In this craft-focused episode of Writing to Win with Mya Kay, Mya teaches Christian women writers how to outline a book without getting lost in the details. Using Noah’s ark in Genesis 6–8, her novel The Essence of His Soul, and a practical fitness-book example for busy moms, she shows how to build a story world or reader “home,” choose only the structural elements that truly move the book forward, and avoid overcomplicating the process. She then walks through how to design powerful character arcs (or target audience avatars for non-fiction) and how to create simple but effective character Bibles so you can see your characters clearly and guide them from chapter to chapter with purpose.

Timestamps

• [0:00–05:00] – Why this episode is the “fiction edition” and how non-fiction writers still fit in.
• [05:00–15:00] – Noah’s ark, “home vs. structure,” and how Mya built the world of The Essence of His Soul.
• [15:00–22:00] – How a fitness book for busy moms becomes a whole ecosystem, not just a list of workouts.
• [22:00–end] – Creating powerful character arcs, reader avatars, and character Bibles that keep your outline focused instead of overwhelming.

Mya uses her novel The Essence of His Soul to show how to:

• Define the “home” or world (in her case, the entertainment industry—basketball, music, arenas, red carpets, social media, blogs).
• Decide which structural elements (paparazzi, gossip blogs, fans, church culture, family secrets, studio spaces, mansions, etc.) will move characters from scene to scene and chapter to chapter. She then “blesses her non-fiction writers” with a parallel example: a book for busy moms building a healthy fitness routine while protecting their hair/edges, illustrating how to build a whole ecosystem around that reader (equipment, clothes, fabric choices, breastfeeding-friendly sports bras, hair protection strategies, etc.).

By the end of the episode, listeners will have:

• A biblical and practical picture of how to build a story world or reader “home”
• A repeatable framework for moving characters/readers from chapter to chapter
• Clarity on character arcs vs. reader avatars
• A simple structure for creating character Bibles that keep outlines focused and effective, instead of overwhelming

Episode Resources:

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