Dear Christian writer: Maybe this is what you're longing for.

If you want to sharpen your craft, remember why we actually do this, and belong to a community of writers who love Jesus, this is for you.

When I signed my first book deal, I knew no one in the industry. I hadn’t begun writing publicly on any platform of my own, and I didn’t know any Christian writers in real life. It felt… lonely.

Hi, I’m Alicia, and this is a personality pic—blueberry coffee, Bible, journal, nature. That’s pretty much all you need to know.

I processed this new adventure with my family and friends, and they had invaluable encouragement and advice, but none of them were writers. I bounced ideas off of them, but they—whether they will admit it or not—were biased, because they love me too much. And while they would willingly listen to me ramble on day after day about the ins and outs of being in the Christian writing world, they were listening to me talk about a space they themselves were not in. I’m sure it got old.

The thing about writers is that we love talking about writing. We love to yap about craft, book proposals, Anne Lamott, C. S. Lewis, the em dash, being guests on podcasts, the angst of a first draft, the angst of editing, and the angst of the whole process, if we’re being honest. We love chatting about who our target reader is and what we want to write for them. We love to gush about our favorite books, our favorite writers, and our dream publishers. We need to process the spiritual side of this journey with one another—our doubts, our desires, our callings, and the tenderest parts of our writing stories.

Over the years I’ve made dear writer friends with whom I can workshop new ideas and send audio messages to, asking desperately, is this biblical or am I being heretical right now??? The value of writing in community is unmatched. If reading the Bible with our brothers and sisters in Christ is important, why should writing about it be a solitary activity? Having writer friends is just plain fun. It brings pizzazz, inspiration, beauty, truth, and accountability into it all.

That is exactly why I’m starting this newsletter. We need a place to process, learn, grow, and connect. So, welcome to The Writer’s Cottage. What do I bring to this space, and what’s in it for you?

I’ve written some things.

I almost headed this section as “my credentials,” but that’s baloney. If we are called by God to create, that’s credential enough. But what I bring to this newsletter, practically speaking, is a degree in English Education (plus a master’s class in creative nonfiction) and two traditionally published books (one forthcoming!) under my belt. This means I’ve spent a long time writing, and therefore have spent a long time thinking about writing. It also means that, if you have any questions about the industry, I can at least take a shot at answering them.

me and my little book :)

I am a creator of community.

I like to say that discipleship is my day job (specifically in college and youth ministry), but you might also say that it’s creating community. I love people. I love them. And connecting people to one another—be that in the local church, on a college campus, or even in an online community—is my specialty and delight.

I love stories—and equipping those who write them.

I have always been an English teacher at heart, and I always will be. God is a storyteller, and he passed that down to me. I am convinced that stories are gifts from God. Writing about God is a weighty and hallowed task, and I want to equip you to write with gusto and reverence, candor and honor, beauty and sorrow, and vibrance and delight.

I am the writer’s empath.

Being a writer can be… weird? Lonely? Disappointing? Filled with sheer delight? Confusing? Spiritually complex? Yes to all of it. I’ve been there, I feel you, and we are going to talk about it here.

My goal in The Writer’s Cottage is to…

1. Create a community for Christian writers (you)!!!

2. Share what I learned from my English Education degree.

3. Talk about the reality (sometimes fun, sometimes weird, sometimes heavy) about writing in the Christian nonfiction space.

4. Encourage creativity and help us get back to the roots of why we write.

5. Share prompts, tips, and resources for creative writing.

6. Cast vision for creating in the image of our Creator.

Okay, but why is it called The Writer’s Cottage?

I think it’s every writer’s dream to wake up on a snowy morning in a little country cottage, brew a cup of their favorite tea, and settle in to write beautiful words. This is my reality—sort of. My husband and I just moved to the cutest little home (built like a cottage!) in New Hampshire where birds sing in the branches and snow falls like silent dreams. I’m drinking a lot of blueberry tea these days. And I do write words… they might not be beautiful until after the fourth draft, but that’s okay.

I’d like to invite you into this with me. I’d like to gather us all up in my cozy little living room with our steaming cups. I’d like us to pray together, to write together, to dream together.

A cottage is a gathering place. But it’s a gathering place without pressure. If we met in a library, we’d have to keep our voices down. If we met in a castle, that would be so cool, but it would feel daunting—like whatever we wrote would have to be monumental or super poetic. I imagine a cottage is a place where we could laugh loudly, write without restraint, and bounce ideas off each other. It’s just small enough to feel cozy.

Welcome to my little writer’s cottage. Make yourself at home. I’m genuinely so glad you’re here.

Alicia

P.S. Keep reading for this week’s writing prompts and a way to engage in this community today.

This Week’s Prompts

Write for five minutes about your favorite snack. Describe it in great detail. Mine it for metaphors. Be absolutely ridiculous.

Write for five minutes about the view outside your window. What moves? What is still? What does this say about the place you live?

Read John 3:1–21. What details have you missed in this passage before, and in what ways do you relate to Nicodemus?

If you share your responses to these prompts, I want to read them! Tag me on Substack or on Instagram @alicialynnhamilton.

Cultivating Community

Since writing is a mostly solitary activity, let’s create some connections. Join me in the comments and tell us:

• When did you begin writing, and sparked this journey for you?

• Where are you writing from?

• What are you reading this week?

Do you have questions for me? Ask away in the comments! Do you want to request a topic for this newsletter? Tell me in the comments!

Other places to connect:

• Instagram

• My book! Eternity in Our Hearts: How the Wisdom of Ecclesiastes Frees Us to a Richer Reality

• My other Substack: A Creative Connection