What should you actually do before you start writing your book?

In this episode, I’m joined by author and acquisitions editor Jennifer Dukes Lee to talk about what aspiring authors often overlook in the excitement of getting started.

If you’ve been eager to dive into writing your book but feel unsure where to begin, or you’ve already started but question whether you’re on the right track, this conversation will help you step back and build a stronger foundation.

Jennifer shares the three essential things every writer should focus on before writing their book:

* Growing an audience of readers who are genuinely interested in your message

* Developing your writing craft and strengthening your skills

* Clearly defining your target reader and the problem your book will help them solve

We also go behind the scenes of her newest book, How to Love Your Morning, as she shares how the idea came to life, along with the intentional research and planning that shaped it.

This episode will help you move forward with clarity and purpose, so you’re not just writing a book, but writing one that truly serves your readers.

Next Steps:

If this episode helped you realize you need more clarity on your message or audience, that’s exactly what I help writers do.

→ Book a free discovery call to see how coaching can help you find clarity→ Download From Stuck to Steady if you’re ready to figure out why you struggle to write consistently.

Jennifer Dukes Lee is a bestselling author, speaker, and morning evangelist from Iowa. She is the author of several books, including Growing Slow, It’s All Under Control, and Stuff I’d Only Tell God. She wants to live her life in such a way that you can’t help but want more of Jesus.

Follow Jennifer on social media @JenniferDukesLee.

The Purposeful Pen is a weekly podcast for Christian writers designed to help you build a writing life with eternal impact. Each week you’ll hear practical tips and Biblical truth on topics such as improving your writing, honing your message, and managing your time. I always respond to listener emails and I’d love to hear from you! Amysimon@amylynnsimon.com

Welcome to a brand-new season of The Purposeful Pen! From now through July, we’re focusing on what happens before you write a book—because the writing journey starts long before “Chapter One.”

If you’ve ever told someone you’re a writer and immediately been asked, “What books have you written?”—you’re not alone. Many people assume writing always leads to publishing a book. But is that really the goal?

In this episode, we take a step back to explore a foundational question: Why do you want to write in the first place?

Writing can take many forms—journaling, poetry, blogging, articles, or even processing personal experiences. Not all writing is meant for publication, and not all writers are called to write books.

But if you do feel called to write for others—to encourage, serve, and build up the Body of Christ—then it’s important to approach writing with clarity and intention.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

* Why writing a book isn’t the only (or first) goal for writers

* The importance of understanding your motivation for writing

* Different ways your writing can impact others beyond books

* What it actually takes to prepare for writing and publishing a book

* Why clarity about your reader and message matters before you begin

Writing a book is a meaningful goal—but it’s also a significant journey. It requires growth in your craft, clarity in your message, and a willingness to share your work, receive feedback, and build a platform over time.

In the coming episodes, we’ll walk through the essential steps to take before you ever start your manuscript.

Resources Mentioned:

* Download your free Journey to Publication guide: amylynnsimon.com/free-writing-resources

Next Steps:

Take a few minutes to reflect:

* Why do I want to write?

* Who do I want to serve with my words?

* What impact do I hope my writing will have?

Stay Connected:

Enjoying the podcast? Get Pen Points, a weekly email with:

* A short summary of each episode

* A key question to reflect on

* Practical next steps

* A prayer for your writing

Subscribe here: amylynnsimon.com/pen-points

The Purposeful Pen is a weekly podcast for Christian writers designed to help you build a writing life with eternal impact. Each week you’ll hear practical tips and Biblical truth on topics such as improving your writing, honing your message, and managing your time. I always respond to listener emails and I’d love to hear from you! Amysimon@amylynnsimon.com

After exploring multiple ways to grow your platform, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the options. In this episode, we’re simplifying the process and helping you discern your next right step. Instead of trying to do everything, you’ll learn how to choose one platform strategy that fits your current season, strengths, and capacity—so you can move forward with clarity and consistency.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Over the past several episodes, we’ve covered a variety of platform-building strategies, including:

* Public speaking

* Podcasting

* Guest blogging and podcast interviews

* YouTube

* Collaborations and giveaways

* The YouVersion app

But here’s the truth: you can’t do all of them—and you shouldn’t try to.

In this episode, we walk through five key questions to help you confidently choose the best platform strategy for you.

5 Questions to Help You Choose Your Next Step:

1. What is your current capacity?Consider your time, energy, and emotional bandwidth. Your season of life matters more than you think.

2. What are you already doing?It’s often easier (and wiser) to build on something you’ve already started rather than creating something brand new.

3. What are your strengths?Lean into what comes naturally—whether that’s teaching, storytelling, or connecting with others.

4. What sounds interesting and fun?Pay attention to what energizes you. Excitement can be a strong indicator of where God is leading.

5. What can you be consistent with?Consistency matters more than frequency. Choose a rhythm you can realistically sustain.

Key Takeaway:

It’s far more effective to focus on one strategy done well and consistently than to try several strategies sporadically and burn out.

Season Wrap-Up:

This episode wraps up the current season of the podcast. We’ll be taking a break in April to rest, plan, and prepare for what’s next.

🎙️ The podcast returns in May, where we’ll dive into what needs to happen before you start writing your book.

Resources:

From Stuck to Steady: The 5 Pillars of a Consistent Writing Rhythm for Christian Writers (free 30-minute recorded workshop)

Schedule a free discovery call to see how coaching can help you get unstuck.

Sign up for Pen Points, a weekly email to encourage you in your writing.

Watch the podcast on YouTube.

Read the blog version of the podcast.

Download the “Christian Writer’s Mindset Makeover”.

The Purposeful Pen is a weekly podcast for Christian writers designed to help you build a writing life with eternal impact. Each week you’ll hear practical tips and Biblical truth on topics such as improving your writing, honing your message, and managing your time. I always respond to listener emails and I’d love to hear from you! Amysimon@amylynnsimon.com

In this week’s episode, I talk with Cara Ray, who has recently published her first book, “The Pursuit of Holy Leisure: Enjoying God in Everyday Places”. We talk about the different ways that she grew her platform, including through publishing Bible reading plans on the YouVersion Bible app. She also shared about her publishing journey and what that looked like as a first time author without having the huge platform numbers that some publishers are looking for.

Cara Ray is a writer, Bible teacher, and founder of The Writers’ Bloc community and podcast. As a former quiet time checkbox checker, she now writes to help others slow down, savor Scripture, and pursue holy leisure. Her work has been featured on Desiring God, Challies.com, Gospel Centered Discipleship, and the YouVersion Bible App.

Cara’s online community, The Writers’ Bloc, equips women to grow in the art and heart of writing. Her weekly podcast by the same name features conversations with Christian writers who desire to encourage others in the craft of writing and write for God’s glory. She also owns and operates her own copywriting and marketing business, where she helps entrepreneurs and creatives communicate their message with clarity and conviction. Cara lives in Gilbert, Arizona, with her husband, four kids, and two obnoxious dogs.

Resources:

From Stuck to Steady: The 5 Pillars of a Consistent Writing Rhythm for Christian Writers (free 30-minute recorded workshop)

Schedule a free discovery call to see how coaching can help you get unstuck.

Sign up for Pen Points, a weekly email to encourage you in your writing.

Watch the podcast on YouTube.

The Purposeful Pen is a weekly podcast for Christian writers designed to help you build a writing life with eternal impact. Each week you’ll hear practical tips and Biblical truth on topics such as improving your writing, honing your message, and managing your time. I always respond to listener emails and I’d love to hear from you! Amysimon@amylynnsimon.com

Platform growth can easily become all about numbers, such as followers, subscribers, downloads. But as Christian writers, our worth isn’t measured by metrics.

In this episode, we talk about how to pursue growth without being defined by it, how to focus on the people behind the numbers, and how to stay faithful while leaving the results to God.

If you’ve been discouraged by slow growth or tempted to compare your journey to someone else’s, this conversation will help refocus your heart where it belongs.

Resources:

* From Stuck to Steady: The 5 Pillars of a Consistent Writing Rhythm for Christian Writers (free 30-minute recorded workshop)

* Schedule a free discovery call to see how coaching can help you get unstuck.

* Sign up for Pen Points, a weekly email to encourage you in your writing.

* Watch the podcast on YouTube.

* Read the blog version of the podcast.

* Download the “Christian Writer’s Mindset Makeover”.

The Purposeful Pen is a weekly podcast for Christian writers designed to help you build a writing life with eternal impact. Each week you’ll hear practical tips and Biblical truth on topics such as improving your writing, honing your message, and managing your time. I always respond to listener emails and I’d love to hear from you! Amysimon@amylynnsimon.com

In this episode, we’re talking about two practical strategies to grow your audience: collaborations and giveaways.

Collaborations

There are several ways to collaborate with someone who serves a similar audience:

* Trade lead magnets and share each other’s free resources

* Create something together (like a devotional, challenge, or workshop) and promote it to both audiences

* Participate in or host an online summit for expanded reach

The key is finding someone with overlapping—but not competing—messages so you both serve your audiences well.

Giveaways

Giveaways can also help grow your platform when done strategically.

* Solo giveaways: Offer a signed book or a resource related to your message. Encourage people to subscribe, like, comment, or share to enter—and be sure to include your current subscribers.

* Group giveaways: Partner with others to offer a larger prize and expand your reach. Tools like King Sumo can help manage entries.

Remember: growth isn’t just about numbers—it’s about attracting the right people who genuinely connect with your message.

If this feels overwhelming, don’t worry. You don’t have to do everything. In an upcoming episode, we’ll talk about how to discern which strategies are the best fit for you.

Resources:

Schedule a free discovery call to see how coaching can help you get unstuck.

Sign up for Pen Points, a weekly email to encourage you in your writing.

Watch the podcast on YouTube.

Read the blog version of the podcast.

Download the “Christian Writer’s Mindset Makeover”.

The Purposeful Pen is a weekly podcast for Christian writers designed to help you build a writing life with eternal impact. Each week you’ll hear practical tips and Biblical truth on topics such as improving your writing, honing your message, and managing your time. I always respond to listener emails and I’d love to hear from you! Amysimon@amylynnsimon.com

YouTube is yet another way to grow your online writing platform. It gives your audience a chance to see you and get to know you better. You can also take advantage of opportunities for new people to find your content without getting lost in algorithms and scrolling.

About Rose:

Rose McCombs Jordan is a devotional-life mentor, podcast host, YouTube creator, and the founder of Beneath The Fig Tree, a ministry dedicated to helping women cultivate an authentic and meaningful devotional life. Through her podcast, YouTube channel, workshops, and creative resources, Rose equips women with practical tools to deepen their relationship with God in ways that feel personal, sustainable, and life-giving.

As the host of the Beneath The Fig Tree podcast and creator of its companion YouTube channel, Rose has intentionally leveraged video content to expand her reach as an author and teacher, strengthen audience connection, and build a values-driven platform. She is passionate about helping writers think beyond traditional methods and use YouTube strategically to grow visibility, serve their audience, and create lasting impact.

Links to Stay In Touch Website: www.BeneathTheFigTree.org YouTube/Podcast/Instagram: Beneath The Fig Tree Facebook Group: Beneath the Fig Tree: FIGS Community

Amy’s Resources:

Schedule a free discovery call to see how coaching can help you get unstuck.

Sign up for Pen Points, a weekly email to encourage you in your writing.

Watch the podcast on YouTube.

Download the “Christian Writer’s Mindset Makeover”.

The Purposeful Pen is a weekly podcast for Christian writers designed to help you build a writing life with eternal impact. Each week you’ll hear practical tips and Biblical truth on topics such as improving your writing, honing your message, and managing your time. I always respond to listener emails and I’d love to hear from you! Amysimon@amylynnsimon.com

Looking for ways to grow your platform without adding another major project to your plate? This week, we’re talking about two strategic options: becoming a podcast guest and writing articles for other blogs or websites.

These opportunities allow you to step in front of an established audience and share your message in a way that benefits both you and the host. But how do you find the right fit? What makes a strong pitch? And how can you make the most of the opportunity once you land it?

In this episode, you’ll learn:

* Why guest appearances and guest posts can be powerful growth tools

* How to identify podcasts and websites that align with your message

* What to consider before sending a pitch

* Encouragement for overcoming the fear of putting yourself out there

* Simple ways to turn exposure into lasting connections

If you’re ready to expand your reach and connect with new readers—without starting something brand new—this episode will give you practical next steps to get started.

For more on the specifics of being a podcast guest, listen to episode 87.

The Purposeful Pen is a weekly podcast for Christian writers designed to help you build a writing life with eternal impact. Each week you’ll hear practical tips and Biblical truth on topics such as improving your writing, honing your message, and managing your time. I always respond to listener emails and I’d love to hear from you! Amysimon@amylynnsimon.com