The Purposeful Pen - Clarity for Christian Writers

What is your relationship with social media? Mine has swung on the pendulum from loving it and working hard to grow it to ignoring it as a waste of time. After interviewing so many authors, agents, and publishers this summer, I’m finding myself landing somewhere in the middle. In this episode, I talk about the realities of social media as it relates to authors, as well as some ways to use it in a...

In episode 68, I talked about 11 ways to start and grow an email list and why writers need one. This week, I talk about different types of content you can include when you write to those on your list. Do you have emails from others that you enjoy reading? What do you like about them? Why don’t you read the ones that you just skip over or delete? Let us know in the comments! This is a public episod...

If you’ve been listening over the summer, you’ve heard several of my guests talk about the importance of email lists. OK, but how do we build and grow that email list? In this episode, I’ve taken their suggestions, ideas I’ve learned elsewhere, and methods I’ve used myself, and put them all in one episode. Whether you’re starting from scratch or building a list you already have, you will find idea...

Working as writers, we're usually our own boss, which can be great or not so great. We get to make all the decisions! But we have to make all the decisions... It can be really overwhelming. In this episode, I talk with Carla H. Hayden, a.k.a. “Clarity Carla”, about finding clarity in our decision-making and leading ourselves well. You’ll come away with some practical tools and questions to ask you...

Do you enjoy the business planning side of writing? How about the idea of branding - creating a cohesive look and feel to the visual aspect of your writing? Many writers either cringe at the thought or ignore those aspects of writing altogether. In this conversation with Karla Colahan, we discuss how business planning and branding are creative endeavors that provide a valuable piece to writing lif...

Are you a writer who struggles with chronic illness and wonders how to find the time and energy to write? Or perhaps you wear many hats and aren’t sure how to juggle them all while still writing. In this interview with author and speaker, Glenna Marshall, you’ll hear practical tips on managing your time and energy, whether you write through chronic illness or simply a busy schedule. We also talk a...

We live in such a busy, distracted, instant gratification culture - we want everything to happen that we think should happen, and we expect it to happen now. And yet, that’s neither realistic nor healthy.  What if growing slowly as writers turned out to be a much more healthy and sustainable way of operating? Listen in as I talk with best-selling author and acquisitions editor, Jennifer Dukes Lee,...

We talk a lot here about building a writing platform, finding time to write, and organizing our ideas, but how do we actually improve in the craft of writing? This week I talk with Benjamin Vrbicek, managing editor with Gospel-Centered Discipleship , about some ways to go about doing that. He also explains some of the things that GCD is looking for in the articles they publish. If you would like t...

What does contentment look like as a writer? There’s nothing wrong with having goals and desires for our writing, but sometimes we have to hold them loosely and allow God to direct our steps. Listen in this week as I talk with Rachel Allord about how she finds contentment while working as an American missionary in London. Originally from Wisconsin, Rachel Allord lives in London UK where she and he...

What role does fear play in your writing? Perhaps you struggle with some of the following: * fear of failure * fear of success * fear of vulnerability * fear that we’re wasting our time and resources This week, you’ll learn what the partial truth is in each fear, the hidden lie, and the ultimate Biblical truth that counters them all. The Purposeful Pen is a weekly podcast for Christian writers des...

We talked about perfectionism back in episode 58, but this week, we’re continuing the conversation. In this episode, I talk with Cheryl Balcom about her own struggle with perfectionism, both as a writer as well as in the rest of life. She offers insight and several practical suggestions for overcoming perfectionism and serving our readers in love. Cheryl Balcom is the author of Winds of Grace: Los...

Are you looking for ways to get your words out into the world but aren’t ready to write a book? Writing for online publications, both paid and unpaid, can be an opportunity to improve your writing skills and share your message with a broader audience. Listen in as Kimberly Coyle shares about why writers can benefit from publishing articles online and how to get started. Kimberly Coyle is a freelan...

Do you struggle with perfectionism? Listen in for a fresh, Biblical perspective and some tips for moving past perfectionism to loving God and your reader through publishing your words. Looking for an online Christian writing community? Check out the Writers’ Bloc . Try it for one week free by using this link . The Purposeful Pen is a weekly podcast for Christian writers designed to help you build...

We want to write in a way that pleases God, but how do we do that? Do we wait for Him to tell us specifically what to write and where to put that writing? Or do we do the next thing and hope that God is in it? Listen in for a Biblical perspective on the mysterious cooperation between us and the Holy Spirit as it relates to writing. The Purposeful Pen is a weekly podcast for Christian writers desig...

It’s time for a spring pause! In order to bring you more quality content, I won’t be posting any new episodes for the rest of May. In the meantime, you can get caught up listening to older episodes, leave a review, and share the podcast with a friend. I’ll see you back here on June 4 with new content and a fresh look! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribe...

Do you need some encouragement on your writing journey? We all do. Listen in as I share some Bible verses that encourage me in my writing. I’m sure they’ll encourage you, too. Your words matter and your writing is your faithful stewardship of God’s gift entrusted to you. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amylyn...

Does your reader and message change over time? Can it be too narrow and specific? That’s the question we dive into this week. I also talk about: * the difference between an x, y, z statement and a book positioning statement * why having too narrow of a message is problematic * how broadening your message a little can bring you freedom from always writing about a difficult or traumatic event Here a...

How are you feeling this spring? Tired? Scattered? Unfocused? Listen to this week’s episode for 3 tips to refresh your writing and find new focus and creativity in the midst of the “not there yet” season. In the episode, I mention the book, The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron . The planning pages with questions for journaling and reflection are here. This is a public episode. If you would like to di...

This week I turn 50! In this episode, I share 10 things I’ve learned about life with God as they relate to writing. Some links mentioned in the episode: Write Below the Surface posts Impostor syndrome and Inner Critic: Episode 3 Do you have a favorite of my list of 10? I’d love to hear it! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus epi...

Do you have writing ideas that you either lose or forget? You need an idea capture and recovery system! In this episode, I talk about the need for such a system, the big picture questions to ask yourself when trying to establish such a system, and some practical ways to implement that system consistently. Here are some of the resources I mentioned in the episode: Scrivener Trello One Note Notion B...

What makes you feel stuck when it comes to writing? And what helps you get unstuck? In this episode, I talk about 5 ways to regain inspiration and motivation in your writing. Some links I mentioned in the episode: Voxer voice text app Writers’ Bloc online Christian writing community Try it for one week free by using this link This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other s...

Do you find yourself overwhelmed with the technical aspects of writing, such as setting up a website and an email list? Listen in today for some tips in sorting it all out. Resources mentioned in this episode: Episode 41 about what should go on an author’s website I am not an expert in every website host, email provider and piece of technology, however I can help you figure out what your next step...

As Christian writers, whether we’re writing about explicitly Christian content or not, it’s important to nourish our relationship with God. What are some ways to do that, both in general and specifically as writers? Here are links to the resources I mentioned in the podcast: Mary DeMuth 90 day Bible Reading Challenge Breath as Prayers, by Jennifer Tucker Prayminder app: Apple Android This is a pub...

Would you like to connect with your readers on a deeper level and serve them more effectively? In this episode, I talk about the importance of growing in empathy as a way to understand our readers and their needs. I offer 8 tips that include postures and attitudes we can take as well as practical things we can do to get to know our readers better. If you’d like to consider coaching to help you unc...

Have you ever thought about writing and publishing Bible studies but aren’t sure where to start? Listen this week to my conversation with Mariel Davenport and learn about her unique journey to traditional publication and her suggestions for you if you’d like to publish Bible studies. As an atheist transformed by the Word of God, Mariel knows the power of seeking God through His Word. She is passio...