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## Episode 144: Is Your Life Story Actually a Memoir?
[Have you been thinking about writing your life story as a memoir?](https://amylynnsimon.substack.com/p/episode-144-is-your-life-story-actually)
Jun 23 • [Amy Lynn Simon](https://substack.com/@amylynnsimon)

Duration: 6:15

## Episode 143: The Benefits of Writing for Your Local Community
[with Sarah Steele](https://amylynnsimon.substack.com/p/episode-143-the-benefits-of-writing)
Jun 16 • [Amy Lynn Simon](https://substack.com/@amylynnsimon) and [Sarah Steele](https://substack.com/@thevillagepoet)

Duration: 40:20

## Episode 142: Your Book's Elevator Pitch—How to Find Clarity on Your Main Idea
[Can you explain your book in one or two sentences?](https://amylynnsimon.substack.com/p/episode-142-your-books-elevator-pitchhow)
Jun 9 • [Amy Lynn Simon](https://substack.com/@amylynnsimon)

Duration: 4:08

## Episode 141: Before You Write a Single Chapter: Clarifying Your Book's Promise, Reader, and Transformation
[You walk into a bookstore and a title catches your eye.](https://amylynnsimon.substack.com/p/episode-141-before-you-write-a-single)
Jun 2 • [Amy Lynn Simon](https://substack.com/@amylynnsimon)

Duration: 6:35

### May 2026

## Episode 140: How to Improve Your Writing Skills as a Christian Author (Before You Write Your Book)
[We’ve talked about the mindset that has to come first.](https://amylynnsimon.substack.com/p/episode-140-how-to-improve-your-writing)
May 26 • [Amy Lynn Simon](https://substack.com/@amylynnsimon)

Duration: 4:49

## Episode 139: The Mindset Every Aspiring Christian Author Needs Before Writing a Book
[Before we talk craft or contracts or query letters, we need to talk about something that will shape everything else on this journey.](https://amylynnsimon.substack.com/p/episode-139-the-mindset-every-aspiring)
May 19 • [Amy Lynn Simon](https://substack.com/@amylynnsimon)

Duration: 4:55

## Episode 138: How to Prepare to Write a Book (From an Acquisitions Editor) with Jennifer Dukes Lee
[What should you actually do before you start writing your book?](https://amylynnsimon.substack.com/p/episode-138-how-to-prepare-to-write)
May 12 • [Amy Lynn Simon](https://substack.com/@amylynnsimon)

Duration: 34:40

## Episode 137: Before You Write a Book: What Every Christian Writer Needs to Know First
[Welcome to a brand-new season of The Purposeful Pen!](https://amylynnsimon.substack.com/p/episode-137-before-you-write-a-book)
May 5 • [Amy Lynn Simon](https://substack.com/@amylynnsimon)

Duration: 4:58

### March 2026

## Episode 136: 5 Questions to Help Writers Choose the Right Platform Strategy
[After exploring multiple ways to grow your platform, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the options.](https://amylynnsimon.substack.com/p/episode-136-5-questions-to-help-writers)
Mar 24 • [Amy Lynn Simon](https://substack.com/@amylynnsimon)

Duration: 6:13

## Episode 135: Building Your Platform as a First-Time Author with Cara Ray
[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…](https://amylynnsimon.substack.com/p/episode-135-building-your-platform)
Mar 17 • [Amy Lynn Simon](https://substack.com/@amylynnsimon)

Duration: 35:22

## Episode 134: When Platform Numbers Mess With Your Heart: 3 Truths Christian Writers Need to Remember
[Platform growth can easily become all about numbers, such as followers, subscribers, downloads.](https://amylynnsimon.substack.com/p/episode-134-when-platform-numbers)
Mar 10 • [Amy Lynn Simon](https://substack.com/@amylynnsimon)

Duration: 6:10

## Episode 133: Collaborations & Giveaways: Simple Ways to Grow Your Audience
[In this episode, we’re talking about two practical strategies to grow your audience: collaborations and giveaways.](https://amylynnsimon.substack.com/p/episode-133-collaborations-and-giveaways)
Mar 3 • [Amy Lynn Simon](https://substack.com/@amylynnsimon)

Duration: 5:10

### February 2026

## Episode 132: Growing Your Platform Through YouTube with Rose Jordan
[YouTube is yet another way to grow your online writing platform.](https://amylynnsimon.substack.com/p/episode-132-growing-your-platform)
Feb 24 • [Amy Lynn Simon](https://substack.com/@amylynnsimon) and [Beneath The Fig Tree](https://substack.com/@beneaththefigtree)

Duration: 34:19

## Episode 131: Borrowing an Audience to Grow Your Platform
[Looking for ways to grow your platform without adding another major project to your plate?](https://amylynnsimon.substack.com/p/episode-131-borrowing-an-audience)
Feb 17 • [Amy Lynn Simon](https://substack.com/@amylynnsimon)

Duration: 5:12

## Episode 130: Why Writers Should Consider Podcasting to Grow Their Audience
[Podcasting can be a powerful way to grow your audience—without travel, booking agents, or a big production budget.](https://amylynnsimon.substack.com/p/episode-130-why-writers-should-consider)
Feb 10 • [Amy Lynn Simon](https://substack.com/@amylynnsimon)

Duration: 6:54

## Episode 129: Using Public Speaking to Grow Your Platform as a Christian Writer
[Public speaking is one of the most effective ways to grow your platform—whether or not you use social media.](https://amylynnsimon.substack.com/p/episode-129-using-public-speaking)
Feb 3 • [Amy Lynn Simon](https://substack.com/@amylynnsimon)

Duration: 7:12

### January 2026

## Episode 128: Platform-Building Without Social Media with Sandy Cooper and Mary K. Tiller
[Building a writing platform does not have to include social media.](https://amylynnsimon.substack.com/p/episode-128-platform-building-without)
Jan 27 • [Amy Lynn Simon](https://substack.com/@amylynnsimon), [Sandy Cooper](https://substack.com/@sandycooper), and [Mary Kathryn Tiller](https://substack.com/@marykathryntiller)

Duration: 49:05

## Episode 127: God's Role vs Our Role in Building a Platform
[Christian writers often struggle to understand where God’s sovereignty and our responsibility meet—especially when it comes to building a platform.](https://amylynnsimon.substack.com/p/episode-127-gods-role-vs-our-role)
Jan 20 • [Amy Lynn Simon](https://substack.com/@amylynnsimon)

Duration: 6:51

## Episode 126: Is Building a Writing Platform Prideful? A Biblical Perspective for Christian Writers
[One of the biggest concerns Christian writers have about building a writing platform is pride.](https://amylynnsimon.substack.com/p/episode-126-is-building-a-writing)
Jan 13 • [Amy Lynn Simon](https://substack.com/@amylynnsimon)

Duration: 6:59

## Episode 125: Platform, Not a Pedestal: Why Writers Need to Be Found
[What does it really mean to “build a platform” as a Christian writer—and why does the idea make so many of us uncomfortable?](https://amylynnsimon.substack.com/p/episode-125-platform-not-a-pedestal)
Jan 6 • [Amy Lynn Simon](https://substack.com/@amylynnsimon)

Duration: 7:33

### December 2025

## Another Writerly Christmas Gift Idea
[New coaching package on sale through December 31](https://amylynnsimon.substack.com/p/another-writerly-christmas-gift-idea)
Dec 13, 2025 • [Amy Lynn Simon](https://substack.com/@amylynnsimon)

### November 2025

## Black Friday Sales for Writers!
[I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends and family!](https://amylynnsimon.substack.com/p/black-friday-sales-for-writers)
Nov 28, 2025 • [Amy Lynn Simon](https://substack.com/@amylynnsimon)

## Episode 124: Wrapping Up the Season
[This is the last episode of 2025!](https://amylynnsimon.substack.com/p/episode-124-wrapping-up-the-season)
Nov 25, 2025 • [Amy Lynn Simon](https://substack.com/@amylynnsimon)

Duration: 4:06

## Episode 123: You’re Not Behind: Letting Go of the ‘Shoulds’ in Writing and Faith
[Do you ever feel like you’re behind—as a writer, as a Christian, or just in life?](https://amylynnsimon.substack.com/p/episode-123-youre-not-behind-letting)
Nov 18, 2025 • [Amy Lynn Simon](https://substack.com/@amylynnsimon)

Duration: 6:56