardinals won in extra innings.
Free hotdog night. Will did damage and the cardinals won in extra innings.
7 months ago
View on Instagram |
8/9
Last day and the best cup of Turkish coffee.
Last day and the best cup of Turkish coffee.
7 months ago
View on Instagram |
9/9

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