Meet Carolyn Wiley

We recently connected with Carolyn Wiley and have shared our conversation below.

Carolyn, so happy to have you with us today. You are such a creative person, but have you ever had any sort of creativity block along the way? If so, can you talk to us about how you overcame or beat it?

You ever sit down at your keyboard…stare at that blinking cursor…and feel like your brain has packed its bags and gone on vacation? Let me just tell ya, I don’t believe in writer’s block. Truth is, what we call “writer’s block” is really fear wearing a fancy hat—fear that our words won’t measure up. And you know what the pros know? That first draft won’t be good enough. But obedience over perfection means you write anyway.

So here’s how I slay the so-called block:
1. Put words on the page—any words.
When I’m staring at a blank screen, I give myself permission to be gloriously messy. I write all the ugly, clunky sentences that come to mind—every half-baked thought, every awkward phrase. Tomorrow, those messy words turn into my starting point. No more blank-page panic—just a pile of raw clay I can shape.
2. Cultivate a sacred writing habit.
William Faulkner once said, “I only write when I’m inspired. Thankfully, I’m inspired every morning at nine o’clock.” (And oh, that tickles me.) So I show up at my desk every single morning at the same time. My brain learns to wake up and say, “Oh, we’re writing now.” It’s less about waiting on a muse and more about honoring the gift God’s given me by carving out dedicated time.
3. Remember: writing is rewriting.
If you believe everything has to be perfect on the first go, you’ll wilt faster than a cut flower. Instead, I remind myself: every draft is just a layer. I can trim, polish, and prune later. Right now, I’m in the planting season—next season, I’ll harvest the beauty.
4. Lean into prayer and stillness.
Before I write, I pause. I pray, I breathe, I invite the Holy Spirit to guide my words. Sometimes that means closing my eyes in a quiet corner for five minutes. Other times it’s scribbling a prayer at the top of my page: “God, give me the words you want spoken.” That simple act of surrender dissolves perfectionism and floods me with courage.
5. Celebrate every word.
I keep a running counter of how many words I write each day—even the ugly ones. Seeing that number climb gives me a burst of joy and proves that progress (not perfection) moves me forward.

Friend, writer’s block isn’t a mystery to fear. It’s just fear in disguise. So show up, write badly, pray boldly, and trust that your pen (or keyboard) will catch fire in due time. Rest isn’t a reward—it’s part of the rhythm. And you’re not behind. You’re on God’s time, shaping words that only you can write.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m the founder and lead strategist behind Rose & Pearl Publishing—a Holy-Spirit-led hybrid publishing and coaching house whose mission is to share God’s stories for the next generation so we don’t lose our faith heritage. Every day, I get to walk alongside Christian coaches, leaders, and entrepreneurs—helping them move from idea to finished manuscript to legacy-building book in readers’ hands.

What lights me up most about this work is that it’s never just about words on a page—it’s about redemption, testimony, and transformation. We don’t “leverage” trends or chase market fads; we listen for the still, small Voice of the Spirit, then infuse every chapter with prophetic insight, empathy, and an invitation to encounter Jesus anew. Our WRITE and ARISE frameworks aren’t mere checklists—they’re pathways to clarity, confidence, and courageous storytelling.

Beyond one-on-one coaching and our flagship Christian Writers Arise Academy group program, we offer a full-service Rose Gold Author Experience—done-for-you ghostwriting, editing, and launch support for leaders ready to step into their platform with power and purpose without the time to take the reins themselves.

And here’s the news I’m most excited to share: on September 5, we’ll officially launch Facing the Fire, the memoir of my dear friend and former firefighter Pat Hardison. This isn’t just another book—it’s a raw, unflinching journey through loss and restoration, face-transplant miracles, and the God who writes new endings. We’ve spent months refining every word, crafting a cover that reflects both the scars and the glory, and building a launch team hungry to spread his message of hope.

As we head into summer, we’re also rolling out:
• A brand-new Writing Confidence course for Christian authors who feel stuck in perfectionism
• Continuing to offer training and author interviews on our Youtube Channel – The Published Pearl.
• Expanded coaching cohorts to keep our community intimate, fierce, and Spirit-empowered

My prayer is that every author we serve steps into their God-given voice, unafraid to speak truth, and empowered to leave a legacy that echoes into eternity.

Whether you’re just dreaming up your first chapter or you’re putting the final polish on a finished draft, we’re here to fan those embers of calling into a roaring blaze of impact. And friend, there’s no greater calling than to steward your story for His glory.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

1. Daily Discipline to Show Up
In my journey, the single most transformative “skill” wasn’t a fancy craft tip—it was the muscle of obedience. Every morning, I pull up a chair and open my notebook or laptop, even if I “don’t feel it.” That daily return is where real growth happens: your voice deepens, your confidence builds, and your best ideas emerge from the ritual of returning to the page.
How to develop this:
• Set a sacred appointment. Block out 30–60 minutes on your calendar at the same time each day—no exceptions. Treat it like a date with God Himself.
• Honor small wins. Celebrate the days you showed up, even if you only wrote 100 messy words. Tracking those wins fuels momentum.
• Lean into community. Join or form a weekly writers group so you’re not going solo in showing up.
2. Clarity in Coaching & Community-Building
God wired me to teach, encourage, and pray over writers. From childhood “classrooms” of teddy bears to today’s coaching calls, I’ve learned that the Holy Spirit often speaks through collective wisdom and intercession. When my clients tell me our weekly sessions are the highlight of their week—where wins are celebrated, struggles are prayed over, and next-write steps are planned—I know this gift transforms more than craft. It builds courage.
How to develop this:
• Practice teaching what you learn. Start a small blog, Instagram Reel series, or micro-workshop on a writing tip you just discovered. Teaching deepens your own mastery.
• Cultivate a feedback loop. Invite trusted peers to read your work and share both encouragement and honest critique—then do the same for them.
• Pray together. There’s power in lifting each other’s words to the Lord. Invite a writing partner to begin or end your sessions in prayer.
3. Project Management & Delegation
Self-publishing isn’t just about writing—it’s shepherding your manuscript through cover design, interior layout, editing, marketing strategy, reviews, and launch logistics. When you can’t write because your editor or designer has the file, you pivot to coordinating that next phase. Learning to delegate well and manage that workflow is a superpower for any author.
How to develop this:
• Map your milestones. Break your book project into clear phases—outline, draft, revise, design, launch—and set target dates for each.
• Use simple tools. A shared Trello board or Google Sheet can track tasks, deadlines, and who’s responsible.
• Build your team. Identify reliable editors, designers, or launch coaches. Start small—maybe barter a skill you have in exchange for theirs—so you learn the delegation dance.

Final encouragement:
Your writing journey isn’t solely about perfect prose—it’s about growing in obedience, community, and leadership. As you hone your craft, remember that God built these three foundations in you for such a time as this: the discipline of daily return, the gift of teaching and praying for others, and the capacity to steward a big-picture vision. Keep showing up, keep sharing your gifts, and keep coordinating the beautiful unfolding of your story. God’s got you, and He’s already written the next chapter.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

“Atomic Habits” by James Clear has been a game-changer in how I steward both my creativity and my business. Here are a few of the most Spirit-aligned insights that have reshaped my journey—and how I’ve woven them into Kingdom rhythms:
1. Identity-Based Habits Over Outcome Goals
• Clear teaches that true change happens when we start by believing, “I am the kind of person who…” instead of chasing arbitrary outcomes. Instead of “I need to write a chapter today,” I declare, “I am a writer who shows up in faith.” That simple shift—from doing to being—trains my heart to step into God’s call on my life, even on days I feel uninspired.
• Application: Each morning I whisper a declaration—“I am a faithful steward of every word God gives me”—and that identity anchors me when the blank page tempts me to doubt.
2. The Power of Tiny Improvements (the 1% Rule)
• When we chase huge leaps, we often burn out or get discouraged. “Atomic Habits” reminds us that compounding 1% improvements—those little wins—add up to seismic growth over time. Writing just 100 extra words, reading one more page, or praying five extra minutes every day builds momentum.
• Application: At Rose & Pearl Publishing, instead of a lofty “write a book in 30 days” promise, we help our authors commit to daily “next-write steps.” Those micro-wins—drafting a paragraph, refining one sentence—multiply into a finished manuscript, all under the Lord’s timing.
3. Environment Design as Spiritual Stewardship
• Our surroundings shape our habits more than sheer willpower does. Clear shows us how to make good habits obvious and bad ones invisible—by reorganizing our spaces, cues, and routines.
• Application: I’ve transformed my writing corner into a “sacred writing altar”—a clear desk, my Bible open to Proverbs, a candle for focus, and my journal waiting for fresh ink. Even my digital environment is curated: I pin my writing goal to the top of my desktop and use a simple app blocker during my writing window. When my environment whispers, “It’s time,” resistance fades.
4. Habit Stacking with Kingdom Rhythms
• Clear’s habit-stacking concept invites us to tack a new habit onto an existing one: “After I make my coffee, I will read one paragraph of Scripture,” then “After I read Scripture, I will write 200 words.”
• Application: My morning rhythm now flows naturally: quiet time → gratitude journal → prayer for clients → writing session. Each step cues the next, creating a seamless dance of devotion and creativity.
5. Celebrating the Process, Not Just the Prize
• One of the richest takeaways is to “never miss twice”—when you slip, dust off and return immediately. But more importantly, celebrate the return itself.
• Application: Each evening, I jot down the day’s habit wins—did I write? Pray? Move my body?—and thank God for His faithfulness. That heart posture transforms discipline into worship.

Final Encouragement:
Habits aren’t cold routines—they’re invitations to partner with God in our growth. When you lean into tiny, Spirit-led shifts—1% better in faith, focus, and flow—you’ll discover that the next chapter of your story unfolds with clarity, courage, and Kingdom impact. The God who orchestrates every detail will honor your small steps of obedience and multiply them far beyond what you can imagine.

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Photo Credit: SAS Film & Photography

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