Introduction
Welcome to the first episode of «Writer Interviews»! Ever since I saw people interviewing each other, I've wanted to do my own interviews and work with other people. After an endless wait for leads, it seems the time is finally here!
Today we'll hear from Sydney Witbeck, a Christian writer who recently joined the Substack community. As incredible as it may sound, her last name isn't spelled W-H-I-T-B-E-C-K. Yes, that's right: there's no "H" there. And now you know a fun fact about her! But I bet that's not enough, so without further ado, let's proceed with the procession of what follows.
Meet Sydney!
Abigail: So, let's get into the first question! Time to pick a side: Ford, Chevy, or something else?
Sydney: Oh my word, I never really think about cars....ummm....probably Chevy.
Abigail: Fair enough haha, most girls don't. But now, Pepsi, Coke, or Dr. Pepper?
Sydney: Okay one weird thing about me is I have never had soda since we did a science experiment in elementary school where my mom put a rusty penny in Coke and it ate up all the rust. Then I learned later if your car engine is rusted you can apparently pour Coke or something like that on it and it eats up the rust lol. So I guess water?? Or coffee :)
Abigail: LOL what a funny anecdote! Which leads me to wonder, how did you get onto Substack and what inspired you to start your blog?
Sydney: I originally discovered Substack a while ago because a writing conference I was interested in posted something on here. At the time, I didn't really know what it was. Fast forward to the end of last year when I am doing a blog tour for my book. I was trying to find places to advertise it, and decided to see what would happen if I posted my note on here.
I have always loved finding ways to encourage other Christian writers, so when I realized you could have a blog on Substack, I decided to try my hand at it! To be honest, I was a bit nervous because this is my first blog. But I love being able to be a part of the amazing and supportive community on here!
Abigail: Very interesting, It's good to know you enjoyed joining Substack! By the way, so far, what have you liked most about Substack?
Sydney: What I have liked the most is the community. I was blown away (in the best way possible) to see the number of Christians and Christian authors on here who want to live for God and write stories for His glory. Even when posting Notes, it seems more content & quality focused than "oh will this be viral" or "how many likes and followers can I get from this post" like many mainstream social media sites.
Abigail: Yes, that's probably the same reaction I had. It's really impressive and encouraging to know that we're not the only ones. That we're not alone. Now let's take the conversation to another flow! I’m curious, If you could read a book for the first time, what would it be and why?
Sydney: Probably "The Lord of the Rings!" I remember the first time I read it when I was a young teenager—and have re-read it many times over. But there are so many things you don't know as a first time reader. You've fallen into a completely different world and you don't expect all the plot twists, the funny lines and the battle scenes, the end...and the beginning and middle.
Abigail: Lord of the Rings, huh? I think I heard somewhere you're a big Tolkien fan. What is your favorite part of the three LOTR volumes and why?
Sydney: This is such a hard question! I would probably say "The Return of the King." It has so many of the most epic scenes (in my humble opinion) and favorite lines. It's also the high point in the character arc for most of my favorite characters (Merry, Pippin, Eowyn, and Aragorn)
Abigail: Now that we've come to the topic of books, in your experience, what is the most important thing about the process of writing a book?
Sydney: I would have to say you need to start with at least a basic outline. It doesn't have to be extremely detailed. You don't have to list out every scene or have a play-by-play for each chapter. But you need to at least have a basic "road map" of where you're going. Speaking from personal experience, if you just try to write it all on a whim, odds are you're going to plateau in the middle and get frustrated because you don't know how to get to the end!
Abigail: Very good pointo of view! I think I agree for the most part. If you don't have a basic outline, everything could become a disaster! But now I'm curious, what motivates you the most to keep writing? (Even though you sometimes don't know how to get a character out of a situation, haha)
Sydney: My family. They are my biggest supporters, they've been there from the start and helped me through all my writing ups and downs. My stories truly would not be the same without them!
Abigail: Such a lovely picture! It's good to know that you have close people around you who support you in your projects. In your opinion, what is the purpose of literature and why?
Sydney: I believe all literature should point to the Living Word—Christ Himself. Jesus was called "the Word" and He used stories to minister to people. Think of all the parables and examples He told! Stories touch us in a way "dry facts" don't always. Through words, we have this amazing opportunity to follow in our Lord's footsteps and show others His truth!
Abigail: Yes, I totally agree! And by the way, speaking about you writing literature, I heard you're an indie author. Tell us a little about your work!
Sydney: I have currently written two novels in the same series (although the first book can be read as a standalone). The first book follows the story of a princess named Esther who is forced to flee her castle, not knowing if she will ever see her parents again. Enemies close in on the princess who eludes them at every step. She takes refuge among her mother's people deep in the mountains. When at last the time comes for her to return to her home, she sets out with her faith in God as her only weapon. When Esther is captured, it is up to the villagers to decide if they will once and for all take a stand for their freedom before it is too late. The second book takes a minor character from the first story and dives deeper into their story. I can't elaborate on this one because it would give away several spoilers for the first book. Both books are available for purchase on my website.
Check out Sydney’s website and books at Stories of Faithfulness!
Abigail: As an indie author, what has been the most challenging part? The best part?
Sydney: The biggest challenge is recognizing that while self-publishing ("indie publishing) seems easier at a quick glance, there is a mindset sometimes that “self-published books” aren’t as professional. It’s true that we live in a day where anyone can be self-published. Does that mean I don’t recommend the self-publishing route (especially for first time writers/authors) or that those books can’t be professionally crafted, uniquely told stories? Of course not! It means that, as a self-published author, you must take extra steps to help your story succeed. Publishing houses cover editing, cover design, and marketing, among other things. (Also if you self-publish, please, please, please do your research first on ISBNs! For some reason, Amazon does not currently recognize my ISBN number and will not let me sell through them (I sell directly from my website and ship the books myself, so, right now, I can’t ship internationally).
The best part of being an indie-author is that you get so much hands-on experience with many different areas of the writing journey. You learn how to market your book, how to write a synopsis, where to find a self-publishing company, where to pick out a cover and author picture. It's also so fulfilling when the great day arrives and you finally hold your book in your hands. I almost started tearing up when I held the first copy of my book. I felt like a little kid at Christmas! It was honestly such a dream-come-true moment. Yes, you have to work hard as an indie author and take some extra steps, but it is definitely worth it in the end!!
Abigail: To be honest, despite all the work and effort it takes, self-publishing sounds like a wonderful experience! But now sadly let's go to the next and last question. Where do you see yourself or what do you hope to have achieved with your Substack by the end of the year?
Sydney: Another tricky question! As far as numbers go, I'm currently halfway to 100 subscribers right now, so I think my end of the year goal is to have 200 subs. I also want to try for a consistent 1-2 posts per week. However, although that would be pretty awesome, at the end of the day, it's not the numbers for me. I want my Substack to be a place where writers can find encouragement and support. I want to work more on my Subscriber chat and see if I can make it more active.
If I can help someone who feels like giving up on their story or shed some Gospel light and encouragement into the crazy process that is the writing journey, I believe that is my main goal here on Substack! ❤️
Abigail: Such wonderful goals! May the Lord bless your path! And thank you for joining us for this interview!
Sydney: Thank you so much for having me on here!
Abigail: My pleasure!
Farewell!
If you enjoyed this interview, please check out Sydney at her Substack:
I'm more than sure she would greatly appreciate the support! It's been a pleasure working with her and connecting through our passion for writing fiction that glorifies our Lord. I highly recommend giving her a try. If you'd like to read something she's written, you can start by reading her welcome article!
Thank you for joining us for the first episode of Writer Interviews! If you’d like to be interviewed, just let me know in the comments section or sending me a DM. I’d be more than happy to work with you!
And now, without further ado, we bid you farewell. Have a wonderful day!
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Great interview here that Abigail conducts with Sydney and excellent advice regarding self-publishing. All the Christian authors on Substack seem to greatly contribute to Substack's amiable, friendly and very humanitarian vibe. Many authors are setting up their own websites and doing their own promotion, marketing and shipping. I hope someone might suggest an affordable shipper in order to ship one's books internationally with tracking if that's possible although that is a perennial problem and so far seemingly impossible. But there was a time when self-publishing seemed impossible. I like Sydney's advice on minimal outlining although one can end up writing by the seat of the pants almost anytime, even with a bare outline. Like lawyers who say a prayer to win a case or doctors who say a prayer for the knowledge or wisdom to medically heal their patients, authors can always say a prayer to realize what happens or what happens next in their novel. One can easily lose their way in a novel just as in life but they can also somehow find their way as Sydney mentions. Abigail, this looks like you are off to a wonderful start with your new interview series. More please.