Bonus Episode: The Formation Writers Guild with James Bryan Smith

Bonus Episode: The Formation Writers Guild with James Bryan Smith

June 2, 2026 · 42 min

About this episode

Emily P. Freeman discusses the Formation Writers Guild with guest James Bryan Smith, exploring the journey of ideas and collaboration in writing.

Today I'm joining in conversation with my friend James Bryan Smith to finally share something that's been in the works for over a year now. Jim is the author of The Good and Beautiful book series . A founding member of Richard J. Foster's spiritual renewal ministry, Renovaré , Smith is an ordained United Methodist Church minister and has served in various capacities in local churches. He earned his MDiv at Yale and his DMin at Fuller and is a theology professor at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas, where he also serves as the director of the Apprentice Institute for Christian Spiritual Formation . About a year ago he called me up with an idea for a way to serve writers. That's where our conversation today begins. Even if you aren't a writer, our conversation will, I hope, shed light on how ideas become reality, how sometimes a good idea takes a decade to grow, and the beauty of collaboration, patience, and moving at a human pace. I hope you'll listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Learn more about the Formation Writers Guild The Good and Beautiful Series by James Bryan Smith Apprentice Institute for Christian Spiritual Formation Renovaré FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Leave…

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