Persistent Pests

Persistent Pests

Author: CJ and Shelley Hitz: Writing Mentor, Author Coach, Christian Writers October 1, 2025 Duration: 26:18

Persistent Pests

"Catch all the foxes, those little foxes, before they ruin the vineyard of love, for the grapevines are blossoming!"

‭‭Song of Songs‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬ ‭

These little foxes aren't yet fully grown. Nobody would think a cuddly little fox would be dangerous to have around. They love nothing better than to eat the young grapes before they come out fully. Thus, they wreak havoc on the vines of our walk with the Lord.

Let's mention 5 of the "little foxes" or persistent pests that ruin some of our fruitful writing before it's fully ripened…

1.) Sensitiveness or easily offended. It can be a small chip on our shoulder but flare up if we're not given the respect we desire. It can stifle our creativity in writing and dry up the flow of the Spirit. Pray that we can have the mind and humility of Christ.

2.) Laziness. Too lazy to dig into the Word. Too lazy to spend time in prayer. This also leaks into our writing. The Kingdom Writer cannot afford to compromise in these areas if we expect eternal impact. There's a cost to those things and also a great reward.

3.) Living in regret. The most powerful 3 words in history were uttered by Jesus while hanging on the cross, "It is finished!" Regret sucks the life out of us and keeps us from moving forward in all that God has for us.

4.) Distraction. Causes us to go down rabbit trails. Social media is the major distraction of our day. One writer calls it "nuggets of nothingness." Before we know it, we've wasted 1-2 hours with nothing to show for it.

5.) Busyness. We fill up our days and weeks with good things. But somehow we fail to set aside scheduled writing blocks. Or when we do, it can easily be cancelled and replaced by something else. It's not treated as a priority.

The only way to handle these "little foxes" is to kill them. If we don't, our sweetest, most fruitful writing, like vine-ripened grapes, will not materialize.

Resources:

If you're ready to take a step of faith and finally finish your book, we have a few ways we can help you.

1. Free Writing Week Challenge: Create a Writing Habit in 15-Minutes a Day

Even if you feel overwhelmed or stuck in procrastination, sitting down to write for just 15 minutes a day is the best way to finally reach your writing goals. Most writers think they need hours of uninterrupted time to make progress in their writing. However, in this free challenge, we will show you how much you can accomplish in just 15 minutes of focused writing.

Click here to create a consistent writing habit this week.

2. Book Writing Lab Workshop - Map Out Your Book in Just 90 Minutes

If over the last year, you've struggled to get your book written, this workshop is for you. Choose your book topic, write an outline, and create a writing plan in just 90-minutes! Finally, feel confident that you will actually finish your book.

Get started now for just $27

3. Want More Support? Join Christian Book Academy

Most writers stay stuck and never finish their first draft. Inside Christian Book Academy, we help you partner with God to write your book so you can become a published author. Finally, ditch your self-doubt and take a step of faith so you can finish your book.

Join Christian Book Academy (coupon code PODCAST)

Get 50% off your first month by using the coupon code PODCAST at checkout.


There’s a particular kind of resistance that comes with writing something you believe matters-a mix of doubt, distraction, and sometimes, sheer weariness. Kingdom Writers: A Podcast for Christian Writers of All Genres meets you right in that space. Hosts CJ and Shelley Hitz, who work as writing mentors and author coaches, understand that the journey to finishing your book isn't just about craft; it's a spiritual undertaking. Each episode blends practical guidance with heartfelt spiritual encouragement, often weaving in prayers specifically for the hurdles writers face. Whether you're drafting a novel, a memoir, or a devotional, the conversation here rests on a core belief: your story has a purpose and you have a unique role to play. This podcast feels like a dedicated writing session with friends who get it, offering both the tools and the faith-filled perspective to keep moving forward. Tune in for honest talks about the writing life, all grounded in the encouragement that your work can impact lives in meaningful, lasting ways.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Kingdom Writers: A Podcast for Christian Writers of All Genres
Podcast Episodes
Hitz Blitz: Energy Management is a REAL Thing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:27
Most writing advice is really time management advice. Find the hour, protect the block, guard the calendar. But you can have the time and still have nothing left to give it.In this short episode from the Hitz Blitz archi…
How to Find a Christian Book Editor You Can Trust [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:29
You finished your first draft. And ever since, you have been telling yourself the same thing. I need to find an editor.Months go by. You Google Christian book editor, scroll through websites, bookmark a few, and never re…
Hitz Blitz: Your Testimony Could Change Someone's Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:37
Your testimony is not only part of your past. It may be the very thing God wants to use to encourage, heal, or give hope to someone today.In this Hitz Blitz, Shelley reflects on Psalm 9:11 and God's invitation to tell ot…
Welcome to the Hitz Blitz [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:55
For a few years, Hitz Blitz was a private podcast. Short episodes recorded on the way to somewhere else, most of them under ten minutes. A blitz is defined in the dictionary as "a sudden, energetic, and concerted effort,…
Little by Little [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:53
Little by little Exodus 23:27-30 Here we have the Israelites moving through the wilderness and received the hopeful promise of a land they would possess. But it would not come at the snap of God's fingers. It wouldn't ev…
Ask, Seek, Knock [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:44
Theme: Ask, Seek, Knock As independent authors, we wear a lot of different hats. Writer, marketer, business owner, bookkeeper, book designer. It's easy to feel overwhelmed at times. And because we're Kingdom writers, we…
Rooted [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:34
Rooted "This is what the Lord says: "Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for…
Permission To Turn Up The Volume [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:56
Permission To Turn Up The Volume Read Luke 19:28-40 It is more likely that inanimate objects like rocks would cry out to Jesus in worship than for the King of kings to enter his capital city without honor. Jesus encourag…
Lighted Path [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:00
Light for my path Psalm 119 is divided into 22 sections, which represent the 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet. "Nun" = 14th of 22 Hebrew letters. It signifies a "fish" (representing life/continuation) or a "faithful/ben…
God Didn't Give You This Book Idea for It to Stay Unfinished [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:06
Have you been stuck on your first draft? You're not alone. In this episode, Shelley shares the biggest reasons writers stay stuck and never finish their manuscript, plus three practical shifts that can help you make real…