OUR MISSION

We mentor writers, propelling their words into the world for the glory of Jesus.

  • WILL ANDERSON

    Senior Editor | Waterbrook and Multnomah

    Will Parker Anderson is a senior editor at Waterbrook and Multnomah, an imprint of Penguin Random House一one of the largest publishers in the world. Besides editing and writing for a wide range of media outlets, including The Chosen, The Gospel Coalition, Dwell Bible App, Preaching Today, and Relevant magazine, his role on the WaterBrook and Multnomah editorial team is bolstered by fifteen years of pastoral and non-profit experience. Will holds a BA in journalism from Biola University and a MA in New Testament from Talbot School of Theology. As the founder of The Writers Circle, his passion is helping writers pursue their calling for the glory of Jesus.

  • STEVE CARTER

    Author of The Thing Beneath the Thing

    Steve Carter is a pastor, speaker, author, podcast host, sports enthusiast, and the former lead teaching pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago. His books include The Thing Beneath The Thing: What’s Hidden Inside (and What God Helps Us Do About It) and This Invitational Life: Risking Yourself to Align With God’s Heartbeat for Humanity. Steve’s creative instincts, passion for people, and insightful wisdom make him an ideal writing coach.

  • BRETT McCRACKEN

    Author of The Wisdom Pyramid, Senior Editor at the Gospel Coalition

    Brett McCracken is a senior editor and director of communications at The Gospel Coalition. He is the author of The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World, Uncomfortable: The Awkward and Essential Challenge of Christian Community, Gray Matters: Navigating the Space Between Legalism and Liberty, and Hipster Christianity: When Church and Cool Collide. Brett is an absolute master of wordcraft, book concept development, editing, and cultural exegesis.

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WHO'S IN YOUR CIRCLE?

As writers, how we answer that question changes everything.

For C.S. Lewis and JRR Tolkien, their circle was an informal group of friends who met at a local Oxford pub, to encourage and sharpen one another in their writing pursuits. Famously, they called themselves the "Inklings."

Without that intentional circle of brilliant friendship and collaboration, we likely would not have Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia or Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings一at least, not in the form millions have come to cherish.

HOW GREAT BOOKS REALLY HAPPEN

The Inklings demonstrate an indispensable truth: For any writer to achieve greatness and success, they must welcome others into their circle. It’s there一in an intentional community一you’ll receive the feedback, expertise, connections, and encouragement you need for your writing dreams to take off. 

In the digital age, it's tempting to work in isolation with so many tools at our disposal (including online courses and Masterclass-style experiences).

However, there is no substitute for personal mentorship. It's only in the back-and-forth of feedback, collaboration, and delving deeply into your ideas that your book will rise from good to great. That’s why everything we do at The Writing Circle is cohort based, placing you among experts in the industry to guide you, as well as like-minded writers to spur you on.

Are you eager to become the writer God is calling you to be? Ready to see your ideas bless thousands of people? We'd love to help you get there.

HOW WE’ll SERVE YOU

Here are some key ways we can shape your writing career:

  • Equip you to land a book deal with a major Christian publisher

  • Provide actual feedback about your writing (not just pre-recorded "How-to's")

  • Walk you step-by-step through the process of building an exceptional book proposal 

  • Sharpen your book idea so it stands out in a highly saturated market

  • Teach you exactly what publishers are looking for in a book proposal

  • Give you access to successful authors, editors, and agents

  • Welcome you into an intimate community of serious writers who love Jesus

  • Teach you how to build a platform and email list (without being obnoxiously self-promoting)

  • Help you write with more structure, clarity, and beauty

OUR VALUES

WRITE BETTER

C.S. Lewis once said, "The world does not need more Christian books. What it needs is more Christians writing good books." As writers, striving for excellence in our craft is one of the primary ways we honor God. (Col. 3:23) Everyone wants to be published, but as Christians, we first desire to have something meaningful to say that blesses others.

GROW TOGETHER

Mentorship is the only path to mastery. (1 Cor. 11:1) That's why everything we do puts you in a space (whether in person or digital) with masters of word craft and experts in Christian publishing. With knowledgeable and creative people by your side, your writing will reach heights you never thought possible. This is God's design一that we collaborate in community to hone our gifts and wield them for the good of the world.

GLORIFY GOD

While we cherish and learn immensely from authors from all walks of life, The Writers Circle serves those who profess to be Christians (see our statement of faith below). This does not mean your writing is always explicitly "Christian." It simply means you sense a calling from God to glorify him through your writing (1 Cor. 10:31), and want to build relationships with other authors motivated by that same vision.

STATEMENT OF FAITH

The Writers circle does not impart a particular doctrinal system or denominational creed to its participants. However, as lovers of the written word, we acknowledge the fluidity of language一especially when it comes to theological terms like “Christian” or “evangelical.” 

This statement of faith intends to provide clarity about what we believe, to help you discern whether our cohorts are a good fit for you. We value participants from diverse pockets of the church, as this enriches the experience and maximizes learning. Nonetheless, for all participants wishing to join a cohort, we do humbly ask you to affirm the following doctrinal statement (from the World Evangelical Alliance):

We believe...

...in the Holy Scriptures as originally given by God, divinely inspired, infallible, entirely trustworthy; and the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct;

One God, eternally existent in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit;

Our Lord Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, His virgin birth, His sinless human life, His divine miracles, His vicarious and atoning death, His bodily resurrection, His ascension, His mediatorial work, and His personal return in power and glory;

The Salvation of lost and sinful man through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ by faith apart from works, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit;

The Holy Spirit, by Whose indwelling the believer is enabled to live a holy life, to witness and work for the Lord Jesus Christ;

The Unity of the Spirit of all true believers, the Church, the Body of Christ;

The Resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life, they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.