Home Podcasts The Adventurous Author | Finish Book, Writing Discipline, Creative Writing, Character Development, Christian Podcast
The Adventurous Author | Finish Book, Writing Discipline, Creative Writing, Character Development, Christian Podcast

The Adventurous Author | Finish Book, Writing Discipline, Creative Writing, Character Development, Christian Podcast

Bonnie Jean Schaefer | Author and Founder of the League of Adventurous Authors 219 Episodes Feb 28, 2026

The Adventurous Author Podcast, hosted by Bonnie Jean Schaefer (also known as fantasy author D.K. Drake), helps Christian writers overcome fear, doubt, and the challenges of AI to finish their books. Schaefer shares her experience of publishing four novels while working full-time, offering practical systems and a faith-based framework. The podcast focuses on identity in Christ, sustainable writing habits, and finishing what God has called you to start. Each season cycles through identity, systems, and storytelling mastery to support writers in their creative journey.

Episodes

The Real Quest: Mastering the Art, Process, and Business of Storytelling | 218
The Real Quest: Mastering the Art, Process, and Business of Storytelling | 218 Feb 28, 2026 604 We’ve reached the end of the Start Strong season. So what did you build? Over the past five episodes, we laid the foundation: Christ anchors identity. Identity shapes systems. Systems refine skills. Skills produce soul-satisfying fruit. Soul-satisfying fruit pleases God. That’s the Faithful Mastery Framework. But this isn’t theory. It’s a trail. And now we move from learning… to traini
Soul-Satisfying Fruit Pleases God: How to Pursue Writing Excellence Without Fear | 217
Soul-Satisfying Fruit Pleases God: How to Pursue Writing Excellence Without Fear | 217 Feb 18, 2026 495 Failure doesn’t scare me. Success does. The visibility. The money. The fear that if your work actually matters… you might lose yourself. In this episode, we finish the Faithful Mastery Cascade: Christ anchors identity. Identity shapes systems. Systems refine skills. Skills produce soul-satisfying fruit. And soul-satisfying fruit pleases God. We talk about: Why hiding isn’t humility
Skills Produce Fruit: Writing, Money, and the Fear of Success | 216
Skills Produce Fruit: Writing, Money, and the Fear of Success | 216 Feb 11, 2026 496 You’re showing up. Practicing. Writing. Learning. Pushing through resistance. And somewhere in the middle of it all, a question surfaces: Is this worth it? In this episode, we answer that question. We explore the three kinds of fruit your writing produces: Internal fruit — fulfillment, significance, belonging Character fruit — discipline, courage, faithfulness Physical fruit — stories, reach
Systems Refine Skills: Build Fiction Writing Mastery One Rep at a Time | 215
Systems Refine Skills: Build Fiction Writing Mastery One Rep at a Time | 215 Feb 6, 2026 413 This episode is about why wanting to get better isn’t enough and why skill growth feels so frustrating without the right structure. If you’ve ever thought: “I just need more craft” “I need to practice more, but I can’t seem to stay consistent” “Why am I not improving the way I expected?” This episode explains what’s actually missing: Skills don’t grow in chaos. They grow inside systems. In this
Identity Shapes Systems: Why Your Writing Routine Should Fit YOU | 214
Identity Shapes Systems: Why Your Writing Routine Should Fit YOU | 214 Jan 29, 2026 850 Want to write consistently but think you need more discipline or a better routine?  Let's reframe that thought. Because what you really need is a system that fits who God made you to be. In this episode of The Adventurous Author, I share that most writer fail not because they lack talent or faith but because they’re trying to live inside systems that don’t match their identity or season of life. Y
Christ Anchors Identity: The Foundation Every Christian Writer Needs | 213
Christ Anchors Identity: The Foundation Every Christian Writer Needs | 213 Jan 24, 2026 745 Today’s episode is about something deeper than writing tactics. It’s about why some writers keep drifting—even when they want this badly—and why others learn how to stay steady long enough to finish. The difference isn’t talent. It isn’t time. It isn’t discipline. It’s identity. In this episode, I unpack what I mean—very intentionally—when I say: Christ anchors identity. We break it down word by w
From Creative Identity Crisis to 50 Books by 50: My Return to the Mic | 212
From Creative Identity Crisis to 50 Books by 50: My Return to the Mic | 212 Jan 14, 2026 669 Hey friend! I disappeared for six months. And I need to tell you why. Because what happened to me in 2025? It's probably happening to you right now. I ran a 101-day gauntlet. Wrote a children's story every single day. Published a podcast episode every single day. Ran at least a mile every single day. I crushed it. Then the challenge ended. The constraints lifted. And I completely lost my way. I th
How to Build a Writing System When Your Life is a Jigsaw Puzzle | 211
How to Build a Writing System When Your Life is a Jigsaw Puzzle | 211 Aug 19, 2025 357 Your life isn’t a blank slate. It’s a thousand-piece puzzle. Between kids, work, health, faith, and relationships, “just write at 5am every day” doesn’t fit for everyone. That’s why professional authors build flexible frameworks that adapt to real life instead of forcing routines that break under chaos. In this episode, I’ll show you how to use the Jigsaw Puzzle Method to design a writing system t
Why Your Non-Writing Habits Hold the Key to Writing Success | 210
Why Your Non-Writing Habits Hold the Key to Writing Success | 210 Aug 12, 2025 381 For decades, I wrote in bursts—finishing and publishing four novels over twenty years, but I never truly saw myself as a disciplined author. I thought about writing daily, but I wasn’t actually creating daily. That gap between declaration and demonstration was holding me back. In this episode, I reveal why aspirations alone don’t define identity — actions do — and how to use the evidence from your
What a Charging Deer Taught Me About Character Transformation | 209
What a Charging Deer Taught Me About Character Transformation | 209 Aug 5, 2025 255 Ever had a character do something totally out of character—and it felt fake? In today’s episode, a charging deer disrupts my dog walking expedition and reveals a storytelling truth: Great character moments come from internal programming breaks. When your character’s default behavior no longer serves them—and they know it—that’s when real transformation begins. 🎯 You’ll learn: Why plot twists roo
Why You’re Already a Professional Author (Even If You Haven’t Sold a Book Yet) | 208
Why You’re Already a Professional Author (Even If You Haven’t Sold a Book Yet) | 208 Jul 29, 2025 292 What if you’ve been waiting on the wrong milestone to claim the right identity? You don’t need a book deal, an audience, or a spot on the bestseller list to call yourself a professional author. What you do need? Daily discipline. Conviction. Integrity. And the guts to show up...especially when no one’s watching. In today’s episode of The Adventurous Author Podcast, we expose: ✔️ Why bestselling is
Why Hero + Goal + Obstacle = Heartbeat of Every Story | 207
Why Hero + Goal + Obstacle = Heartbeat of Every Story | 207 Jul 22, 2025 302 Want to know the secret storytelling formula that powers every great book, movie, and personal story you’ve ever loved? Then listen in because we’re breaking down how to use Hero + Goal + Obstacle to create stories that feel meaningful, emotionally resonant, and easier to write—even when you’re short on time. 🎧 In this episode, you’ll discover: ✔️ Why your brain craves clarity in stories (and life

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