Welcome to a new season of The Purposeful Pen! With the school year winding down, I’m excited to launch a fresh, focused season on the podcast. From May through July, we’re diving deep into a critical aspect of your writing journey—identifying your ideal reader and clarifying your God-given message.

In this episode, I share a behind-the-scenes “state of the podcast” update, explain how future seasons will be structured, and then walk through why getting narrow and specific about your audience is actually the key to writing with more depth and clarity.

We’ll also explore:

* Why being specific helps you write more, not less.

* Biblical examples of focused ministry from Paul, Peter, and even Jesus.

* How to overcome the fear of “leaving people out” when narrowing your niche.

* Why writing for everyone ends up connecting with no one.

* How a clear focus builds trust and resonance with your reader.

💡 Want to uncover your unique message and who it’s meant for? My 30-page workbook, A Path to Purposeful Writing, is designed to guide you through that process. Grab your copy at amylynnsimon.com/store.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

* Specificity strengthens your message and deepens your impact.

* Your ideal reader needs to feel seen, understood, and supported.

* Biblical figures modeled focused ministry that met people right where they were.

* Saying “yes” to one audience means freeing others to serve different ones.

* Narrowing your niche leads to more clarity and creativity, not less.

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

So you want to write a book. In this episode of The Purposeful Pen, we’re digging into a common myth many Christian writers believe: that all you have to do is write. You'll learn why a business mindset is essential if you want to reach more than just your close circle, and what practical steps you can take today to start moving forward. From understanding your reader to positioning your book in the market and building a platform, this episode will help you embrace the mindset shift needed to share your message faithfully and effectively.

What You’ll Learn:

* Why writing for “everyone” can hurt your message—and what to do instead

* The importance of understanding the book market (even if you’re self-publishing)

* What building a platform really means (and why it’s not just a distraction)

* A biblical and encouraging perspective on marketing your work

* How to grow your audience before your book is even finished

Mentioned in This Episode: 🎓 Launch Your Writing Platform Course — Learn how to build your platform in a way that suits who God has made you and honors Him. Includes video training, worksheets, and biblical guidance to help you serve God and others through your writing.

Join the Conversation: What mindset shift do you need to embrace to move forward in your writing? Share your thoughts or questions in the comments or send me a message—I’d love to hear from you!

Connect with Me:

* Website: www.amylynnsimon.com

* Instagram: @amysimonwrites

* Podcast: The Purposeful Pen (subscribe wherever you listen)

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

Are you ready to build a writing life that will last?

In this episode, I discuss different mindsets that can help us approach writing with the “long game” in mind.

Things like…

* Growing in writing communities in a way that is deep, rather than wide

* Seeing all writing opportunities as vehicles for growth and improvement

* Creating a writing rhythm that is sustainable and flexible through different seasons

I also mentioned the launch of my new weekly email for Christian writers, “Pen Points”. Every Saturday, you’ll get:

* A clarifying question to reflect on, journal about, or discuss with a friend

* A resource or next step to help you make real progress in your writing

* A Scripture-based prayer to refocus your heart and pen

For more info and to sign up, go to amylynnsimon.com/pen-points

To sign up for my free, 3-day email course to get started as a Christian writer, go to amylynnsimon.com/start

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